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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

GP telling me it’s menopause when it’s sleep apnoea

110 replies

Polkadotdash · 02/05/2023 11:36

I need help as I’m really down a hole with this.
Despite having no symptoms of menopause and regular periods my GP is ignoring my diagnosis of sleep apnoea and insisting that the menopause is the cause of my exhaustion.
I’m on a waiting list for a CPAP machine but it’s likely to be a year before I get one. I’m currently going through a really bad phase of nightmares and choking at night. I saw my GP this morning to ask what I can do. She diagnosed me with menopause (again) and said it was hormones and that I should try to tackle the insomnia. No matter what I said she wasn’t listening. I feel like I’ve been going around this loop for years and years and keep getting told it’s menopause. I thought that the sleep study results would change this but no. I stop breathing on average 52 times an hour during REM sleep. I have no memory of this, I don’t fully wake but obviously I’m not rested.
Im so exhausted. I can’t keep up with normal life and I fall asleep two or three times during the day. I’ve been on iron tablets, anti depressants and b12 injections for years to try to combat my exhaustion but obviously it’s not going to be fixed if I can’t get proper sleep. What can I do to get through to them that this isn’t the menopause, it’s something else?

OP posts:
CindersAgain · 02/05/2023 11:40

Can you use an app to record the sound you make (eg SnoreLab which is free) to show your GP?

If she believed you, will it actually affect anything though, if you are on the waiting list for the CPAP machine?

Original poster
Polkadotdash · 02/05/2023 11:44

I’ve had a full overnight study done in hospital to monitor my brain activity and oxygen levels. This is where the diagnosis of sleep apnoea came from. She just seems to be fixated with telling me that menopause is the cause of my exhaustion, loss of memory and concentration span.

OP posts:
PuddingAlwaysPudding · 02/05/2023 11:53

I have regular periods, no hot flushes at all and am definitely peri-menopausal due to issues sleeping which I have never had, vivid dreams, brain fog, low moods again never had these for any length of time before and irritability.

How old are you? Have you looked at the symptoms of peri-menopause? I know I am sounding like your GP but it is because you have listed symptoms of peri-menopause. It shouldn't change the wait for the CPAP machine but might improve your general health in the meantime. List of symptoms here and surely worth a look if you haven't already.

https://balance-menopause.com/uploads/2022/05/Perimenopause-menopause-and-pain-final.pdf

https://balance-menopause.com/uploads/2022/05/Perimenopause-menopause-and-pain-final.pdf

JulieHoney · 02/05/2023 11:56

If you have a diagnosis from the sleep lab, WTAF is your GP on about? You have the diagnosis, you need the CPAP.

LadyKenya · 02/05/2023 12:00

Why do you have to wait so long for a CPAP? I would have thought that it would be vital to how you function, and would have been supplied asap.

MooBaggage · 02/05/2023 12:00

Stopping breathing 52 times an hour is a huge amount - I've just started with a CPAP machine after the overnight study showed I stopped breathing 20 times an hour...! The referral to get to this stage did take more or less a year though, so I feel your pain.

I'm also going through/just about post-menopausal, so I do wonder whether the two are linked for some people.

Given you have the diagnosis of sleep apnoea, can you afford to rent a CPAP machine until you get one via the NHS? See if it makes a difference (I'm sure it will!). I've had a brief look and you can rent them for around £120 a month. I think if I felt like you do and knew I might have to wait up to a year, I'd try to rent one at least for a while, just to see what difference it made - expensive, but might be worth it.

Hankunamatata · 02/05/2023 12:03

Your on the wating list for machine to treat your sleep apnoea, I wouldn't say GP is ignoring sleep apnoea but is there anything she can actually do until you get the machine?

TheCatterall · 02/05/2023 12:03

48, regular periods. No hot flushes. Peri-menopausal for at least the last 4 years. Plenty of other symptoms.

whilst it may not be the root cause of your sleep apnea. It might be contributing.

look into assessment and treatment for menopause alongside your other treatment.

Why are you so resistant to it being peri-menopause or were you just unaware you can still have periods etc?

Wenfy · 02/05/2023 12:15

Report her. You have a diagnosis she shouldn’t be making shit up

Original poster
Polkadotdash · 02/05/2023 12:19

MooBaggage · 02/05/2023 12:00

Stopping breathing 52 times an hour is a huge amount - I've just started with a CPAP machine after the overnight study showed I stopped breathing 20 times an hour...! The referral to get to this stage did take more or less a year though, so I feel your pain.

I'm also going through/just about post-menopausal, so I do wonder whether the two are linked for some people.

Given you have the diagnosis of sleep apnoea, can you afford to rent a CPAP machine until you get one via the NHS? See if it makes a difference (I'm sure it will!). I've had a brief look and you can rent them for around £120 a month. I think if I felt like you do and knew I might have to wait up to a year, I'd try to rent one at least for a while, just to see what difference it made - expensive, but might be worth it.

Ooh I didn’t know you could rent them. I will google now. Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Polkadotdash · 02/05/2023 12:20

Hankunamatata · 02/05/2023 12:03

Your on the wating list for machine to treat your sleep apnoea, I wouldn't say GP is ignoring sleep apnoea but is there anything she can actually do until you get the machine?

Well this was what I wanted to discuss with her. But the answer was just ‘menopause’. Sigh.

OP posts:
ZombieMumEB · 02/05/2023 12:22

Sorry you are going through this, and that your GP isn't being helpful.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea 12 months ago, after a sleep study. I was extremely exhausted. I also had headaches and dizziness and high blood pressure that wasn't responding to medication.

I rented a CPAP from the sleep specialist, then forked out the money to pay upfront for one. It's been life changing - but took a couple of months to see an improvement in the exhaustion.

I was at the point that I couldn't go on working or functioning - I wouldn't have survived waiting for 12 months.

Definitely look into the cost of renting one. You might also be able to buy one second hand. Plus you will need to purchase a mask (which there are many to choose from!), which can be pricey.

My sleep clinic deducted my rental payment from the final cost - which made a difference. I am in Australia, so might be different in the UK with how this works.

Iwouldliketogotosweden · 02/05/2023 12:23

Your GP won’t be able to push your wait for a machine along, unless you have reason like hgv driver or need to for urgent surgery. There’s a huge waiting list everywhere unfortunately, it’s a growing issue and underfunded.

Sprinkles211 · 02/05/2023 12:23

Ugh its always hormones, mood swings or your weight when it comes to drs and women. It took me 20 years and finally going private to get my diagnosis I'd been seeking help with symptoms since childhood (adhd) and was always blamed on mood swings and given anti depressants

batsandeggs · 02/05/2023 12:25

Do you have a consultant you could talk to re the sleep apnoea rather than your (useless) GP? My mum has just been diagnosed and has a contact number for a team at the hospital.

Original poster
Polkadotdash · 02/05/2023 12:26

TheCatterall · 02/05/2023 12:03

48, regular periods. No hot flushes. Peri-menopausal for at least the last 4 years. Plenty of other symptoms.

whilst it may not be the root cause of your sleep apnea. It might be contributing.

look into assessment and treatment for menopause alongside your other treatment.

Why are you so resistant to it being peri-menopause or were you just unaware you can still have periods etc?

I’m resistant to it because I have regular periods and no other symptoms. No hot flushes, no joint pain, nothing. If I arrived at the GP and said ‘I have no symptoms of this condition but I do have a diagnosis of another one’ they should say well let’s go with the evidence, not the age related guess.
And I attribute the exhaustion and loss of memory to the 4 years on anti depressants and the lack of REM sleep for 9 years. Not peri menopause. I imagine most people would be a bit forgetful and irritable without sleep for such a long time.

OP posts:
Spiderysummer · 02/05/2023 12:28

Interested to know that a Cap machine can be rented. I turned down the chance to have monitor overnight as I was told it would then be a 6 month wait to be seen at the hospital and then a longer wait for the machine if I needed it. I was told that if the overnight monitor showed I had sleep apnoea, I would have to stop driving immediately. I didn't take the monitor as I couldn't afford to not work for about a year.

Original poster
Polkadotdash · 02/05/2023 12:29

batsandeggs · 02/05/2023 12:25

Do you have a consultant you could talk to re the sleep apnoea rather than your (useless) GP? My mum has just been diagnosed and has a contact number for a team at the hospital.

I’ve been trying to speak to someone at the hospital about this. My diagnosis came by letter and the next appointment I will have is to fit the mask - but no date set for that. I’ve emailed a few times but I’m not getting anywhere.

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 02/05/2023 12:30

When DH was referred for sleep apnoea he was given a CPAP machine from the hospital sleep clinic. It had nothing to do with the GP. Could you contact the sleep clinic and go from there?

Patchworksack · 02/05/2023 12:31

But there is a link between Perimenopause and women developing sleep apnoea. I expect the GP is just addressing the issue she can do something about. I doubt she is saying you don’t need CPAP as well.

TheCatterall · 02/05/2023 12:32

@Polkadotdash you know best it seems.

I’m not saying dismiss the sleep apnea diagnosis. Or stop pushing for help
with it.

I’m saying alongside it that perhaps hormone treatment would help.

I have no ‘normal’ menopause symptoms. None. No hot flushes. No joint pain. Doesn’t mean I’m not peri-menopausal. Are you over 40? Please consider treatment for both.

there is a well published and researched link between sleep apnea and peri-menopause. Just google it! Loads of articles worldwide.

Original poster
Polkadotdash · 02/05/2023 12:32

ZombieMumEB · 02/05/2023 12:22

Sorry you are going through this, and that your GP isn't being helpful.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea 12 months ago, after a sleep study. I was extremely exhausted. I also had headaches and dizziness and high blood pressure that wasn't responding to medication.

I rented a CPAP from the sleep specialist, then forked out the money to pay upfront for one. It's been life changing - but took a couple of months to see an improvement in the exhaustion.

I was at the point that I couldn't go on working or functioning - I wouldn't have survived waiting for 12 months.

Definitely look into the cost of renting one. You might also be able to buy one second hand. Plus you will need to purchase a mask (which there are many to choose from!), which can be pricey.

My sleep clinic deducted my rental payment from the final cost - which made a difference. I am in Australia, so might be different in the UK with how this works.

Thanks. I’m at the point of not being able to function. I’m desperate now. I have a full time job and three kids to look after and the wheels are falling off because there are times when I can’t do anything as I’m catatonic.

OP posts:
Original poster
Polkadotdash · 02/05/2023 12:34

TheCatterall · 02/05/2023 12:32

@Polkadotdash you know best it seems.

I’m not saying dismiss the sleep apnea diagnosis. Or stop pushing for help
with it.

I’m saying alongside it that perhaps hormone treatment would help.

I have no ‘normal’ menopause symptoms. None. No hot flushes. No joint pain. Doesn’t mean I’m not peri-menopausal. Are you over 40? Please consider treatment for both.

there is a well published and researched link between sleep apnea and peri-menopause. Just google it! Loads of articles worldwide.

I’m confused as to how you got a diagnosis of perimenopause then if you have no symptoms?

OP posts:
Original poster
Polkadotdash · 02/05/2023 12:35

RampantIvy · 02/05/2023 12:30

When DH was referred for sleep apnoea he was given a CPAP machine from the hospital sleep clinic. It had nothing to do with the GP. Could you contact the sleep clinic and go from there?

The sleep clinic are the ones telling me the wait is so long.

OP posts:
simbobs · 02/05/2023 12:36

Menopause is almost certainly to blame. I don't have your problem but I do now snore which I never used to. If you are still having regular periods you are not remotely post menopausal, or even close. You need to take matters into your own hands because this won't go away any time soon.