Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Learn How To Cure Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

30 -50% of the American population snore and although snoring might seem a slightly embarrassing problem that should be dealt with at home, a large percentage of snorers are actually suffering with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

OSA, or sleep apnea, can be a contributing factor to developing a number of unpleasant disorders and disease such as high blood pressure; cardio vascular diseases; Type 2 Diabetes; obesity and stroke. Less obvious signs of a sleeping disorder manifest in being unable to remember things; depression and extreme exhaustion which leads to falling asleep while driving.

One of the main symptoms of the presence of sleep apnea is snoring. Snoring and OSA are proved to be connected; however, there are two kinds of snoring: primary snoring and the snoring that presents quite differently and is the result of suffering with sleep apnea. Snoring is caused by obstruction in the upper airway but people with primary snoring are not suffering with a complete obstruction and their snoring is rhythmic; gentle even.

Those who suffer a complete airway obstruction and a drop in oxygen levels will experience gasping and snorting as they strive to take a normal breath. The snoring is loud; extremely audible even in other parts of the house and usually is the result of the snorer suffering with OSA.

A polysomnogram, or sleep study, will reveal whether a person is experiencing primary snoring or suffering with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea will show through cessations in sleep and lowered oxygen levels. Sufferers rarely remember having sleeping problems throughout the night but will experience extreme fatigue during daylight hours as a result of a disturbed night.

The risks attached to untreated sleep apnea are serious and it is important that sufferers are screened for sleep disorder at earliest opportunity. Diagnosis is fast and treatment is effective via sleep tests available either at home or in a sleep lab, from the Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute, leaders in sleep apnea diagnosis and CPAP therapy.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) involves the patient wearing a mask in sleep to regulate and deliver a normal supply of air through the nasal cavity. The treatment is both effective and easy.

Dr. Avi, Director of the Institute says, aIf you get tested and it turns out you only have primary snoring, there are also effective techniques to help you get a better night's sleep. So no matter what the result, it's worth your time.a

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    Is there an alternative sleep apnea diagnosis method other than an overnight sleep study?
    I believe I have sleep apnea, but because I am currently in a residential treatment program, I am unable to go to an overnight sleep study.
    Is there an alternative method with which I can be tested for sleep apnea?

    • ANSWER:
      Not one that would be recognized by an insurance company.

      Have a friend watch you sleep. If you repeatedly stop breathing for 15-20 or more seconds, then you probably do have sleep apnea. More prevalent with snorers.

  2. QUESTION:
    I need disability insurance. I've been declined by several companies due to a diagnosis of sleep apnea-hints?
    The apnea diagnosis is so slight that I do not require treatment with a C-PAP machine. I'm surprised that I've been declined. Does anyone have any suggestions?

    • ANSWER:
      You can't appeal a denial of policy issuance, as there are no laws requiring that an insurance company ISSUE a policy. They can deny to issue for any reason.

      Apnea tends to get worse, not better. So that's one reason. Additionally, it's usually accompanied by being overweight, which can be another decline reason.

      Your best bet, is to try to get your doctor to reverse that diagnosis. OR, to get your disability coverage through a group plan, with your employer. That's about it.

  3. QUESTION:
    Is ECG and blood oximetry enough for sleep apnea diagnosis?

    • ANSWER:
      No. To diagnose sleep apnea you need to do a formal sleep study with multiple monitors. EKG is not really useful in diagnosing sleep apnea. Over night pulse oximetry measure the oxygen levels in the blood during the night. Drops in the oxygen levels during sleep is suggestive of sleep apnea, but there are other things that can cause this.

  4. QUESTION:
    Has anyone gone back for a sleep study due to a diagnosis of Sleep Apnea?
    I have my 2nd sleep study tonight and I know they will hook me up to the machine for breathing but I am wondering how it went for other people. I am nervous about how the heck I will be able to sleep with this 'top gun' mask on.

    • ANSWER:
      hello. i am a respiratory therapist and i have frequently tested people, set them up with a cpap/bipap machine in the community and hospital settings. basically the machine will give a constant pressure in (cmh20). the average pressure is 10 usually no greater than 24. some people require bipap which is a higher pressure on inspiration. some people require a back-up respiratory rate on the machine or even oxygen entrained. the majority of people use only cpap. your doc will prescribe the correct pressure to prevent upper airway obstruction. you will probably want to use a nasal mask at first versus a full face mask. some docs won't even prescribe a full face due to the aspiration risk and (very low however) and lack of humidification at night. it will take several nights to get use to it if you require it at home. do not worry there is no danger in using cpap at your sleep lab. at first it will be uncomfortable but you will sleep better when you continue with your therapy. if you do need cpap at home, your machine is worth greater then 2 grand. do not pay more than 300 dollars for your mask and tubing. some provinces in canada will pay for your machine some make you buy it. you may also want to invest in a heated humidifier at home but i would recommend waiting to see if you need it. another note is if you are having a second test your first test must have shown obstructive sleep apnea. usually they only do the second part if your first shows something. good luck!!

  5. QUESTION:
    Is there any way to challenge a "Sleep Apnea" Diagnosis?
    Late last year I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, both Obstructive and Central. I was prescribed a VPAP, which was not in any way better than nothing.

    I lost sleep for a month, and often woke up unable to breath. The last time I used it, I woke up gasping, disoriented, and with a severe headache, all of which went away after two hours of NOT USING the VPAP.

    In general, I sleep fine (As fine as the father of seven month old twins can sleep!) I only went for the sleep study as a ten year follow up. Ten years ago they coached me on changing sleep positions and losing weight.

    Now I'm trapped. As a CDL holder, this diagnosis affects my ability to work. I'm sure it will affect my ability to get insurance in the future. And once again, I don't think it's accurate.

    As a Patient, is there anything I can do to challenge this diagnosis?
    I went to the Second sleep study as a follow up to my sleep study from ten years ago, which was a positive experience after the coaching in sleep position and weight loss.

    And my regular doctor suggested I do a follow up study. If I had it to do over again, I would refuse. But now that the damage is done, and the treatments being recommended are both expensive and ineffectual, and with serious long term consequences toward my job.

    With all that in mind, how is the best way to challenge this diagnosis and/or method of treatment.

    • ANSWER:
      You sound like all of this is being done by your private doctor. Do you not have a pulmonologist's consultation on this? They are the experts on sleep apnea of all types. He/she would be the one to bring this issue up with. If the sleep apnea test showed you have it I'm afraid they'll just have to find a different way to help you. That's why they give him/her the "big bucks", ya know? I know there are pulmonologist's out there that order a sleep apnea tests for virtually everybody and then set them up with CPAP. And everybody makes money, except you. My pulmonologist looked almost disappointed when my test was normal. But he recovered fast and smiled. I won't see him again. Had the feeling of being cattle being herded. Never again.
      Any time for any reason you disagree with a doctor talk to him/her. They don't bite. And they should take the time to explain everything to you. If they just hurry you in and out like cattle find another doctor. Really.
      God bless.

  6. QUESTION:
    Are Dr.'s over diagnosing sleep apnea to increase the profits of CPAP machine manufacturers?
    I am suspect of sleep neurologists who keep pushing an apnea diagnosis as the problem (vs. narcolepsy, for example) even if a sleep study shows differently. It seems each dr. is located next door to CPAP machine rentals. I'm wondering if they are part owners or stock holders drumming up business. Just asking...
    I've been to 3 drs. All said the same thing after stating the sleep tests only showed mild apnea. Sleep apnea is considered a sleep disorder and neurologists are usually the treating physician.

    • ANSWER:
      Well, without being too specific, I have a relative who worked his entire life for a pharmaceutical manufacturer. The funding for research he was doing in the early eighties was mysteriously pulled when they were very close to finding a cure for asthma. Naturally the company was a major manufacturer of asthma medications. Hmmm.....cure = no more profit.

      I think there are many companies/people in healthcare that are very suspect. ALWAYS get a second opinion, or maybe ask a holistic professional just to get another viewpoint.

      ****************************
      Edit: In view of your additional comments, it seems three opinions would warrant biting the bullet and trying the CPAP. My ex-husband (snoring was a contributing factor in our divorce) was diagosed after he remarried and loves his CPAP, if that helps.

  7. 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

  8. QUESTION:
    DO YOU HAVE A "SLEEP APNEA" MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS?
    I have many of the symptoms of night time air way obstruction.as well as some statistically associated medical conditions.
    What I am SPECIFICALLY trying to find out by questioning on ANSWERS is: IF YOU HAVE SLEEP STUDY CONFIRMED "SLEEP APNEA", DID YOU NOTICE, BEFORE YOU STARTED ANY TREATMENT, WAS EXTREME DRYNESS OF LIPS, MOUTH, TONGUE & THROAT A FINDING ON YOUR AWAKENING?

    • ANSWER:
      Many people with sleep apnea (untreated) have dry mouth because they are mouth breathers.

  9. QUESTION:
    Is it possible to get Adderal XR for sleep apnea?
    I've fit all of the diagnostic criteria for ADHD PI since I was little

    It got more severe when I started "snoring" and I have zero energy

    I'm moderately overweight but my dad also has sleep apnea

    I've taken adderal 1 time illegally (I didnt know it was illegal to take another persons meds at the time though...) and it WORKED

    I'm 14 years old

    I'm wondering if I should just go for the ADHD PI diagnosis (also because weight loss has a significant chance of curing sleep apnea as adderall is an appetite supressant and raises metabolism)

    or

    Should I get a sleep apnea diagnosis and get absolutely nothing done because the masks for breathing WOULD NOT stay on me during sleep as i move around A LOT and take a small chance of getting it prescribed

    The point is to stay focused and secondarily to lose weight not primarily to cure apnea

    • ANSWER:
      One condition doesn't rule out the other. Get the ADHD PI diagnosis and get Adderall.

      I don't understand why you would try to get Adderall for sleep apnea specifically, that's not going to work.
      Get other treatment for the sleep apnea as well. If you think the sleep apnea diagnosis will somehow delay getting treatment for the ADHD, get the ADHD diagnosis first.

  10. QUESTION:
    Is it possible to get Adderall XR for Sleep Apnea?
    I've fit all of the diagnostic criteria for ADHD PI since I was little

    It got more severe when I started "snoring" and I have zero energy

    I'm moderately overweight but my dad also has sleep apnea

    I've taken adderal 1 time illegally (I didnt know it was illegal to take another persons meds at the time though...) and it WORKED

    I'm 14 years old

    I'm wondering if I should just go for the ADHD PI diagnosis (also because weight loss has a significant chance of curing sleep apnea as adderall is an appetite supressant and raises metabolism)

    or

    Should I get a sleep apnea diagnosis and get absolutely nothing done because the masks for breathing WOULD NOT stay on me during sleep as i move around A LOT and take a small chance of getting it prescribed

    • ANSWER:
      You want an MD to treat sleep apnea in a chubby teen with amphetamine?

      No.
      q

  11. QUESTION:
    Has anyone here been treated for sleep apnea?
    I want to know what all it entails to get a sleep disorder diagnosis. I just don't know if I could sleep being hooked up to a machine and if I gotta go to the bathroom, I'm not going to use a bed pan either!
    Also, if you are being treated or have been, how much has it helped you? I'm so tired and sleepy all the time and am getting worse.
    Thanks so much!

    • ANSWER:
      you go to your medical doctor first and tell him the symptoms you are having and he/she will set up an appointment with a sleep disorder clinic. you go 2 nights. the first night they hook up to a machine to monitor you while you sleep. this first night shows them if you stop breathing while you sleep and how many times you awaken because of not breathing. your body never really get the deep sleep you need to feel rested hence you are tired during the day. they will unhook you to go to the bathroom as needed. the second night you sleep with a cpap or bi pap that will help you breathe while you are sleeping. this will allow you to get the deep sleep that you need to feel rested the next day. i have been wearing a cpap for a year and 2 months and it is the best thing i've ever did. i couldn't believe the difference this machine has made for me after just the first night at the sleep clinic. it will make a big difference in your life if sleep apnea is the problem. the mask takes a little time to get use to but it is totally worth it. good luck

  12. QUESTION:
    I have trouble falling/staying asleep. Dr said it's sleep apnea. Is this a pat diagnosis drs give everyone?

    • ANSWER:
      Definitely not.

      You will need a sleep study to find out and if your doctor thinks you have sleep apnea, he should have no problem getting authorization for the test. It's a non intrusive and painless test that takes place over one night usually and it's called a split study. If you have sleep apnea, the tech will wake you half way through the night and put a Positive Airway Pressure device mask on you and from a control room, adjust the pressure until the apneas and most hypopneas cease. If you have OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), you will be amazed at how much more refreshed and energized you feel even from that half night on the device. If you then need a CPAP, BiPAP or AutoPAP, embrace it and you will come to love it. It can take some time to get used to but it's worth it. Complications of OSA include Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Stroke and more. Why would you even want to mess with these things?

  13. QUESTION:
    Can somebody explain to me what is central end-peripheral sleep apnea? treatments included?
    (sorry for the grammer and spelling)
    So far i found out that tissues at the back of your throat are collapsing and that's normal but the thing that prevents it from collapsing is the problem.

    Well, my cousin's son (infant) is having a problem breathing and some doctors said that there is something wrong with the brain (the neurons go to something, i don't know; i'm sorry). The probable diagnosis was central end-peripheral sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea.

    • ANSWER:
      Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common category of sleep-disordered breathing. Since the muscle tone of the body ordinarily relaxes during sleep, and since, at the level of the throat, the human airway is composed of walls of soft tissue, which can collapse, it is easy to understand why breathing can be obstructed during sleep. Mild, occasional sleep apnea, such as many people experience during an upper respiratory infection, may not be important, but chronic, severe obstructive sleep apnea requires treatment to prevent sleep deprivation and other complications. The most serious complication is a severe form of congestive heart failure called cor pulmonale.

      Individuals with decreased muscle tone, increased soft tissue around the airway (e.g., due to obesity), and structural features that give rise to a narrowed airway are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Older people are more likely to have OSA than younger people. Men are more typical sleep apnea sufferers, although the condition is not unusual in women or children.

      Common symptoms include loud snoring, restless sleep, and sleepiness during the daytime. Diagnostic tests include home oximetry or polysomnography in a sleep clinic.

      Some treatments involve lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol or muscle relaxants, losing weight, and quitting smoking. Many people benefit from sleeping at a 30 degree angle or higher, as if in a recliner. Doing so helps prevent gravity from collapsing the airway. Lateral positions (sleeping on your side), as opposed to supine positions (sleeping on your back), are also recommended as a treatment for sleep apnea, largely because the airway-collapsing effect of gravity is not as strong to collapse the airway in the lateral position. Some people benefit from various kinds of oral appliances to keep the airway open during sleep. "Breathing machines" like the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may help. There are also surgical procedures that can be used to remove and tighten tissue and widen the airway.

      The most common treatment for sleep apnea is the use of a positive airway pressure (PAP) device[13] (PAP), which 'splints' the patient's airway open during sleep by means of a flow of pressurized air into the throat.

      In addition to PAP, a dentist specializing in sleep disorders can prescribe Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT). The oral appliance is a custom made mouthpiece that shifts the lower jaw forward which opens up the airway. OAT is usually successful in patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. OAT is a relatively new treatment option for sleep apnea in the United States, but it is much more common in Canada and Europe.

  14. QUESTION:
    Sleep apnea, little REM sleep, insomnia?
    Hi there-
    Recently diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea. Also it has been stated that I am not staying in REM sleep for any useful length of time.
    I usually sleep very little at night...always have been nocturnal.

    I sleep best during the day. But the last 5 months have been rough.
    I only stay asleep for a couple hours and then feel hyper and irritable when I get up.

    New diagnosis of sleep apnea and very poor amount of REM Sleep.
    I am doing a titration study tonight with c-pap machines to see what volume works for me.

    I would like to hear from others on how if at all treatment has helped?
    If your situation is similar to mine as far as minimal amounts of sleep with diagnosis of apnea?

    What can I expect with treatment. Some have said they feel better right away. Others have said it takes awhile. I would like to hear anyone else's experience with this.

    Thank you.

    PS...Do you ever adjust to life with that machine stuck on your nose?
    And is there sex after c-pap even if your significant other doesn't have a thing for Darth Vader breath sounds?

    • ANSWER:
      I have the same problem. I am on a cpap machine I use the full mask. If there is a problemu will feel better right away. I think that it is all linked to oxygen in the body. I pap machine is like a small humidifer which u breath in thru your nose. do u have sinus problems? If your nose is plugged all the time, a full mask will force u to breath thr your nose. The first night I slept 12 hrs. I never woke up. I found out that I was exhausted, maybe half dead and did not know it.

  15. QUESTION:
    How do I find free study to diagnose sleep apnea?
    I know my bf has sleep apnea pretty bad, but there's no way we can afford to pay anything right now or any time soon. Does anyone know where we can get a free diagnosis in Phoenix or the surrounding area?
    Thanks for any info :)

    • ANSWER:

  16. QUESTION:
    can I overcome the use of a cpap machine. Ive been diagnosed with sleep apnea.?
    Its seems as though there are ways to deal with the situation than there is to treat the condition. I want to overcome the use of the cpap machine and overcome the diagnosis of having sleep apnea. I am slightly overweight. I don't know if me losing weight will help any.

    • ANSWER:
      CPAP is the least invasive way to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Other options are a UPPP procedure that involves having the uvula and tonsils surgically removed, weight loss, and/or a dental device that would help keep the tongue out of the airway.

      The UPPP surgery has been described by one of instructors who had it as 'swallowing razor blades for six months'. I don't think that's a recommendation. He said that he lost a lot of weight because he could only eat ice chips for a long time. He ended-up back on a CPAP machine anyways. The UPPP has a success rate of like 25%.

      Weight loss may or may not help your OSA. If anything, it won't make it worse. Some people who are at their perfect weight have OSA.

      I recommend that you accept the OSA and use your machine as prescribed by your doctor. Your quality and length of life will likely be much better. A diagnosis of OSA should only be made after a sleep study confirms it. If that has been done, then you very likely do have OSA.

  17. QUESTION:
    If you have pulmonary hypertension secondary to sleep apnea, how long since you were diagnosed?
    I have a co worker who is the same age with the same diagnosis. We were diagnosed in the same year, so we assume we have had the disease for about the same amount of time. We both have the C-Pap. He is not on oxygen during the day. I am on oxygen therapy 24/7.

    He has been a smoker. He had pneumonia last year , and it seems his disease has begun progressing much more rapidly than mine. He has been hospitalized, and needed a respirator twice in the last six months.

    Is this a usual sequence for this condition?

    • ANSWER:
      i have c.o.p.d., and sleep apnea. i use albuterol inhaler with a machine when i'm short winded. i also use advair inhaler every morning and can use it at night if needed.i have a cpap for sleep apnea. every one is different. i do not smoke. i quit several years ago. i never was a big smoker, a pack every two days. try not to be exposed to any tobacco smoke. this can get worse and your problems will progress faster,this seems to be close to the usual sequence of these respiratory problems. i hope you feel so much better. god bless you . take care., susie

  18. QUESTION:
    Sleep Apnea... how soon can I expect to feel better, and just what will 'feel better' feel like?
    I've recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea; the full diagnosis was "obstructive, central, and mixed " I've been prescribed a CPAP, w/ full mask (CFlex). Guess my question is.. how soon can I expect to feel better, and just what will 'feel better' feel like? evidently i've had this for quite some time, and would appreciate hearing from someone with personal experience of treatment for same.
    Thanx~

    • ANSWER:
      It takes time. Your body is used to running on empty so to speak and it has to readjust to being normal. Use the CPAP nightly as prescribed and hopefully you'll see effects soon. If after a month you see no change in how you feel (less tired, etc) call your home care company for a follow up (which they should be calling you regularly anyway, be honest when you talk to them) Sometimes the pressure isn't right the mask isnt right for the person and alot of patients hate c-flex from my experience. Sometimes turning that off helps.

  19. 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:

  20. QUESTION:
    I was diagnosed with sleep apnea several years ago - should I be retested every so often for changes?
    What type of follow-up is recommended following a diagnosis like this?

    • ANSWER:
      You should be seeing your sleep doctor every 2 years for follow up appointments. It would be up to them to retest you if anything significant has happened since your last test. Example: weight loss, weight gain, pregnancy, new medications, etc etc

  21. QUESTION:
    Waking up from sleep gasping for breath- advice?
    So, over the past few months, I have been waking from sleep (usually very soon after falling asleep) incredibly dizzy and gasping for breath. This happens every couple days, about. Self diagnosis: sleep apnea? I have no idea, I'd appreciate some advice. Should I go to the doctor? Is it dangerous?
    Also: I'm of normal weight and don't snore much, if at all.

    • ANSWER:
      Sleep apnea does occur without snoring and normal weight, although more unusual.

      Can be very serious.

      Go to a doctor.

  22. QUESTION:
    Sleep Apnea Question?
    I just had a sleep study done. Results were:

    28 sponatneous arousals.'
    1 REM arousals
    31 Snoring arousals
    total: 61

    Mild, intermittent snoring was noted while supine.
    Apnea-hypoapnea events per hour .89
    1 during REM and 4 events in Non REM

    Respiratory related arousals per hour: 5.69
    Mean Oxygen saturation: 96.61 0 desaturation episodes below 90% with a nadir of 90%

    Cadiac monitoring: Normal sinus rythm with no significant arrythmias noted.

    Diagnosis:

    Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome, adult.

    I am 26, currently BMI of 35, get only about 3 hours a sleep at night with exesseive daytime sleepiness, and have asthma.

    Should I worry?

    • ANSWER:
      Hmm.
      Your weight and asthma affects this, almost directly.

      You should always worry if you are not getting more than 8 hours of sleep a night.

      You should go see a doctor and see what they could do.
      Sleep upright so you can breathe easier.

      I'm not suggesting you take a sleeping pill, but you should probably limit food 2 hours from a normal bed time, limit light activity, and try to wind down from the rest of the day.

      If you need to, stay up for 24 hours and then go to sleep at a normal time that you could get the most rest.

  23. QUESTION:
    How fast is the growth of sleep apnea treatment (mainly via CPAP)?
    I'm trying to figure out how many people are buying CPAP systems and masks today and how much this is changing.

    I see number like 18M people have OSA (up to 50-60M with some type of sleep issue), and the industry is growing at 8.4%, but what's driving this? Increase diagnosis & treatment, shift demographics, more marginal suffers seeking treatment, or just newer, more expensive equipment?

    Any help would be great. Cited sources would be even better!! Thanks!!

    • ANSWER:
      Sleep Apnea effects more than 12 million Americans! More over weight people and diabetics have sleep apnea. It usually effects men over 40 who are over weight. There are 3 types of Sleep Apnea:
      1.) Obstructive...soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and closes during sleep.
      2.) Central...The brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe.
      3.) Mixed...Combination of both of the
      above.
      You can learn more on the American Sleep Apnea Association website:
      www.sleepapnea.org
      This whole nation is over weight or diabetic so go figure why everyone has sleep apnea!
      Being over weight is the norm now.

  24. QUESTION:
    Long Term Problems from Sleep Apnea?
    I had sleep apnea for 10 year before being diagnosed and starting treatment. I am now experiencing focus and concentration problems, and they are starting to effect my job. I have been using a C-PAP since diagnosis 10 years ago. Anyone else have this problem? Any ideas what to do about it?

    PS-My doctor put me on stratera, and I don't have ADD or ADHD. Anyone else tried this?

    • ANSWER:
      Maybe you should be retested for the apnea. You may require an adjustment on your machine. I was retested a couple of years ago for the same reasons and found that I required a higher level of air pressure from the machine.

  25. QUESTION:
    Sleep Apnea possible misdiagnosis?
    I just had a sleep study done at my local sleep center and the doctor diagnosed me with sleep apnea. I am having a little apprehension about this diagnosis because my symptoms do not match any of the normal symptoms. I have fatigue, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, sleep walking and talking(the talking more frequent) and hallucinations while I am sleeping. The last symptom is almost like I am half asleep but I am conscious of my surroundings. For example, I was sleeping but I thought my puppy was laying on the bed with me but he clearly was not. I just wanted to know if anyone else has had my symptoms or even I would like your general input.

    • ANSWER:
      It's most likely sleep apnea. You could also have another disorder as well but if you did, I'd be surprised the doctor didn't go over it with you. The breathing problems could cause you to not go into a deep sleep, so your mind is still racing, thinking, conscious, etc. Which will give you fatigue, hallucinations, sleep walking/talking, difficulty staying asleep.

      Sleep Apnea has a wide range of symptoms/effects, so I'm sure you weren't misdiagnosed.

      To get to sleep easier, I have two things that always work for me (I had the same problem)

      Try tylenol PM (even half of one) because it helps you get to bed. Also, try counting down from 200. Your mind should be cleared by the time you get to 150 and you will drift off around 120. If that works and you continue, once you get used to the numbers 0-200, try starting at 300, then 400, etc. The more you recite them, the more you will become familiar with them and the more familiar you are with them, your mind will easily get distracted instead of counting/falling asleep. Both of those work for me every time.

      Some other things I have heard that work for people me and others are:
      Maybe you're room is to cold or hot. I actually open my window at -2 outside just because I get hot easily
      Warm milk
      Listening to a fan
      Music on a low level
      relax every muscle (start with your toes. squeeze them for 5 or 10 seconds, then move onto the next muscle a little higher up, and continue until you finish your entire body or fall asleep)
      Try eating or drinking foods with tryptophan 30 minutes you go to bed. Tryptophans are a chemical that make the body sleepy. Don't eat a lot because when you fall asleep, your body will still be working digesting the food instead of sleeping. Foods that have tryptophans are bananas, turkey, milk (warm or cold) and more which can be easily looked up.

      Of course if nothing else helps and the lack of sleep is interfering with your work/school or quality of work, you can always contact your doctor or a local sleep specialist/center

      To get a better quality of sleep, make sure you don't have much on your mind or any worries because even though you don't think you think about them during your sleep, you actually do and it will cause you to wake up in the middle of the night. Also try to make sure there are no noises or lights. If you sleep with someone or a pet, don't expect to get a great nights rest. If you have an exciting or scary dream or have to go the bathroom, that will also cause your sleep to be more poor so try to avoid disrupting dreams if you can (I know it sounds hard, but it's possible) and use the bathroom before going to bed.

      Now that I've gotten a regular sleeping schedule, I can get to sleep within 20 minutes or less without counting, focusing, etc.

      Good luck

  26. QUESTION:
    Sleep Apnea help please.?
    Hi My husband is having tests at the moment to see if he has sleep apnea. He is a private hire taxi driver, does anyone know how this will affect his job before and after diagnosis

    Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      It certainly should not affect it.

      Sleep apnea is easily treated by:
      Losing weight to reduce the amount of loose tissue in the throat the obstructs breathing,
      and/or (for most of us, since losing weight is not an easy thing)
      Using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device.

      When he starts using a CPAP machine, he should feel better, have more energy and feel less sleepy - which will make him a safer driver.

  27. QUESTION:
    Anybody have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or know someone who has it?
    Today I found out from my respirologist's office that I have severe Sleep Apnea. I had a polysomnogram done a couple of weeks ago at the hospital, which is how my diagnosis was confirmed. I have been WAAAY more tired than usual for the past few weeks......sometimes even falling asleep just while sitting on the toilet going pee (sorry if that's T.M.I.) Anyway now I am scared to go to sleep because I'm worried that I might have a bad episode and not even wake up. I know that having Sleep Apnea can cause death in the most severe cases. My specialist's office has moved up my appointment from next week to tomorrow so that he can talk to me about this and also to get things going for me to get onto CPAP treatment. But just for tonight, does anybody have any words of warning, (or words of comfort even) for me? Does anyone know of anyone ever dying from sleep apnea?

    • ANSWER:
      I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. When I went to a specialist, he told me what you already know...the possibility of dying from sleep apnea is extremely rare. Your body is just too smart. :) Basically, the reason you're so tired all the time is because when you stop breathing, your body "wakes up" just enough to force you to change position or do something to start breathing again. This pulls you out of the much-needed deep phase of sleep, and if it happens frequently throughout the night, your quality of sleep is poor and you'll be tired the next day.

      I did two sleep studies, and the second one was with a CPAP machine. I hated that thing...besides making me sound like Darth Vader, it was way too uncomfortable, and the forced airflow gave me a sore throat. As it turned out, my quality of sleep was worse with the CPAP anyway, and so the doctor didn't prescribe it for me. However, one important result of my studies that you might want to consider: When I slept on my back, I stopped breathing almost TEN TIMES as often as when I slept on my side! So you might want to try sleeping on your left side when you go to bed and see if that improves your quality of sleep.

      The other option to a CPAP is a surgical procedure to remove any obstruction(s) that are causing the sleep apnea. I've opted not to do that for now...at 37 I have no desire to have throat surgery! But if my wife gets too fed up with my snoring, I'll probably bite the bullet and do it for her. :)

  28. QUESTION:
    Please help! I have questions about Sleep Apnea.......I'm scared to go to sleep.....?
    Today I found out from my respirologist's office that I have severe Sleep Apnea. I had a polysomnogram done a couple of weeks ago at the hospital, which is how my diagnosis was confirmed. I have been WAAAY more tired than usual for the past few weeks......sometimes even falling asleep just while sitting on the toilet going pee (sorry if that's T.M.I.) Anyway now I am scared to go to sleep because I'm worried that I might have a bad episode and not even wake up. I know that having Sleep Apnea can cause death in the most severe cases. My specialist's office has moved up my appointment from next week to tomorrow so that he can talk to me about this and also to get things going for me to get onto CPAP treatment. But just for tonight, does anybody have any words of warning, (or words of comfort even) for me? Does anyone know of anyone ever dying from sleep apnea?

    • ANSWER:
      The body has a built-in mechanism that protects the individual from going for far too long without oxygen, especially when asleep.

      Once the body detects low oxygen, it makes the individual gasp for breath.

      You will be able to survive tonight if you sleep. It is better to sleep tonight than to fall asleep while something is being discussed by the specialist tomorrow.

  29. QUESTION:
    Military Service Connected Sleep Apnea?
    I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) a few weeks ago. I have been off of active duty for roughly 1.5years. Currently I have a disability claim for this condition, but while i was on active duty, i didn't have any treatment or diagnosis of symptoms (I was a young marine who had no clue that snoring could be serious). Anyway, since I didn't complain about any symptoms I was having on active duty, and the OSA diagnosis was just made 1.5yrs after discharge, what would my likelihood of receiving a service connection be? THE VA HAS ISSUED ME A CPAP SINCE THE DIAGNOSIS.

    • ANSWER:
      zero hope. sleep apnea is not known to be caused by military service in any way shape or form.

  30. QUESTION:
    Why is mis-diagnosis so common when treated by doctors in US?
    Most doctors do not care to investigate the patient's symptoms in big detail. They just try to give a "blanket term" diagnosis. I was awfully tired and exhausted so badly. After hearing my symptoms doctor tell me to eat vitamins. It didn't help. Then he told me to exercise and that didn't help too. When I kept pressing him more, he said I have chronic fatigue syndrome and said the only treatment is to rest and have positive attitude. The actual diagnosis was sleep apnea. It took 2 years to find this out after changing numerous doctors. One doctor finally told me to get sleep study and sleep apnea was diagnosed. It takes years to come up with correct diagnosis and many times this can be disastrous. A friend of mine died of stomach cancer at age 36. He was told he had IBS. When it was discovered that he actually had stomach cancer, it was too advanced and too late to save him.
    so this means just because you have health insurance you really aren't safe?

    • ANSWER:
      Maybe you'd be better off under a state funded free system. In New Zealand they do a process of elimination by sending you for physical Xrays, blood tests, etc to find the problem. I mean to say even if it wasn't physical, just sending someone for tests will get rid of any irrational fears of what it could be and make you less anxious. I'd say it has to do with what the qualification standards are for doctors in your country. Ask your doctor to do some tests, and send you for some Xrays so you can eliminate what it could be. I read somewhere that any foreign doctors who want to practice in New Zealand have to resit exams so they are up to New Zealand standards.

  31. QUESTION:
    Possible Sleep Apnea?
    Hey, this has been happening for maybe 2 years now. When I'm falling asleep and i'm in the half asleep/half awake stage I realize that I have been holding my breath. So I gasp to get a breath and continue sleeping and then about 20 seconds later I realize i'm holding my breath again. This happens a few times before I fall into a deeper sleep and don't realize anything. I only realize this thing happening to me every now and then (That I know of). Also, this one time it felt like I was only half asleep and I was having like a dream inside of a dream or something and I thought I was just lying on my bed and sleeping but then I had a dream that my Mum walked into the room and suffocated me with a plastic bag (She's not actually like that in real life) and that's when I quickly woke up, gasped, and realized that I was in a deeper sleep than I had thought.
    Another thing, this has happened a few times before, I will be half asleep and I will be lying on my stomach and I will feel a dull pain on my lower back and then my mind will be thinking that i'm paralyzed. But after a few seconds i'll be able to move either a leg or an arm and then I just relax and continue sleeping but then it happens again.
    Sorry, this is kind of a confusing explanation but I've tried my best.
    I know that to get a proper diagnosis I would have to go to the doctors and do a sleep study and such but i'm just wondering what other people think.
    I am almost certain that I do not snore but i'm not too sure, I sleep in my own bedroom so people wouldn't know if I snored. I also move around a lot when i'm sleeping.
    By the way if this helps, I am a 15 year old female, asian but living in NZ, healthy weight but with a wee bit of a belly, not the best diet, fairly active (I walk to and from school, sometimes walk to town, do pe, walk the dog..etc...)

    Thanks :)

    • ANSWER:
      Sleep apnea is a common medical disorder that impacts millions of people during their sleep with breathing pauses or shallow breathing. Breathing can be interrupted and paused anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. People with sleep apnea will frequently feel unrefreshed from sleep and experience excessive drowsiness during the day. Often times, the person with sleep apnea may not even suspect symptoms until their sleeping partner starts to complain about their snoring, nighttime restlessness and other annoying symptoms.

      This article is going to explore the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea, and review some diagnostic and treatment options.

      Difficulty: Moderate
      Instructions

      Things You'll Need
      A review of your level of energy and daytime drowsiness
      A list of sleep complaints from yourself and/or sleep partner
      A honest review of how often you are using sleep medications on a regular basis
      A recent physical from your healthcare provider.
      1

      Your sleep partner may be a good source of information about your sleep quality.
      Seriously listen to a sleeping partner's concerns about your excessive snoring, arm/limb movements, nighttime awakenings and restlessness. It is important to not dismiss these complaints as trivial or related to another personal issue.

      2

      Falling asleep during the day or feeling excessively drowsy is a warning sign of possible sleep apnea.
      Review your typical energy level during an average day. While everyone has on "off" day now and then, people with sleep apnea tend to be chronically tired and poorly rested. Sleep should be "refreshing" the majority of the time. If yours is not, then you may want to consider talking to your healthcare provider.

      3
      Consider asking your healthcare provider to order a sleep study, a simple, non-invasive test that monitors various physiological parameters of your sleeping pattern. Most sleep studies are done in a sleep clinic that provides a private, motel-like room. They are not done in a hospital bed. You simply show up at the scheduled time and do your regular nighttime routine and go to sleep (a technician will place some monitor pads on you much like EKG pads which are fairly innocuous).

      4
      If the sleep study does confirm the diagnosis of sleep apnea there are several treatment options ranging from using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) mask at night to medications and even surgery. The CPAP masks of the past have been replaced with much easier and more comfortable models. Also, the medication Nuvigial has recently been approved by the FDA for people with diagnosed sleep apnea to help combat excessive daytime drowsiness and other related conditions.
      Tips & Warnings

      Sleep is important not only for rest, but for proper immune functioning and other physiological functions of the body.

      Review how often you need to take a sleeping pill on a regular basis.

      Pay attention to concerns raised by your sleeping partner.

      There are very good, and some simple, treatments for sleep apnea.

      Sleep apnea left undiagnosed and untreated can advance and lead to much more serious health issues.

      Do not take for granted that you are just a "poor sleeper."

      This article is for informational purposes only. A licensed healthcare provider needs to diagnosis and treat sleep apnea or any other medical condition.

  32. QUESTION:
    Where would be the best in-patient place to get a complicated diagnosis.?
    Sleep Apnea, Bipolarism, and Fibromyalgia are all being tossed around and we need to find a place for a clear comprehensive diagnosis

    • ANSWER:
      it will be hard to get in patient diagnosis--unless there is a critcial care issue or you have the money to pay for a hospital stay-

      you will need to go to 3 separate doctors-
      a sleep center fro sleep apnea
      a pyschiatrist for bipolar disorder

      i have never heard of a neurologist who treated sleep apnea-may be a respiratory doc....

      to find a competant doc to diagnose Fibromylagia
      email kindness@fibrobetsy.com
      she keeps a list of docs recommended by patients and takes off docs with bad reviews. Rheumatologists are still the primary specialists that treat FMS-because it was wrongly though to be a form of arthrits originally...

      but--it is not a musculoskeletal disorder-it is believed to be a disorder of the central nervous system--most docs know nothing about fibromylagia-even teh so called specialists-so you need to track done one that really knows what he is talking about.........

      they are 3 completely conditions-one doc cannot give you a comprehensive diagnosis of all 3-they need to be diagnosed separately

      the sleep apnea may be causing teh fibromyalgia like symptoms--it may not be FMS at all

  33. QUESTION:
    Do these sleep study results look bad?
    I just had a sleep study done. Results were:

    28 sponatneous arousals.'
    1 REM arousals
    31 Snoring arousals
    total: 61

    Mild, intermittent snoring was noted while supine.
    Apnea-hypoapnea events per hour .89
    1 during REM and 4 events in Non REM

    Respiratory related arousals per hour: 5.69
    Mean Oxygen saturation: 96.61 0 desaturation episodes below 90% with a nadir of 90%

    Cadiac monitoring: Normal sinus rythm with no significant arrythmias noted.

    Diagnosis:

    Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome, adult.

    I am 26, currently BMI of 35, get only about 3 hours a sleep at night with exesseive daytime sleepiness, and have asthma.

    Should I worry?
    ETA:
    I slept 337.5 minutes of the required 438.5 minutes and it says sleep onsent latency: 7.5 minutes
    REM onset latency:128 minutes

    • ANSWER:
      Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be a hidden epidemic in the developed world. One of the strongest risk factors for OSA is obesity. Other risk factors include smoking, alcohol use, and structural abnormalities. Left untreated, OSA may lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.

      The diagnosis of mild OSA is made on the basis of the sleep study. However, the sleep study does not describe how severely the symptoms of OSA affect you. Excessive daytime sleepiness can affect you in many subtle ways - poor work performance, mood, increased risk of driving accidents, etc.

      You should discuss the results of your sleep test and your symptoms with your sleep or lung doctor. If appropriate, he/she may prescribe a CPAP machine for nighttime use.

      In addition, you should seriously consider changing your lifestyle to try and lose weight. A BMI of 35 is obese. Obesity may predispose you to high blood pressure, diabetes, premature heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, arthritis, OSA and much more. A combination of increased physical activity and a well-balanced diet is the safest way to lose weight.

  34. QUESTION:
    Christmas crisis?
    I had a bad year including losing my job by the hand of backstabbers, Sleep Apnea diagnosis, falling asleep behind the wheel, and losing the job that took me six months to find (a paper route). I have to young kids (1 & 6yrs) and no financial help at the moment. If you know of any foundations that could help my kids have a Christmas, please help. I don't need a thing. I just need my kids to be happy.

    • ANSWER:
      sign up at the local salvation army , public aid office, there is a program here called head start which is a pre school thing and they know of a lot of resources and can help out a lot. maybe local schools, churchs collect a lot for people in need, just ask all the above if they can help or now of way or of where there might be help...good luck

  35. QUESTION:
    Can a sleep study diagnose depression??
    I just recently had a sleep study done to check for sleep apnea .... my doctor just called and left me a message that " I had very mild sleep apnea which did not require the use of cpap but he had indications of severe depression"
    Question; Does a sleep study alone provide information to make such a diagnosis??

    • ANSWER:
      HELL NO! your doctor is a quack. i ran sleep labs across the country for like 8 years and the most commonly misdiagnosed thing i see is drs. thinking their patients are depressed when they really have apnea. THERE IS NO WAY A POLYSOMNOGRAPHY CAN TEST FOR DEPRESSION! i'd get a new dr...

  36. QUESTION:
    Whats the diagnosis for hyperthyroidism?
    I have had a routine blood test. My doctor said I have high calium. I have had a creatine test and a ultrasound on my throat? Is this the recommend diagnosis? Because I have read around and I have seen that a ultrasound is useless in detection?? Is this true?

    Iam worried that I have this problem but the correct diagnosis isnt being used for me?

    I have severe depression
    Severe sleep apnea
    Low Libido - I dont get horny ever!
    I feel nothing when have sex iam numb!

    Iam a 22 year old male. Thanks.
    I live in Australia.

    • ANSWER:

  37. QUESTION:
    Unusual Sleep Phenomena?
    For the past eight months or so, I have observed many strange and frequent occurrences in my sleep, some which are new to me and others which I have had for some time.

    Case in point: During sleep, I would momentarily cease to breathe, a condition which is described as "sleep apnea" and one that I have had for many years without an official diagnosis.

    The strange part about this is that nearly every time this occurs, I also happen to get a "nocturnal emission" - That is, I ejaculate involuntarily in my sleep. If I can recall at all, the dreams in question are rarely sexual in nature, and I will sometimes sleep through it if I don't feel myself "come".

    I would also wake up, frantically gasping for breath for no observable reason, but this does not happen as often. This does/has not resulted in ejaculating.

    I guess what I'm really trying to ask is...
    1: What causes "sleep apnea"?
    2: Is this related to "nocturnal emissions", in any way?
    3: What is the best course of action for me to take?

    I am a 19yo male, 135lbs and 5'7" with a slim build. I have not seen a doctor or had a physical in nearly four years, and do not have any significant allergies or medical conditions that I am aware of.

    Thank you in advance!

    • ANSWER:

  38. QUESTION:
    Does anyone have a happily ever after story with their bipolar parent?
    My mother was diagnosed as bipolar about 5 years ago, after I had been out of her home several years. Previous diagnoses include depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, hypothyroidism, chronic insomnia, sleep apnea & hypoglycemia. She has visited half a dozen doctors to get these diagnoses. She continually cycles through taking medicine from 1 doctor as prescribed, to taking medicine from several docs who do not know she is doctor shopping, to all-herbal(and I mean like, 20 - 30 different supplements a day), to no medicine.
    With each new diagnosis/treatment, she seems to believe that she has turned a corner. If I try to talk to her about behaviors that seem harmful, she becomes too tearful and sleepy to talk. Recently, she has done some very hurtful things. I'm beyond trying to confront her about it.
    Does anyone have a similar situation that turned out well? I keep hoping for the best, but her behavior gets more erratic and hurtful as time goes by.

    • ANSWER:
      It's possible.

      I was diagnosed at age 7 as Bipolar among other things. I had done the whole 20 different doctors 50 billion different pills sometimes all at the same time deal a few hospital stays until I found my "magic" pills. They don't solve everything but I do live a somewhat normal life. The symtoms are very mild but still there. So it is possible. For some though there is no "magic" pills and even more popular is they just don't find them. Always have hope for her though. You don't even know how hard it is to have this. It is the worst feeling in the world to not be able to control your feelings/what you are feeling when you are feeling it. To feel happy when someone you love got dianosed with an uncurable disease is the weirdest/and worst feeling in the world...to not have any control over your feelings in awful. To not be in control of your situation is bad enough for most...to not be in control of anything is a very hopeless feeling. You feel very alone to say the least.

      Just know that that is not her. She is not doing those things on purpose. Know that she loves you and can't control it. Keep working on a finding her "magic" pills. Know that she will never completely be herself again though. This is a part of her..and it will never be completly gone.

  39. QUESTION:
    Doesn't sweat/ Lack of oxygen?/headaches/ easily hot? Diagnosis...?
    K, this is my human situation here. lol

    Male, age 23. moderate asthma (doesn't use an inhaler on a regular basis, doesn't have regular attacks)
    just moved to DC where it is hot and humid. :P

    he rarely sweats - almost like he doesn't have any sweat glands (very strange). because of this he overheats REALLY easily. i can attest to his very hot body temperature when I have already finished cooling down.

    also, he seems to often wake up with a headache which he attributes to "not enough oxygen in the air". it does seem to be worse when it is hot, but to me this almost seems like some sort of sleep apnea, although he is not a very restless sleeper. (How would one treat sleep apnea??)
    (I turned off the window AC unit last night after he fell asleep and he woke up at 2AM with a terrible headache)

    My question is.... are these headaches, hot temperatures, lack of sweating, oxygen level, asthma related? is one the cause and the other symptoms just follow?
    it would be nice to not have to have the AC on low ALL of the time or have him always complaining about headaches in the morning.

    If anyone has any theories or ideas of a diagnosis it would be appreciated. Of course we would go to the doctor for a real opinion afterwards, but I really don't even know which doctor we would go to? Which type of doctor would deal with this sort of thing?

    Thanks!
    He could definitely stand for drinking more water, but I don't think that it is the main problem- even when he drinks a lot of water he is extremely sensitive to the heat. This has been a longish term problem, I don't know what the drs have said about it before. he seems to think it is normal for some reason. :P

    • ANSWER:
      You have to start out with your regular family doctor to start tests.

      Is he drinking enough water? He almost sounds dehydrated. He should be drinking a minimum of a litre more than he excretes, so at least 2 litres a day. Urine should be pale and dilute.

      When was his last physical?

  40. QUESTION:
    Severe night sweats w/ no diagnosis from my dr. . . .?
    I've been having night sweats for the past 6 months or so, off and on. Last week, they were really bad to the point of drenching my sheets and I had to change them. This occurred 3 nights in a row. I have had every test in the book with all results coming back normal. My dr. is unable to determine what's causing them and I haven't been able to find much relief until now . . . a little history, I am fit, exercise on a regular basis, do not have sleep apnea and am not on drugs/alcoholic. I have, discovered that if I have a glass of wine before bed, I don't sweat at night. It doesn't make sense to me as they say that drinking alcohol brings them on, but it seems to be doing the opposite . . . Anyone have any insight? Or some other diagnosis that maybe they haven't tested for?

    • ANSWER:

  41. QUESTION:
    Doctor or Nurse Needed! What are some possible explanations for the multiple symptoms on left side of my body?
    I'm 25/F Confirmed Diagnosis;I'm 5'6 350,I have; Arthritus (10mg 6x daily methadone),Sleep Apnea,High B.P. (Enalapril 10mg 2X daily),Restless Leg,Asthma,Lymphodema,Hyperhydrosis,Never ending pain in all joints, muscles,jaw. All of following worst on left side; Constant decreased sense of feeling/numbness every where worst from waist to under butt & inner thighs pelvic area,Stabbing/numbness in left back quadrant of head,Phsyically weak MUCH worse on left side.Had blood tests for cancer,liver,thyroid,adrenal,heart (adenesin test),cbc all good results,tests for blurry vision good as well however in dmv test where I had to answer as to which eye the blinking light was blinking in I had problems when it light blinked in left eye when the lights where nearing the middle towards my nose.) The chronic pain I've been told is mostly from my arthritus,however what is the relation of all the left side symptoms? Please offer you'r opponion so I can possibly help point my doc in right direction?
    Note I had these same problems even when I was half the size I am now.
    To the person that blamed me problems on "over eating"...That really hurt my feelings. You read my weight and assume that I am gorging on food when that is not the case. I have been monitoring my weight and been active in the last 2 years I have lost 100 (this year and the year before 75 with a total of 175lb). I think it is unfortunate that you made these asumptions, and to be quite honest really redicolus as I have never before been told this by any health professional (not even when i was at 525+ lb).
    Melvana,Ty for you'r nice responce.I had these problems long before methadose.And before I got perscribed it I never heard of it being given for chronic pain either. However my pain mgmt doc uses it alot.

    • ANSWER:
      Hello..just wanted to say that I have a lot of pain problems like you do and have gained weight myself just from lack of exercize because its too painful. The difference is I have equal pain on both sides of my body and numbness in face and extremeties. Recently, I stumbled upon a condition called "chronic pain syndrome" http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic32.htm which is caused by a stroke which is not always detected on mris. Anyway, it usually hits one side of the body. There is nothing to do but control the pain...have you tried a pain block? You can have a shot which is temporary and lasts up to a year and if you like that they can later put in a pain pump. The shot only lasted a month for me and I'm not ready for the pump, but maybe you are.

  42. QUESTION:
    Does anyone else's child suffer from all or most of these things?
    eosinophilic esophagitis, asthma, reflux, ADHD, sensory Integration disorder, and possibly Autism (we're waiting for an official diagnosis) He also had obstructive sleep apnea as a baby. The reason I'd like to know is I wonder if this is all interrelated some how! Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      ADHD, sensory integration disorder and autism are all related. Technically a child is not supposed to be diagnosed with ADHD and autism because the 2 conditions share many "symptoms" so they can be interchangeable. You're supposed to pick one or the other. SID is a given if your child has autism, so no child has to be diagnosed with both. That said, what's technically supposed to happen doesn't usually so there are LOTS of children who have all 3 diagnoses'.

      Asthma and sleep apnea are all breathing disorders, so yes they are related. Reflux is related to EE as well as it can cause problems with eating food too.

      But the disorders listed in the 2 above paragraphs are not related.

      And I have 2 kids who have autism and could also be unofficially diagnosed with SID and one who could be unofficially diagnosed with ADHD as well for sure.

  43. QUESTION:
    I was diagnosed with asthma, I'm confused about inhaler use, help?
    My doctor said to use it when I have an "episode", for instance when I wake up like I'm choking, coughing, and can't breathe. If I can't breathe, how am I going to use the inhaler at that point? and 2nd... FYI: He ruled out Sleep Apnea as a diagnosis, what are your thoughts on a second opinion, too, if you will??

    • ANSWER:
      The first thing you need to do when you wake up is to stay calm. I have asthma and understand it is hard to do when you feel like you aren't getting any air at all, but if you get anxious about it, it will only make it worse.

      Don't worry about not being able to use your inhaler. As long as you inhale as you press down on the chamber, the medication will get to you. Just try to take it slow.

      I would talk to you doctor about getting an aerosols machine, too, in case the inhaler doesn't work. Your doctor may also want to put you on preventative medications if this happens on a regular basis.

      Good luck to you! I have been there and know what it feels like!

  44. QUESTION:
    Im 16 and i want to know why im this tired ?
    Im 16 old girl and all i do is sleep it makes me not want to do any thing. Its not like a normal growing teens thing well at least i don't think it is. because i sleep at night but i wake up allot during the nights to get drinks and stuff. I also sleep in school then after school i go take a nap. the only way i will wake up after school is if some one makes me. I went to a sleep diagnosis place and they said i don't have sleep apnea. i got blood work done and they say im not anemic and im not diabetic then my doctor just stopped trying to help me. So i guess i need to find out whats wrong with me so does any one have a clue to what it could be.

    • ANSWER:
      Wow that is strange. I mean getting all those tests done and finding out you don't have anything.

      You might want to consider seeing a different doctor. Also, start exercising more so that you have more energy throughout the day.
      You need to make sure that you are taking care of yourself properly. Eat a big breakfast, a snack, lunch, a snack, dinner, and then a final snack before you go to sleep. People are supposed to eat 6 times a day to boost metabolism. Trust me, it's good for you.

      I wish you luck though, okay?

      -Noah

  45. QUESTION:
    Would you say that I have a sleeping disorder? I'm just looking for ideas, not a diagnosis?
    I'm a 15 year old girl.
    The last few weeks, it's taken me hours to fall asleep. I give up, go watch television, and then come back a few hours later. I wake up early in the morning regardless, after only several hours of sleep, and can't fall back asleep. This is a big change from how it used to be, I used to get 12 hours of sleep per night and fall asleep quickly. We're talking about a sudden change that happened within several nights a few weeks ago, and continues until now. It's 2:30 in the morning, I'm really tired, but when I close my eyes, I can't sleep.
    How could it change so suddenly? It's still Summer vacation for me, I am under no stress whatsoever really. I haven't significantly changed any part of my life recently, and everything is going well other than this little sleeping problem, which leaves me tired and with no appetite for the day (when I'm sleep deprived, I don't feel hungry).
    My dad has sleep apnea. And I've displayed symptoms, but not very often and not recently.
    I don't snore.
    I have been told that I talk in my sleep, even yell and call out in my sleep. It's never affected my actual sleeping before though, and it's been happening since I was little.

    Do you think that this is a possible sleeping disorder? I start school in 2 days now, and no matter what I do, I can't sleep. I've surfed the Internet and tried everything, nothing works! I even stayed up all night a while ago to try to force myself to be tired for the next night, and I just ended up staying up until 4 in the morning anyway, and it took me until 5 to fall asleep. I was up around 11, when normally in that situation (this is how it's been for part of the Summer), I would be up around 2, with the help of an alarm.
    I'm getting concerned. What's my next step? My parents don't know, and I'm afraid to tell them.

    Thanks everyone!

    • ANSWER:
      Better tell your parents asap and see a doctor. You may have insomnia. Start eating a healthy diet.

  46. QUESTION:
    psychology 201 question help?
    the doctor announced, the patient was unresponsive , but is now conscious , by consciousness , he mean at state of awareness
    True or false
    at a camping sleepover, you discovered your buddy chuck sleepwalking. you deduced that during this episode , chuck was likely in the deepest part of non rem sleep
    T or F
    your friend kevin has a diagnosis of sleep apnea , this is the sleep disorder wherein individuals have a hard time falling asleep
    T or F
    babies are born with with many relexes intact
    T or F
    new born can't imitate facial expression
    T or F
    easy child generally has a positive mood
    T or F
    your toddler has emerged into piaget's preoperational stage of cognitive delopment , you now expect that she acquired reversibility
    T or F

    • ANSWER:
      T

      T (A common misconception is that sleepwalking is acting out the physical movements within a dream, but in fact, sleepwalking occurs earlier on in the night when rapid eye movement (REM), or the "dream stage" of sleep, has not yet occurred.[citation needed] REM behavior disorder is the proper term for the condition that occurs when a person "acts out" her dream. Sleepwalking can affect people of any age. It generally occurs when an individual moves during slow wave sleep or SWS (during stage 3 or 4 of slow wave sleep—deep sleep) (Horne, 1992; Kales & Kales, 1975). -- Wikipedia

      F (Sleep apnea (or sleep apnoea in British English) is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. ) - Wiki.

      T (babies acquire some reflexes during the gestation period. when they are born,many of them continue to exist for some time)

      T

      T (one of the defining criteria of easy child)

      F (reversibility emerges in concrete operational stage.)

  47. QUESTION:
    Diagnosis trouble...?
    I have been sleeping 10-14 hours a day. I am always sleepy and tired with no energy. I have alot of stress, deppression (maybe resulting from bad sleeping habits?) I have had alot of tests done, negative for anemia, sleep apnea, thyroids, etc. I have been tested for all the common things. Does anyone have an idea of what this could be? I have had this for about 2 years now.

    • ANSWER:
      Your symptoms may well be psychosomatic - which by no means indicates they're not very troublesome or not "real". You will have visited a sleep clinic in order to have been tested for sleep apnea - as you know that involves an overnight stay in the clinic - but determining whether or not you have a physical problem leading to sleep disturbances is not the end of that clinic's responsibility. A psychological evaluation should have been part of the process.
      There are real physical problems that arise due to chronic sleeplessness, and there are real mechanisms that can help deal with that sleeplessness. The process of determining the reason(s) for your difficulty is not complete. Return to the sleep clinic and ask about further evaluations. And be pushy about it if you have to; chronic sleeplessness leads to weight gain, coronary artery disease and can even lead to an early death. So get in there and kick as(s) and take names if you have to! Insist upon a thorough evaluation or a referral to someone who can complete that process.

  48. QUESTION:
    Where do I go next? Mystery illness needs a diagnosis.?
    I need some help. I have some helth problems and no one can tell me what is wrong. I am overweight, 33 years old, female, 4 kids, celiac disease, low thyroid and thyroid nodules (benign), history of recurrent kidney stones, sleep apnea (treated with cpap that maintians O2 levels at 97%).
    Here are my symptoms:
    Shortness of breath on exertion,
    racing heart,
    occasional heart palpitations,
    pitting edema,
    edema in my upper abdominal area that causes pain,
    extreme fatigue,
    forgetfulness,
    can't sleep flat - even with cpap on (have to sleep propped up),
    muscles become extremely weak and tired after minimal use, including jaw muscles when I chew, cheek muscles when I smile, and muscles around eyes when I squint.

    I have an increased sed rate with no explanation. Lupus, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, lung disease, heart disease have all been ruled out. I recently had an abnormal stress test that showed: "mild worsening in the mid anterior wall on stress imaging when compared with rest imaging. . . . appears to be significant fixed defect with at least mild ischemia of the mid anterior wall present." An angiogram was performed with completely normal results. They said my arteries looked "perfect."

    My question is, where do I go from here? I just don't know what kind of dr to go see. I am so frustrated. My PCP doesn't even know what to do anymore. I am being treated with so many medicines that it's pathetic. I am tired of "living" like this (it sure doesn't feel like living, more like just surviving). I want answers and I want it fixed. Any ideas of what I can do and where I can go?

    • ANSWER:

  49. QUESTION:
    Has anyone experienced loss of motor skills/seizure like symptoms and gone without diagnosis?
    My best friends fiance has been having "episodes" for about the past 6 months. Occassionally after meals, he blacks out and losses motor skills. His eyes will shut or start rolling in the back of his head, and he becomes unresponsive unless splashed with water. They last about 30 seconds to 1 min. Last night he had a severe one that lasted about 30 mins. His posture became slouchy, his eyes started rolling around, he began to slowly spin in circles while standing and his tongue was hanging out of his mouth. At the ER they ran a bunch of bloodwork and gave him a catscan. Everything came back normal so they sent him home and his general physician is saying this is nothing to worry about because he has sleep apnea and "after he eats, blood is rushing to his stomach"? Has anyone experienced anything like this before or heard of any medication that might cause similar symptoms? He is ADHD and also has sleep apnea, he doesn't drink or do drugs. Any suggestions are appreciated!

    • ANSWER:
      I have seizures and it took too many doctors to actually know that they were seizures. I would suggest to find a differnet doctor until they do find out that it is seizures.

  50. QUESTION:
    Help? Multiple conditions, looking for diagnosis? (cancer/autoimmune?)?
    Hello all,

    I have come to the internet in desperation after years of constant medical problems that seem to have no end. My GP is not very helpful. It is getting to the point where my medical problems have taken over my life and I would like to just know what is wrong (if anything).

    I am an obese 20 year old female. I had multiple ear infections as a child; my ear drum popped twice so I have slight hearing problems in one ear. At seven, my tonsils and adenoids were so large that I suffered from severe sleep apnea, so they were removed as the ENT was worried about brain damage. When I was six, they discovered that I was missing 9 adult teeth and they considered it to be a genetic defect of some sort, the cause was never investigated. Aside from cholestrol issues at 8 (solved through the Atkins diet, ironically enough), I was very healthy from about age 7 to puberty. At this point, I was just a little chubby. Puberty hit, and I gained probably 70-80lbs in a year. Although I developed in all other ways, I never produced a period. This was not dealt with until last year. Around this time, I started suffering from gastro-intestinal distress but it was tolerable, so life continued.

    Around 14, I noticed that my left pupil was constantly dilated. I had multiple test and was referred to many doctors before I was diagnosed. They had suspected a brain injury/tumor (cancer was brought up), but it turned out to be Adie's tonic pupil. Adie's can be caused by lesions on the neurons/muscles that contract the pupil, or it has no cause (like in my case). There is also no cure.

    Then I discovered a large lump on my right foot. Doctors orginally thought it was osteomyelitis, or sarcoma/similar cancer. I underwent multiple tests. They still weren't positive what it was, but they decided surgery was the best option so it was removed in January. It turned out to be an ostechondroma, so they removed it, I spent 3 mos on crutches and they told me that there was less than 5% chance that it would ever recurr. It had recurred by the time I went back for a checkup. Because of it's incredibly fast regrowth, they were worried it had come back as a malignant lesion so I underwent surgery again in August of the same month. Turned out it was just a regrowth of the osteochondroma, so they removed a ton of bone from the surrounding areas as well, so I was non-weight bearing and on crutches for nearly 6 months this time. By the time I went for my 3 month checkup, it had regrown. I was referred to a new, younger orthopaedic surgeon for another surgical option but it was an extreme idea so I declined. The foot is just xrayed 3x a year to make sure it doesn't become malignant.

    At this same time, I also had dental implant surgeries to try and correct my missing adult teeth. Also, my gastro-intestinal distress became so severe that I couldn't function properly so I was sent to a gastro-entrologist as my mother sufferes from Crohns disease and they were afraid I did too. My GP sent me for a blood test for Celiac, but it came back as negative. She suggested I go gluten-free anyways because sometimes the blood test is wrong. I went gluten free and almost all my gastro symptoms disappeared. I went for an endoscope and colonscopy approximately 8 months after I went gluten free, but by then (as the gastro-enterologist explained to me) any damage to the villi from Celiac would have been healed, so no problems were found.

    I had to have my gallbladder removed in Feb of this year due to gallstones, after which I developed GERD. I went to an OBGYN because I was 19 and had never had a period, and testing concluded that I have PCOS, or poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, which explains my excessive weight gain and lack of period. (I do have bad eating habits, but I should not be as large as I am - I have always been a very active person so the PCOS/hormonal imbalance explains some of that).

    Finally, for the last year or so, I have been overwhelmed by all consuming exhaustion. I need about 12 hours of sleep to function, and the, and then that can usually get me through class or a bit of work, but then I need about a 3 hour nap if I want to do something in the evening. I was given 2 at home sleep apnea tests - the first came back as indictiative for central apnea (not obstructive!), the second test came back as inconclusive. I am currently on a 2 year wait list to get into our local sleep clinic.

    Recently, I found a lump in my throat. The week later, I fainted at work. The ER doc performed blood work and an EMG, said it was probably heat exhaustion, which doesn't make sense at all. He also checked my throat lump, and said it was likely a cyst so he sent me to an EMT who said tonsil regrowth. I also have frequent dizzy spells, incidents where my eyes shake, recurrent headaches and a recurrent rash in my inner elbows and across my abodomen (not weight related). I am always incredibly flushed and hot & awake sweaty.

    • ANSWER:


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