To ask if sleep apnea is an emergency?

[Sleepapneaproblems]

I have undiagnosed sleep apnea and am awaiting the sleep study for official diagnosis. After being in hospital for something unrelated the consultant I saw expedited the referral because I was struggling to wake and kept falling asleep during conversation.

I will fall asleep sitting up, sitting on the floor, with a coffee in my hands, eating etc, it’s getting really bad.

I get dizzy often and feel like I’m going to pass out when I stand up. I have a headache all day every day. I also get a frequent thundering in my ears which comes with waves of pressure.

this week the earliest I have woken is 1pm, my partner cannot physically wake me up and he’ll tell me he tried multiple times and I have no recollection of this.

This week has been particularly bad and I’m getting worried. I didn’t wake until 4pm and despite this still slept until 2pm today and im still exhausted. I had a fall two nights ago when I briefly woke up, stood up to go get some water and fell and face planted the floor. Currently have a nice big bump on my head.

Today im really feeling quite out of it and im getting a lot of palpitations and dizziness, and even standing makes me feel nauseous because of how light headed it’s making me.

I’ve barely moved off the sofa today because it’s literally exhausting me to move.

Really panicking about tonight/tomorrow because I hate not being able to wake up.

When does sleep apnea become an emergency, and is this something I should just wait to see GP/continue waiting for the sleep study?

I’d be seriously concerned about having an accident (falling asleep with coffee sounds dangerous!), regardless of whether the sleep apnea itself is a problem.

Unless the urgent referral is this side of Christmas, I’d go to the GP asap.

If you're giving palpitations, feel dizzy, lightheaded , nauseous and fell I would seek urgent medical advice, the least I would do is call 111 for advice.

I’d call your gp to tell them about what is currently happening and how it’s affecting you and see if they know the waiting? I assume you’ve stopped driving (if you’re a driver)

Can they treat without official diagnosis?

(Not sure what treatment would be)

I think I would be more concerned about potential blood pressure problems to be honest OP. Have you had yours taken recently in lying, sitting and standing?

I think you should at least phone 111.

I’m just wondering if there’s any point in calling 111 as they always send you to A&E for the slightest thing, so I’d be wasting their time surely? I stopped driving a couple of years ago due to unrelated illness. At the moment I’m sleeping on the sofa because I’m worried about falling down the stairs.

Id probably get it looked at. It's dangerous in the way it can cause strokes and heart attacks but it sounds as if you need medical help and a sleep clinic asap.

However I'd be asking you if you're dehydrated. How much are you drinking if you're sleeping so much?

snoreeze.com/snoring-oral-device I posted this on your thread yesterday - it's a useful interim measure which could really help you while you're waiting for the sleep study. Lots of other brands available, that was just the first that Google suggested. FXH used one for a while, it made a massive difference to the quality of his sleep.

@gamerchick Im definitely dehydrated I think as I’m ‘ sleeping’ a minimum of 13 hours a night at the moment. Trying to make up for it when im
actually awake.

untreated sleep apnoea should not have all of those symptoms unless perhaps you are very obese and having many episodes an hour. I would be going to hospital you’ve had a head injury and are difficult to rouse.

all day headache, yes, falling asleep without knowing, yes, with a coffee, yes, some people have fallen asleep driving.

@YourSpleenIsDamp thank you I will take a look. X

This sounds like it could be more than sleep apnea to me?

I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnoea in August. I was having 350 episodes a night, but did not have the symptoms you are describing. I was just constantly tired. I think you should ring 111 for advice, or see your gp ASAP. Your condition sounds more like Narcolepsy, but I'm no expert.
I now use a cpap machine every night which is helpful.

“ I had a fall two nights ago when I briefly woke up, stood up to go get some water and fell and face planted the floor. Currently have a nice big bump on my head.

Today im really feeling quite out of it”

To be honest you need to go to A&E to be checked for concussion and blood pressure.

if your partner can not wake you he should call an ambulance.

@onestepfromgrace unfortunately I am very overweight. I have gained 10 stone in 3 years despite my eating habits not changing. Currently undergoing hormone testing as have PCOS. Also on the list for bariatric

What’s your GP doing? Are you stopping breathing? What’s the plan to help
you? Your blood pressure sounds low too so check it. This isn’t an emergency but a GP should be considering what to do. So see them and tell the receptionist you are an emergency!!

@TizerorFizz recently my blood pressure is showing pre hypertension

The symptoms you describe don't sound like sleep apnoea to me (DH has it).
Can I ask how you know that you have sleep apnoea if not diagnosed osed and your re not waking up? And what is it that makes you think your symptoms are related?

I would still want to be checked and my sleep test accelerated they can do it at home with a device and arrange CPAP the next day. I have sleep apnea and you must be exhausted, your stats will be dropping so often. Push for this because it is serious.

(I use CPAP and have just had bariatric surgery 5 days ago.)

But have they tested it recently in lying, sitting, standing?

And how old are you?

@rubydoobydoo the nurses reported it and consultants also witnessed it. I snore so loud that my partner sleeps in a separate room and I wake up choking and stop breathing during the night. I 100% have sleep apnea but need the official diagnosis, according to the doctor.

@Hairyfairy01 sorry - no they haven’t. I’m 29.

In view of your 'fall' thundering headaches, dizziness and feeling out of it I would actually be going to ED and seeing if you need a CT head.