What other problems could be mistaken for sleep apnea?

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I have many symptoms of sleep apnea but my sleep study shows that it is not an issue. I am tired all the time, no energy or motivation. Depression and anxiety are a major problem. I wake up many times a night feeling like I cannot catch my breath, like my chest is very heavy and not getting enough air/oxygen. What other conditions could cause these symptoms?
Did they check your limb movements while you were in for the sleep study? Periodic Limb Movement Syndrome & Restless Leg Movement Syndrome can both create excessive daytime sleepiness, as can Idiopathic Hypersomnia.

Depression and thyroid problems should also be ruled out. Sleep issues can affect mood and depression issues can affect sleep. It's often difficult to tease the two apart.

Because of the breathing problem, allergies and asthma should also be looked at as the potential cause.  (+ info)

this is for those that have sleep apnea. How do you get used to the cpap machine?

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I am having a sleep apnea test done soon and may have to use the machine. I had the sleep apnea long time ago but I couldn't get used to the machine so I sent it back.
Sleep apnea machines and masks have come along way in the last 2 years. 1st make sure that the home care co. that is setting up the equipment will work with you, if they aren't willing to, go to another company! You are the customer and they CAN get you comfortable with something. There are so many different masks & nasal pillows available, not to mention what they are doing with the machines now! Puritan Bennett has a machine that is about the size of the 1st personnal CD players they came out with in the 80's, and Respironics has machines that work with your breathing pattern!(check out their web sites)
This is something you need to be pro-active about. Lack of sleep does so many bad things to your body- poor memory, weight gain, depression, etc. Not to mention what the lack of oxygen in your body when you don't breath at night does to your brain and heart.
Good Luck!  (+ info)

How do you turn the pressure down on a Sleep Apnea Machine?

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I have Sleep Apnea and need to adjust the air pressure on the machine. I have lost my insurance and can not afford to have it professionally adjusted. If you know how please answer this question. Thanks!
There are 275,000 different kinds of machines... Ok, not really. But there are so many different kinds, you should include the make of machine. However, a lot of 'home machines' are locked in to a specific setting by the company and cannot be adjusted - without knowing how to unlock it.

And, why do you think the air pressure needs to be adjusted? Without a formal sleep study, it's almost impossible to know what pressure you need.  (+ info)

What is the best solution for sleep apnea?

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I have sleep apnea but Im sure i do not want to use a c-pap or an a-pap machine. Just looking for the next best solution.
Someone else already said it, but it should be repeated. Get the CPAP.

I never thought I would be able to sleep with one. For about a year I told myself that it would not help me sleep, that it would make it more difficult for my wife to sleep, that it would be uncomfortable...

The very first night I used CPAP it felt a little akward, but by the end of the first week ALL of my symptoms had disappeared. It has been three years now and I have no more headaches, no more muscle cramps, no more waking up several times a night with horrible heartburn or horrible sweating. My blood pressure and cholesterol have returned to normal. In one week I went from a 25 year old in danger of having a heart attack to a well rested guy who can just enjoy life again. I cannot even begin to explain how much better you will feel.

Get the CPAP and try it for a week. Just 7 days. If you can't do it, talk to your doctor. There is a surgical procedure that can reduce apnea, however less then 30% of the people who have it see any significant change and most people must have the surgury repeated throughout their lives to stay symptom free.

Most importantly, do not ignore this condition. If you do you will continue to gain weight, the headaches will get worse. Your blood pressure will continue to skyrocket. You will develop holes in your stomach and esophogus from the acid. You will have a potentially fatal heart attack. Left untreated and supervised by a doctor this condition will kill you.

Get the CPAP.  (+ info)

What are some treatments for sleep apnea?

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My boyfriend has sleep apnea and snores. It has gotten progressively worse. I am not sure what to do. it seems when i elbow him, he stops temporarily but not long enough for me to fall alseep. It is often so back that it not only prevents me from sleeping but, once i fall asleep, it wakes me up again. HELP!
Sleep apnea should be diagonsed from a reputable sleep clinic. There may be another reason for his snoring such as weight etc.
The usual treatment is sleeping with a positive air flow machine (I think it is called Cpac. If he stops breathing his oxygen level goes down and it can be a very dangerous health condition. Have him see a Dr. that specializes in sleep problems.  (+ info)

Can sleep apnea cause palpitations during the day?

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My heart skips beats all through the day, and my
heart rate stays well above one hundred all of the
time. I have been to a cardiologist, and he gave me
a stress test and a ultrasound of my heart. Every
thing came back normal. So, I would like to know
what is causing this because it is driving me crazy!!
I have a history of sleep apnea, but I am not sure if
this is the problem.
Untreated sleep apnea can cause all sorts of problems, both physical and emotional. Your organs, such as your heart, simply do not get enough oxygen to function well. It may be that you also have anxiety, which can also cause palpitations. You really ought to be tested for sleep apnea in a sleep lab, and then get a CPAP machine to wear over your nose at night. You will feel better within a week or so, and the distressing symptoms will go away. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. My very best wishes to you.  (+ info)

What else can a sleep apnea test tell you about your health?

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Went to a sleep apnea test. What else can Physicians tell about such a test. I was hocked up to about 36 different electro cables.
Thanks. I looked very funny after being hocked up to all these electrodes.
Thanks. I looked very funny after being hocked up to all these electrodes.
A polysonogram or sleep study can identify about 80 plus different sleep disoders. Sleep apnea is by far the most common. It can tell if you have any siezures or brain wave abnormalities from the EEG They can tell if you have any heart rythm abnormalities from the EKG. The leg wires are EMG and they can tell if you have restless leg syndrome. The wire on your finger can tell what your oxygen level is all night. Other wires include the snore microphone, flow sensor (in the nose), the face electrodes are generally EMG wires. They can tell when you are in REM. The belts around the chest are to show respiratory and abdominal effort. It helps to determine if you have central sleep apnea vs. obstructive sleep apnea.

Hope this helps  (+ info)

Is it possible that sleep apnea may contribute to night leg cramps?

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70 year old, male with night cramps approximately 5 hours after falling asleep. He appears to have sleep apnea that is untreated at this time. Takes Prednisone, blood pressure medicine and Crestor. Could the sleep apnea contribute to the leg cramps?
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What to expect at apnea overnight sleep clinic test?

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I've been given this overnight appointment with no info so I don't know what to expect at all. Can anyone advise please and does anyone out there have experience of sleep apnea?
I have sleep apnea, a serious case of it too boot.

Like you I went in "blind" to my sleep study. I was told to bring clothes, morning ritual stuff, and whatever else that helps you sleep. They usually ask you to be there around 8 or maybe 9p.m. so they can start putting the electrodes on varies part of your body. I had like one on each side of my calves and couple on my chest and 10 various points on my head.(don't worry the goop does wash out of your hair)

When you are ready too sleep they will hook up the electrodes to the monitor. All you do is sleep and they will watch you on the camera while they watch your heart beat and breathing. If your wake up sometime in the night and have to use the bathroom,, well its kinda awkward but you have tell them you need to use the bathroom. You just can't get up because you are hooked up to the monitor. They come in, unhook you, go do your business, come back, they hook you back up and you go back to sleep.

In the morning they come unhook you and take the electrodes off and you shower and go to work or home if you want. It takes them a couple days come back with a diagnosis.

There are different levels of sleep apnea. You are only allowed 15 interruptions an hour for it too not be a problem. Interruptions can be you snoring, tossing and turning, not breathing, heart doing goofy stuff, it goes on but those are the basics.

I had an average of 55 interruption's an hour. My brother was 66. I had stopped breathing at one time for about 45 seconds.

The way I understand sleep apnea is when you are not going into R.E.M. enough to be getting good sleep. Basically R.E.M. is the time your brain shuts down to get the much needed down time and your body goes into auto mode. Sometimes your body may forget to do the basics when in auto mode and your brain has too wake up and tell you to do them. Don't let this scare you because you would be surprised how much of this actually goes on when we sleep. I also found out through my doctor that sleep apnea does run in family's. My Grandpa, Dad, and Brother all have it and so do I. One thing that contributes to my problem is a small jaw. It's half an inch smaller than should be. Some people go do that thing to their nose to help with the snoring when in fact it is probably the jaw. You might ask about that when you talk to your doctor. I hope I helped and good sleeping.  (+ info)

What are some books I can read to research the mental issues caused after a person has sleep apnea?

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I am doing an assignment on the mental conditions caused after a person is diagnosed with sleep apnea. This means what type of issues they mentally encounter as a result of sleep apnea (such as depression, changes the must do in their environment etc.) And I would like some literature to read and information that Sleep Apnea causes that most would not be aware to know about.
there are tons of sites dedicated to sleep ( after all you spend like 1/3 of your life doing it.)

jsut google " sleep book"
or "sleeping disorder"

you will have more than you can read .  (+ info)