Sleep Apnea anyone?

[Sonaive]

I think dh has sleep apnea, I wear industrial ear plugs at night so I can't hear the snoring now but before I did this I would wake up and he wouldn't be breathing, then he'd do a big suck of air in and carry on again.

Sometimes I have to sleep on the sofa and I've threatened separate bedrooms before now too.

Dh won't mention it to his gp because he says he can't have it as he doesn't fall asleep during the day when he's driving .

I'm considering seeing our gp myself to tell him but I'm worried he'll take offence at me suggesting a diagnosis.

Dh's Bp is always normal and he's had lots of blood tests taken recently that all come back normal too.

What should I do? We have no quality of life and all dh does when he gets in is put pyjamas on and lie in bed all night. He has a chronic headache and fuzzy heads that he told the dr about but the dr didn't think this was significant. He thinks dh is getting rebound headaches but it happens when he hasn't taken any tablets for days (he's a brand whore but I only buy generic which he won't take).

[undertheboredwalk]

It sounds like sleep apnoea. Dh has it, it's treated now with a cpap machine but before hand sounds just the same as your dh. The snoring was awful and the stopping breathing then catching breath.
During the day he was fall asleep if he was say doing nothing, he was perfectly capable of staying awake while doing things though so driving etc wouldn't have been a problem. Not falling asleep while driving is definitely not proof of not having it! Dh's apnoea is really severe, he was stopping breathing I think 4 or 5 times the amount they use to diagnose severe apnoea, but still could have driven.
I don't know about going to go yourself nothing can happen until your dh accepts tests and treatment. I would get as much info as you can and try to get him to look at it all.
Sympathies for you too, I know how awful it can be when life revolves around their sleep!

[buildingmycorestrength]

It is really important to get it checked out. Sleep apnea can be treated. My brother has it and the CPAP machine means he gets properly oxygenated at night now.

[Sonaive]

Was the gp the one who suggested it? Dh has been going with the same symptoms for ages but the bloods come back clear and sometimes he feels quite well for ages, then he gets this tiredness again.

The dr has young kids and he looks knackered himself.

[CMOTDibbler]

My dh also has OSA and is on CPAP. He didn't feel too tired to drive, but CPaP changed his life. And saved it as with OSA your bp is normal in the day, sky high at night, and so if untreated the risk of having a stroke is very very high.
Make an appointment, go with him, and make sure he gets a referral to a sleep clinic, not an ENT surgeon