Sleep Apnea Symptoms In Women

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Sleep Apnea please someone help me!?
   Over the past 3 weeks i haven't been able to get a full nights rest,i always fall asleep and wake up about 10-30 minutes later then it takes me about 3 more hours to fall asleep again i have almost all the symptoms for it (Not obesity) Ive lost my interest in women my grandpa told me i snor when i sleep,im fucking horrible in school (worse than i was before) im sleepy all day,wake up early in the morning,and when i tell my dad i think i have it he just laughs and says "youll be fine" and when i wake up and go out in the living room he tells me to shutup and go to sleep. Im very scared because i read that this can kill you over time someone please help me someone even the slightest bit of info ill take.

   • ANSWER:
     First of all, take a deep breath. Make an appointment for you family Dr and explain your symptoms. He/she will take it from there. Long term untreated apnea can cause issues with your health. However, it is long term; like years and years. The test for sleep apnea that is usually used is a simple procedure where you place a probe (like a little brace) over your finger. The machine is the size of a large deck of cards. The box records your oxygen level. When it is red by the computer the results go to your Dr and he goes from there. Usually this is done over the night time.

2. QUESTION:
   Having trouble breathing - looked like I swallowed a walnut??
   I was 4 months pregnant when I started experience "sleep apnea" symptoms. I would wake up in the middle of the night gasping desperately for air. My son is 17 months now and it happens maybe 2xs/month. I live in Florida and we had some major smoke inhalation about 2 weeks ago, but I sat down to relax after a long day and felt like I wasnt getting enough oxygen, to the point I had my husband almost call 911. We went to the doctor that night and he gave me breathing treatments and my new doc has been getting tests for me left and right. Chest x-rays, thyroid ultrasound and breathing tests. I also have trouble swallowing with these episodes. Last night I was having some difficulty again and my friend looked over at me when I was giving a gurgling sound with it and she said it was like I swallowed a walnut! Right in the bottom of the neck- the empty part, above the chest bone, she said it was like a huge growth. I wasnt laying back just trying to breath normal, and Im a woman....

   • ANSWER:
     I noticed a lump growing in the same spot as you describe and after a thyroid ultrasound it was discovered I have thyroid nodules, i'm now waitng to see what the doctor wants to do next.. I don't have any problems breathing, but it depends how the growth is growing. Don't worry, if it is a nodules they are not life threateniing, and less than 5% of them can be cancerous, and that is usually only if you are really old. If they determine that is what it is you may be able to take a medication to shrink it, or you may need to have it out, but it is a sameday surgery. Take care, i'm sure everything will be okay.

     I just wanted to add that 60% of woman have nodules and don't know it, and they are pretty common especially after having a baby.

3. QUESTION:
   Is this article True?
   1) Less may mean more. For people who sleep under seven hours a night, the fewer zzzz's they get, the more obese they tend to be, according to a 2006 Institute of Medicine report. This may relate to the discovery that insufficient sleep appears to tip hunger hormones out of whack. Leptin, which suppresses appetite, is lowered; ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, gets a boost.
   2) You're more apt to make bad food choices. A study published this week in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that people with obstructive sleep apnea or other severely disordered breathing while asleep ate a diet higher in cholesterol, protein, total fat, and total saturated fat. Women were especially affected.
   3) Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance, its precursor, may become more likely. A 2005 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people getting five or fewer hours of sleep each night were 2.5 times more likely to be diabetic, while those with six hours or fewer were 1.7 times more likely.
   4) The ticker is put at risk. A 2003 study found that heart attacks were 45 percent more likely in women who slept for five or fewer hours per night than in those who got more.
   5) Blood pressure may increase. Obstructive sleep apnea, for example, has been associated with chronically elevated daytime blood pressure, and the more severe the disorder, the more significant the hypertension, suggests the 2006 IOM report. Obesity plays a role in both disorders, so losing weight can ease associated health risks.
   6) Auto accidents rise. As stated in a 2007 report in the New England Journal of Medicine, nearly 20 percent of serious car crash injuries involve a sleepy driver—and that's independent of alcohol use.
   7) Balance is off. Older folks who have trouble getting to sleep, who wake up at night, or are drowsy during the day could be 2 to 4.5 times more likely to sustain a fall, found a 2007 study in the Journal of Gerontology. You may be more prone to depression. Adults who chronically operate on fumes report more mental distress, depression, and alcohol use. Adolescents suffer, too: One survey of high school students found similarly high rates of these issues. Middle schoolers, too, report more symptoms of depression and lower self-esteem.
   9) Kids may suffer more behavior problems. Research from an April issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine found that children who are plagued by insomnia, short duration of sleeping, or disordered breathing with obesity, for example, are more likely to have behavioral issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
   10) Death's doorstep may be nearer. Those who get five hours or less per night have approximately 15 percent greater risk of dying—regardless of the cause—according to three large population-based studies published in the journals Sleep and the Archives of General Psychiatry.

   • ANSWER:
     More (& longer term)studies need to be done, but current studies do indicate a connection of sleep patterns to basic health!

4. QUESTION:
   Help with Doctors and PCOS?
   So, my sister has recently complained about having irregular periods which she said started years ago but are becoming weirder and weirder. Our Dad died four years ago and both of our periods stopped (probably stress) mine is regular again, but hers is not. She's 17 and weighs 223 pounds. (She doesn't look like she should weigh nearly that much.) Anyways, she's got a doctors appointment with our family doctor (a man) on January 7th, but wants to see an OBGYN. The catch is that she doesn't want an internal exam, she refuses it. The point I'm getting at is this: Last night we researched possible diseases or infections she might have to cause this in her and we came up with polycystic ovary syndrome. It said that that also causes hirsutism (excess hair growth in women.) When we read this, my sister showed me her back and legs. She has thicker hair at the bottom of her back and on her thighs than she should. Her inner thighs are also a darker colour than normal. That's another symptom of PCOS. So, we managed to come up with a probable diagnosis for her but now she has to see a doctor to find out for sure. She absolutely refuses to get an internal ANYTHING and she really doesn't want to talk to our family doctor because he's not a woman.

   The websites we looked at said that low-dose birth control could easily solve this problem, so we thought maybe she could just request that? Or do you think she should express her concerns about PCOS to our doctor right away? Please help!

   Other symptoms that she has included:
   Acne
   Sleep apnea
   Decreased breast size
   Excessive hair growth
   Irregular periods
   Increased muscle mass (like I said, she does NOT look like she weighs over 200 pounds.)
   And more.

   Please help!

   • ANSWER:
     Being a registered nurse, as well as someone with PCOS, I do think she should express her concerns with her doctor. At this point, an internal exam isn't crucial for diagnosing or even treating her symptoms. If is is PCOS (which sounds likely), have your physician check a fasting insulin- which typically comes back very high with PCOS. Birth Control will most definitely help regulate her periods, but a lot of times you need Metformin to help control the symptoms as well. Good luck, hope this helps =)

5. QUESTION:
   Do you, ladies have PCOS?
   I do, and i believe that all women who has , should start writing long letters to docs, explain how messed up can be and find not a treatment but A REAL CURE, for this curse of nature.

   my personal experience.
   I got my period 14 years old, it was painful, like a stomach ache.
   After my first period the second one came 5-6 months after. PAIN PAIN PAIN, VOMITING , LOW PRESSURE, FAINTING,COLD SWEATS, all these for 12 years, ( iim 26 now) and i didn't knew , my family didn't get me to the doctor, (messed up family, another big story), and when I went to a doc, she told me that i have them and its ok. I was 22 when i went and until now i didn't knew how serious can be.
   Did you know that:
   More than 50 percent of women with PCOS will have diabetes or pre-diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance) before the age of 40.
   Women with PCOS have a four to seven times higher risk of heart attack than women of the same age without PCOS.
   Women with PCOS are at greater risk of having high blood pressure.
   Women with PCOS have high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol
   Chance of getting endometrial cancer
   the symptoms are:
   infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding
   infertility (not able to get pregnant) because of not ovulating
   increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes—a condition called hirsutism (HER-suh-tiz-um)
   ovarian cysts
   acne, oily skin, or dandruff
   weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist
   insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes
   high cholesterol
   high blood pressure
   male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
   patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs
   skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
   pelvic pain
   anxiety or depression due to appearance and/or infertility
   sleep apnea—excessive snoring and times when breathing stops while asleep
   (Not all women with PCOS share the same symptoms)

   Thats is so messed up. I got :
   Acne, depression, very irregular periods, increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, It ruined my life until now, because no doctor told me anything of those and i might have insulin resistance, because of my family background.
   now i went to a hospital and im waiting for my next period so i can do some tests.
   here in greece, docs saying " oh birth control pills are bad , don't take them, blah, blah blah, " fuck them , the minute i start birth control pills , is my happiest moments i.ve ever lived, no acne, no pains, everything is so perfect, now i stopped because i have to do the blood exams, and guess what..... ACNE ACNE ACNE, HAIR, SMALL BOOBS!
   I took yasmin, and here in greece birth control pills cost like 10 euro, why in america cost like 60 dollars? because of the advertisment? here they don't do to much advertisment.

   thanks, all ladies you can share if you want to.

   All my life i thought that i was crazy, crazy bitch from hell, i was feeling bad and now i know.

   • ANSWER:
     I have it. Ugh. :'(
     I started my periods aged 12.
     It lasted for two weeks and then if didn't come again until 5 months later! I thought there was something wrong with me.
     Now I'm 16. That was four years ago and I still barely get my period. When I do, its very long and painful...
     I have facial hair which I struggle to hide (and boys crack jokes at me at school) and my back, stomach and chest has a lot of hair on it too.
     I have really bad acne on my face and back. I am also slightly fat and I can't shift the weight!
     I want a solution. The tummy pains are the worst. I get them most when I'm stressed and that's not good when I'm sitting exams...
     I speak to my doctor for help but he just sends me for a blood test to check my hormone levels. Ugh. I want help. :(:(

6. QUESTION:
   I'm 15, and have signs of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome!?
   I am freaking out, and crying too because you can not bear children, I have the irregular periods [sometimes they for a week but only for half of each day] and i have the acne [runs in family though] and sleep apnea because i sometimes just quit breathing when i am trying to go to sleep....and i do got all the increased hair on me but its not on the neck. and i used to have depression. i am pretty tiny though.

   do u think i can have it?!

   Not all women with PCOS share the same symptoms. These are some of the symptoms of PCOS:
   * infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding
   * infertility (not able to get pregnant) because of not ovulating
   * increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes—a condition called hirsutism (HER-suh-tiz-um)
   * ovarian cysts
   * acne, oily skin, or dandruff
   * weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist
   * insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes
   * high cholesterol
   * high blood pressure
   * male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
   * patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs
   * skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
   * pelvic pain
   * anxiety or depression due to appearance and/or infertility
   * sleep apnea—excessive snoring and times when breathing stops while asleep
   please help i am totally bummed out
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
   i saw a question where a girl asked if she had it because she was hairy
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   • ANSWER:
     The only way to know for sure is to go to a doctor. Tell you're mom, and get to a doctor. Because people on here, cannot help you. A trained professional can.

7. QUESTION:
   Do I Have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
   What are the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

   Not all women with PCOS share the same symptoms. These are some of the symptoms of PCOS:

   * infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding
   10 YEARS AND IVE NEVER BEEN REGULAR

   * infertility (not able to get pregnant) because of not ovulating
   * increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes—a condition called hirsutism (HER-suh-tiz-um)
   MY BIG TOES ARE QUITE FURRY

   * ovarian cysts
   * acne, oily skin, or dandruff
   I SUPPOSE I HAVE OILY SKIN, NOT MUCH ACNE THO

   * weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist
   I HAVE LARGE LOVE HANDLES AND STOMACH IS JELLY
   * insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes
   * high cholesterol
   I WOULDNT DOUBT IF I HAD IT

   * high blood pressure
   I WOULDNT DOUBT IF I HAD IT
   * male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
   * patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs
   * skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
   * pelvic pain
   * anxiety or depression due to appearance and/or infertility
   I HAVE THIS
   * sleep apnea—excessive snoring and times when breathing stops while asleep
   I SNORE PROLLY EVERY NIGHT, DONT THINK I EVER STOP BREATHING THO

   Would anyone out there say I have it?

   • ANSWER:

8. QUESTION:
   my doctor diagnosed me with PID and PCOS but im not so sure?
   About a year and a half ago i went to an OB/GYN with severe pain in my pelvic area and ovaries she did a sonogram of my overies and said i had PCOS {Polycystic Ovary Syndrome} and PID {Pelvic Inflamitory disorder}. I have recently changed my primary care physician and she wants to also be my GYN and during my first visit she said she wasnt so sure about the diagnosis my old GYN gave me so i looked up the symptoms and I dont have quite a few of them.
   PCOS symptoms i DONT have:
   •infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods
   •insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes
   •high cholesterol
   •patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs
   •skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
   •sleep apnea—excessive snoring and times when breathing stops while asleep
   •abnormal hair growth and distribution.

   PID symptoms i DONT have:
   •Painful or difficult urination
   •vomiting
   •spotting throughout the month
   {not sure yet on the infertility, weve tried a few times with no success but Im too scared what will happen to my self image if we try hard with no results}

   So my question to women with PID or PCOS is.. do you think i should get a second opinion or are these symptoms uncommon.. or like really what symptoms do you experience?

   • ANSWER:
     Not every woman has the same symptoms when they have pcos. you may have only 1-3 symptoms whereas another woman have 7-8 symptoms. They make that list and give examples of what most women experience with pcos. your symptoms dont have to exactly match everyone elses. If you feel like you got a bad opinion, go ahead and get a second opinion. It may make you feel less freaked out. My best friend since kindergarten got diagnosed with PCOS in late july said that she could never have kids. or if she did get prego, she would miscarry, which she had done twice before. She conceived not too long after the diagnoses and is doing well. Due in early may with a healthy baby

9. QUESTION:
   I feel sick when I wake up. I am NOT pregnant! It doesnt matter if its in the morning or when I?
   wake up from a nap. (I am almost 27, and in relatively good health.) It has been going on for about 2 1/2 years, but it was completely bearable up until a few months ago. When I wake up, within 30 seconds - 1 minute, I am extremely nauseated, I have a sore throat, and a headache. My tonsils have also been moderately swollen for about 3 months. My dr has me on Zofran for the nausea and I take that several times a day. I have several times vomited and dry heaved in the mornings. Some days it is so bad that I just don't want to get out of bed. I have had many tests done, including, an upper gi endoscopy, a sleep study (no sleep apnea), cbc, comprehensive metabolic panel, tsh, lipid, fasting glucose and a hepatic function panel. Everything was completely normal. I am feeling totally exhausted and I just don't know how much longer I can deal with this, because it is just debilitating. I have tried to find info on line but all I can find is stuff about morning sickness in pregnant women. A dr in my primary cares office also put me on prilosec because she thought it was acid reflux, although I have absolutely no symptoms of reflux, and my endoscopy did not show any. Then she also put my on celexa because she thought that maybe this was all in my head... I have been on these meds for about 3 months, with no improvement. Anyone have any thoughts???

   • ANSWER:

10. QUESTION:
    Medically what is wrong with me?
    I Have chronic Fatigue, Im Always cold.. day or night, summer & winter, I have Horrible headaches, From Migraines to tension headaches. I have Zero energy, Yet I cannot sleep well if at all & I always feel as if i am never rested. Im always Beyond exhausted. It Takes Up every ounce of energy to get up & move from my bed to my couch, ( & i have a 17 By 40 foot trailer.. so its not far). Im always in constant pain in my muscles.. I get charley horses just from Moving wrong. I have muscle spasms in my back, my legs, ( yes i have RLS). I was told i had hypothyroidism. Im always weak.. Did i mention tired.. It Literally hurts to move from my "spot" On my recliner once i get there.. My Husband does not know how to help me. Plus i have Symptoms of Fibromyalgia, But yet have not been diagnosed with that. My Dr is a women's health care dr.. & when i tell her what is up.. she Just sends me to more specialists that say they cant find anything..! please help me.. I am 40 Not 84.. but geez i have been feeling this for 5 years now?? can anyone tell me what this might be?? I take prenatal vitamins, & No i don't exercise.. i cant move! i hurt ) have NO energy.. none.. & when i try, i end up with an asthma attack.. ( yeah I have asthma too..) one last thing.. i have to sleep with oxygen because Literally stop breathing when i sleep but yet i don't have apnea ( Its called something else.. the dr said.).. please help?? I am so afraid this is going to start hurting my marriage.. my Poor husband does not deserve this.. what happened to me?? & what can i do About this??
    Oh & I am only about 8 pounds overweight.. So I dont yet have a problem with that, I weigh 156 ( i know it seems like a lot but my dr has said its not something to be concerned about just yet. ( im 5 foot 6) lol. & all i have is a small Area of love handles & a little bit of a stomach.. other then that i look healthy,, but I sure dont feel it. the weight has yet to come off from having a baby... ... 4 years ago..
    oops forgot to mention that I aslo have acid reflux & Hypoglaucemia.. did i mention plus hypothyroid? It runs in the family. Ok i dont think i forgot anything else.. but can honestly say that Ive always gotten sick every winter as a kid.. but as an adult it continues.. now its everyday.. My BMs to my headaches.. please help.
    hypochondriac>> THAT Im NOT being.. MY dr has actually CONFIRMRD all this.. but she does not know HOW to treat IT all!!!! DUMB ASS!! READ!! Again its already confirmed by MY dr! i wont make it up.. I want to know if its the hypothroid or fibromygalia??

    • ANSWER:
      I would suggest that you find an integrated medicine, alternative, or naturopathic doctor who has experience treating Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia. Your symptoms could have many causes.

      When you do find a good doctor he may put you on a "challenge" or "elimination" diet. This type of diet seeks to eliminate any foods that could be causing or aggravating your symptoms. I suspect that you may have some food sensitivities, and the first step in getting well is to eliminate the offending foods. Once those foods have been removed from your diet then the doctor can check your thyroid function, hormone levels, and also test for nutritional deficiencies. At that point he can start to put together a treatment plan.

      Wheat, diary, eggs, soy, nuts, and shellfish are common food allergens and could be the cause of some of your problems. Artificial sweeteners, especially NutriSweet, can trigger migraines in some people, so it might be advisable to avoid them.

      If you haven't already done so check out the "Stop the Thyroid Maddness" website (http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com) and also Dr. Lowe's website (http://www.drlowe.com/)