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| Author |
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jaklumen
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Sleep disorders
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Aug 22 00:51 UTC 2003 |
Well, I thought I'd write some on the wonderful little process I'm
going to embark on.
I finally checked in for my appointment to the sleep clinic today and
saw the doctor. First the nurse came in and did the usual stuff
nurses do-- checked weight and blood pressure, but she measured my
neck as well. Neck measurement *is* a factor: here's why. The
problem with sleep apnea is caused by the epiglottis relaxing during
sleep so much that it restricts breathing-- and the brain somehow
doesn't tell those muscles to constrict to allow freer breathing.
Obesity puts fatty tissue on the muscle, making the problem worse.
Fortunately, I am on an eating plan that is reducing the fat on my
body, so hopefully that will help.
I saw the doctor next, who listened to my lungs and asked a lot of
questions about my sleep, health, (allergies) family history, and
such. My sister grinds her teeth, for example, REALLY bad. She
couldn't escape braces forever (long story behind that comment). He
also explained about the sleep study and the monitoring equipment
they'd attach to me for the night-- if I remember right, there will be
two electrodes on my head, two sensors just inside my nose, some on my
chest, a oxygen sensor on the tip on my finger, and some on my legs
and feet.
I asked about the breathing machine and about a humidifying option.
He said that would be a good idea, especially for folks with allergy
problems like me.
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| 48 responses total. |
glenda
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response 1 of 48:
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Aug 22 01:31 UTC 2003 |
The only thing that could be found as a possible cause of STeve's stroke about
2 years ago was sleep apnea (I had been telling him he should have it checked
for years, but...) He is on a CPAP at an impressive pressure. His is
humidified with the water heated, it is adjustable so he can turn the heat
down when it is hot outside. I think he can adjust the amount of water used
as well. He had a hell of a night last Thursday when the power was out.
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jaklumen
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response 2 of 48:
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Aug 22 05:51 UTC 2003 |
Thank you for the information. Some of this is a little scary for me,
so every piece of experience helps. I'm wondering if perhaps I should
just humidify my bedroom waiting for the study right now-- it will be
eight weeks until I get in unless there's a cancellation.
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glenda
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response 3 of 48:
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Aug 22 06:32 UTC 2003 |
If you get a machine, and your reaction is anything like STeve's you will see
marked improvement the first night. He picked the machine up on a Friday.
I got up as usual on Saturday and did computer stuff waiting until a
reasonable time to start coffee and wake him. Before I had even fully settled
at my desk I heard him get up. About 8 hours after he went to bed. And he
was wide awake and rested for the first time in about 15 years. He usually
slept 14 hours and still wasn't rested. It continued for many months. When
we noticed that he was sleeping longer and wasn't as rested we mentioned it
to the doctor who sent him back to neurology who sent him back to the sleep
clinic. They raised the pressure on the machine a bit and he went back to
less sleep, more rested. We will watch for needing more sleep again and talk
to the doctor sooner rather than later.
It is amazing the change it has made in his quality of life, our quality of
life. He now has energy to do things that he hasn't had in a very long time.
He can almost keep up with me again. (I think competing with college kids
has kept me going.)
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tod
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response 4 of 48:
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Aug 22 13:20 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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flem
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response 5 of 48:
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Aug 22 15:11 UTC 2003 |
Just out of curiosity, what it STeve's pressure set at?
I strongly recommend getting a heated humidifier attachment
for anyone using a cpap machine, especially at high pressure.
Having your sinuses dried out sucks, and if you already have
sinus issues (allergies), it's even worse. OTOH, if you keep your
equipment properly cleaned and use good distilled water,
you may find your allergy problems somewhat lessened, since the
air through a CPAP is filtered.
For sleeping better now, a humidifier may help (again,
filtered air), as will a thorough cleaning of your home.
Allergies make things in your breathing passages swell,
which doesn't help anything. :) Also, I don't know if
this will help you at all, but if you're desperate, I find
that without my machine, I sleep better sitting up most of
the way, like in a recliner or a couch. ymmv.
I also had a septoplasty, and I may yet have my uvula and tonsils reduced,
though probably not removed altogether.
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tod
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response 6 of 48:
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Aug 22 16:00 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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glenda
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response 7 of 48:
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Aug 22 17:17 UTC 2003 |
STeve started out at 13, is now at 16. He did complain Friday morning that
he was congested for the first time (other than a head cold) since he got the
machine. He figured that the humidified air at pressure was keeping his
sinuses cleared out. One of the benefits he likes is that when he needs to
sleep during daylight hours, he can put something over his whole head to block
the light and not feel like he is sufficating.
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cmcgee
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response 8 of 48:
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Aug 22 19:32 UTC 2003 |
A friend (6'2" 220 lbs) was totally able to control the (very bad) sleep apnea
and snoring by losing 30 lbs. He hated the CPAP machine, couldn't keep the
mask in a comfortable position. The "success" % on surgery were too low for
him to even want to consider it.
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jaklumen
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response 9 of 48:
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Aug 23 01:39 UTC 2003 |
resp:5 I probably need to change the filter in my cold air
humidifier. If I could afford an excellent air purifier, I'd do that,
too.
resp:6 313.6 lbs. I weigh in *every* day. I use a Tanita scale that
measures fat percentage as well-- as I am on a low-carb eating plan
that cuts out refined foods, I've dropped about 7 net pounds of fat
(approx. 44% to 37% composition). Trust me, I'm working on it.
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happyboy
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response 10 of 48:
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Aug 23 19:14 UTC 2003 |
how long did it take to lose those pounds with the lo-carb plan?
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jaklumen
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response 11 of 48:
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Aug 24 04:52 UTC 2003 |
couple weeks.
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happyboy
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response 12 of 48:
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Aug 24 17:35 UTC 2003 |
did you bolster that with any aerobic activity or are you
waiting to lose more weight first?
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polygon
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response 13 of 48:
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Aug 24 23:03 UTC 2003 |
My experience is like Todd's: my sleep apnea was cured by surgery. My
tonsils had always been quite large: just about every doctor who ever
peered into my throat commented on them. When the tonsils were removed
they turned out to be considerably larger than the surgeon had estimated.
Because I was such an obvious candidate for surgery, given the size of my
tonsils, I never had to use the CPAP machine even once.
Losing weight has been much easier since the surgery than it was earlier.
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jaklumen
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response 14 of 48:
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Aug 25 03:25 UTC 2003 |
resp:12 I walked some, mostly 3/4 mi or so 3 to 4 times a week. The
hot weather made that really difficult for a little while. Now that
the temperatures have really come down, I'd like to step it up some
more. It is really, really hard though, because I have an
overwhelming urge to come home and sleep for 3 hours after work at
about 1pm or so. It is really, really frustrating and I am so
desperate for relief. But the waiting time for the study is 8 weeks.
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beeswing
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response 15 of 48:
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Aug 25 03:43 UTC 2003 |
re: 13... Yeah, losing weight was easier 'cause your throat was raw
after the surgery. :)
I had my tonsils out at 27. Mine were making a safe haven for bacteria
and infection, so they'd been poisoning me for who knows how long.
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jaklumen
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response 16 of 48:
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Aug 25 05:03 UTC 2003 |
*shrug* I guess eating less helps... but I see partially too, that
what you eat really helps, too. Hopefully, I will add in more
vegetables... lots of meat has killed the food budget.
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happyboy
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response 17 of 48:
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Aug 25 07:55 UTC 2003 |
tofu is cheap...lowfat cottage cheese. do you feel more
energized after your walks, even considering the heat?
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