Sleep apnea - does anyone have any experience with this?

[vffvv]

I've had sleep problems since nearly 9m now. My main issue is I wake up feeling that I haven't slept a wink. I'd have gone to bed, closed my eyes for 8 hours and then wake up feeling exhausted with tired eyes. It's so bizarre.
I also wake up with a sore throat, Ive noticed that my mouth is sometimes wide open during sleep ( noticed when I've just

I've noticed this when I've just woken up briefly in the middle of the night. I also have noticed that I'm not breathing properly from one side of the nose and I have a bit of a deviated septum which I'd never noticed before.

Does this sound like sleep apnea?

I've tried so much and I'm really worried about my sleep. Its affecting me so much.

I think I have it and am going to be checked when things are more normal. I have huge tonsils which I think is causing it. I have tried a nasal dilator which has been amazing. I think the one I use is called mute and the trial pack has three sizes. It is more comfortable than you think and has really helped my breathing.

stayingaliveisawayoflife Do you have a deviated septum too? What are your symptoms? I've not heard of a nasal dilator. I'm going to have a look now. I think my sore throat might be because of tonsils - no idea. How do you know if you have a big tonsils? When I look down there I can't tell! 😂

I would suggest that you see your doctor and they can refer you to a sleep specialist.

I can see my tonsils! I am always getting food stuck behind them. I tried this and really felt my nose open and I could breathe more easily. I use it every night now and feel like my sleep is better.

Am still going to make a docs appointment soon though.

Keep a diary for a couple of weeks and book a GP apt - they will ask for a sleep diary so it will really help if you’ve done one already.

For sleep apnea they can do a test with a monitor thingie you wear on your finger.

My dad has this and he was exactly the same tired all the time and never felt he had a proper night sleep. He finally saw a fantastic consultant who pushed for him to have a CPAP machine and the difference it has made is remarkable. He is no longer as tired doesnt complain of the sore throat and gets a full nights sleep. Definitely speak to your doctor

dh did a couple of sleep studies which involved wearing various straps and electrical devices (at home). He now has a CPAP machine

Yes, it does sound like it. Are you overweight? Yours might be from the anatomical shape of your nose though, whereas for others, its a floppy soft palate. Speak to your GP who will refer you to either an ENT to check your nose, and/or for a sleep study.

There are several online tests you can do also:
www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-osa/diagnosis/epworth-sleepiness-scale

What sort of things do I need to write down for a sleep diary? violetscone I will do one as I think my GP is only seeing emergency cases so won't be a while till I get seen.

P

Elouera nope I'm not overweight. I've just looked at that questionnaire but I scored "normal". The thing is I very rarely sleep during the day even if I'm exhausted and been up with a baby all night. I hate sleeping during the day! But I am just so tired. My brain is so sluggish. I forget things and can't remember simple things anymore.

If they found that my nose - a deviated septum or whatever was the issue, do you think they would operate to correct it or would it be as straight onto a CPAP machine? Is sleep apnea something that doesn't ever go away? I've had one crap thing after another this last year and it all feels too much. I also have the prospect of possibly becoming redundant in the next few months too!

Do you snore? The outcomes for untreated sleep apnea are really severe and it is worth getting tested. Too many people seem to see it as a bit of a joke. My husband’s is anatomical rather than weight and they were able to do all the testing at home as the tech is so good now. When he was younger he went into hospital for a sleep study. The impact on both of us of him starting cpap treatment has been massive. It took him a good 6 months to get used to the machine but now he couldn’t be without it.

How old is the baby? That in itself could explain a lot of your rubbish sleep.

Sailingblue no I don't think I snore but I have my mouth open and make a weird breathing sound because of it 😂 which definitely is not right!

Baby isn't a baby anymore, she's 2! She was a horrific sleeper when she was born right up until she was 19m. I was bf and she woke up a million times. It was awful. I then slept in the spare room and let her sleep with DH. She's fine now and sleeps through. However my sleep never recovered and I've been waking up feeling groggy ever since. I tried all sorts, reading up on good sleep hygiene, no screens, meditation, magnesium, melatonin, I even bought a weird electrical thing that gets your brain waves to have alpha waves or whatever! Honestly I am desparate and tried everything, and it's only just now that I came across sleep apnoea and possible deviated septum. It might be this or it might not be. Either way I just want to sleeeeeeep!

I have bought a pack to try out. No Amazon prime next day so will have to wait a week! I just want to try it now! stayingaliveisawayoflife does it take a while getting used to?

dh did a couple of sleep studies which involved wearing various straps and electrical devices (at home). He now has a CPAP machine

Yes, same here.

I mean me, not my non existant DH!

My dad had it. He had to have a mask. He always used to mention about not being able to sleep or falling asleep at and waking up soon afterwards.
He didn't really think much of it, though. He just put it down to an annoyance rather than a concern. It was only flagged when he was in hospital after having an anyurisam (sp) and The nurse on duty said he stopped breathing for a few seconds during the night. The Hospital then referred him for tests which did indeed confirmed S.A.

Have you been checked for anaemia, thyroid, Vit D levels lately? When I was anaemic I was exhausted all the time.

No honestly it didn't! Once it's in you can't really feel it at all!

I tried a mouth guard thing recommended by the snoring website but it was a nightmare to shape and then I found because I produce too much saliva normally it meant I was making a weird slurping noise and couldn't sleep! I gave that up but have carried on with the nose dilator.

I am going to see the docs ASAP once they open appointments again because if I can't have my tonsils out even privately I will have to consider a cpap machine. Yes I am overweight but after losing 10 stones after bariatric surgery there is not much more I can do about that!

Deathraystare I did think you meant your dh 😂

Do you often/ever waking up coughing badly or choking OP?

stayingaliveisawayoflife I know, I really hope if I do have some sort of physical obstruction that they will operate on it to sort it out as I really don't fancy sleeping with a machine for the rest of my life. Im sure CPAP machines can cause other issues like dry mouth etc. Is your GP doing only emergency appts? I looked on my local hospital website and there is a waiting time of 34 weeks! Wtaf?!

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel no never. No coughing or choking. Like I mentioned earlier I have recollections of having my mouth wide open and making a weird breathing sound. Is coughing / choking always present?

I was diagnosed with it last July. I was completely exhausted for months, literally falling asleep at my desk. So tired it was painful. Apparently I stopped breathing 90 times per hour so was waking up constantly even though I didn't realise. I now use a CPAP machine and it has transformed my life. I would definitely get it checked out.