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Original poster

Is this sleep apnea?

2 replies

Mumlife84 · 06/01/2025 12:21

Hi,

my 6 year old has never been a great sleeper but over the last few months he’s been having lots of nightmares. At least a few times a week he’ll come running into our room terrified. He’s also been having night sweats and is grinding his teeth. He also snores. I’ve only just started to think maybe it could all be related.

our doctors surgery is an absolute nightmare to get on the phone. I was number 48 in the queue at 8.30am this morning and opted for a call back instead of waiting on the line and I’m still waiting for a call now almost 4 hours later:

Has anyone had any experience of this with their children? I’ve Google it and sleep apnea keeps popping up.

OP posts:
Jassummer · 06/01/2025 17:13

One of my twins had sleep apnoea and had his tonsils and adenoids removed two years ago at age 4. He was a very heavy snorer but also grunted and took very long pauses in his breathing at night. When your son is asleep, perhaps sit by his bed for a while and record his breathing. This would be very useful for the GP to see. Sleep apnoea can be dangerous and if it is this, expect to be referred to ENT and the potential for things to move quickly.
My son also had visibly very large tonsils and during surgery they checked his adenoids and they were grade 3 (covering 75% of his airway)
the disturbed sleep and lack of oxygen can cause them to be irritable during the day and fatigue quicker then their peers.

Original poster
Mumlife84 · 06/01/2025 20:52

Jassummer · 06/01/2025 17:13

One of my twins had sleep apnoea and had his tonsils and adenoids removed two years ago at age 4. He was a very heavy snorer but also grunted and took very long pauses in his breathing at night. When your son is asleep, perhaps sit by his bed for a while and record his breathing. This would be very useful for the GP to see. Sleep apnoea can be dangerous and if it is this, expect to be referred to ENT and the potential for things to move quickly.
My son also had visibly very large tonsils and during surgery they checked his adenoids and they were grade 3 (covering 75% of his airway)
the disturbed sleep and lack of oxygen can cause them to be irritable during the day and fatigue quicker then their peers.

Thank you for replying. Did you son ever have night sweats or nightmares? I don’t think there are any issues with his breathing that I have noticed but I’m going to sit in with him tonight for a bit and see. Every night I check him before I go to bed and he is soaked with sweat. He does pull his duvet up over his head and completely wraps himself in it because he’s scared but even if he just wears pants he’s still really sweaty. He’s well in himself but has been a bit more irritable during the day recently.

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