Is this sleep apnea?

[DaveT81]

Hi all,

I had an ablation for AF in June of last year. It was a 'success', as much as ablations go and I've not had (touch wood) a major episode since then. I have regular runs of ectopics, more so at night or in moments of stress but nothing too serious.

I have recently had diagnoses for:

gastritis

reflux

autoimmune disorder

Hashimotos

The last 1 is still tentative and I'm not sure about it but I'm undergoing treatment for underactive thyroid to see how that works for me but my main issue (and what instigated me approaching a private GP for all of this) is extreme breathing difficulties which have become increasingly worse and quite rapid weight loss. I've had many, many tests and scans which appear to suggest I'm perfectly healthy and have no lung issues.

Anyway, I've had occasional issues with falling asleep which amount to me being startled awake. I'd originally thought it was a PAC/PVC that's caught me by surprise but over the past couple of months it's become clear to me that I'm being startled awake because I've temporarily stopped breathing. This was clear none more so than last night when this happened about half a dozen times as I was trying to drift asleep. Today, I've been exhausted (although, I am most days TBH), irritable and a little antisocial - all the hallmarks of a disturbed sleep. Also, I've had little occasional PAC/PCVs all day too.

I'd put the sleep apnea like symptoms down to my reflux and the stress of all ongoing investigations but my wife has been telling me for many months now that I've been snoring loads more and I'm feeling like this may have been an issue for much longer. I read an excerpt earlier too which stated that there are some thoughts that helping apnea can help reflux symptoms.

So anyway, I'm just curious as to people's thoughts on whether this is possibly sleep apnea? I've no clue how often I'm suffering during the night but I am not really feeling the benefits of sleep at the moment. Even today, after what my phone tells me was over 8 hours sleep. So I can only assume it's happening through the night as well.

I'm so concerned with how often I'm at my NHS or private GP's offices at the moment, that I've been reluctant to go about this but I think the jig is up and I'm now going to have to bite the bullet and go ahead with this.

[BobD Volunteer]

Sounds like it may be. Speak to your doctor about having a sleep test which will diagnose if it is.

[Hidden]

You would need a sleep study for such a diagnosis. I wouldn’t say waking/stopping breathing a few times a night is sleep apnoea more like hundreds of times a night, although a study might surprise you how many times you are actually doing it.

[Hidden]

From the description it does sound like sleep apnea, so a GP visit is called for. Depending on the severity it may be easy to resolve, eg by losing weigh if you are overweight.

[DaveT81]

Hi guys/girls,

Thanks for the responses.

I'm 37, currently weigh 8st 13lb, having lost almost 3 stone since last year and I don't smoke. Never have. I have the occasional alcoholic drink, and have binged maybe a handful of times since my ablation. I've never had alcohol as a trigger so felt a few beers now and again wouldn't hurt.

Either way, what I'm saying is that there's nothing that I'm doing (as in being overweight/obese) that I can think would help these problems if I stopped. Also, although I'm having a handful of 'stopping breathing' points whilst trying to fall asleep, I reckon it's highly likely it's happening a lot more in the night. Off to my NHS GP I go tomorrow, I think.

[Rubymurray25]

Hi DaveT81, I have just read a book about undiagnosed sleep apnea by an American doctor, she states it is the biggest undetected medical issue in the USA, “ life after Cpap” it’s on kindle and a great read. I posted on this site about my own undiagnosed sleep apnea which my cardiologist is convinced started my AF. My SA has been missed for years and it was only when I posted here asking for help someone suggested I might have sleep apnea. I went to my doctor and pushed hard for a test, and was allowed to take the first verbal test in the surgery, 8 questions which I failed miserably so she made a sleep test appointment, I was rigged up fir the overnight test and was then told I had severe SA with 68 episodes an hour and was duly put in Cpap. I must have had it for years and it can cause many other issues, I’m responding when to the Cpap treatment and am my cardiologist is hoping in time I can come off my daily Sotalol. Please don’t delay and push hard for an appointment, for me I feel as if I’m Getty my life back, I no longer fall asleep whilst reading or watching TV. Good luck.