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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> Prob a dumb question 
        
(Message started by: Tiannia on Sep 28^th, 2006, 1:26pm)

Title: Prob a dumb question
Post by Tiannia on Sep 28^th, 2006, 1:26pm

ok guys. I had a doc about 3 yrs ago, right after I was diagnosed with CH, want to test me for sleep apnea. Shaun says that he wakes up at least once every night to make sure that I am breathing.

So the questions are..

How many here have sleep apnea?
What the hell does it really mean?
and
What info should I get before doing to my doc Monday for my reg appointment so that I am prepared to see if he will get me tested?

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by echo on Sep 28^th, 2006, 1:41pm

Tiannia,

I have had sleep apnea in the past. Basically I was a peg the meter case. I stopped breathing about 80 times an hour. When I went throught the sleep study they discovered that during the night there were times I would quit breathing for up to two minutes, and snort myself back.

Apnea means you never get a good night sleep. The positive side is you rarely hit REM (which is where I believe that the beast loves to hide). Continual lack of sleep is extremely hard on the body as a whole. My sleep doc said it can lead to a magnitude of other health issues in the long run.

I used the PAF (Positive Air Flow) device for about a year and ended up having the surgery. I would not suggest that route on anyone. It was extremely painful and lengthy to get over. They took out my toncils, part of the soft pallet, part of my tongue, uvula, and widened the passages in my nose.

After all is done, I am much better off. I don't snore any more and never quit breathing.

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by Paul98 on Sep 28^th, 2006, 1:42pm

Sleep apnea is the inturruption of rhythmic breathing during sleep. It can last for a moment to as long as it takes for you to wake. It is more common in heavy people but not limited to them.

If you think about it, CO2 buildup in the blood (from lack of breathing) causes the bloodvessles to dialate (as opposed to O2 which constricts them.) It is the dialation of bloodvessles that causes the pain associated with headaches. (The lineing of the blood vessles are rich in nerve endings.) It might be that high CO2 blood gas is a trigger for people with CH.

Don't know how many folks here have sleep apnea.

-P.

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by Margi on Sep 28^th, 2006, 1:55pm

are ya sure, Paul? I just mentioned this in another thread, but I always thought Oxygen was a vasodilator and the triptans are the vasoconstrictors. I would think that the CO2 buildup would cause constriction.... and that oxygen is needed to counteract that via dilation.

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by Tiannia on Sep 28^th, 2006, 2:08pm

Well either way , I think I'm going to talk to the doc. I know that it does not matter how much I sleep I am not rested. I have litterally fallen esleep in the middle of a conversation. Even when I am working on stuff, I can fall asleep in the matter of seconds. I have even done it while driving and woken up to see myself drivig hell bent for leather downt he freeway about to hit someone. I am lucky as well that I have not gotten into a serious accident. I need to see if there is something that can be done to help.

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by Margi on Sep 28^th, 2006, 2:11pm

on 09/28/06 at 14:08:45, Tiannia wrote:

I have litterally fallen esleep in the middle of a conversation.

That sounds more like narcolepsy, Tia and if you do have that - you probably shouldn't be driving.
here's some info:
http://www.helpguide.org/life/narcolepsy_symptom_causes_treatments.htm

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by echo on Sep 28^th, 2006, 2:18pm

on 09/28/06 at 14:08:45, Tiannia wrote:

I know that it does not matter how much I sleep I am not rested.

Sounds like a serious lack of recouperative sleep.
on 09/28/06 at 14:08:45, Tiannia wrote:

I have litterally fallen esleep in the middle of a conversation.

Does sound like narcolepsy.

on 09/28/06 at 14:08:45, Tiannia wrote:

Even when I am working on stuff, I can fall asleep in the matter of seconds.

Happened to me many times. Doc said it was apnea.

on 09/28/06 at 14:08:45, Tiannia wrote:

I need to see if there is something that can be done to help.

The doc will be able to find a solution to what seems to be a dangerous problem for you. Especially falling asleep on the freeway.

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by Tiannia on Sep 28^th, 2006, 3:16pm

90% of my work is driving. It is not an option for me not to drive.

But yes I need to do something. My husband told me once that it was impossible for me to fall alseep in the matter of 10 sec. But he asked me something and I asnwered him, then he said something else and I was already asleep. he said it was freaky.

I know that I have called Shaun just to talk to me to make me stay awake when I am driving home. I have given myself a bruise on my right theigh because I am hitting myself to stay awake, just like I have done when I feel myself starting to get hit to focus on something.

ok Going to talk to the doc and see what he comes up with. I need to do something, cause I cant seem to get healthy either, and I knwo that lack of sleep will not allow you to get better if you have a cold or worse.

Thank you for the input. You just cemented my thoughts to talk to the doctor. M apt is Monday at 3pm. So Lets see what he says.

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by Tiannia on Sep 28^th, 2006, 3:27pm

on 09/28/06 at 14:11:02, Margi wrote:

That sounds more like narcolepsy, Tia and if you do have that - you probably shouldn't be driving.
here's some info:
http://www.helpguide.org/life/narcolepsy_symptom_causes_treatments.htm

Margi -

I have read the info on narcolepsy.

It is frightening. I was in a meeting with the City of North Las Vegas. Going over a project that a builder was trying to push thru. There where about 20 people crammed around a table. I dropped my pen and leaned down to pick it up. I litterally fell asleep but I heard everything that everyone said. I di dnot wake up until I dropped the pen again. I was even able to write up detailed notes on what people said, but I was asleep for about 30 mins. Only one person noticed, but it was the strangest thing that I have exp. It was like I could not move or interact, but I knew what was happening.

I will fall asleep at my desk and will not move but I can hear people walk by me and know who is in the office.

Now this is really freaking me out.

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by Opus on Sep 28^th, 2006, 3:29pm

Tiannia,

Get the sleep study done. I have sleep apnea and I get a 50% reduction in symptoms from it. Before treatment with a CPAP I could fall asleep in 10 seconds too, but I never fell asleep while driving.

Before treatment my CH was much lighter, and my 10 then is a 5 now. But still using the CPAP has brought me out of a fog, and I think much better now. I still have not had a good night sleep in 12 years but I survive.

Until you get some treatment, try breath right nasal strips, sleeping propped up and limiting sleep. I found after 5 or 6 hours I feel much better than 7 or 8.

Paul

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by Paul98 on Sep 28^th, 2006, 3:37pm

on 09/28/06 at 13:55:14, Margi wrote:

Yep, I'm sure Margi. O2 constricts vessels, CO2 dilates them. Triptans constrict.

-P.

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by Margi on Sep 28^th, 2006, 3:50pm

yep, just learned that lesson from a couple of gurus. My error. Carry on! :)

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by echo on Sep 28^th, 2006, 4:14pm

on 09/28/06 at 15:50:59, Margi wrote:

yep, just learned that lesson from a couple of gurus. My error. Carry on! :)

Neener neener ;;D

just so everyone knows -- I was not, am not, don't want to be, won't be a guru on this subject. Just wanted to give ole Canada some shit.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by Charlie on Sep 28^th, 2006, 4:27pm

Tia...All you have to do is say you wake up in the night....because of pain in our case......and it's test time. Same with MRIs. It's gotten so bad with MRIs that I'm surprised that they don't do it for a sprained ankle.

I have a friend who has narcolepsy. Here we were in my friend's van on our way to a bottle show and Tom.....as a passenger.....passes out a number or times on the way. He still drives but rarely. From what I know, narcolepsy occurs many times a day. I think he takes Ritalin for it. He never drops a butt though.

Charlie

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by purpleydog on Sep 28^th, 2006, 7:44pm

Hi Tia,
My doc had me do a sleep study a few years ago, due to my headaches, he wanted to see if anything was going on. When I saw the neuro for the results, they didn't see anything unusual. They did tell me I had normal sleep apnea, and that everyone has it a little bit, just that it doesn't affect most people.

Now my doc wants me to have another sleep study, because now I only sleep 2 to 3 hours each night. I tell him I get plenty of rest, which is what is important, and the longer I sleep, the crappier I feel when I wake up, and the more tired I am through the day. He doesn't believe me. If I go to bed any earlier than I do, I get hit. My neuro understands this, but my primary doc doesn't.

Anyway, be prepared to be wired about 120 ways from Sunday. My head was totally wired, I had wires on my face, my neck, and my upper body. It took them about 20 minutes to take them off. Plus, you will be videotaped while you sleep.

Good Luck! I hope they find the problem, and treat it successfully. You'll feel much better. :)

Title: Re: Prob a dumb question
Post by ClusterChuck on Sep 28^th, 2006, 8:11pm

I, like many of us, have sleep apnea .. I have a CPAP machine that I am suppose to use every night. It does not seem to make any difference in my CH, though ... BUT, at least when I use it, the windows don't shatter, and the walls don't come crashing in from my snoring.

And as for the falling asleep, at all times, that is me too. The Doctors said it was because I was not getting a good night's sleep. They told me, that in some states, they would pull my driver's licence, because of it. The biggest thing that has helped me stay awake, while driving, is satellight radio. I have Sirius Radio. What keeps me awake, is I tune in to one of the radical talk stations. I get so pissed and worked up, it keeps me awake. Of course, the people in the other cars think I am crazy (they are right) as I scream and yell at the radio.

Anyhow, GO for the test!

Chuck