Signs Of Sleep Apnea

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   What are the signs of sleep apnea?

   • ANSWER:
     sleep apnea occurs when u regularly stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep, and the episodes can occur 5 - 50 times an hour.

     sleep apneia may be caused by a blockage or narrowing of the airways in your nose or mouth, usually when the throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep and block the airway. it can also occur when you have bone deformities or larger than normal tissues in your nose, mouth or throat. large tonsils, for example. obesity also may cause sleep apneia.

     if u have sleep apneia you need to check into CPAP, its a machine that prevents your airway from closing during sleep.

2. QUESTION:
   Pre-signs of Sleep apnea?
   At times when I fall asleep, I wake up abruptly gasping for air but I brush it off and go back to sleep. Then it happens again and again in a row.
   The "episodes" probably happen twice a month. I do have a few more symptoms of it; ( Excessive daytime sleepiness, Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat, Morning headache)
   But anyways, I don't know if it's how I'm positioned or I'm actually developing Sleep Apnea.

   • ANSWER:
     The best thing to do is have a sleep study. There is no such thing as pre sleep apnea. Either you have it or you do not.

     If you can video tape yourself sleeping, you can see if you snore, gasp and then stop for about 10 seconds. You can also see what position you are in. This is not a true test but it may prove how many times you are doing it. Ask some one if you snore and how often.

     Good luck

3. QUESTION:
   Are their any things you can do for sleep apnea, before any sleep study?
   My son is having trouble with his sleeping and I believe it might be sleep apnea. We will get him a sleep study soon but he is struggling to sleep at night and at times even has seizures in his sleep. He is on seizure medication, but I am starting to believe it may be more because of the sleep apnea. Are their any things we can do to help him sleep better at night, before our sleep study. I am not talking about the machines, just some tricks of the trade that may make him sleep better and then my wife and I can sleep better. He is only 4 and has all the signs of sleep apnea. We will not know this though for a little while until the study. Any ideas?

   • ANSWER:
     Look up sleep hygiene tips to make sure he is practicing them first off. Second, keep him off his back. If he sleeps on his back, he'll be more likely to stop breathing bc/ gravity will be putting more pressure on his airway. If he can't stop sleeping on his back by himself, try putting rolled up socks or a couple of tennis balls into a long tube sock and tying it around his waist so that the balls are pressed against his back that way, it will be uncomfortable for him to sleep on his back and he'll train himself to sleep on his side. If this sounds rediculous, the best thing to do is to keep his head and neck elevated (from the shoulders, so his chin is kept level away from his neck). either allow him to sleep in a reclining chair, or get a wedge pillow. This will help him breath better at night. Hope it helps!

4. QUESTION:
   is it possible to have sleep apnea even if you are in good shape ?
   My husband is 23 and he shows some of the signs of sleep apnea. i am worried because he is young and he isn't fat , he is in good shape and eats really good. The only thing is that , he is always sleepy or tired and he snores a lot not loud but all the time. Also when he drinks energy drinks, coffee or anything to help him stay awake..he gets even more tired and falls asleep.

   please help with any info .

   thank you so much

   • ANSWER:
     Have him tested true being over weight or having respiratory problems add to having sleep apnea, but their are other triggers. Even small children have sleep apnea, could be his adenoids, have him tested, sleep apnea is a failure to breath, you stop breathing during the night. Please have him tested

5. QUESTION:
   Can children have sleep apnea?
   My 4 yr old snores and sometimes she seems to stop sleeping in the night could this be a sign of sleep apnea? She is other wise healthy and not overweight at all
   she also stopes breathing for a fer seconds and then seems like she is catching her breath.
   I just noticed this last night so no wise remarks about my parenting plz.

   • ANSWER:
     One of my daughters had sleep apnea. She snored like a grandpa from a very young age. She was underweight and constantly tired from the sleep apnea. If you're not getting quality sleep, it can hinder your development. We ended up getting her tonsils and adenoids out when she was about 3. It made a world of difference. Definitely mention it to her pediatrician so she can be looked at by an ENT. You don't want to mess around with sleep apnea.

6. QUESTION:
   Sleep Apnea?
   I think I might have sleep apnea..i'm always tired and oversleeping and have constant mood swings are all theese signs of sleep apnea and I am overweight, please help out I dont have health ins and really cant afford a doctors visit

   • ANSWER:
     sleep apnea is if you stop breathing periodically during sleep. You may awaken to restart breathing up to 100 times per night.
     Probably you remember nothing at all about the awakenings. However, if you sleep with someone else, your sleep partner will remember a great deal about the awakenings.

     here are the signs and symptoms:

     * Frequent cessation of breathing (apnea) during sleep. Your sleep partner may notice repeated silences from your side of the bed.
     * Choking or gasping during sleep to get air into the lungs
     * Loud snoring
     * Sudden awakenings to restart breathing
     * Waking up in a sweat during the night
     * Feeling unrefreshed in the morning after a night’s sleep
     * Headaches, sore throat, or dry mouth in the mornings after waking up
     * Daytime sleepiness, including falling asleep at inappropriate times, such as during driving or at work
     * Lethargy
     * Rapid weight gain
     * Memory loss and learning difficulties
     * Short attention span
     * Poor judgment
     * Depression
     * Personality changes

     ope these help...and btw, just log on to this site, http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_apnea.htm
     in this website ul see that there are self-help remedies for sleep apnea...gud luk....

7. QUESTION:
   sleep apnea and almost 20 years old?
   So I am almost 20 years old, 5'9" and 140 pounds and I think I may have sleep apnea.. I don't snore, just a heavy breather in my sleep, but last August when I was at my friend's house she woke me up in the middle of the night because I was gasping for breath. Then last month I woke up in the middle of the night gasping for breath, the worst feeling ever. Then last night my boyfriend woke me up because he said I stopped breathing three times and then finally I started gasping for breath.. Is this early signs of sleep apnea or something else? Isn't it pretty abnormal for someone my age to have it? LIke I said, I'm not overweight and I'm not snoring. I know I should probably go for a sleep test but I wanted to see if there is anything else it could be. Thanks!

   • ANSWER:
     Cessation of breathing during sleep is one of the hallmark signs of sleep apnea. Also, not all people with sleep apnea are overweight. There are a lot of different factors that can precipitate one to the condition like lifestyle, sleep position, etc. What better way you can do is have yourself diagnosed so you can start treatment if you ever need it.

8. QUESTION:
   Sleep apnea as a cause for speech delays for a 2 year old?
   My son is 2 years old and still doesn't talk, not even babble. They thought it was his hearing since his tamponogram never spiked, but he has passed the hearing screaning 4 of the 6 times we've been there. They are now wanting to do a sleep study on him to rule out sleep apnea because it is thought to cause speech delays. Has anyone heard of this? What would be the reasoning behind it if it is true? I just don't think he has any signs of sleep apnea, but they said with him tossing and turning throughout the night and his speech delay we should check. What do you think?
   Trust me, he gets talked around and communicated with, he is in speech therapy and child development classes. They are concearned because nothing is working, we work VERY hard at communicating with him, but have resorted to sign language as it is his only way of communicating.

   • ANSWER:
     Based on my knowledge, a big factor in his speech delay is that he is not seeing a lot of communication going on. Maybe you're not talking a lot around him, maybe your house is quiet. Just keep talking to him everyday and have dialogue in front of him, he'll learn.

9. QUESTION:
   could i be discharged from usmc because of sleep apnea?
   Hi, I'm am currently a 22 year old lance corporal in usmc married with one son. I've been in about 2 1/2 years recently returned from OEF September. For the past months since I've been back I havnt slept a full night yet. I've been completely drained mentally and physically and finally got the nerves to ask for help. The Med Offer in my unit said that all my symptoms are signs of sleep apnea. I am absolutely misserable, my job is 0311. I have trouble with everything lately pt, concentrating on the simplest things. Well the MO set me up for a ct scan of my face and a sleep study. My mother went through the same stuff for years with sleep apnea and it ended up being a brain tumor and another tumor on her thyroid. I've been struggling with depression since I've been in and also alcohol. That has also landed me into attending SARP meetings for alcohol abuse. Being an 03 is very demanding but feel like I just can't hack it anymore I just want to concentrate on my health but how is that possible when I get threatened with charge papers for not being able to keep up in pt or making appointments that they feel I'm just being weak or I'm lying to get out of training. Sorry I know this a huge run-on sentence but I'm doing this from my phone. To sum it all up my questions are is it possible to get discharged for sleep apnea. Also how.should I present my issues to my chain of command? Thank you for any advice I really appreciate it all.
   Also I I have never been NJP'D or had any disciplinary action taken against me. The symptoms have been occurring for many months but since I've been back from deployment its like they've just been full throttle ass kicking.

   • ANSWER:

10. QUESTION:
    When was sleep apnea first discovered?
    first sign of sleep apnea

    • ANSWER:
      NICOLE WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU MEAN! DO YOU MEAN WHEN WAS THE CONDITION FIRST DIAGNOISED ??? OR LIKE WHO AND WHEN MADE UP THE NAME IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT???

      HERE IS ITS HISTORY
      "Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood. First described in 1965, sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. It owes its name to a Greek word, apnea, meaning "want of breath." There are two types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive."

      IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN BY THE FIRST SIGN??

      THE FIRST SIGN OF SLEEP APNEA IS A SERIES OF SYMPTOMS IN THE PATIENT! INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THINGS SUCH AS FEELING TIRED FALLING TO SLEEP HAVING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AWAKENING GASPING FOR AIR SNORING AND MANY OTHER INCLUDING THE ONE FINAL TERMINAL WHAMMER WHICH IS DEATH!

      ADD DETAILS AND I WILL CLEAR UP FOR YOU!!!!!

      APS

11. QUESTION:
    Why do some people twitch during sleep?
    My husband twitches when he is sleeping. It's not just when he is falling asleep it is all throughout the night. It actually wakes me up. What could be causing this to be happening? He does not show signs of sleep apnea, or RLS (restless leg syndrome). If you have any ideas please let me know. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      This could help:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myoclonus

      Or could be one of these two things:
      1.REM Behavior Disorder (RBD)
      During REM sleep we experience a muscle paralysis, to inhibit body movements that could endanger us while we sleep and dream. During this time all voluntary muscle activity stops. However, in people with RBD their muscles do not relax, remaining active, resulting in violent muscle spasms and jerking while asleep as they are acting out their dreams.

      2.Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD)
      This is also characterised by twitching sometimes violently during sleep. Movements are quite often repeated every 30 seconds or so for an hour or sometimes even longer. And this pattern can sometimes repeat a number of times throughout the night.

12. QUESTION:
    ok about loud snoring they say that might be a sign of sleep apnea but what if you just snore loud then what?
    I dont snore but I know about my friends mom that does she's horrible and has been snoring since I can remember like you can hear her through her door and if shes in the living room you can hear her down the hall and one time she was snoring so loud she was making like a vacum sucking gargling noise and then she coughed and sometimes she will just randomly start coughing if she's snoring really loud

    • ANSWER:
      most of people snore while they are sleeping but they just don't know it

13. QUESTION:
    sleep apnea in 4 yr old? tonsillectomy?
    my 4 yr old daughter has snored since she was an infant and ive told her doctor and she dismissed it. now i took her ti see a different doctor and he said i need to keep a journal of sleep apnea signs/symptoms due to her having very large tonsils. they may want to remove them. has any parents on here had a child get there tonsils removed??? im kinda scared of the idea.

    • ANSWER:

14. QUESTION:
    what are the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea?

    • ANSWER:
      Sleep apnea is the medical term for snoring. If you are the one who is experiencing this, have someone check you when you are asleep. This usually happens to fat/obese persons but also happens ( in cases like stress and fatigue ) to normal beings.It is having a hard time breathing. Hope this helps. God bless! ;0

15. QUESTION:
    can the first sign of SLEEP APNEA be like a hiccup? i've always been a shallow breather, i'm 60 female?
    it happens right before i fall asleep and in the morning...in the night i'm not sure about..i'm not snoring that i know of..thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Hmm...I don't know if you really have a symptom of sleep apnea with your hiccup. But there are so many symptoms that you can observe (if you have sleep apnea):

      -nonrhythmic snore with choking and gasping for air.
      -frequently stops breathing while sleeping.
      -excessive sleepiness and extreme fatigue in daytime.
      -depression.

      You can't find out if you snore or stop breathing in sleep, because you're sleeping. But your partner can tell you that. Or you should record yourself. However, if you feel very tired during the, then this is probably a sign of sleep apnea.

16. QUESTION:
    How long must you sleep to get accurate results on a sleep test?
    I have been diagnosed with a deviated septum, and am undergoing surgery for it at the beginning of next year. I informed my doctor about these headaches I've been having in the morning. Well they're a little different from headaches, more like pressure above my eyes. I find the longer I sleep the worse they become. Also after sleeping about six hours I find it impossible to go back to bed without waking up at least every hour. I had a sleep test done, but according to that I didn't have sleep apnea. I'm wondering if the results could be wrong seeing as I was only able to sleep for about half an hour and they must not have been able to collect enough data. Could this pressure above my eyes be a sign of sleep apnea, or could they just be due to my deviated septum? I also find I don't really get overly sleepy in the day, however if I'm lying down and watching T.V or reading I will dose off.

    • ANSWER:
      ( had two sleep apnea tests performed. The technicians need at least 6 hours of your sleeping to get accurate results.
      Pressure above your eyes is not a sign of sleep apnea.

      The pressure above your eyes could be caused by allergies or a (deep) sinus infection (I have also had this pressure..it is only slightly painful whenI I strongly pressed the area right below the eyebrow) .
      I also had a deviated septum and had it fixed years ago. They fixed the septum, also took out a blockage of tissue and bone. It made a world of difference.

      I still get the pressure just above the eyes when my deep sinuses get infected (a fixed septum doesn't make a person immune to sinus infections, only perhaps less likely to get one).

17. QUESTION:
    When half asleep, I find that I am awoken by taking gasps of air, could this be a sign of sleep apnea?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes. You may want to be referred to a sleep clinic. It seems odd I know but you usually go on a couple of sleepovers there and they record every event of apnea. My best friend did it and is now using a Cpap ? machine and seems to be doing much better.

      Good luck!

18. QUESTION:
    What do you think of my article on Sleep Apnea?
    Go here: http://noteworthynewscasts.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-is-sleep-apnea.html and read my article. Tell me what you think!

    Abstract:
    What is sleep apnea? It is a disease that affects a small number of the population (only about 4% of men & 2% of women), but the chances of developing this disorder gets progressively worse as one grows older and leaving the symptoms untreated could be fatal. Many who have sleep apnea do not even know they have this affliction. This report will educate the reader about the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea, such as snoring and constant feelings of drowsiness. It will also review what one would expect when being tested for apnea, as well as popular and less-traditional treatment methods. It then discusses the long-term effects of not treating sleep apnea, which could include heart failure. By the time the reader has completed this report, they will have a full understanding of sleep apnea and how it affects one’s life.

    • ANSWER:
      It made me fall asleep

19. QUESTION:
    Can kids get sleep apnea?
    My 4 yr old snores and sometimes she seems to stop sleeping in the night could this be a sign of sleep apnea? She is other wise healthy and not overweight at all.
    I just started noticing last night
    mg this kid is my life I am a stay at home mom and I would never neglecy my lil angel I havn't noticed this before I wanted to get some insight before over reacting.

    • ANSWER:
      They sure can! My niece had sleep apnea until she had her adenoids out. She had frequent ear aches and dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep and oxygen. As soon as she had the surgery she changed completely. Her color was better, the dark cicles went away, her voice was higher and she did better in school. She was 5.

20. QUESTION:
    Having trouble breathing when I sleep?
    I am having difficulty breathing when I sleep. I will almost get to sleep and wake up short of breath. Is this signs of Sleep Apnea?

    Plus I sleep 12 or more hours a day. I am always tired.

    • ANSWER:
      That definitely sounds like sleep apnea to me. I would get yourself to a doctor that specializes in sleep. I have seen one, and he has changed my life.

      Here are some signs of sleep apnea:
      # Frequent silences during sleep due to breaks in breathing (apnea)
      # Choking or gasping during sleep to get air into the lungs
      # Loud snoring
      # Sudden awakenings to restart breathing or waking up in a sweat
      # Daytime sleepiness

      I hope things get better for you. I know how bad it is to have problems with your sleep. IM or email me with any questions =)

21. QUESTION:
    Sleep Apnea & EKG?
    Can any sort of sign of sleep apnea be detected during a routine EKG?

    Like if you had sleep apnea and did not know it, would they notice somthing different on the EKG?

    • ANSWER:
      Sleep Apnea deprives your body of real good quality sleep its called a state called REM (rapid eye movement) it is when your body goes on automatic so the brain can really unwind! Now when either your airway gets blocked (this is one type apnea) by your tongue, tonsils, adnoids, throat closing or whatever this cuts off the flow of oxygen to your lungs now the carbon dioxide buiids up in your brain and it sends a signal awakening your body just enough to make your lungs gasp for air. Then you go on back into the deeper state of sleep this can happen 20 to 50 times a night and this disturbs the quality of your sleep! Now the other form of apnea is when the brain itself fails to send the automatic signal to breath they call this central apnea the same thing happens as above you awaken somewhat enough to breath!

      All this activity is measured by an EEG not an EKG ! All this stress of lack of sleep does cause stress on the heart but does not show up on the waveform on an EKG of the heart as it is not a heart attack ! Now the stress of sleep apnea can contribute to one having a heart attack and the heart attack will leave a unique wave pattern on an EKG but it is that of a heart attack regardless of its cause! Stress can contribute to irregular heart beat and numerous other problems including depression however the primary detection of sleep apnea or cause of depression is not an EKG!

      Hey Sleep Apnea nearly killed me DEAD if you think you have it go to a sleep lab for a overnight study ! There is really no other way to do it! They will fine tune your sleeping Leg twitch whatever, there are many many variables that come out during the study! You end up getting the maximum quality out of whatever hours of sleep you get!

      I wish I had gone Years ago!!!!

      Answer though to your question the EKG BY ITSELF has nothing to do with sleep apnea!

      APS

22. QUESTION:
    How is chiari malformation related to sleep apnea?
    i've been experiencing some symptoms of sleep apnea for a while now, but i didn't know they were out of the norm symptoms until recently. i'm jolted awake by my own snorting (lol?) quite frequently. i always thought it was just me being weird, but apparently that's a sign of sleep apnea. i'm also really, really tired all the time, to the point where i don't even go to bed early anymore because i know even if i get 12 hours of sleep, i'm still tired the next day. i've gotten used to it, so other than a lack of focus it doesn't really inhibit my daily life.

    but the thing i was thinking, is i'm not overweight. i, at first, figured it must not be sleep apnea since i'm not overweight. but the more i looked into it, i saw it can be a sign of a neurological problem. that obviously led me to wonder if it's related to my chiari malformation. i tried looking it up online some, but all i found were publishments from the government or university, it was nothing i could interpret. all i've found is they can be related...but why? is this something i should worry about? should i tell my neurologist? should i get a sleep study?

    if you need to know...
    i'm 5'7 and 115 lb. i try really hard to gain weight, but i just don't gain. so definitely not overweight.
    i'm a vegetarian
    i'm active (walk a lot and ride horses)
    i was diagnosed with chiari just over a year ago, but my doctor said i was born with it
    i used to get 8-9 hours of sleep in a night, but these days i get about 7. the symptoms started back when i was getting more sleep.

    if you have any questions, i'll try to add. thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Chiari malformation is a disorder that affects respiratory centers. Many sleep-related breathing problems are seen in patients with chiari, including sleep apnea.

      The thing that you don't understand is how do you have the symptoms of sleep apnea if you are not overweight? Well, your sleep disorder is called central sleep apnea or central apnea, and this disorder has issues with the respiratory center from the brain, not with the obstruction of your airways (obstructive sleep apnea).

      Now you know that you have central apnea, and you should go to the sleep center to find how can you be treated.

      I hope it helps.

23. QUESTION:
    what is the onset of sleep apnea?
    Hi,

    Does anyone know how Sleep Apnea develops? Can it hit you even if you used to be a good sleeper. Or does it begin the moment you are born?

    Recently I have developed some terrible insomnia, for the past 2 months I have slept an average of 3-4 hours a night. Sometimes I lay in bed for hours just to wake up groggy and not refreshed. It almost feels like I was day dreaming all night. I have to take a xanax just to fall alseep.

    Anyways can this be a sign of Sleep Apnea? My ex GF said I used to snore. I’m a very healthy 24 year old male.

    • ANSWER:
      Sleep apnea is a condition in where you stop breathing while you are sleeping. Your are sufferfing from insomnia.
      If you were sleeping at night, and woke up in the morning groggy, then I would suspect sleep apnea.

24. QUESTION:
    Is it really dangerous to sleep with your mouth open?
    My friend told me it's a sign of sleep apnea or something, and it's bad for your breathing. I sleep with my mouth open, so I want to know if it's true and if it is, how can I shut my mouth while sleeping? lol

    • ANSWER:
      Someone might use you for an ashtray.

25. QUESTION:
    Is my VA claim for sleep apnea solid?
    I was in the Air Force for six years. Approximately two years after I joined the service, about when I started flying, I started to wake up very frequently throughout the nights. I was waking up anywhere from four to ten times at night and feeling unrested during the day. This continued basically throughout my service while I grew used to it for the most part. I had mentioned it to flight doctors at various points asking if there was any way to fix it. My guess is that they didn't want me to be kicked out so they basically told me to deal with it.

    I figured from the numerous times I mentioned it, it would've been dotted through my medical records when I got out but alas it was mentioned only once when I asked for an open septo-rhinoplasty in hopes that it would help me sleep better. (It did not.) So it IS in my medical records thought it only appears once as "complaints of sleep disturbances".

    In my C&P appointment, the doctor said it sounds like I had classic signs of obstructive sleep apnea and he ordered a sleep study. It took some convincing to get me to spend the night in some medical office strapped at every few inches with wires but I did the test. The result came back last week as positive for sleep apnea.

    My question is, do I have a solid va claim for sleep apnea or is it possible that they'll come back and deny it for some reason? It is in my medical records, I made the claim for sleep disturbance before I got out of the service, and it was positively diagnosed as sleep apnea.
    Dr. Earl,

    While your statement is generally true that conditions must be service-related, it doesn't necessarily need to be proven that it was caused by any specific thing in service. If a condition begins or worsens during military service, we are entitled to service-connection.

    • ANSWER:
      There would be no harm/ no foul if you applied at your nearest VA clinic. It sounds as if you have a valid claim and grounds for appeal if they deny it. It is a simple and relatively cheap thing to correct.
      See the VA rep or the DAV or VFW rep and ask them about it.

26. QUESTION:
    why are my eyes and palms dry after I sleep?
    whenever I wake up from a nights sleep or a nap a lot of times my eyes and palms are dry. could this be a sign of sleep apnea

    • ANSWER:
      It happens because you haven't drank anything all night and your body is dehydrated. Also, make sure that you're getting enough zinc, vitamin A, and Essential Fatty Acids in your diet to help keep the skin from getting too dried out. (you can always get your nutrient levels checked out by the doctor/nurse. they will take a blood test to determine if you lack zinc, vitamin A, or whatever you want checked).

27. QUESTION:
    why do we flinch when we sleep?
    what i have noticed latley is when people sleep they tend to flinch randomly. Could this be a sign of sleep apnea and the bodys way so saying breathe?

    • ANSWER:
      That's a very intuitive theory about the flinching. But in reality, the flinching is very spastic and doesn't necessarily serve any purpose.

      When we sleep, it is actually the time when our brain has the most activity as it goes about reforming neural connections that were damaged from use while awake. During the process, some of these neurons are activated, and skeletal muscle will twitch and it looks like flinching.

      Craig

28. QUESTION:
    Is there any sort of self-test for sleep apnea?
    Not that I would skip a sleep study if given the option, but I'd like to know if there is a way to give yourself some idea as to whether you have sleep apnea or not.

    Are there any signs or symptoms to watch for?

    • ANSWER:
      There's no way you can diagnose sleep apnea yourself because you can't watch yourself and sleep too.

      Major signs and symptoms of sleep apnea

      Loud and chronic snoring
      Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleep
      Long pauses in breathing
      Daytime sleepiness, no matter how much time you spend in bed

      Other common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:

      Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
      Morning headaches
      Restless or fitful sleep
      Insomnia or nighttime awakenings
      Going to the bathroom frequently during the night
      Waking up feeling out of breath
      Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
      Moodiness, irritability, or depression

29. QUESTION:
    My husband is tired all the time and has no signs of mono he is on a sleep apnea machine already what could it

    • ANSWER:
      I just adore my sleep apnea machine---I use it for 2 reasons---first off I have Pulmonary hypertension AND sleep apnea--- it could very well be that your HUSBAND might have pulmonary hypertension as well... I was VERY tired ALL the time before I was diagnosed and woke up SEVERAL times a night.....suddenly one day I saw that my hands and fingers were swelling- and then my ankles and feet... and they just kept swelling... I started retaining water until I had gained 65 POUNDS of excess fluid... which backed up my lungs and because I also have conjestive heart failure, my heart didn't pump enough oxygen into my blood--which could be another cause of him being tired (CHF)... I'd ask his primary physician to give him a referral to a cardiologist and have him have an echocardiogram and whatever other tests he might need---if it's early onset conjestive heart failure or pulmonary hypertension, he can be treated AS I AM BEING TREATED and now sleeping through the night and NOT tired any more---However, mine got too serious and I now tire easily from exertion.... but even if he DOESN'T have CHF or pulmonary hypertension, isn't it better to have him checked out and KNOW then to NOT have him checked out???? Oh by the way---I had to go to my primary TWICE because the first time, all he said to me was stop EATING so much----when I went back in 3 days and had gained 21 POUNDS in those 3 days, he sent me directly to the hospital....don't let him slack off---get him to a cardiologist and pulmonologist...I'd say cardiologist first...

30. QUESTION:
    Sleep Disorder similar to "Sleep Paralysis" (LONG QUESTION) Urgent need of help.?
    Can someone PLEASE help me, I'm in urgent need of advice! Please don't recommend seeing a doctor, they're expensive, I don't want to go for unnecessary tests, etc - A doctor is my last resort.
    I've read into "Sleep Apnea" and the symptoms are similar, but it's not the same thing.
    Symptoms such as:
    *Waking with an unrefreshed feeling after sleep, having problems with memory and concentration, feeling tired, and experiencing personality changes.
    *Morning or night headaches.
    *Sweating and chest pain while sleeping.
    *Nighttime choking or gasping spells.

    I do not snore in my sleep (which is a number one sign of sleep apnea), I don't sleep on my back which could cause me to choke/gasp for breath.
    The symptoms I DO experience ARE:
    *Shaking/sweating until I wake up (Clothes are usually soaked at this point)
    *Extreme nightmares every night
    *Feeling paralyzed, unable to speak but I am awake. I can feel my eyes roll back and I'm fighting to wake from this but struggle. I can feel i'm breathing properly so I know I'm not lacking oxygen. I can feel my muscles spasaming. After a few minutes or seconds I finally break out of this and gasp for breath and feel exhausted from fighting the feeling.

    Most of the time I feel as if i'm "falling" when I go through the "paralysis". If I don't try fight the feeling, it grows worse and worse until I start panicking because it's so scary then I HAVE to fight it in the end.
    I'm not sure if i've experienced this as a child before. I am on medication for depression, bi polar disorder and mild schizophrenia. (None of the medication side effects list any of the symptoms I experience)
    I don't know if there are sleeping disorders in our family history.

    Please, do not answer with childish comments related to drugs.

    • ANSWER:
      Regarding the sleep paralisis: You can learn to get out of it by learning to control your breathing. You have to consciously breathe differently so your body realizes you are awake and breaks the sleep paralysis. Experiment with different breathing patterns, like breathing more deeply, or faster, or whatever.

31. QUESTION:
    How do you know if you have Sleep Apnea?
    What are some of the signs/symptoms? How is the diagnosis confirmed? What are available treatments? Will it ever go away? Is it associated with being overweight? If I lose weight, would it go away, if I have it?

    • ANSWER:
      In general, if you feel very tired during the day, or you fall asleep at work, at school, at the cinema, or when driving, then the best solution to find if you have sleep apnea is to go to a sleep study.

      However, you can discover if you have sleep apnea in your own home, and in your own bed. You will need the following:
      - a computer,
      - an mp3 player/recorder
      - an audio software,
      - a portable pulse oximeter.

      Now, don't be scared... These things are not expensive. You may already have a computer, an mp3 recorder you can borrow from your friends, an audio software like Audacity is free, and a portable pulse oximeter is also cheap and you will need it in the future if you have sleep apnea.

      To cut the story short, you need to record your sleep with your mp3 recorder, and upload your audio file to your computer in the next morning. With the audio software you should see how many large spaces you have in your audio graphic. A large space means a long silence in your sleep, when your breathing stops for more than 10 seconds.

      The pulse oximeter will show you the oxygen level in your blood during sleep. If your level is lower than 98%, then...you may have sleep apnea.

      But you can find a better explanation on the link bellow:

32. QUESTION:
    Constantly feel groggy all day?...maybe sleep apnea?
    I am calling my doctor tomorrow to make an appointment so you all don't need to tell me to do so. I am just asking this started last week on Thursday. I took some sleeping pills because of my insomnia I have not been drinking alcohol and Thursday I woke up feeling groggy ok normal I have a toddler that likes to climb into bed with me in the middle of the night without me waking up and I also have slightly high blood pressure and I am obese. I stopped taking the sleeping pills for Friday night to see if I was just feeling groggy from that nope the same perpetual grogginess came back and has been again and again no matter how little or how much sleep I get and always groggy all day. I don't feel like I am having trouble breathing at night and I just started two days ago (tonight will be my third night) an antidepressant called Remeron (Mirtazapine) for my depression (I have bipolar disorder). Could this be a sure sign or symptom of sleep apnea? Or something else I had vertigo last year in december and it does not feel like that just hard to keep my eyes open, sleepy, groggy more groggy than sleepy, blurred vision, higher irritability etc. Thoughts anyone?

    • ANSWER:
      go to the doctor....get it checked out

33. QUESTION:
    I often wake up with Headaches and Sinus being clogged?
    not to gross anyone out...but sometimes I can breathe out of my nose.
    Is this sinus problems OR
    could this also be sign of sleep APNEA?

    • ANSWER:
      There can be something wrong with the air in your run. You can get a humidifier for your room which will clear out your sinuses. Also, if you have radiators in your home, that usually causes really dry air.

34. QUESTION:
    sleep apnea?
    what are the signs and eventually,the effects of sleep apnea?
    i sometimes wake up from my sleep coughing vigoriously...like im choking

    • ANSWER:
      I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea just this past fall. I had been complaining about extreme fatigue and heartburn for the past five years and all my doctor would do is order blood work and when that came back normal, he would tell me to "get more sleep". Yeah right!! I finally found another doctor who ordered the sleep test and I found out that I was waking up over 100 times per night. I was put on a CPAP machine w/a humidfier this past December and I havent slept this well in years!! It is very quiet and I have it right next to my bed so I don't have a problem with the length of the hose. It makes about the same amount of noise as a regular humidier would if you were to use it.

      If you have Sleep Apnea and leave it go untreated, it can lead to heart attacks/disease, brain damage (from the lack of oxygen), depression, weight gain, migraine headaches, and other symptoms. If you suspect that you have Sleep Apnea, go see your doctor and get a referral to a Sleep Clinic. Good luck!

35. QUESTION:
    Can you have sleep apnea if you aren't a snorer?
    My girlfriend has been telling me that I sometimes wake up sounding like i'm gasping for air. It's not every night, but it happens every so often. I also seem to wake up during sleep more than I used to recently. I looked this up and it says that it could be sleep apnea, but I also noticed that it said that almost all sleep apnea sufferers are snorers. The thing is that I don't snore at all. I'm also not overweight, dont smoke, and dont really show any of the other signs of apnea.

    What else could the gasping be?

    • ANSWER:
      snoring is common is sleep apnea but you do not have too. There are also 80 plus other sleep disorders. A sleep study is required.

36. QUESTION:
    If you're supposed to dream during REM, but all of my dreams are between hitting the snooze button...?
    Could that be a sign of sleep apnea? I know i'm aparently prone to it already due to my TMJ and lately i've needed an excessive amount of sleep.

    • ANSWER:
      that's normal. REM generally takes place right as you're about to wake up. so as you're on the verge of waking up after hitting the snooze button, you fall back into REM.

37. QUESTION:
    how to stop a sleeping disorder.
    I am only 18 and shouldnt have a problem sleeping i am not currently employed or under any stress except finacial stress.i am out of school and have a precious baby girl on the way.just moved into my first place with my fiance 2 months ago and things are ooking up. however
    i have always had problems falling asleep staying asleep wakeing up in a panic for no reason but lately my sleepless nights have gotten worse. a few months ago my muscles started jerking when im trying to fall asleep when i do finally fall alseep its worse than being awake. i have bad nightmares i toss and turn all night when i wake up from a nightmare when i fall back asleep it goes right back into the nightmare in the same place it left off.im ready for bed around 9 but dont fall asleep untill 2am or later and im not up doing stuff i am laying in bed lights off no noise and still no sleep. even if i do go to sleep and stay asleep all night i am so tierd all day everyday. its like i cant get enough sleep no matter how long i sleep for. i sleep peacefully durring the day with no trouble but then im awake all night if i do that. and if i dont take a nap durring the day (my naps cant last for 30 min. they last for hours) then i feel like a zombie all day.
    2 nights ago i started sleep walking. my fiance came into the living room in the morning to find me asleep on the couch with my pillow and blanket on the couch and my robe in the floor and again last night the same thing happened i had no memmory of getting up and getting on the couch at all..i have never before been a sleepwalker. i am 61/2 months pregnant and i hear that can cause sleeping disorders. i took some online do you have a sleeping disorder test at sleepnet.com it says i show signs of
    sleep apnea
    insomnia
    narcolepsy
    gastroesophageal reflux
    and
    periodic limb movement disorder
    turns out both my parents have some of those each makeing it equal out to them together having all of them...how can i treat these problems or at least calm them down.anything that might give me some form of hope of sleeping peacefully through one whole night would be much apreciated.

    • ANSWER:

38. QUESTION:
    Will removing your tonsils cure snoring?
    Im 28, i have trouble sleeping at night...i had two sleep tests which showed NO sign of sleep apnea...my tonsils are enlarged and i have a deviated septum...my doctor wants to remove teh tomsils and fix the septum (septoplaty and turboplasty)...anyone recommend if i should or shouldnt?

    • ANSWER:
      There are surgical possibilities to "cure" snoring, but none of the procedures are a 100% guarantee. Tonsil removal, septoplasty, and UP3 (uvula-palato-pharyngoplasty) are among the more common procedures. They are all acceptable and reasonable - but keep in mind, they are not a guarantee. Good luck!

39. QUESTION:
    I always have sinus congestion when I go to bed?
    Each time I go to sleep my nose gets suddenly congested, and its really annoying because it keeps me awake and I have trouble breathing...is that a sign of sleep apnea? what can cause this? thanks in advance !
    ommg!! thanks, you just made me realize...since it is really getting hot (summer time) I put a fan in my bedroom and start it every night. and I began to have trouble breathing since ive got it in my bedroom! omg im so stupid...xD

    • ANSWER:
      I'm not sure about the sleep apnea, google "sleep apnea symptoms" and you should get a fair list.

      Do you sleep with a fan on? I know that happens if I do. Do you have allergies? Perhaps you're allergic to the down in your pillows, or something that comes in through your bedroom window.

      Buy some Vics vapor rub, and some over the counter cold/sinus medicine, and if it continues for more than a week, make an appointment to see your doctor.

      Also, when i had similar symptoms, where I would go to bed fine, and then wake up with a stuffy nose and a sore throat, my doctor told me to buy allergy medicine, and take it for a month to see if it helped. If it did help, to then stop taking it to see if the symptoms returned.

40. QUESTION:
    Is this doctor taking my husband for a "ride"?
    My husband's blood pressure is a little elevated around 140/90. He is seeing a new doctor who ordered a chemical stress echo test, abdominal ultrasound, and colonoscopy. He fell a few weeks ago and at the hospital his B/P was 200/100. So we called a doctor listed on our insurance website. This doctor is not looking into what is causing my husband's pain just a battery of what I call unnecessary tests. My husband is slightly overweight, but has been on a diet and is now exercising. Instead of ordering tests to test his thyroid, family history of disease, he is ordering tests that are done every year at his yearly exam. We knew he might have hyptertension because of his weight, but this doctor is focusing on his heart. He had an EKG, blood work, heart ultrasound and all came back negative. The doctor said that his heart is that of someone half his age. Besides the ones I have listed he wants to do a sleep apnea test which is very expensive. All together I think this could cost us over 00 since we pay the first 00 in deductibles. I told the doctor that he sleeps soundly and has no signs of sleep apnea. This test alone could run us over 00 not to mention the prescriptions. I believe less is better. We know the B/P meds are necessary until my husband sheds a few pounds. But if all his tests are coming back negative, why order more unnecessary tests. I asked the doctor to perform a thyroid test because of the strong family history. My husband's mother took synthroid and had an underactive thyroid which caused her weight and heart problems. Should we look for another doctor who will listen to us?
    Thanks.

    • ANSWER:

41. QUESTION:
    i think im having a problem. help!?
    okay. ever since the beginging of this school year i have been EXTREMELY stressed. i have a lot of homework, i babysit on a regular basis, and im a figure skater who skates every day except for the first sunday of each month and holidays. ive handled these stresses really well. i dont get depressed or anything, i just dont sleep. when i was litttle i had signs of sleep apnea. but they stopped by age 9. im now 14 and my signs have changed. i dont feel tired. ever. i wake up usually every hour or two. i wake up early. i have alot of energy and i dont get sore easily. recently, (meanign this week and the last couple) i have been skipping sleep all together once or twice a week. i seem fine. i feel fine. may energy levels have actually increased, i havent been losing weight, i feel better than before. this has been going on for a while, but it is getting worse. ive tried taking tylenol PM, but nothing prescription. i think i need drastic help. should i see a psychiatrist medicine? thanks!!

    • ANSWER:
      First of all, If you are taking drugs, STOP.

      If not, then I recommend that you try taking on a smaller load of activities.
      You don't have to babysit as often or skate every day.

      You are in a position of exaggerated stimulation and it is causing your body to not want to sleep.

      This kind of thing happens to combat solders when exposed to extended stress.

      This will lead to the same kind of issues that the solders suffer after war. ie. PTSS. post traumatic stress syndrome.

      You don't want this. (especially as a teen)

      Your body really REALLY needs to go into REM sleep, that is stage 4 sleep and it is what allows your body to re-rejuvenate.

      If you decide to Not slow down a little you will be sorry, please take my advice and slow down.

      I find that when I go over the days activities at bed time it helps me to fall asleep.

      You need to figure out what wakes you up at night.

      Take out that factor, and you will get the sleep you need.
      If it is a noise issue then you might want to create some white noise to drown out the interment noise that is waking you.
      Going to see a doctor is recommended if nothing else works.
      it helps my kids.

      I hope this helps.

42. QUESTION:
    18yr old wets the bed at night?
    hi!
    18 year old female wetting the bed!
    dont know why this is happening. have been told that it is urinary tract infection and am constantly in the doctors office getting antibiotics but they never seem to work. i do not drink or do drugs. i do exactly what they say to avoid infection such as wearing pads instead of tampons that special time of the month, not taking bubble baths and always wiping front to back. nothing seems to work?

    it helps alot when i go to bed late and not allow myself to sleep in. i have to be up at 5:30am for work and am never typically in bed until 11:30 pm or 12.

    i do not snore, and i am showing no other signs of sleep apnea, so i have almost ruled that out. i do not know what to do. my doctor only laughs whenever i have concerns. if anyone has any helpful suggestions i would enormously appreciate them!

    thank-you!

    • ANSWER:
      you are a freak of nature
      good luck getting laid
      pssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

43. QUESTION:
    strength training question for people who are experienced in strength training?
    ok, i was an all state linebacker in high school. that was two years ago though, i was in a really bad car accident and now i just got back to training.

    when i used to train, i trained for strength, bulk, flexibility and explosiveness. but now that i have to start all over again, i want to take the bulk element out of my training.

    now i just want strong, flexible and lean muscles. the problem is, i don't know how, because i used to just perform my lifts, and hit the dumb bells for getting my arms, legs, and shoulders looking good, or bulking them up before a game to prevent innjury.

    so, what can i do? i can pack on bulk very easy, so no matter what i do i am going to get a little bigger, but how can i lift to prevent going back to that same size? ( i have signs of sleep apnea so i am trying to prevent getting bigger)

    should i just lift untill failure with every lift i do? besides swimming and running, what are some good cardio workouts?

    p.s. i hate bikes, they get my thighs so bulked up i hate it, and my legs are slim again and i dont want to get my quads huge like they were before...thanks if you can help me out
    help would be cool
    hey thanks man. i bought a punching bag and some gloves a while back, and i used to jump rope all of the time, great answer thanks

    • ANSWER:
      Weightlifting strategies to avoid "excessive mass": lighter weights with more reps (9-15 reps).

      Cardio activities:
      Rowing
      Jumping rope
      Kickboxing/boxing

      Martial arts will help you regain strength & explosive power without gaining much mass. Not necessarily cardio in itself but the training often incorporates pieces of aerobic & calisthenic activity. It will definitely keep you flexible.

44. QUESTION:
    Is the onset of snoring a reliable indicator that one is entering a particular sleep state?
    Assuming no instance of severe sleep apnea (they could awake several times if this were the case), can I assume that they will enter REM sleep about 90 minutes following the first signs of snoring?

    • ANSWER:
      Snoring only indicates that something is partially blocking the airway. It does not indicate a sleep state.

45. QUESTION:
    Can a sleep clinic diagnosis heart problems? (please note, sleep apnea is NOT the problem)?
    My three year old niece was sent to a sleep clinic because sleep apnea was suspected. After the test the nurse told her mother she saw no signs of it. A few days later she received a call that she must come in April 9 to discuss some serious results. My niece has a heart murmur so we're wondering if the test could have detected problems with her heat.

    • ANSWER:
      In the clinic during sleep - Heart rate, pulse rate, are also monitored - so when going through this - the murmur must have been noted - when listening the sounds for second time - As responsible clinic what the did is very good -

      In some valvular heart problem the sleep is infact disturbed
      God bless you and ur niece

46. QUESTION:
    Sleep apnea or insomnia? ?
    Ok, so I went to a sleep doctor recently because it takes Mr hours to fall asleep at night. Rarely ever do I wake up, and when I do its usually to pee.
    So I went to the doc and we did a sleep study which supposidly states that I stop breathing 5.3 times per hour. The normal for people is under five, so I'm just borderline of having sleep apnea. This however doesn't explain why it takes Me forever to fall alseep, per was my original complaint. I don't wake up that often and I'm never gasping for breath or anything so i don't believe I have sleep apnea based off that .3 that the test said I have. And on that test, it was increadibly stressful and uncomfortable around my throught so that could be the relapse in the test results.
    What do you think? I'm convinced I don't have apnea because I have none of the signs for it, and I believe I have insomnia based off past history.

    • ANSWER:
      Yeah, all I know is that once I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and started sleeping with a CPAP, I no longer had trouble falling asleep anymore. I used to toss and turn for 1-3 hours. Now I fall asleep within 10 minutes.
      Our unconscious knows what's going on ... and it probably fights falling sleep because it anticipates the occurrences of apnea.

      I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, with 32 episodes an hour. Prior to my diagnosis and treatment, I never once woke up gasping for breath, and I regularly slept through the night without waking. However, the anoxia (low oxygen) has caused heart damage that won't heal ... 3 years after starting to sleep with a CPAP, I still irregularly, and without warning, experience bouts of arrhythmia that do not respond to medical treatment and that force me to lie down until they end (7 to 14 hours later) ... my boss allows me to make up my missed time, but I can't commit myself to anything that matters whether or not I show up, and I don't dare travel. Do not let your sleep apnea go untreated, even if it is just borderline. Yours is not as severe as mine, but I don't know if that makes it less dangerous. Sleep apnea can kill a person. At least I'm still alive, even though my lifestyle has been severely compromised.

47. QUESTION:
    I think I literally died in my sleep this morning I'm really worried?
    so this morning I got up went to the bathroom then went right back to bed that's when had this strange dream two people came to my house I don't remember the whole dream but the part I do remember is that I was yelling and telling them to let me go then they said that they were going to put handcuffs on my mouth to shut me up that's was a part of the dream that now looking back on it didn't make any sense but anyway they put handcuffs on mouth squeezing them really tight then right before I got in the backseat I remember that I could barely breathe then I started blacking out I saw weird images I was literally struggling to get myself up I was scared I could not breathe tried to remember the trick I always use to wake up when these things happen but I just to scared cause I couldn't breathe. I thought I was about to die and I did not want to die like this not when I just turned 21 and in my sleep. finally woke myself up gasping for air I been problem for a long time like around 10 or 9 years now off and on. I can barely afford to go to a doctor and get it checked out I know all signs probably point to sleep apnea I really hope its not but I'm beginning to think it is I getting really worried now because I came really close to dying.

    • ANSWER:
      You did die this morning. It turns out they have Yahoo Answers in heaven too.

48. QUESTION:
    Sleeping Baby?
    I have my neice over for the weekend and im worried about future sleeping promblems.
    Ive noticed that when shes sleeping that she snores quiet loud for a baby like literaly what a an adult would sound like when they sleep..
    Is that normal or am i worrying to much, do you think this is a sign of sleep apnea as her father does have this

    • ANSWER:
      I have never heard a baby snore like that. If her dad has it it wouldn't heart to ask her doctor about it. They would be the ones to really know for sure. They may just have them keep a eye on her or I think they have a machine they could send them home with to put her on at night to see if she stops breathig in the night. I would tell them to ask the doctore about it.

49. QUESTION:
    I think my baby has sleep apnea?
    I was reading about sleep problems in my baby care books and everything points to sleep apnea. my baby is 7 weeks old and has been showing these signs since he was born.

    - persistently sounded congested, even though we can't get anything with the bulb dropper.
    - he sleeps and keeps his mouth open 90% of the time
    - he has troubles having BM and they are often liquidy
    - he snores alot, and rarely ever is a quite breather when sleeping
    - has trouble holding onto things (e.g. soother or nipple) for long periods because he seems not to be able to breathe and is gasping
    - he is sleep deprived. he's tired all the time and can't get to or stay asleep, he wakes suddenly and gasps
    - he has watery eyes ALL of the time
    - he seems like he has a cold, but he's yet to show any other symptoms other than the congestion.

    my son's appointment isn't until the 28th. I also don't have alot of faith in this nurse practitioner and she doesn't seem to care or be very knowledgeable with alot of things. but she's all we got for now. I rely on her for my eldest's immunizations and care for my newborn, but other than that we don't go to her. she doesn't remember who we are anytime we go in, let alone anything about the situation. I'm going to force her to give my baby a thorough checkup on our next visit. but what do I do til then???
    he gags and sometimes vomits when we offer a soother.
    the reason we come to think its this so late, is because medical professionals keep telling us its nothing, when we know it is not something to be ignored.

    • ANSWER:
      My twin 3 year olds have sleep apnea. The biggest sign that we had was they would go a while and not take a breath, and then gasp for air. It goes on all night. It's terrifying. You can request that your pediatrician set you up with a sleep clinic to get the baby tested. I just did this with one of my sons. You go to the clinic and get ready for bed like a normal night. They will put ALOT of wires on your son, and then monitor him while he sleeps. It's worth trying if you're concernced, but to be honest, it sounds like your son has allergies. My twins also have allergies, and they were constantly sick like you have described. It can also hinder his breathing at night. The doctor prescribed Claritin for them before bed. It doesn't make them sleepy at all, like you'd think. I would also reccommend finding a new DOCTOR, it's so important to have someone you trust. Good luck.

50. QUESTION:
    Does my baby have sleep apnea?
    (before anyone says 'ask your pediatrician' i have an appointment with our pediatrician and will ask her too, but want opinions)

    so my husband thinks maybe i'm being paranoid... but i was trained in cpr and i know very well how to tell if someone is breathing or not. my daughter is 9 months old... and i have had a few 'scares' over the months. when she is asleep on her back and maybe 5 or 6 times i've had scares where i look and her stomach and chest are not breathing, and there is no air coming in or out of her nose or mouth. those times it was only less than 5 seconds before i just shook her tummy gently and she woke up with a tiny gasp (not the kind that you gasp for air, but like when someone wakes you up with a startle) but i never worried much because have little it happened and that it was only maybe seconds.

    i cosleep with her, and the night before last i woke up and she had turned onto her back (she normally sleeps on her side nursing but tosses and turns side to back to side all night) and her chest and stomach were not moving. there was already light outside so i could see her very clearly. i looked really carefully from a side to make sure i wasnt being paranoid, no movement... listened to her nose and mouth for air, and nothing... so i jiggled her tummy... she DIDN'T move a mm (of course by this point i was about ready to scream call 911) but i gave her shoulders one last firm shake and she woke up. she didnt take a gasp or cough or anything as though she was catching breath. she just woke up and looked at me like ''mommy why did you disturb my sleep''. it scared me horribly, and i swear she showed NO signs of breathing for more than 20 seconds... but woke up and didnt show any signs of trying to catch her breath either.

    any opinions? i hope it's paranoia, the thought of my baby having sleep apnea scares me so much. i am gonna check with her doctor, better safe than sorry... but what do you think?
    i actually am going to take baby cpr classes bcuz she managed to choke last week. i stopped it but not chancing that again. she was born at 40 weeks, so not preterm nor late. just meant to emphasize that i didnt just say ''not moving, not breathing'' i checked very clearly to see if it was my paranoia or not. i might have said that wrong. i would NEVER shake my angel. i'll rephrase ''i gave her shoulders a firm nudge'' sry about the confusion. i feel her nose and mouth and put my ear there to listen too (though her mouth was completely closed) she has a very happy and playful disposition, and is very rarely ever grumpy (unless she's in the car too long) she only sleeps during the day for maybe 2 naps while she is nursing. she sleeps through the night 9pm-11pm then 12am or 1am-10:30. she's set herself a very clear sleep pattern and almost never wakes up at night. tell me if i'm paranoid, for once i'd rather be told that.
    she's never snored, not even a little

    • ANSWER:
      Why not try putting her in a crib with a sensor monitor--then you'd know for sure... It will alert you if she isn't breathing. If she isn't gasping or coughing, then it more than likely isn't apnea. Does she snore? Is she restless throughout the night? Is she irritable all day, as though she might be tired?

      Don't just look at her chest, put your finger below her nose and feel for air. If she's in one of the deeper parts of her sleep cycles, of course she'll be sleeping deeply and will be harder to wake--you would be, too! And, for heaven's sakes--don't shake your baby! :-p