Sleep Apnea Support Group

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. People with sleep apnea partially awaken as they struggle to breathe, but in the morning they may not be aware of sleep disturbances.

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Question

jwlee35
jwlee35
Hi all. I was sent last night for a sleep study to determine if I have sleep apnea. Before I left this morning, the person that did the test said he wasn't sure what the doctor would decide to do, but I did have a few apneas, and a few oxygen desaturations? (not positive if the last one is what he said, I was still trying to wake up, lol) My question is this, what were some of your symptoms prior to CPAP therapy? I know all about the sleeping 10 hours and still being tired, but what were some of your other symptoms? Thanks in advance.
Tez62
Tez62
jwlee35, welcome, there are no symptoms that everyone has as everyone is different but common symptoms are fatigue during the day, under sleeping or over sleeping, headaches, cecession of breathing during the night, cold hands and feet, aches and pains, then the associated illness's like heart attack, stroke, diabeties 2, depression etc
Oxygen desaturations is when your oxygen drops below the acceptable level which is mainly caused by an apnea.
Hope this helps and good luck
Thewino
Thewino
Hello jwlee,

Tez has given you the majority of the symptoms peeps feel.

Personally, I was having severe fatigue during the day. The symptom that got my Rheumatologist to order the sleep study was reflux. Go figure.

Also, my wife told me that I would quit breathing in my sleep which is pretty scary to hear. Loud snoring is another symptom.

There are four stages of sleep with REM sleep being the last phase. My sleep study showed that I spent 97% of my sleep time in stages 1 and 2. So, I wasn't getting any restorative sleep at all.

Plus, my oxygen sats were dripping to the low 80's at night because of the apneas.

It can cause some pretty big problems.

Good Luck to you,
TheWino
jwlee35
jwlee35
The sleep study doc called me back and said I have moderate sleep apnea, that gets close to severe when I'm able to make it to deeper sleep. I'm scheduled this week to go back and do the second part to find my air setting and I guess the mask fitting.
Tez62
Tez62
Thats good at least you know, you would stop breathing between 15-30 times an hour, sounds like closer to 30. Please ask any questions you have, at the next sleep study, titration, they will try different masks on you and work out the ideal pressure for you.
jwlee35
jwlee35
Thanks you two. Hopefully this will clear most of my problems up. If not it'll be an expensive experiment, lol.
Tez62
Tez62
jwlee35, it's not really an expensive experiment, it's a therapy and a lifestyle change. If it save you having a heart attack, a stroke, depression etc it is an investment in your future and quality of life for you and your family. Sleep apnea only gets worse if left untreated, I have seen so many stories of people that have lost loved ones that say they wish they had been diagnosed or they had been diagnosed and didn't want to use or try the therapy, we are the lucky ones.
jwlee35
jwlee35
That's true. I've been trying to figure out what has been causing my symptoms for over a year now, and I've read on here that a lot of them can be from sleep apnea, (I think you had similar symptoms Tez62) so I'm crossing my fingers that this might help. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired, lol.
Tez62
Tez62
Yep I know how you felt, but now I'm full of energy, hope it works out for you, let us know how you go after your sleep study or if you have any questions. If you have insurance make sure you ask for an Auto CPAP or APAP, they may try to give you the bottom of the range straight CPAP.