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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> Re: CH as to RLS & Sleep Apnea
        
(Message started by: Lizzie2 on Jun 26^th, 2006, 5:08am)

Title: Re: CH as to RLS & Sleep Apnea
Post by Lizzie2 on Jun 26^th, 2006, 5:08am

Good post, KOP. I had a sleep study last year that basically showed RLS and periodic limb movement disorder. My mom has RLS, my brother has RLS, and my grandma has RLS - those are only the ones I know about anyhow! I don't have sleep apnea, which is good at least! My grandma takes Requip for RLS, but it didn't work for me. My mom takes neurontin, which didn't work and made me very sick. I've tried a bunch of different things, but as of right now, I'm not taking anything. The times it actually bothers me the most is during the day when I didn't sleep well the night before and am overly tired....it is very painful to sit still sometimes!

The doctor I went to for the sleep study was actually a CH'er himself! That was interesting...

Take care!
Carrie :)

Title: Re: CH as to RLS & Sleep Apnea
Post by seasoned_vet. on Jun 26^th, 2006, 7:40am

very good post, I have had RLS since I was a little kid,(7-9) I have never taken anything for it except to get up and walk or jog and that allways works for me. I had no idea there could be a connection with my CH's. VERY ,VERY interesting!!!!!!!! For 17 years my wife has told me that on occasion I snore and gag in my sleep like a buzzsaw,,once again,,VERY vERY interesting.

Title: Re: CH as to RLS & Sleep Apnea
Post by brewcrew on Jun 26^th, 2006, 7:45am

I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea 5 years ago. I was extremely hopeful that treating it with CPAP would ease or even end my CH. Not the case. I sure do sleep better now, though. YMMV.

Title: Re: CH as to RLS & Sleep Apnea
Post by Redd715 on Jun 26^th, 2006, 9:09am

I knew a gentleman who required a CPAP for his sleep apnea.

After doing a bit of investigation, I learned the unit increases air flow at a consistant rate with a reservoir for water to humidify. However, it does NOT enrich the oxygen consentration above that which is already in the air. I often wondered if enriching the O2 concentration, might act as a preventive measure for night attacks.

My mind works in mysterious ways.

Title: Re: CH as to RLS & Sleep Apnea
Post by brewcrew on Jun 26^th, 2006, 10:17am

Some CPAP masks have a little nozzle on them to which you can connect an O2 hose. I've never done that, however.

One of the telltale signs of apnea is a drop in the blood oxygen level. During my sleep study, mine dropped to around 80%, which is getting into the danger zone. It happens because the patient doesn't breathe often enough. In my particular case, I stopped breathing an average of 32 times per hour. But CPAP therapy has solved that, and now I'm a happy camper (with CH, however). Getting enough sleep at least helps me deal with it better.

Title: Re: CH as to RLS & Sleep Apnea
Post by Sandy_C on Jun 26^th, 2006, 10:38am

Hmmm. My husband's the one with sleep apnea and I'm the one with CH. Go figure! :-/

I found the RLS information interesting though. For the past 3 months, I've been having problems at night with pain in my right leg, and have to constantly change positions. Has been rough on my sleep patterns. After reading the articles, though, I'm now ruling out RLS, which had been a thought in my mind. Anyway, I'll be making an appointment with my ortho to have my left knee checked (it's artificial so has to be checked fairly regularly), and I'll ask him to see what's going on with my right leg. I've looked in to hamstring pull, sciatica, arthritis (which is probably a given), so a professional opinion is now called for. Appointment will have to wait until after Milwaukee, of course!

Sandy

Title: Re: CH as to RLS & Sleep Apnea
Post by cootie on Jun 26^th, 2006, 11:46pm

For RLS I have had since birth (so it seems) I always rocked my legs or tapped them or kicked the bed board at nite or wall if I could cuz of how my legs buzz and twitch and burn and sting.......but that doesn't go over well now days doin all that. (didn't as a kid all the time either) I RARELY sit still not moveing my legs while sitting like I am a nervous wreck or sumthin cuz of it to this day. Soon as I stop they start in and vibrate. I never took anything for it cuz the meds side effects were worse then the condition. I think most of the world has it and IBS and alot of other things docs find out with testing and stick ya on meds that make ya feel worse or have bad side effects. Sumtimes I think they over react to things like that......I've woke up many a nite as if I about drown'd and figure I stopped breathing. Now I have the crappy habit of screaming and freaking out in my sleep and found out I was doin it early this morning and didn't know it but did remember the dream I was yelling in. What is that called.........."CRAZY" after all these years Pam

Brad doesn't seem to have any of the above but he does have CH......go figure........

Title: Re: CH as to RLS & Sleep Apnea
Post by BlueMeanie on Jun 27^th, 2006, 7:58pm

I finally went for a sleep study last month. The guy looked puzzled that I was there (skinny ;;D). He basically said people with sleep apnea are usually on the heavy side. When you sleep, gravity pulls the weight/mass of your throat in the shut position causing you to not breath. The CPAP machine just puts pressurized air into your system to keep the throat open so you can breathe. With that said, my CH are not related to Apnea.

Title: Re: CH as to RLS & Sleep Apnea
Post by Jonny on Jun 27^th, 2006, 8:09pm

on 06/27/06 at 19:58:51, BlueMeanie wrote:

my CH are not related to Apnea.

I hear that, Bro....6 foot 180 pounds...I aint fat by a long stretch.....LOL ;;D

This RLS, if you move while sleeping...does that mean you have it?....I roll over a few times every night just to reposition to be more comfortable or if my arm falls asleep.

Am I cursed with RLS?......LMAO!!!!! [smiley=laugh.gif]

I think that the docs will put a lable on anything just to sell more tests and drugs!