Sleep Apnea Treatment

Question by Beth: I may have sleep apnea but not every night?
I sometimes wake up gasping but I wake up blacked out and go right back to sleep after I start breathing again. I have trouble getting sleep and never am able to get a full nights rest. I also usually snore. Right now, I am 7 months pregnant and I keep waking up with my mouth swollen (under the tongue), mouth wide open and usually on my back (I try to always sleep on my side), one night I woke up with my body pillow in my closet and on my back and I went to sleep on my side with the pillow between my legs. I’ve been snoring really loud and in class I started to go to sleep but while I was still conscience, I stopped breathing and was startled awake fully. Could I have sleep apnea or could it just be a lung problem? My tonsils are oversize and I may have minor asthma (undiagnosed but I wheeze, cough, have no physical endurance and have been that way my whole life).
All those conditions I have had since I was a child but testing was never really done. I had the chance to have my tonsils out but then the insurance said they wouldn’t cover it. I had been educated, prepped and was about to have the surgery and the doctors came in and said they wouldn’t cover it and at the time we didn’t have the money for it. Should I ask to be tested or just write it off because I don’t think it happens but I had no idea that I did any of that until a few people pointed it out to me.

The doctor did think I have asthma at one point when I was a kid. I don’t know if I ever got tested or not though.

Are there any other conditions that cause those symptoms I mentioned or could it be one of the two (asthma or sleep apnea?) I don’t think I stop breathing every night but I may and it goes unnoticed.

Best answer:

Answer by Pearl L
they have programs for people that dont have insurance, ask about it, i had a hysterectomy without insurance and it was the indigent care program that payed for everything, you should check into it

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Question by My-Girls-Pinky-and-MJ: Consistant Bad Dreams Every Night?
I am at the point where I dread going to sleep at night. I am awakened several times every night as a result of a bad dream. I wake up usually with my heart pounding, skin damp, breath short, and other general anxiety symptoms. These are connected to the dreams I have. They are always about bad things; death, cheating spouse, loss of a loved one, bad things happening to the kids, loss of a pet, financial despair, etc. The strange thing is, I live a seemingly charmed life. I have a tender, committed husband, we have a great sex life, I have four wonderful healthy children (ages 11-19), I don’t have to work, we are financially solvent, own our own home…you get the idea. I don’t have any reasons to be having all this anxiety. I started getting these bad dreams before my husbands first tour of duty in Iraq. He has since gone back and done another tour, but is home now (for the meantime anyway). I have not had a restful night in the last four years. I have tried going to the doctor. Medication makes my dreams all the more vivid and worse. Foods don’t affect my dreams. I don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or do any drugs. I am no where near menopause and am otherwise healthy. Does anyone have ANY suggestions? Oh, and I did have a sleep study about a year ago and I do not have sleep apnea. It’s bed time and I am not looking forward to another restless night.

Best answer:

Answer by Tanmoy
Pick up Yoga from your nearby local Yoga Center . I think you are worrying too much and cuaseing to disturb sleep pattern…

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Question by Apocalypse Cow: Takes off the CPAP mask EVERY night in her sleep?
DW has tried a medium mask, small mask and now nasal pillows for sleep apnea. The cpap includes a humidifier. I don’t think she has slept with the mask on thru the night more than 3 times in the last 3 years.

Best answer:

Answer by UOPHXstudent
Has she tried the full mask or just the nasal type masks?

I have a full mask with head gear and it has to be adjusted around the forehead and the chin. Some people even have to sleep with a chin strap.

She also may need to change the seeting on her humidifier to be more or less than what she has it set for now.

Sometimes the brand that of mask that you use can cause irritation during the evening. Try using a different brand.

There is also a special pillow that has cutouts so that the mask is more comfortable to use. I personally did not like it but others can not live without it. It is made from memory foam.

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Question by maykel d: im always waking up every night and i cant sleep,i think i have a sleep disorder,any remedies to sleep well?

Best answer:

Answer by MeganBeth
I take Ambien but you need a prescription, but Melatonin also works, its a herbal supplement.

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Question by jay: Is there any way to prevent sleep paralysis (not sleep disorder, I sleep well every night)?

Best answer:

Answer by Jennifer J
Stanford has a good page: http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/paralysis.html

They recommend this to help, but not prevent…
- Get enough sleep
- Reduce stress
- Exercise regularly (but not too close to bedtime)
- Keep a regular sleep schedule

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