Sleep Investigation

[pottypete1]

I wrote in a reply to another post just now that sometimes the end doesn't justify the means.

When I did a survey of my AF a while back I established that greater than 55% of my incidents of AF had started either during the night or as I woke in the morning.

My AF has now been much more stable since I had my last ablation in August 2017 but I still get lots of ectopics in the day.

However, at night when I wake to go to the loo, I have found more and more that I have been gasping for breath as I woke and I felt very fluttery in my chest. It often takes 10 -15 minutes for me to return to normal. In addition I regulary wake in the morning with a bad headache and or nausea.

In December when I saw my EP he was concerned about this and said he would refer me to the Respitory Centre at my local hospital for them to investigate.

They obviously took this seriously as I was given a date of 30th January for a Sleep Investigation as it was felt that I had symptoms of Sleep Apnea.

So last night at 20:15 sharp, pillows under my arm and with a good book, I reported to the unit.

I was given lots of the usual checks including blood sugar, blood pressure etc plus 101 questions and was shown to my room.

The procedure comprised, being monitored for sound and visual images. I was also asked to wear elasticated bands across my chest and abdomen. I was told I must wear pyjamas and that finally I had to wear small nasal prongs which sat just on the edge of my nose.

The room was hot so I opened the window for fresh air (coldest night of the year).

Now....at home I sleep without all that paraphernalia and also only in my underpants. In addition to that we have a lovely light but thick and warm king sized duvet.

I normally go to sleep within about 5 -10 minutes with no trouble at all.

I settled down at 10:30 after reading a while.

After that the night turned into a bit of a nightmare rather than a sleep study.

I think I went for a pee about 6 -8 times in the first part of the night. My mind was doing overtime and after being awake for hours and checking the time at around 03:00 it seems I then had about an hour sleep before one more pee and then just about two and a half hours of sleep I woke at 06:30.

My guess is they will conclude absolutely nothing and most probably refer me to the insomnia clinic or the Urology Department to have my frequent peeing investigated. (I am not normally as frequent as that).

Right now I feel like I have just crossed the Atlantic and am suffering from severe jet lag.

At the same time we are having a family crisis. My 86 year old mother in law was diagnosed with Acute Kidney Disease, Cronic Kidney Failure, COPD, and possibly Uterine Cancer on Monday. This added to progressive short term memory loss has added up to a pretty awful start to 2019 for me and my Wife. My mother in law has refused help from the Social Services and is telling everyone she cannot understand what all the fuss is about as she has " abolutely nothing wrong with her". She is refusing any treatment whatsoever.

Maybe she has got the right attitude and us AFers are perhaps sometimes spending too much time concentrating on seeking a solution that cannot be found.

Pete

[Kaz747]

Very interesting Pete. I saw a sleep consultant today after my recent sleep study so will write a post soon about my “adventure”. Your mother-in-law sounds like my mum - there’s nothing wrong with her either and the doctors don’t know what they are on about. I hope all goes well with her.

[Bagrat]

Aaargh Pete to all going on. I had a very recalcitrant mother who insisted she could "manage" and my with it aunt colluded with her so we were unaware of "issues" . They obviously tried to give you the full works for sleep apnoea. My OH was set up with machone to use at home with nose jobs belly bands and pulse oximeter on finger and even that was not without significant changes in sleep levels. One of the good things is that with a CPAP machine the night time peeing is reduced ( I realise yours was unusual)

[pottypete1]

Forgot to mention that my first attempt at sleep last night was not helped by someone washing up crocks right outside my room about 10 minutes after I turned the light off.😬

[poppystorey]

Pete I so understand how you feel. All I ask from Doctors is speak to me so I can understand clearly what part of me you are talking about give my condition a name I understand not abbreviated.I know I have af I THINK I HAVE HEART FAILURE.

I do have and liver and kidney issues.but I do search for solutions and believe one day I will be better. Just need to come to terms with that.I have so many off days but don't really understand what an episode is .good luck .poppyStorey

[BobD Volunteer]

Exactly why I suspect such a study wouldbe pointless for me Pete. Sounds very familiar.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Me, too. I have enough trouble sleeping at home sometimes. I'm sure I wouldn't slip one minute in that kind of set up. I wonder how anyone can!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I mean “sleep”! 😂

[Hidden]

Hi Pete, sorry to hear about all your troubles.

When I had my sleep study, thankfully I had it at home, but even so it was a bl***y nightmare with all the stuff on and things up your nose.

I only got about 3 hours sleep in total, they discovered that I slept 70% on my left side.

I had an API of 5, which is fairly low and not normally treated, but as my sats went under 80% and I had AF, they gave me a CPAP machine.

Absolutely hated it for the first month, but 2 years down the line and its just second nature.

So I don't think all is lost, they know what they are looking for!

All the best

[pottypete1 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Mike for your reassurance.

I will see what they say. If they do recommend a CPAP machine I can image I will have issues but I will cross that bridge if and when I get there.

Pete

[Barb1]

I was diagnosed with mild to moderate SA and asked if I wanted a CPAP machine. I declined as I can't stand anything around my head or mouth and one more very visible thing that my husband could look at in disgust.

[secondtry in reply to Barb1]

Have you tried Breathright Nasal strips, I think they help just enough to keep improving my sleep.

[pottypete1 in reply to secondtry]

Yes I use them every night and they do help.

I still snore - so I am told.

Thanks for the tip.

Pete

[pottypete1]

Yes I can totally understand that. I hope your husband isn't that harsh.

I didn't really understand that CPAP machines could be a remedy and I feel much the same as you. I would have to be convinced that it was going to provide a significant difference.

[Barb1 in reply to pottypete1]

Yes harsh because he hates me going through all this. He really thinks that one thing leads to another and that if I stopped all meds and did more exercise all would be remedied. PS I am having spinal issues at the moment and I would love nothing more than purely being able to walk! But no more hijacking of this thread.

[lwm1198 in reply to Barb1]

Sorry you have to deal with that negativity. Seems pretty obvious he does not have YOUR best interests at heart.

[Barb1]

Thank you.

[pottypete1]

No problem with hijacking it happens all the time. Threads are rather like newspapers - today's news tomorrows fire lighter (Used to be fish and chips wrapper).

My wife has had to endure me with AF for over 25 years since it started. I think she needs a medal. I am a bit of a walking medical dictionary.

Pete

[irene75359]

I'm three days late reading this! You have my sympathy trying to sleep in a hospital environment, I hope they found out something after going through all that.

A friend of ours was diagnosed with sleep apnea (after suffering for a long time) and he bought his own CPAP machine, after discounting those available on the Spanish national health. He says it has utterly transformed his life, he is no longer exhausted through broken sleep and his other symptoms.

So very sorry about the problems with your mother-in-law - in can't be easy for either of you.

[pottypete1 in reply to irene75359]

Thanks Irene I appreciate the reply.

Pete