Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.
Fibromyalgia & Sleep Apnea
The Relationship Between Fibromyalgia & Sleep Apnea, and How to Live With Both
By Adrienne Dellwo, About.com
Updated: December 9, 2008
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
See More About:overlapping conditionstreating fibromyalgiasleep apneaCFS Ads
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Apnea Notturna
Cure Apnea
Snoring
CPAP Devices
Fibromyalgia and abnormal sleep breathing (or sleep disordered breathing) commonly go together. Sleep apnea is considered a possible cause or contributing factor for FMS, and FMS may increase your risk of sleep apnea.
Any sleep disorder can make FMS symptoms far worse, so treating sleep disorders is often a big help in managing FMS. It may sound counterintuitive, but people with chronic fatigue syndrome (which is similar to FMS) don't have a heightened risk of sleep apnea or other diagnosable sleep disorders.
What is Sleep Apnea?
People with sleep apnea frequently stop breathing while they're asleep, and the need for air can wake them up or bring them out of deep sleep, at which time they start breathing again. It's not uncommon for this to happen every few minutes, and the result is a poor quality sleep.
The most common type of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in which the airway gets blocked at one of several possible sites. The obstruction can be from excess tissue in the air passage, a large tongue or tonsils, or the nasal passages. The tissues involved block the airway when you become relaxed, especially during deep sleep. Obesity increases the risk of OSA.
When breathing stops due to sleep apnea, you have a drop in blood oxygen levels and your heart beats faster. You get a burst of stress hormones, and your body rouses you to get you breathing again. Sometimes people with sleep apnea have no idea this is going on, but some people awaken with a gasp.
Sleep apnea carries an increased risk of several other health conditions, including:
Stroke
Heart disease or heart failure
High blood pressure
Heartburn and reflux
Diabetes
Erectile dysfunction
Depression
Sudden death
Treating sleep apnea can help mitigate your risk of developing these conditions, on top of possibly easing your FMS symptoms.
Why Do Fibromyalgia & Sleep Apnea Go Together?
So far, we don't know for sure why fibromyalgia and sleep apnea go together. It's possible that sleep deprivation from sleep apnea contributes to the development of FMS. It's also possible that lax connective tissues believed to be associated with FMS may contribute to airway obstructions.
Learn more about possible causes of fibromyalgia.
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a polysomnogram, or sleep study. These are done at a sleep lab, where you're hooked up to electrodes and monitored throughout the night by a technician.
Your doctor may refer you for a sleep study if you report symptoms of sleep apnea or other sleep disorders. Most people with FMS are not given a sleep study, but some doctors and researchers say the sleep study should be done more often to help identify and treat sleep disorders that exacerbate FMS.
Learn how fibromyalgia is diagnosed.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea & Fibromyalgia
Some symptoms of fibromyalgia and sleep apnea are similar, which can make it harder for you to detect and for your doctor to diagnose. Symptoms they have in common include:
Unrefreshing sleep & excessive daytime sleepiness
Difficulty concentrating
Personality changes
Depression
Insomnia
Sleep apnea symptoms that aren't associated with FMS include:
Episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep (you may notice this if it wakes you up, or a sleep partner may tell you about it)
Loud snoring
Dry mouth upon waking
Snorting, gasping or choking that wakes you up
High blood pressure
If you have FMS and notice these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about the possibility of sleep apnea.
Treating Sleep Apnea
The most common treatment for OSA is a machine that provides what's called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP. The continuous pressure keeps your airway from becoming obstructed.
Once you're diagnosed with sleep apnea, the doctor will likely send you to a medical-equipment provider, who will fit you with a CPAP mask to wear while you sleep and give you a custom-programmed CPAP machine.
Other sleep apnea treatments include:
Losing weight
Surgery to remove excess tissue in the throat
Dental devices that reposition your jaw (if jaw position is responsible for the obstruction)
Living With Sleep Apnea & Fibromyalgia
CPAP treatment can be difficult for some people with FMS to tolerate. Many of us have insomnia, and some people find that CPAP makes it harder for them to fall asleep. Others don't do well with CPAP because the mask and straps around the head are uncomfortable for them.
My personal experience with CPAP, however, has been very positive. I get a much better quality of sleep, and I actually find the machine to be soothing and have trouble falling asleep without it. My levels of daytime fatigue dropped off significantly and my energy level came way up as soon as I started using it.
If you find it hard to adjust to CPAP, talk to your doctor or equipment provider to see if they can help you. You may also want to consider other treatment options. Leaving sleep apnea untreated is a poor option, both because of the impact on your FMS and because of the associated serious health risks.
The Relationship Between Fibromyalgia & Sleep Apnea, and How to Live With Both
By Adrienne Dellwo, About.com
Updated: December 9, 2008
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
See More About:overlapping conditionstreating fibromyalgiasleep apneaCFS Ads
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Apnea Notturna
Cure Apnea
Snoring
CPAP Devices
Fibromyalgia and abnormal sleep breathing (or sleep disordered breathing) commonly go together. Sleep apnea is considered a possible cause or contributing factor for FMS, and FMS may increase your risk of sleep apnea.
Any sleep disorder can make FMS symptoms far worse, so treating sleep disorders is often a big help in managing FMS. It may sound counterintuitive, but people with chronic fatigue syndrome (which is similar to FMS) don't have a heightened risk of sleep apnea or other diagnosable sleep disorders.
What is Sleep Apnea?
People with sleep apnea frequently stop breathing while they're asleep, and the need for air can wake them up or bring them out of deep sleep, at which time they start breathing again. It's not uncommon for this to happen every few minutes, and the result is a poor quality sleep.
The most common type of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in which the airway gets blocked at one of several possible sites. The obstruction can be from excess tissue in the air passage, a large tongue or tonsils, or the nasal passages. The tissues involved block the airway when you become relaxed, especially during deep sleep. Obesity increases the risk of OSA.
When breathing stops due to sleep apnea, you have a drop in blood oxygen levels and your heart beats faster. You get a burst of stress hormones, and your body rouses you to get you breathing again. Sometimes people with sleep apnea have no idea this is going on, but some people awaken with a gasp.
Sleep apnea carries an increased risk of several other health conditions, including:
Stroke
Heart disease or heart failure
High blood pressure
Heartburn and reflux
Diabetes
Erectile dysfunction
Depression
Sudden death
Treating sleep apnea can help mitigate your risk of developing these conditions, on top of possibly easing your FMS symptoms.
Why Do Fibromyalgia & Sleep Apnea Go Together?
So far, we don't know for sure why fibromyalgia and sleep apnea go together. It's possible that sleep deprivation from sleep apnea contributes to the development of FMS. It's also possible that lax connective tissues believed to be associated with FMS may contribute to airway obstructions.
Learn more about possible causes of fibromyalgia.
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a polysomnogram, or sleep study. These are done at a sleep lab, where you're hooked up to electrodes and monitored throughout the night by a technician.
Your doctor may refer you for a sleep study if you report symptoms of sleep apnea or other sleep disorders. Most people with FMS are not given a sleep study, but some doctors and researchers say the sleep study should be done more often to help identify and treat sleep disorders that exacerbate FMS.
Learn how fibromyalgia is diagnosed.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea & Fibromyalgia
Some symptoms of fibromyalgia and sleep apnea are similar, which can make it harder for you to detect and for your doctor to diagnose. Symptoms they have in common include:
Unrefreshing sleep & excessive daytime sleepiness
Difficulty concentrating
Personality changes
Depression
Insomnia
Sleep apnea symptoms that aren't associated with FMS include:
Episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep (you may notice this if it wakes you up, or a sleep partner may tell you about it)
Loud snoring
Dry mouth upon waking
Snorting, gasping or choking that wakes you up
High blood pressure
If you have FMS and notice these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about the possibility of sleep apnea.
Treating Sleep Apnea
The most common treatment for OSA is a machine that provides what's called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP. The continuous pressure keeps your airway from becoming obstructed.
Once you're diagnosed with sleep apnea, the doctor will likely send you to a medical-equipment provider, who will fit you with a CPAP mask to wear while you sleep and give you a custom-programmed CPAP machine.
Other sleep apnea treatments include:
Losing weight
Surgery to remove excess tissue in the throat
Dental devices that reposition your jaw (if jaw position is responsible for the obstruction)
Living With Sleep Apnea & Fibromyalgia
CPAP treatment can be difficult for some people with FMS to tolerate. Many of us have insomnia, and some people find that CPAP makes it harder for them to fall asleep. Others don't do well with CPAP because the mask and straps around the head are uncomfortable for them.
My personal experience with CPAP, however, has been very positive. I get a much better quality of sleep, and I actually find the machine to be soothing and have trouble falling asleep without it. My levels of daytime fatigue dropped off significantly and my energy level came way up as soon as I started using it.
If you find it hard to adjust to CPAP, talk to your doctor or equipment provider to see if they can help you. You may also want to consider other treatment options. Leaving sleep apnea untreated is a poor option, both because of the impact on your FMS and because of the associated serious health risks.
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
HUGS and hope you have a great day!
Sleep apnea in women is often confused with menopause, depression, insomnia or fibromyalgia (chronic pain).
Typical symptoms include:
* Excessive daytime fatigue and sleepiness
* Noisy breathing and/or snoring
* Waking with a choking sensation during sleep
* Depression, anxiety, mood swings, feeling irritable
* Weight issues
* Waking up feeling unrefreshed, stiff and sore
* Waking up with a headache
* Lack of sharpness, feeling 'foggy', difficulty concentrating
* Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
* Sweating during sleep
* Passing urine frequently during the night
We recommend you get yourself checked for sleep apnea if you have any of these associated conditions:
* Hypertension
* Diabetes
* Cardiovascular conditions
Thanks for the article. Made me bump this back up to "high priority!"
Hugs
Laurel
growth hormone is the substance that we are deprived of if we don't get phase 3&4 "deep sleep".
carrie, why don't they just courier it? that's what my provider did.
I just raised the top of my bed up more and it seemed to help,
Maybe that helped with sleeping problems also.
Glad I found this and was able to post it and you all are welcome, WIsh more would read it or hope they did.
WE MUST HAVE FIBRO FOG !!!
I just posted this two days ago and look someone else posted it again,
ROFL GETTING OLDER AS WE SPEAK