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Well, I've been having heart issues for the last 3 months that so far have not responded at all to medicine. Last appt w/ the cardiologist he said that sleep apnea can cause heart disease, so before going in for surgery they want me evaluated for that, as if it is the cause, treating it may take care of my heart issues.
Anyone here that has it, can tell me about treatments, how effective they are and such? I'm making the appt today to meet with the sleep specialist.
Thanks in advance.
Well i can't help you with understanding sleep apnea, but i hope that all your medical issues can be resolved.
Well, I don't have it, but having been a respiratory therapist for a number of years, I can tell you that there are a number of treatment options available, and which one is used will depend on what type of sleep apnea it is, and exactly where the obstruction is occuring, but for the most common types a small bedside machine is used to provide a continuous flow of air to the oral pharynx, causing pressure that prevents the blockage. More specific treatments include oral appliances to open the airway, and ENT surgery UPPP (uvuol- palatopharyngoplasty) where a surgeon removes excessive soft tissue in the back of the throat to relieve obstruction. A lot of patients report good results with the treatments. Good luck with the appointment.
A coworker suffers from this and we were talking about it just yesterday morning.
He uses some sort of contraption to help him breathe at night.
Said it was strange at first, but that now he thoroughly appreciates it.
I wish you the best in finding an adequate solution for that. https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gif
Is this that darthvader like mask?!?! I don't honestly think that'd work well for me, I'm a busy sleeper that flops alot...(kept tearing off the heart monitor they had me in at nite) and with my allergies if I have anything near my face I feel like I am smothering.....so dunno how well I'd do with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by geoscomp
I have two good friends who use the Vader mask. Both of them SWEAR by it... the woman was almost in happy tears when she described the improvements it made in her day to day energy and mood...Quote:
Originally Posted by PuterGeekGirl
Yeah, I bet the results are great, I'm just hoping theres an alternate method as I'm afraid it wouldn't work well for me!
I have my first consult tomorrow with the sleep specialist, so I guess I'll know a lil more after that, most likely a setup for testing. I already had to fill out a 21 sheet questionaire thing......
Give it a try..don't forget that if you are a "busy sleeper" it means generally that you aren't getting good sleep.. rather that your rem/nrem sleep rhythms are off kilter and you aren't really getting deep sleep. This is actually a feature of sleep apnea. trying the mask..which only covers the nose btw..but has a strap to hold it on..may well allow you to really reach that deep sleep that allows you to recover properly.
Didn't know that meant I wasn't getting into a deep sleep....VERY interesting...thanks for the info. The more I hear and read, the more I think they may be onto something here. I can't tell you the last time I haven't felt tired, well for more than a day or two....Quote:
Originally Posted by geoscomp
Thanks again for the info! :thumbs:
Yeah, I have known a couple of people that had the surgery but weren't really helped until they got that machine.
My uncle wears the vader mask and swears by tit.
Hey PGG,.. do you sleep with your head and/or upper body slightly elevated? Or are you laying flat?
Yeah, most of us swear the same, but what does it have to do with the vader mask?Quote:
Originally Posted by silencio
:thumbs:
LMAO!! (That was a coke spit on monitor one). :thumbs:Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayward Clam
Just one pillow (per chiropractor) but I generally lay on my side, not on back.Quote:
Originally Posted by WebHead
I wondered the same thing about tit Clammie... :D :D
After filling out this huge questionaire, I'm wondering if maybe they are onto something here...
Interesting. I lay on my side too. They say you shouldn't sleep on you side because it's bad for you. They say you should lie flat on your back (but who's really going to do that?) I'm usually pretty tired too.Quote:
Originally Posted by PuterGeekGirl
Anyway,.. the reason I asked was because one day I was listening to Dr Dean Edell (I listen to him quite often actually) and he was mentioning a study where they found that people who sleep in an elevated fashion can have heart trouble. I'm no doctor and I can't explain it,.. but I guess it has something to do with bloodflow to the heart. For instance,.. if you fall asleep in a Laz-E-Boy type recliner,.. thats supposed to be the worst position to sleep in based on the study results.
Sorry I don't have any links for you to explain further what I mentioned above,.. but I can tell you Dr Edells website is healthcentral.com. There might be some info on this for you there. May help, may not. But definately worth a look.
I've done that, trust me... Dr told me yesterday to quit reading that stuff and overwheleming myself further... :thumbs:Quote:
Originally Posted by craigmodius
Was looking for more real life type experiences.
Went to the specialist yesterday, he says I for sure have some sleep issues going on, most likely the sleep apnea, I am scheduled for a sleep study next month..sooner if a cancellation happens.
Well, things got moved up and I had my sleep study last nite...boy was that fun....(NOT).
Anyway, it's getting so bad that I have no business driving....reflexes are shot...reasoning and thinking is shot to he!! (worse than normal ;) ) so I called the nurse to see if I can take something to TRY and get some rest til I see the Dr. on the 9th and she said that actually I'd be hearing from them Monday when he gets back in the office. I guess my test was given immediatly to the day tech to score and thats not normal, usually it takes some time for that to happen...so I guess that means they found something they didn't like. :confused:
Not sure how I feel about that...in some ways its good cuz it explains why I feel like he!! 95% of my life...but not sure that its the cause of the heart issues. But also, on the other hand, I'm not sure I know how to deal with all thats going on and being some freak that can't even sleep normally without the assistance of some machine..... :sad: :sad:
Not to be joking, but sex before sleep doesn't help?Quote:
Originally Posted by PuterGeekGirl
NOTHING helps....even sleeping pills don't do much....they get me barely under so I don't just lay there awake all nite.....but not into the deep sleep we all have to have in order to survive....
Sorry I missed this GeekGirl: I hope it all works out well.https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2006/04/1.gif And, if the sleep issues have nothing to do with the heart problems, it could be one less problem to deal with. I sure hope so, for you and your families' sake.Quote:
Originally Posted by PuterGeekGirl
And: you are NOT a freak, nor would you be if you had to wear that. I'll bet that you would kind of cute in it....https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gifhttps://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2007/09/1.gif
Best wishes!!
Thanks much... ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by TripleRLtd
Found out today its sleep apnea. Don't know the severity or anything yet, most likely won't know that til the 9th when I go for my follow up. I am going in today for a trial cpap machine so I can tell him on the 9th how thats going.
Just call me Scuba Steve..... :sad:
You have to undergo a sex-change too?! https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by PuterGeekGirl
Quote:
Originally Posted by a d e p t
Maybe.. I don't know the full treatment plan yet.... :thumbs2:
I hear the doctors in Canadia have perfected the Adadictomy operation. :devil:
I'm sorry to hear of your plight. I hope it all gets resolved soon.
You are funny, Meatwad..I almost spit out my water on my monitor :pQuote:
Originally Posted by meatwad
You guys always say that! Where the hell do you work? I'm not allowed to have water or cofee anywhere NEAR my work area.Quote:
Originally Posted by amyb
maybe they don't trust you. :p I have one of those keyboards that can be pulled in. Thus, no spillage.Quote:
Originally Posted by meatwad
If I couldn't have a cup of Lifer's Joy Juice at hand, they would have to find another body to run this shop! The only vices I have left are caffeine and ciggies, and I'm cutting way back on the coffin nails. So, they can have my coffee when they pry it out of my cold, dead hand! https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by meatwad
Good. One down and one to go, right PGG? https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2006/04/1.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by PuterGeekGirl
And, I will still call you cutie.https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gifhttps://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gif
One may be related to the other...won't know til I get the Scuba Steve thing down....was on it last nite for a lil over 5 hours and didn't sleep well. They told me I may not for a few days til I get used to things. They did say 5 hours was a great first nite tho, that lots of times its more like 1-2 hours....So only time will tell!Quote:
Originally Posted by TripleRLtd
Wow,.. good luck with all that PGG. Keep us posted.
I have an idea,.. try playing Doom 3 in the dark with nobody around. That should help you sleep,.. not! :p
Seriously though,.. I have some tips for this sleeping issue which I'll post later. I'm at home for lunch and have to get back now. But I have some really cool things for you to try. I'll post them when I get back on WD later.
Ok then,.. Dr Wrbby is in the house.
First thing we have to do is figure out the reason why you can't sleep. The good doctors that you are seeing have already diagnosed you with "sleep apnea" as being the cause. But what exactly is "sleep apnea"?
Lets find out...
http://www.sleepapnea.org/geninfo.html#defined
So now we know what the problem is. Thats great! But how do we fix it? Well the good doctors you are seeing are probably going to prescribe some medication because this condition is curable. And thats great too. I hope it works.
In the meantime,.. I have some other things to try. But first I need to find out a few things in order to properly offer my prescriptions to you.
PuterGeekGirl,.. Will you answer some quick questions for me please? (if none of this works,.. at least we'll have fun trying right? So humor me will ya? :p)
1> What did you consume today (eats , drinks)? Name everything please and the times of day you ate/drank them. Try and be as accurate as possible.
2> What time did lie down to go to sleep last night?
3> What time did you rise up to start your day today?
4> Do you sleep in a bed normally? Or do you fall asleep in other places such as chairs or couches?
5> In the evening, are there people around you? If so,.. how many?
6> What kind of weekday evening entertainment do you normally enjoy?
7> Please describe what types of physical activity you do during the week. Even if it's just walking from your car to your front door. Just name 2-4 things you do that require some form of physical activity.
8> What types of things do you think about while you are trying to fall asleep?
9> When was the last time you remember having a very nice long restful sleep?
10> Do you live in a house? Or an apartment?
Ok then,.. I know this seems like a lot,.. but Dr Wrbby will offer recommendations once you fill out this questionaire. I offer a 30 day satisfaction guarantee or your money back (it's free, so no loss). So come on! Try it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Wrbby can help. :)
Ok, First off they didn't prescribe meds...its treated with a cpap machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) More can be seen here: http://www.cpap.net/ You will now see why I'm known as Scuba Steve! :thumbs:...and thats what I'm currently using....So far (after nite #2) I've been able to average 5 hours a nite w/ it before I can't take anymore...last nite did go a lil better...Now...I'll answer your ?'s above.Quote:
Originally Posted by WebHead
:thumbs:
Oh...and whats with that 10 questions thing?? Come on...I had 24 pages of questions I had to fill out for the doc!! ;)
Hello wrbby...I held up my end of the bargain? Come one, whats the diagnosis? :D :D
I hope all goes well for you with the machine. I wish my friend had had one last year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tekboy
??
So far its going ok...got up to about 6.5 hours in it last nite (3rd nite)..so I feel good about how I'm doing with it. I'm still pretty worn out...but from what I've read depending on how long this has been going on I have a sleep deficit to make up for. But I don't feel unable to even move let alone stay awake as much today....so I think its starting to do something! :thumbs: