Sleep Apnoea

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Emmet Brickowski
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Dave
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For years now I go to bed and wake up like I've only had a couple of hours sleep. I had tests and and was told I have borderline (right on the edge) Sleep Apnoea.
As it didn't go that bit over the line on their graph there's nothing they can do.

Is anyone here have the same kind of problem? If so, have you found a remedy?
 
Strange, that's how I've been feeling recently and can count many times I've woken up and it's only felt like minutes.

Apparently my 5year wee old boy suffers from sleep apnea (as well as many other things), but his is a different sort. He will stop all breathing in his sleep for up to 20seconds at a time then all of a sudden gasp for air. He stays asleep during all this and it doesn't bother him, but it's certainly freaky to watch. All his problems seem to link into one another some how and I could spend ages writing about them, the sleep apnea is just a small part but it is effecting him.

What affects his sleep apnea the most though are his adanoids (I think that's what they are). He's already had them and his tonsils removed but they have grown back. Apparently it can cause behavior problems if left untreated which he also suffers from but that's something that's ongoing at the moment and we're trying to get to the bottom of. Swings and roundabouts at the moment.

hope you get to the bottom of it, must be different for adults. Might be worth me going to the doctors as well since I have a similar feeling to yourself. I've already been referred to some sort of sleep clinic for sleep walking, although that has calmed down considerably. I've not woken up with any tins of dog food beside me with a spoon in recently...
 
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My youngest daughter had it as a new born - a few times we thought she had died, and as despite my wife being a pediatric nurse it was a very hard time for us.
She had various problems, most of which she has grown out of, including any serious bouts of sleep apnoea.
Now it seems both me and my wife have it to some extent - nothing serious but boy, does it scare the pants off me when either of them are asleep in bed with me (which is rare in my daughters case as she is 11, but when she has asthma or is ill in some way..) and I hear either of them stop breathing - OK, so I don't hear them stop, but I now sleep so badly that as soon as there is no rhythmical breathing I panic, with very visual memories coming straight back...
We have not found any remedy, so all I can say is that you are not alone, and any suggestions about any remedy would be good to hear about !
 
I don't fall asleep like some in the thread that's been linked, I do (so I'm told by my wife) stop breathing for 10-20 seconds. Hospital said the same. If I was that few more % over the line for help I'm pretty sure I would be using the oxygen machine at night. That's doesn't sound like much fun though, but if it gives them a good night sleep.....
 
The CPAP (not oxygen) machine works very well and if your Sleep Clinic can't get you one you can arrange to buy your own (with a prescription you can get from the Sleep Clinic) and you soon get used to it. There are some other 'gimmicks' you can buy like nose plasters and a sort of gum-shield but there is no substitute for the CPAP :)
 
Got the nose plasters, better than nothing. Gum-shield just made me gag.

Interesting about buying mt own with a prescription you can get from the Sleep Clinic. I'll make enquiries :)
 
Daverkl said:
I don't fall asleep like some in the thread that's been linked, I do (so I'm told by my wife) stop breathing for 10-20 seconds. Hospital said the same. If I was that few more % over the line for help I'm pretty sure I would be using the oxygen machine at night. That's doesn't sound like much fun though, but if it gives them a good night sleep.....
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Which hospital did you go to Dave?
There are many signs to look for if someone has OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnoea) - snoring (accompanied by stopping breathing for a while, then gasping for air and start snoring again), weight gain, tired all the time to the point where you can fall asleep mid conversation, concentration problems and memory loss. The condition can also get worse if not treated, and there can be several causes, collapsing of the soft palette being very common.
I am not quite sure what you mean when you say "% over the line for help", because if you have worn an oximeter for a night, then it should show various things - pulse, respiration and most importantly the number of times per hour that you stop breathing and the time span for each incident.
The CPAP/APAP macine doesn't use oxygen as such, it is just like a very clever compressor which supplies the patient with filtered air, via a hose (sometimes humidified air which helps stop getting a dry throat/mouth) attached to a mask. The machine can be set to cope with all levels of OSA, and it stores information so that the hospital can see how compliant the patient is - hours per night usage, missed nights etc.
If you are not getting enough sleep and you are stopping breathing at nights, then you might try getting referred to another sleep specialist, because untreated OSA can be quite serious, and not just in the obvious ways like falling asleep whilst you are driving. If you have serious OSA (above 30 AHI - Apnoea Hypopnea Index), then you could have heart problems, high blood pressure etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apnea–hypopnea_index
 
It was one in Gravesend, Kent.

They told me I was right on the line in there test for Sleep Apnoea. Just not over the line to have the help with CPAP macine, or any other help.

I got my weight done from 17st to 14st but that didn't make any difference. My blood pressure is low.
 
Daverkl said:
It was one in Gravesend, Kent.

They told me I was right on the line in there test for Sleep Apnoea. Just not over the line to have the help with CPAP macine, or any other help.

I got my weight done from 17st to 14st but that didn't make any difference. My blood pressure is low.
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Did you pay for the tests by any chance?
 
No. Went to my doctors and it's where they sent me.
 
To be honest there are many different forms of sleep apnoea so without knowing which you have it would be hard to say what you could do, if I was you I'd be asking for a second opinion, I assume you've done a full sleep study?

Personally given your location I'd be sorely tempted to try and get a referral to the Lane-Fox unit at St. Thomas' they are who I'm under of my Sleep Apnoea even though I'm actually from Warwickshire as I was transferred to them 5 years ago from a local intentive care unit when I was extreamly ill, they are possibly the best unit for respitory care in the UK
 
Yes, I have had a sleep study. I will be going back to my docs though for a second opinion. I'll ask about St. Thomas.
 
Daverkl said:
Yes, I have had a sleep study. I will be going back to my docs though for a second opinion. I'll ask about St. Thomas.
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This is their website...I spent nearly 5 weeks with them back in 2010, they were very good to me, was down there at the end of Jan for a check up and equipment service, had a couple of machine failures last year, they had a replacement machine to me within 5 hours of calling them...amazing when you think I live about 3 hours from them

http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/lane-fox/overview.aspx
 
Hi

Many years ago I had a sleep study done at Basildon Hospital, they said I didn't have OSA even though at the time my weight was 25 stones, then 4 years ago after a move to Kent I was sent to the William Harvy Hospital in Ashford for another sleep study as my GP was sure that I must have it, when they did the study the confirmed that I did have it and actually stopped breathing 45 times in an hour. They put me on a CPAP machine and what a difference it made , no longer fell asleep in front of the TV no longer fell asleep mid conversation, no longer struggled to stay awake when driving.

Was on the CPAP for about a year when I had WLS and dropped 10 stones in 6 months and my OSA went away with the weight.

Now sleep all night and no longer snore.

It is said that if your neck measurement is 18 inches or above you will have OSA.

If I was the OP I would be tempted to ask my GP for a referral to another Hospital for another test.

Paul
 
Thanks Matthew.

Thanks Paul. That's what I'm going to do.
 
MWHCVT said:
To be honest there are many different forms of sleep apnoea so without knowing which you have it would be hard to say what you could do, if I was you I'd be asking for a second opinion, I assume you've done a full sleep study?

Personally given your location I'd be sorely tempted to try and get a referral to the Lane-Fox unit at St. Thomas' they are who I'm under of my Sleep Apnoea even though I'm actually from Warwickshire as I was transferred to them 5 years ago from a local intentive care unit when I was extreamly ill, they are possibly the best unit for respitory care in the UK
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When was the last time you went there Matthew, because they relocated to Guys over by the Shard near London Bridge about three years ago. The old centre at St Thomas' was really small, whereas the new centre has two large waiting rooms, with TV's and the facilities are very good.
 
MWHCVT said:
This is their website...I spent nearly 5 weeks with them back in 2010, they were very good to me, was down there at the end of Jan for a check up and equipment service, had a couple of machine failures last year, they had a replacement machine to me within 5 hours of calling them...amazing when you think I live about 3 hours from them

http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/lane-fox/overview.aspx
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I have just read this after replying to your first post Matthew. I started off at the sleep clinic in St Thomas' (right next to the Lane Fox department) around twelve years ago, then it was all relocated (or I thought it was) to a clinic in Nuffield House near to London Bridge station. It is basically the same setup as before, with the annual machine MOT and checking of weight, BP, Neck and waist size etc. I had my MOT done a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/sleep-disorders-centre/overview.aspx
 
Daverkl said:
It was one in Gravesend, Kent.

They told me I was right on the line in there test for Sleep Apnoea. Just not over the line to have the help with CPAP macine, or any other help.

I got my weight done from 17st to 14st but that didn't make any difference. My blood pressure is low.
Click to expand...


I hate to sound a bit rude Dave, but I have never heard of a sleep clinic in Gravesend, and it is only about ten miles from me. I know that the Medway Maritime hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital at Woolwich have them, as well as Guys and St Thomas' in London. My GP is based in Medway and he has never suggested that I go to a clinic in Gravesend.
 
andy700 said:
When was the last time you went there Matthew, because they relocated to Guys over by the Shard near London Bridge about three years ago. The old centre at St Thomas' was really small, whereas the new centre has two large waiting rooms, with TV's and the facilities are very good.
Click to expand...

andy700 said:
I have just read this after replying to your first post Matthew. I started off at the sleep clinic in St Thomas' (right next to the Lane Fox department) around twelve years ago, then it was all relocated (or I thought it was) to a clinic in Nuffield House near to London Bridge station. It is basically the same setup as before, with the annual machine MOT and checking of weight, BP, Neck and waist size etc. I had my MOT done a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/sleep-disorders-centre/overview.aspx
Click to expand...

Was last there at the end of Jan, think it was the 29th still at the Lane-Fox unit for me...they are truly fantastic ain't they? :thumbs:

This was from my last trip there in Jan, stood at the back of my car while I waited for my apointment as I managed to arrive about 4 hours before it due to traffic being amazingly light

View attachment 32236
 
MWHCVT said:
Was last there at the end of Jan, think it was the 29th still at the Lane-Fox unit for me...they are truly fantastic ain't they? (y)

This was from my last trip there in Jan, stood at the back of my car while I waited for my apointment as I managed to arrive about 4 hours before it due to traffic being amazingly light

View attachment 32236
Click to expand...


They are an absolutely great bunch, and so many of them stick around for years. I reckon if it wasn't for them I would probably not be here today. I know that some folks don't get on with CPAP, but in all honesty, if you have really bad OSA (my AHI was 68:eek:) then the cure is far better than the alternative.
 
andy700 said:
They are an absolutely great bunch, and so many of them stick around for years. I reckon if it wasn't for them I would probably not be here today. I know that some folks don't get on with CPAP, but in all honesty, if you have really bad OSA (my AHI was 68:eek:) then the cure is far better than the alternative.
Click to expand...

I'm the same I'm under no doubt that without the great team at LFU I would not be here today, and they are such a friendly bunch, too....I remember having to go for a sleep study down there just before Christmas one year and Natalie the Nurse in charge had arranged for 4 piece orchestra to be in the ward for a few hours to play some music for the patients....not to mention when I was transferred there from my local hospital because they knew I'd be lucky to get two visits a week as I was far from local to the hospital she made sure firstly that she was my nurse for the day, but also that I had a bed space right next to the nurses station so I would always have human contact...

I'm some what lucky there are many patients that they treat which are in there for months at a time...by comparison my situation is rather mild, though still serious of course as you know as a fellow OSA suffer...I'm on a Nippy 3plus myself

I really cannot sing the praises of the LFU enough
 
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