Question by Maggie: Sleep Apnea possible misdiagnosis?
I just had a sleep study done at my local sleep center and the doctor diagnosed me with sleep apnea. I am having a little apprehension about this diagnosis because my symptoms do not match any of the normal symptoms. I have fatigue, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, sleep walking and talking(the talking more frequent) and hallucinations while I am sleeping. The last symptom is almost like I am half asleep but I am conscious of my surroundings. For example, I was sleeping but I thought my puppy was laying on the bed with me but he clearly was not. I just wanted to know if anyone else has had my symptoms or even I would like your general input.
Best answer:
Answer by Jake G
It’s most likely sleep apnea. You could also have another disorder as well but if you did, I’d be surprised the doctor didn’t go over it with you. The breathing problems could cause you to not go into a deep sleep, so your mind is still racing, thinking, conscious, etc. Which will give you fatigue, hallucinations, sleep walking/talking, difficulty staying asleep.
Sleep Apnea has a wide range of symptoms/effects, so I’m sure you weren’t misdiagnosed.
To get to sleep easier, I have two things that always work for me (I had the same problem)
Try tylenol PM (even half of one) because it helps you get to bed. Also, try counting down from 200. Your mind should be cleared by the time you get to 150 and you will drift off around 120. If that works and you continue, once you get used to the numbers 0-200, try starting at 300, then 400, etc. The more you recite them, the more you will become familiar with them and the more familiar you are with them, your mind will easily get distracted instead of counting/falling asleep. Both of those work for me every time.
Some other things I have heard that work for people me and others are:
Maybe you’re room is to cold or hot. I actually open my window at -2 outside just because I get hot easily
Warm milk
Listening to a fan
Music on a low level
relax every muscle (start with your toes. squeeze them for 5 or 10 seconds, then move onto the next muscle a little higher up, and continue until you finish your entire body or fall asleep)
Try eating or drinking foods with tryptophan 30 minutes you go to bed. Tryptophans are a chemical that make the body sleepy. Don’t eat a lot because when you fall asleep, your body will still be working digesting the food instead of sleeping. Foods that have tryptophans are bananas, turkey, milk (warm or cold) and more which can be easily looked up.
Of course if nothing else helps and the lack of sleep is interfering with your work/school or quality of work, you can always contact your doctor or a local sleep specialist/center
To get a better quality of sleep, make sure you don’t have much on your mind or any worries because even though you don’t think you think about them during your sleep, you actually do and it will cause you to wake up in the middle of the night. Also try to make sure there are no noises or lights. If you sleep with someone or a pet, don’t expect to get a great nights rest. If you have an exciting or scary dream or have to go the bathroom, that will also cause your sleep to be more poor so try to avoid disrupting dreams if you can (I know it sounds hard, but it’s possible) and use the bathroom before going to bed.
Now that I’ve gotten a regular sleeping schedule, I can get to sleep within 20 minutes or less without counting, focusing, etc.
Good luck
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