(Untitled)

[tbone1961]

This fatigue best be explained by sleep apnea. I mean for crying out loud. I was in bed last night by 8:30 after falling asleep in the recliner. (a whole evening with no soccer, no rehearsals, etc can really tire a soul out). Up this morning at the sound of the alarm at 5:30. Mind you. The whole time consciously uninterrupted. Now 11am at work

Comments

[travis_w]

I think sleep apnea is my theme for this year. I don't have it myself, but it seems like everyone I met this summer has it. It's definitely more pronounced when you are sleeping on your back.

Apparently the machine does wonders though its annoying to wear. I have had a couple of people tell me that they want to have the surgery, even though its supposed to be quite painful

[bonemead]

The surgery is extremely painful for weeks, and there's only about a 50% chance of it helping. The surgeon can only remove the soft tissue from the soft palate and the upper part of the throat (around the tonsils), and many times the airway is also closing further down during sleep. Another issue is what are called "hypopneas," which is where the airway narrows and breathing becomes extremely shallow--and even though the airway doesn't close, blood oxygen levels drop and the person arouses from a deeper sleep stage into a lighter sleep stage--which is what causes the exhaustion. Ultimately, hypopneas can be just as harmful as true "apneas," and they can persist after the surgery, only without the drama of the loud snoring and obvious apnea that your bedmate complains about. The surgery WILL fix the snoring, but I can't see how fixing the symptom without fixing the underlying problem would be a very good thing.

[tbone1961]

thanks for the info!!!

[tbone1961]

Wasn't aware of surgery.

You're right. Seems to be the ailment of the year. Although the ex wife made this claim for years. I just didn't do anything about it.

[tonethbone]

Based on your pictures (slim guy) ...I tend to doubt you may have sleep apnea...it almost always is due to excessive weight and old age (although...before I get a counter-comment barrage) there are exceptions

Lots of things can cause daytime tiredness...so of them are simple and innocent..some are nasty. Tell your doctor..

If you are having deep vivid dreams..you probably DONT have sleep apnea..or it is very mild

[tbone1961]

counter comments? from me? NAH!!! LOL.

Ironically, the ex wife was diagnosed with a slight case but they wouldn't treat her til she lost some weight. Catch 22. Not enough sleep to have energy in order to lose weight.

And what's this about nasty? I only get nasty thoughts reading LJ. But what nasty indeed.

And as far as dreams. Virtually none. Go figure.

[tonethbone]

no dreams are a good "indicator" of sleep apnea...so maybe you are the "exception"

as for "nasty"...(not to scare you)
tiredness is also caused by anemia
and anemia can be caused by (that dreaded word)

see your doctor and feel better

Re surgery...according to my doctor..it almost never works

[tbone1961]

someone else along the line mentioned your middle paragraph. so let's hope it's just the apnea!!!

[spatts5]

I like sleeping on my back someitmes, but find that I do snore when I sleep that way. I found out that if I put the pillow just under the top of my shoulders and my head tilts back slightly, it stops the snoring. Guess it opens the airway a little better (similar to tilting a person's head back when administering mouth-to-mouth resusitation).

[tbone1961]

damn. that sounds uncomfortable. then again. few comments about how annoying this CPAP thing is. we'll have to wait and see i guess.

[spatts5]

It's not uncomfortable at all, half of the pillow is under my shoulders and my head is resting on the other half. I've also just tilted my head back a little while laying on the pillow and that helps too.

[orange_groves]

Ask redbeardedblond

[tbone1961]

sure will do. thanks!

[vaneramos]

I don't have sleep apnea that I know of. But I do know, when I sleep on my back I tend to stop breathing, which wakes me up. So I always sleep on my side.

[tbone1961]

I probably wouldn't think twice about the apnea, if the ex wife AND Randy had not made observations and said something. And the fact that my Dad has it, more reason to at least get it checked out.