An update on the changes brought by a obstructive sleep aponea diagnosis and control of it. After ongoing heart problems dating from 2002, increasing problems, stents etc and little change it turns out that proper sleep is what was needed. Currently freed of cardio supervision and back under my gp's care. Oh of course I am not cured but its been decided that lack of o2 at night caused my increased heart problems.
Good news for me of course but the point of me saying all this is that after years of increasing problems one gp looked at things slightly differently. Always tired? Have you been tested for Gluten intolerance? ( stopped taking gluten felt better). Same gp referred me to pulmonary sleep clinic and thus to ode above! For years been told that tiredness was just symptoms of illness and/or side effects of meds.
I hope that you all meet the one gp that looks slightly diffrently at things, or maybe has the time and enthusiasm to look deeper in the ten minutes allowed!
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Smokie2D
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My EP sent me for a sleep test. I didn’t have classic sleep apnea signs (I was sleeping well, was not tired in the day, never fell asleep in the day). In my case most of my sleep was fine but I had issues when in REM sleep with the oxygen levels dropping so I am on CPAP now. I posted recently about women and sleep apnea. There is a definite link and many cardiologist/EPs are looking at sleep earlier in the diagnosis/treatment process which is great.
It takes someone to look at things differently at times. In my case I was monitored overnight on lots of over night stays and my o2 level was always low at night but it was put down to heart disease.
Agreed. Since my AF episodes seem to happen at night or in the morning, my cardiologist suggested a sleep study. I did not have sleep apnea, but was glad that it was eliminated as a possible cause. I now have less anxiety about how well I sleep at night.
I definitely feel I have low oxygen level at night as quite often wake up in the morning with a light headache & want fresh air, it soon clears. I was tested at night which evidenced mild apnea but not enough for action. So I use nasal strips but any other recommendations from you guys would be most welcome! I don't suppose it is practical to have an oxygen cylinder near the bed on slow release into the air without a mask??
I believe that’s why southern hemisphere Rugby players perform better than their northern hemisphere equivalent because the oxygen levels in their atmosphere is so much better quality.
If you can get a machine that provides air under pressure that would do it. If you suffer from your air way blocking by your tongue that's all they say is needed. if you enrich the air it still has to pass the obstruction.
I find that using a cold mist vaporizer/humidifier and sleeping on my side at night helps me breathe better. Especially during the colder weather months. I put a digital thermometer/hygrometer in my bedroom. When it read less than 35% relative humidity, I turn on the cold mist humidifier before bed.
Thankyou MS16 that is on my list to try.......I've been making lifestyle changes continually now for over 5 years, worth the hassle, definitely! Enjoy your day
Really pleased that at last your Apnea is being addressed. I did an video for this website last year about undiagnosed sleep apnea, and how it was only when someone from the HealthUnlocked website suggested, having read my AF and heart issues symptoms , that I ask my doctor about doing a test and low and behold 68 episodes an hour and straight unto CPAP ; my Cardiologist was stunned it had never been suggested before during my 10 years of heart issues! ( I have always been normal weight and I think that is the smokescreen ) .
The machine helps you sleep as you no longer wake up to start breathing again. Three visits to the loo has become none. I Do not sleep perfectly but better and longer.
That’s good news you have a GP who thinks out of the scripted box, as sadly that seems to be the trend with GP’s and everyone else in authority. They operate mechanically, like robots, sitting in-front of a screen and reading and dictating to a disconsolate patient who’s powerless to make their own mind up or decide for themselves about what they need, should or should not have or believe.
Many ills we have are easily remedied if only the doctor’s scripted training is put aside and looked at from a different mainstream perspective and only then are we going to move forward in future health care and individual betterment.
My cardiologist suggested a apnea test when I seen her first time so going in March. I didn’t think I would have but read the question tick sheet and thought wow I say yes to a lot of those . I always find the one does your partner say you stop breathing and I have to laugh no a earthquake wouldn’t wake him !
Or someone told her what to look for my cardio, (who I first saw as a student doc), said I was a learning experience for him. Hopefully he will pass it on!
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