How to tell you have sleep apnea?...

[Mesomorph]

I'm a nursing student, and last semester I was ALWAYS tired and had constant cramps in my back and neck. I finally determined it was my matress, and with the aid of my parents bought a memory foam topper (not a mattress... a topper that is meant to go ON a mattress). Even with just 2" of foam on a board, I sleep MUCH better. The foam is amazing.

However, I still need more sleep than most people. I have always been of a "special" physiology. All of my neurochemicals are off haha... I have ADD, Tourette Syndrome, Depression on and off, and Sinus Arrythmia. I wouldn't doubt if my breathing patterns are irregular as well. Although, its' obviously hard to assess my own breathing patterns, I have noticed times during the waking hours where it seems as though I have been sitting there focusing on something without breathing for a long time.

I woke up multiple times last night for seemingly no reason. I went to bed at 12 midnight, then woke up at 4AM, 6:30AM, 7AM and I think again at 9AM. I was very careful to look at my clock each time I awoke. I wonder if I have sleep apnea and that I might not be getting the deep/REM sleep I need?

[coolpeach]

Both of my parents have sleep apnea. There are factors which contribute for example they are both over weight. There are also signs and symptoms. They are both tired all the time even when they get enough sleep, and they snore LOUDLY. If you watch mom she actually stops breathing every little bit is really quite, and then gasps and starts again.

Their primary care sent them to a specialist who sent them to a sleep study center. They had to each spend a night sleeping in the sleep study center connected to machines. The data showed that each of them had sleep apnea. Now they sleep with little oxygen masks, and look very sexy I am sure lol. They do say they feel better now that they get a full nights rest.

I have read that by simply losing weight a lot of people and recover from sleep apnea without medical treatment, but of course that isnt always realistic.

[Mesomorph]

Both of my parents have sleep apnea. There are factors which contribute for example they are both over weight. There are also signs and symptoms. They are both tired all the time even when they get enough sleep, and they snore LOUDLY. If you watch mom she actually stops breathing every little bit is really quite, and then gasps and starts again.

Their primary care sent them to a specialist who sent them to a sleep study center. They had to each spend a night sleeping in the sleep study center connected to machines. The data showed that each of them had sleep apnea. Now they sleep with little oxygen masks, and look very sexy I am sure lol. They do say they feel better now that they get a full nights rest.

I have read that by simply losing weight a lot of people and recover from sleep apnea without medical treatment, but of course that isnt always realistic.

Thank you :).

I was reading about that. I am actually in excellent physical condition though, so it's not obesity. Hm... Also, I was reading about the types of apnea... Mine might be central rather than obstructive, or possibly mixed... The reason I think it might be central is because I have noticed my stimulus to breath stop during the day as well.

I hope there is a sleep clinic closeby. I wonder if you always have to go to a doctor first... I'd rather just go straight to the clinic.

[nightmare, RN]

Have you tried setting up a recorder to tape your sleep night? This would tape if you snore and also it would catch any apnoeic periods you might have.The only other way is to have someone else sleep with you to hear if you stop breathing! My husband has sleep apnoea and I very often give him a kick to get him "going" again!

[Sensoria17]

Do you have very large tonsils? I also sometimes wake up and it feels like I hadn't been breathing. I've never mentioned this to my doctor but even she made a comment about my large tonsils.

[Mesomorph]

Do you have very large tonsils? I also sometimes wake up and it feels like I hadn't been breathing. I've never mentioned this to my doctor but even she made a comment about my large tonsils.

Nope, I remember in health assessment that my tonsils were not visible upon inspection.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

you will probably have to go to MD first as the sleep clinic is a diagnostic exam and requires RX. Also, the MD should rule out other factors.

[Mesomorph]

you will probably have to go to MD first as the sleep clinic is a diagnostic exam and requires RX. Also, the MD should rule out other factors.

:-S... I don't have time for all this... Man, I wish I'd have figured out I had a problem prior to nursing school.

At least there is a sleep clinic in the hospital where I do my clinicals.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I'm sorry, but we cannot offer medical advice on this forum.

You will need to see a qualified physician or nurse practitioner who can refer you to a specialist in sleep medicine. This person will generally have you spend a night or two in a sleep lab, which is often part of a hospital or clinic, where you will be hooked up to monitoring equipment and watched through the night by a sleep technician. The sensors will monitor your breathing, heart rate, body temperature, O2 saturation, snoring, and other related signs. The tech will observe for signs that you need to be fitted with special equipment to keep your airway open, e.g. CPAP or BiPAP.

It all sounds intimidating, but it's actually a fascinating and educational experience. The sleep lab I went to was in a hospital, but my room was not at all like a hospital room; in fact, it was more like a mid-priced hotel with a very comfortable queen bed, private bathroom, cable TV, and room service. Other labs are set up in a regular hospital-type room, and some doctors will merely have you wear a pulse oximeter for a night at home to see if you desaturate during sleep.

Good luck in your search for a diagnosis.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

excellent info:

sleep disorders

what is sleep apnea?

sleep apnea - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

american sleep apnea association