Doc Chargerz et al - Sleep Medicine?

[rajncajn]

My wife swears that I have the symptoms of sleep apnea. Regardless, my snoring problem has gotten to the point that it keeps her up at night & in turn she's constantly waking me up to get me to stop. As a result, between that & the baby, neither of us are getting much sleep at night. I've tried several things already, none of the counter-bought stuff works at all. I've tried sleeping in different positions and I've even talked to a general practitioner who only prescribed some anti-inflammatory, bronchial & allergy meds which didn't really do much either. So now I'm to the point that I've GOT to do something or one morning I'm going to wake up to my wife trying to shove a roto-rooter up my nose. Unfortunately I really don't know what the next step is. I've looked in the yellow pages & found several sleep disorder places, but their ads all smack of used car dealers more than serious medical practitioners & I really don't want to be wasting my time with this if there actually is something more seriously wrong.

[darin3]

My wife swears that I have the symptoms of sleep apnea. Regardless, my snoring problem has gotten to the point that it keeps her up at night & in turn she's constantly waking me up to get me to stop. As a result, between that & the baby, neither of us are getting much sleep at night. I've tried several things already, none of the counter-bought stuff works at all. I've tried sleeping in different positions and I've even talked to a general practitioner who only prescribed some anti-inflammatory, bronchial & allergy meds which didn't really do much either. So now I'm to the point that I've GOT to do something or one morning I'm going to wake up to my wife trying to shove a roto-rooter up my nose. Unfortunately I really don't know what the next step is. I've looked in the yellow pages & found several sleep disorder places, but their ads all smack of used car dealers more than serious medical practitioners & I really don't want to be wasting my time with this if there actually is something more seriously wrong.

 

A good friend of mine went to a sleep clinic and they recommended a c-pap machine. Google it. I am "on the fence" in terms of having sleep apnea or just bad snoring. I know that when I lose weight, the snoring decreases or even stops. I too have tried lots of over-the-counter "remedies" and few have done anything. However, I have been using the "Breathe Right" strips and apparently they've worked the best.

[rajncajn]

I do tend to get stuffed up at night, but I've tried the breathe right strips & they don't seem to do anything but annoy me.

Edited April 23, 2007 by rajncajn

[Jimmy Neutron]

I've tried different positions..

 

 

Try enough of that and you'll be so exhausted sleep will come easily.

 

Seriously, you should probably get tested for sleep apnea. A couple of my friends have recetnly been tested and both ended up getting the CPAP machine - helped in both cases. If you have other risk factors like high blood pressure or history of heart disease in your family, have the test done.

[Egret]

A good friend of mine went to a sleep clinic and they recommended a c-pap machine. Google it. I am "on the fence" in terms of having sleep apnea or just bad snoring. I know that when I lose weight, the snoring decreases or even stops. I too have tried lots of over-the-counter "remedies" and few have done anything. However, I have been using the "Breathe Right" strips and apparently they've worked the best.

 

My doctor recomended a place for me. I walked in, talked with the folks, and never went back there. He said I needed an overnight stay, but told me he could already diagnose me with apnea. He then wanted to talk about what kind of cpap machine I would like. I said, "If you can diagnose me, why do I need a sleep study?" I didn't like the answer.

 

I then went to one of the local hospitals that did sleep studies. No apnea. Just snoring. Apparently I'm also an "active" sleeper who doesn't remember shiat. I didn't remember the nurses coming in to check on me.

 

I also went to an ENT doc. They looked at the sleep study info and said I needed nose surgery. I ended up backing out of that too. The doc said I'd be just as well to drop a few lbs. I still haven't lost the weight, so I sleep on the couch most night. Mrs. Egret and I have an arrangement. I'm more than happy to sleep on the couch now.

[Clubfoothead]

I have no experience with the clinics. Apnea can be no joke though.

 

What does yer primary care Dr say?

Edited April 24, 2007 by Clubfoothead

[rajncajn]

I have no experience with the clinics. Apnea can be no joke though.

 

What does yer primary care Dr say?

 

Primary care doc prescribed me several allergy type medications and said it was not likely that it was apnea given my age/weight/general condition & he told me the only thing a sleep place would tell me is that I need surgery.

[Clubfoothead]

Primary care doc prescribed me several allergy type medications and said it was not likely that it was apnea given my age/weight/general condition & he told me the only thing a sleep place would tell me is that I need surgery.

 

 

I would tend to trust that but I'm just giving you adviced based on it being in my family medical history.

 

I think we are similar in age and thin so we have that to our advantage. If you haven't checked, see if you have it in your family history and make sure your doctor keeps tabs on it.

 

I don't snore but I will wake up gasping for air once a month or every other month. I haven't thought to see if it coincides with my pollen allergies.

 

Do you still have yer tonsils? It sounds like you may have a snoring issue more than an apnea one. Not sure if that's better or worse if your wife can't sleep.

 

And a reminder, I'm not even close to a doctor.

[Yukon Cornelius]

 

c-pap machine

has made my sleep the best its been since i was a kid.... going on 4 years now.... yup did the overnight stay at the hospital..... go get a sleep study dun buy a good place.... Edited April 24, 2007 by Yukon Cornelius

[Furd]

Sleep disorder clinics are legit.

 

It sounds to me like you have sleep apne. Like somebody else mentioned, you may need a CPAP machine.

 

Ask your PCP for a referral.

[broncosn05]

Yep my dad had the darth vader machine.

[Chargerz]

Snoring is caused by the vibration of airway tissue in response to the flow of air.

 

Not all snoring is due to sleep apnea, but you need a sleep study first to see if you have it. At Kaiser (my HMO) all of the sleep studies are done at the patient's home with 3 sensors that are applied by the patient.

 

If the study shows apnea, a c-pap (positive pressure) machine can save your life and get rid of the snoring by gently keeping your airway open.

 

If you don't have sleep apnea, an ENT specialist can help you find the cause of the snoring. Snoring can come from the nose and/or the throat. An examination of these areas by a qualified specialist is the first step.

 

Treatment can involve decongestants and anti-allergic medications. If medicines fail to help, sometimes surgery is needed to open the airway to allow air to flow without vibration. There are many procedures available, but a reputable ENT doc will try the least invasive procedure first. After all, even a deviated nasal septum has been known to cause snoring.

 

The point of all this is that there is help for people who snore. I ought to know. I was one of them. With the use of my c-pap machine, I sleep more soundly than I ever have before AND without snoring.

 

If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to PM me.

[Gonkis]

Don't they need to perform a sleep study prior to prescribing a CPAP machine so they know how to set the pressure?

 

Good Luck, cajn.

[RFFL Chump]

Did the sleep study, was told I had mild apnea, tried the machines for about 1 month and sleep got worse. Now looking for other options.

 

Good luck with all of it.

[Vicky]

I would start with an ENT and see where they want to go from there. They will most likely refer you to a clinic for a sleep study and they recommend either a CPAP or some sort of surgery to get rid of any possibly obstruction.

 

If they suggest surgery, don't blow it off right away. Sure it can suck in the short term, but depending on your age, it may be a more desirable fix than sleeping with a machine strapped to your face for the rest of your life. When my husband was about 25, a few doctors recommended ONLY the CPAP machine to be used forever and he thought that was a sucky way to fix things. An ENT suggested started with a rhinoplasty to get rid of some nasal obstruction and it made a HUGE difference.

[rajncajn]

Just made an appointment for tomorrow AM with an ENT. :crossingfingers:

[The Irish Doggy]

Been there - done that, bro.

 

I had severe apnea and a deviated septum which combined with being overweight and miserable alergies made me the worst snorer most people ever heard and one tired pup during the day . I tried the C-Pap for two months which I never got comfortable with (threw the dam thing across the room one night ), did three overnight studies, and finally settled on throat surgery. My ENT did an OK job . My septum is still somewhat deviated (50% from 95%), took out my tonsils, and did the UPPP surgery (Uvulo-pharyngo-palato Plasty IIRC). There was a miserable two week recovery on that one.

 

However, I definitely sleep better now - I'm positive the apnea is not cured, but is much better - and don't snore. I use the nasal strips every night and a prescription nose spray to help with congestion.

 

I do tend to get stuffed up at night,

 

This sounds a lot like me. Do you feel relatively clear during the day, but once you lay down, its stuffed-up city - even when you take the allergy meds?

 

If you are still feeling congested at night even with taking the allergy/decongestant pills (I've tried all the over/under-the-counter stuff too), ask your doc about the nose spray, Nasacort AQ. This is the only thing that has allowed me to breath consistently through my nose at night. Apparently, nasal membranes can swell at night due to changes in body position - not just allergies. I felt stuffed up, but there was no gunk up there to blow out.

 

Anyway, if your insurance covers it, see an ENT doc - and specify the times when you feel stuffy and not. You may need more than your GP can give you at this point IMO.

Edited April 24, 2007 by The Irish Doggy

[detlef]

If you find yourself stuffed up at night, there might be a very simple and cheap solution. Try taking bromelain (sp?). It is often used to break down inflamation in your joints but also digests other proteins (like snot) as well. There's a chance that it might be as simple as that. It is completely safe and relatively cheap, so it seems worth the gamble.

 

FWIW, it is the same enzyme found in pineapple juice which is often used as a meat tenderizer.

[The Irish Doggy]

Just made an appointment for tomorrow AM with an ENT. :crossingfingers:

 

 

 

Well there ya go. Good luck from a fellow sufferer.

[Chargerz]

Just made an appointment for tomorrow AM with an ENT. :crossingfingers:

 

[polksalet]

A good friend of mine has apnea for several years. A hose on his machine broke one night so he repaired it with duct tape. Over the next few weeks his repair failed and his brain was deprived of oxygen for extended periods of time. I went to see him last year in the hospital on his 50th b'day. He no longer knew me. Now he no longer knows anyone. He just sits and cries wishing for death.

[rajncajn]

Been there - done that, bro.

 

I had severe apnea and a deviated septum which combined with being overweight and miserable alergies made me the worst snorer most people ever heard and one tired pup during the day . I tried the C-Pap for two months which I never got comfortable with (threw the dam thing across the room one night ), did three overnight studies, and finally settled on throat surgery. My ENT did an OK job . My septum is still somewhat deviated (50% from 95%), took out my tonsils, and did the UPPP surgery (Uvulo-pharyngo-palato Plasty IIRC). There was a miserable two week recovery on that one.

That's one thing I'm worried about. i do still have my tonsils and my pallet is sometimes sore & swollen after I've woken up & I can tell that it's from snoring. My weight is not a big problem, but I am a little loose around the edges (5-10, 170-175). I know if I toned up a little it would probably help.

However, I definitely sleep better now - I'm positive the apnea is not cured, but is much better - and don't snore. I use the nasal strips every night and a prescription nose spray to help with congestion.

This sounds a lot like me. Do you feel relatively clear during the day, but once you lay down, its stuffed-up city - even when you take the allergy meds?

If you are still feeling congested at night even with taking the allergy/decongestant pills (I've tried all the over/under-the-counter stuff too), ask your doc about the nose spray, Nasacort AQ. This is the only thing that has allowed me to breath consistently through my nose at night. Apparently, nasal membranes can swell at night due to changes in body position - not just allergies. I felt stuffed up, but there was no gunk up there to blow out.

 

Anyway, if your insurance covers it, see an ENT doc - and specify the times when you feel stuffy and not. You may need more than your GP can give you at this point IMO.

 

This sounds EXACTLY like me. I can breathe fine during the day, but when I wake up in the morning I'm all stuffed up.

[The Irish Doggy]

That's one thing I'm worried about. i do still have my tonsils and my pallet is sometimes sore & swollen after I've woken up & I can tell that it's from snoring. My weight is not a big problem, but I am a little loose around the edges (5-10, 170-175). I know if I toned up a little it would probably help.

This sounds EXACTLY like me. I can breathe fine during the day, but when I wake up in the morning I'm all stuffed up.

 

 

 

Good luck. Let us know how it turns out. If you go on the nose spray, try the nose strips again (remember to wash and dry your nose well before putting them on), they may not annoy you so much anymore if your nose is clear. Anyway, with a clear nose, you'll probably snore less and your pallet shouldn't be sore because you won't be mouth breathing at night.

[rajncajn]

Well the ENT has told me eventually I'll probably need surgery. He said my tonsils & soft pallet are a little enlarged & that's likely what is causing the snoring. Now he wants me to go ahead with the sleep study to see if they confirm & also get fitted with the CPAP. If that works for me I'll probably use it for a while & build up some vacation time because the recovery time for the surgery is supposed to be two weeks. It'd basically be a tonsillectomy and removal of some of the soft pallet.

[The Irish Doggy]

Well the ENT has told me eventually I'll probably need surgery. He said my tonsils & soft pallet are a little enlarged & that's likely what is causing the snoring. Now he wants me to go ahead with the sleep study to see if they confirm & also get fitted with the CPAP. If that works for me I'll probably use it for a while & build up some vacation time because the recovery time for the surgery is supposed to be two weeks. It'd basically be a tonsillectomy and removal of some of the soft pallet.

 

 

Nothing about the nose spray? Did the ENT put a scope up your nose?

 

I'm shocked the ENT suggested a surgical solution. My ENT didn't even suggest it until after the CPAP failed. Definitely get a second opinion before you accept a surgical option, and be 100% about the ENT doing the work. Working with the soft pallet can be very tricky. Not to get all commercial-disclaimer on you, but be sure you understand the risks. Anyway, PM me sometime if you want to talk more about the recovery.

 

You have to decide what is best for you I know, but please take extra care on this one.