Sleep Apnea

[66666]

I had a pacemaker fitted 2 yr ago, and I was having quite a lot of ectopic beats. After been prescribed nabivolol 5mg bd. They subsided but of late my BP as risen and and I am fed up of my gp constantly adding extra meds. I am currently taking the above plus 8mg perindopril in the morning and 2mg doxazosin at night plus a statin at night too. I have had trouble snoring for quite a while and then recently i read about someone having high blood pressure and finding out they had sleep apnea. How easy is it to be tested for sleep Apnea ??

[Frogman53]

I should imagine it will be quite easy to get tested ...the problem would be getting a machine I've been on CPAP therepy for 10 years and need a new machine but there's a long waiting list for the due to the worldwide shortage of computer chips.

[CDreamer in reply to Frogman53]

Is that generally or from NHS in your area? You can buy one online and have it delivered in a few days - cost circa £600.

[Frogman53 in reply to CDreamer]

Yes it's from the NHS ....usually have no problem getting maks and spare parts from them but supplies to them seem to be drying up what make of machine is that for £600 ?

[CDreamer in reply to Frogman53]

Resmed - which I’ve always used from the NHS but my understanding is that each area tends to have different protocols. I know if I rang my old clinic with a problem I would get a machine in a few days but that they have been very uncertain if their clinic will survive the NHS privatisation outsourcing - and there in lies the problem of long waits, I believe.

[Frogman53 in reply to CDreamer]

According to my clinic nurse the problem is worldwide she told me they used to get 60 machines a week and they're now down to 12 new patients who attended clinic in March have been told that the earliest they will get a machine is November.

[CDreamer in reply to Frogman53]

There was a shortage of chips which affected more or less every gadget that uses them but that has eased somewhat now. The NHS won’t pay full price for anything of course so will purchase for a much lower price but I notice my clinic tended to not have the latest models either.

I guess any shortages in supply chain will inevitably cause a backlog.

[CDreamer]

Used to be quite easy but the very long waits for referrals to a sleep clinic are ridiculous.

I was diagnosed in 2014 and treated for SA since with CPAP. I had fantastic support from the clinic and then I moved. I’ve been waiting just for an appointment after GP referral since May and I had to go through to he whole routine again.

Sleep apnea is not just snoring but how often you pause breathing so if you have a partner who has heart your breathing pause - for anything up to a minute - that helps and is one of the questions on the questionnaire.

1. See GP who should give you a questionnaire to fill in.

2. If you score over a certain number you will be referred to Sleep Clinic.

3. The will arrange for an overnight sleep test where you will be wired up for various monitoring - HR, breathing and constant O2 monitoring.

4. If positive a diagnosis and treatment which is usually CPAP machine.

Or - you can do it yourself privately. sleeptest.co.uk/what-is-a-h...

I use a ResMed machine which was issued by NHS who supply some but not all you need spare parts such as replacement masks and filters. I then bought my own machine for travelling - much smaller and lighter.

CPAP has helped me tremendously and the first night I slept through with the machine (takes quite a bit of adjusting to) I awoke feeling refreshed which was the first time in living memory.

Hope that helps.

[Boombiddy in reply to CDreamer]

Just to say Thankyou, this is really helpful to me, specifically, today, as am going today to get CPAP machine and be shown how to use it etc.

I would be very interested to know what your portable machine is, as I am likely to need one,

[CDreamer in reply to Boombiddy]

I bought the ResMed mini about 5 years ago. It’s worked well but it lacks a reservoir which the bigger machines have & uses a tablet instead but is great for occasional use.

Hope it goes well - bear in mind it can take 6-8 weeks to adjust and adapt so that you are comfortable wearing the mask at night.

[Boombiddy in reply to CDreamer]

Many thanks CDreamer!

[Letsallhope1]

I was referred to a sleep clinic which works together with the cardiology department that takes care of my heart.

Because sleep apnea can be really damaging to the heart I was referred by them.

Maybe try to speak to your cardiologist instead of your gp about your sleeping concerns.

What you can also do to make your case stronger and have a better idea of what you’re up to at night is download the app called “Mintal tracker” which can give you already a pretty accurate idea on how your sleeping pattern is and if you had any apnea episodes (the app offers 1 week free trial and cancel any time).

I’ve just ended my free week trial and the results I had every night during the trail were very clear and interesting.

Graph

[Boombiddy in reply to Letsallhope1]

Yes, a good idea to get your cardiologist to refer you.

My cardiologist suggested it in a clinic letter to my GP who referred me to Respiratory Medicine dept. at local hospital.

I had mentioned it to GP several times but I suspect it's easier for them to refer you if a consultant has recommended it.

Today, I am off to get CPAP machine from local hospital.

[caroash]

Hi my dad has just been diagnosed with sleep apnea (quite severe) and has a pacemaker too.Hes also on BP meds and other meds.They have told him to lose weight,they said that is 80% of people who lose weight sleep apnea improves. But after reading about the shortages on here im guessing that this is now their advice.Its just that with a health condition its harder to lose weight quickly and the condition is still affecting your health/heart.

[Fynndog]

very easy. See your doctor who will refer you to chest clinic . They will send you home with a monitor which you have to return the following day and they will let you know the outcome. If you have it you will be offered a few different types if mask or an air pillow which is far less encumbrant. Good luck

[Qualipop]

YOur gP should send you to a sleep clinic. Both my son and husband have it and were tested easily and quickly

[Doublef]

it was my wife that told me that I was not breathing properley in my sleep my doctor refered me to the hospital sleep clinic who confirmed I did have it.

[Heyjude31]

Hello, it was before the pandemic, but I had a referral via my GP. I was then given a machine by the hospital which I had to wear overnight. This was then returned to the hospital and about a week later I had the results. As it turned out I did not have Apnea, it was suggested I stopped looking at any screen, phone, iPad etc before I went to bed. Cutting down on screen time in the evening definitely helped me. I don’t think it was psychological, as in all in my head. I think the screen time was definitely an issue for me. I do hope you get sorted, it can be debilitating. Take care, Judi

[phebamom]

You can do an at home sleep study. The only thing the at home test does not cover is brain wave patterns. I did a home study and was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, 54 events per hour (an event is when you stop breathing), O2 sats of 72%. The test consists of a belt worn around the chest with a center computer hub, a small square object. A canula in your nostrils, and an O2 sat on your finger are plugged into the computer hub. I slept very well with my equipment. I am now on CPap. BP still 175/105 in early AM and PM. Doctors are working to get BP down. I was told by sleep doctor that it takes 3 to 6 months to see results for CPap therapy. The mask was hard to get used to, but I can not fathom sleeping without the mask now. I was waking up feeling dead. In spite of very high BP I am feeling better. I have been on treatment for 3 weeks. Sleep Apnea is a major cause of resistant hypertension. Sleep Apnea can cause severe heart damage. Imagine having your heart stop beating 54 times an hour. My sleep doctor said that if I did not get treatment I would spiral down and die from sleep apnea. You know your body. Take some online quizes for sleep apnea, and get tested. I am not obese, which is a sleep apnea myth. My hubby weights 142# and has sleep apnea.