Sleep Apnoea

[lwhynda]

I have just been diagnosed with sleep apnoea and wondered if it's linked with PMR or steroids. It will be interesting to see if the fatigue I have is PMR or sleep apnoea. Does anyone else have sleep apnoea?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I probably had sleep apnoea - I certainly "snored" when I was at my fattest and it would start as I dozed off and my neck relaxed. The fat around my face and neck when I was at my fattest with pred fat was enough - but it has all improved since I lost all that. It was never diagnosed officially though - were you sent to a sleep lab?

How are they managing it? CPAP? Hope it makes you feel more energetic.

[lwhynda in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your response, yes I was monitored overnight . I am going back in January for a CPAP where they tell me I will feel like a new woman with loads more energy I hope this is true ha ha ha

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lwhynda]

My husband ran the hospital department in Durham that provided the CPAPs and maintained them - I think the people who got them did feel a BIG difference! Shame you couldn't have it before xmas!

[bowler]

I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnoea a couple of months ago, treatment wasn't required. I am not over weight, however I do put on a few pounds when on a higher dose of Pred, At the time of my sleep test I was on 11mgs. I assume with me it could be long term use of Pred. ? [16 years, ] I'm always tired, but I do have a borderline low of B12 and as I have kidney problems I'm up quite a few times in the night for the bathroom which doesn't help my sleep.

You could ask for a blood test to rule out anaemia, which can make you feel tired.

[lwhynda in reply to bowler]

Thank you for your response, I definitely have sleep apnoea as I had to wear a monitor overnight and it showed I stopped breathing at least 15 times in one hour. I get tested every 3 months for anaemia and at the moment I'm ok.I also get up 3 or 4 times a night for the bathroom but they said because I wake up I think I need to go but probably don't. I have been on steroids for 4 years and for the past year been on 5mgs which I have felt comfortable with

[bowler in reply to lwhynda]

Like I said I have moderate sleep apnoea, I spent a night in the sleep clinic at Papworth hospital Cambridge, I stop breathing 28 times an hour , however my oxygen levels were good at 94% so was told I didn't need treatment, thankfully , as I wasn't looking forward to wearing a "daft Ada" mask ha ha, although my grandson would have liked it as he's a great Star wars fan.

At least you a being monitored for anaemia, so that's good.

Best wishes.

[lwhynda in reply to bowler]

Oh that's a lot of times to stop breathing and I was told my was severe obviously different hospitals monitor differently. I went to the James Paget at Gt.Yarmouth. I'm sort of dreading the machine but also looking forward to getting it to feel more refreshed after a good nights sleep fingers crossed. Ha ha ha I like the Daft Ada look I would post a photo but don't think it would be well received the shock would be too great 😊😊

[Megams in reply to lwhynda]

Just reading your post here lwhynda and the reason those of us with sleep apnoea wake up to use bathroom 3 to 4 times a night is usually when we have stopped breathing and wake up according to the Dr.

Also once you are on the CPAP machine the hormones are regulated as they should be & the desire to use the bathroom is far less. I am now only up once a night to use bathroom.

Would be worth you researching "sleep apnoea" if you haven't already, the serious effects & consequences on the body - you will be most surprised as I was to learn about this condition.

[lwhynda in reply to Megams]

Hello Megams, Thank you yes I have now visited google several times and joined an online group but they are not so active as us.

I get my Cpap January 8th and cannot wait as I now realise a lot of my issues are sleep apnoea related. I will let you know how I get on with the machine and results

[Megams in reply to lwhynda]

Excellent

[Ida-June128]

I don't have sleep apnoea but I can close my eyes and drop off within seconds......I thought it was all part of the PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Ida-June128]

I could drop off in seconds during the day - it was the staying asleep overnight that posed a problem! I still get the occasional night where I can't get to sleep or wake up about 3.30am - and fall asleep again shortly before 6am - and OH gets up before 7am so I get woken up! I feel like staying in bed until about 10am at the moment - and it isn't the dark mornings because it is getting light here by 7.30am...

[lwhynda in reply to PMRpro]

I am much the same and just thought it was one of those things till my diabetic nurse asked me a series of questions and said she would be referring me to a sleep clinic and I must admit it was something that I hadn't thought of

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lwhynda]

It's fine now - actually those problems were before I was put on pred so wasn't fat/didn't snore - I think the untreated PMR pain woke me up, you know how turning over with PMR is next to impossible! I haven't felt so tired in the mornings since then really but I have a nasty horrible suspicion I've got a bit of a flare. I'd had some problems when I was aiming for 3mg and went back up to 5mg and all was well for a few months but now I'm beginning to wonder. Maybe it is just the cold - it is well under 5C here during the day and it started up when it got foggy overnight - while it was so dry I felt much better.

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

Have you been taking your own advice not to overdo things when you feel well? Wishing you good health for the New Year.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

Of course I have - I am inherently lazy! But I suspect I have a bit of an infection that is doing it! Hasn't been to do with rushing around "doing" Christmas - that amounted to making 8 mince pies and the brandy butter...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you seen this post from Megams today?

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[lwhynda]

Wow thank you PMRpro I had tears in my eyes reading Megams post I could identify with what she had written. I don't know whether to feel pleased, angry or upset that I and others get let down by the medical profession but have to rely on " friends " to help us with information