Sleep apnoea? Could I have it? Will my GP think I am a hypochondriac?

[BumperliciousAteTooManyEggs]

I started a thread earlier concerned about my DD stopping breathing, and while I was doing some research I came across sleep apnoea and was wondering if it might be the answer to why I am so tired all the time despite sleeping at least 8 hours a night.

I have an underactive thyroid so I thought it was related to that for a while but my levels are now back to normal. I keep going to the GP and last time I went she just said "having a 7 month old baby is tiring". Well until recently DD has been sleeping though the night, and I haven't felt refreshed from sleep for months.

I struggle to breathe through my nose at night (though bizarrely not in the day) so often wake up with a dry mouth. I don't really snore, though I sometimes grind my teeth.

The thing that really made me wonder is that according to DH I sometimes stop breathing during the day. I don't notice it but he has noticed. I know I just need to talk to my GP but I just wanted to know if they will think I am a complete hypochondriac if I go there with this, and if by some slim chance they don't, what would the next move be?

Nope, they shouldn't jump to hypochondria, it's entirely possible. Google British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Assocation for more info - I think the only way to diagnose is via a sleep study, though, and can imagine there might be a waiting list. Btw, if you are diagnosed, they will take your driving licence away. So think carefully about it.

Really edam, even if you are not falling sleeping in the day?

That's what dh's GP told him.

They won't take away your driving licence unless there is a need (if it's just a normal licence but you would lose an HGV type licence). I have worked with many sufferers of sleep apnoea (as a respiratory nurse) and I personally wouldn't immediately think that you have sleep apnoea without more information. There are so many reasons that you could be tired all of the time but this doesn't mean that you shouldn't go back to your GP. I think that if you are this tired then it is worth having a few basic investigations to rule out the most obvious causes of fatigue.

Well I have hypothyroidsism which is being righted by medication which I have been on since before Christmas. My levels now appear to be normal. My last blood test they did the other routine tests (not sure exactly what) but they all came up fine. I'm just loathe to go back when their response is "having a baby is tiring".