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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tammie on September 27, 1999, at 16:08:37
Just wondering what *Apnea* is??? Can someone help???
Posted by Noa on September 27, 1999, at 18:13:44
In reply to Sleep Apnea, posted by Tammie on September 27, 1999, at 16:08:37
Apnea means you stop breathing. Obstructive apnea is caused by the airway closing up. Central apnea is caused by the failure of your brain to signal that it is time to breathe. There is a great site call sleepnet.com that has lots of info.
Posted by Bob on September 29, 1999, at 14:35:03
In reply to Re: Sleep Apnea, posted by Noa on September 27, 1999, at 18:13:44
> There is a great site call sleepnet.com that has lots of info.
Phew! I couldn't remember where this post was ... thanks, Noa.
My apnea has come back with a vengeance over the last week. I kept waking up in the middle of the night, had trouble falling back to sleep, girlfriend was pounding on me again (of course, it takes a week before she tells me, "You're not really snoring -- it sounds more like you're gasping for air"). Yesterday was a doozy ... almost lost consciousness in the middle of a 5 person meeting. Got back to my office and got nailed. It's so weird ... it's not like I feel really tired so I decide to take a nap, and its not like I'm passing out (but very close to it). I'll be wide awake one second, and the next thing I know I'm closing my office door and clearing my desktop, then BOOM ... out go the lights for 45 minutes to an hour or so. To make matters worse, the inhalent my GP prescribed for me that worked so well a year ago is on backorder, hasn't been available for months, and may not be available for months! Ack! 8^P So while my I'm waiting for my GP to answer my phone message, I thought I'd do a little research to see what sort of non-pharmaceutical measures I could take.
Bob
Posted by Noa on September 29, 1999, at 22:03:25
In reply to Re: Sleep Apnea, posted by Bob on September 29, 1999, at 14:35:03
Bob, Try this:http://www.sleepedu.net/forums/apnea/apneainf.html
Sudden sleep attacks can kill you, no joke. Hope you are not driving these days. That's the short term danger,along with the emotional implications of being sleep deprived and how it affects your ability to do your job, be in relationships, etc. In the long run, tho, there are also dangers. Apnea can lead to an enlarged heart, high blood pressure, etc etc.
Take care....
Posted by Bob on September 29, 1999, at 23:48:51
In reply to Re: Sleep Apnea, posted by Noa on September 29, 1999, at 22:03:25
Driving? I wish. Grew up in the Motor City, and now I'm in Manhattan. No point in driving.
I'll check out that other URL -- thanks! I did play around at www.sleepnet.com, took some of the tests ... got a 55 on one and was thinking "whoo-yah, high score!" until I read that high scores were bad ... just like how I golf. One of the other tests said to watch out for narcolepsy as well ... do you know if those ever run together or not? Anyway, sleepnet also pointed me towards NYU, and it looks like they might be doing some sleep studies at Bellevue...more later.
Bob
Posted by Noa on September 30, 1999, at 18:12:03
In reply to Re: Sleep Apnea? or ..., posted by Bob on September 29, 1999, at 23:48:51
I think apnea is way more common than narcolepsy. Given that your bedmate has told you you are gasping for air, it's a pretty sure bet it is apnea rather than narcolepsy. One way to find out--treat the apnea and see if you still have sudden sleep attacks.
Posted by Bob on September 30, 1999, at 19:50:43
In reply to Re: Sleep Apnea? or ..., posted by Noa on September 30, 1999, at 18:12:03
> One way to find out--treat the apnea and see if you still have sudden sleep attacks.
Had another one today. Man, those hurt. Coming out of one feels like I've been sitting on the bottom in the deep end of a pool a little too long, then coming up too fast.
Good news is I got word from NYU about a study. Worrisome news is that it's medication-based -- I'm just concerned that taking an SSRI, a TCA, a Benzo, a cholesterol buster, and steroid inhalants (though that's for the apnea as well, and I'm sure I'd have to drop it for the study) might rule me out.
Well, anyway, I've got a nice big German Shepard who likes to curl up right behind my legs when I sleep on my side, and that position keeps me breathing quietly.
Bob
Posted by Noa on September 30, 1999, at 21:20:20
In reply to Re: Sleep Attacks, posted by Bob on September 30, 1999, at 19:50:43
If your apnea is position-dependent, consider yourself lucky. You could always try the old tennis ball sewn into the pj's trick.
Otherwise, I recommend a polysomnography and if you indeed have obstructive sleep apnea, a trial on a cpap. Non invasive, tho highly unglamorous, treatment, does the trick.
The sleep attacks hurt? Wonder if you are having apnea during them, too. I used to wake up every day with a mighty headache from the apnea. Oxygen deprivation is a mean monster.
This is the end of the thread.
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