I Have Sleep Apneoa + ? (Do you have any ideas?)

[jonpspencer2]

Hi,
I have been using a CPAP machine since December 2007 for what the consultant said was 'Mild' OSA. He also said that I need further investigations as my symptoms are not all related to Sleep Apneoa. Along with the CPAP machine set at 11 'wotsits' I also take Modafinil 200mg Tabs 1 or 2 every morning. He also prescribed Venlafaxine(Efexor XL) 150mg at night.

Modafinil is essentially a synthetic form of Amphetamin or as druggies would say 'Speed' This has various uses and basically keeps you awake without all the nasty side effects of the older type amphetamine drugs used to have. the results are its no good for the drug addicts who just want a 'high' and its no good for slimmers either. It has to be taken before 12 midday or you will have difficulty sleeping at night. I normally take one first thing when I get up and if still tired by 10am I will take another.

The doctor prescribed Venlafaxine for me to address my vivid and active dreams I have been experiencing along with my excessive 'sleep talking and movement' during my periods of sleep. I am also prone to having these 'Jerks' or 'Ticks' when Im asleep. These are involuntary jerks of the legs or arms and are similar to when one is startled, you 'jump' in a sort of fright where you are 'said' to have made you jump. It may start in a leg but my whole body jumps and my leg will move anything up to 2 or 3 feet! I also talk and shout during my dreams, my dreams can be nice or of the horrible/not nice type(Not nightmares) I have bitten my tounge, punched and kicked the wife, fallen out of bed and continued to punch the beedroom furniture.

Since taking the Modafinil, I am 'better' although I can and do still feel tired and sleepy and have little or no energy. Occassionally, I can still find myself sleeping for anything upto 3 days at a time but this has been considerably reduced since from the time before I started the tablets. From my point of veiw, I am considerably better for having the Modafinil, they have improved my quality of life considerably. However, they are no miricle cure and I am trying to improve my quality of life further(Any Ideas???)

The Venlafaxine is generally prescribed as an Anti-depressant. It has worked to a limited degree by reducing my nocturnal jumps and ticks by some 50 or 60% It has had the same effect on my dreams and active movements, its reduced them but not got rid of them.

I also can sleep walk, sleep talk and find myself eating at all hours of the night!

Does anyone have any ideas what might be the problem or diagnosis? Any ideas how I can improve things? I am due for some more sleep tests later on in the year but it would be great to have some pointers or suggestions. The CPAP machine has also helped to a degree but I need or would like to get to the bottom of it all and get back to being 'normal' once again.

Many thanks to you all, keep on smilling and remember that there is always 'someone' that is worse-off than yourself, it's just that sometimes they are very hard to find!!

JON....

[James @ Intus]

Hi Jon,

Quite a list of symptoms you have there, your wife must be quite the warrior!

Do you drink any caffeinated drinks during the day? In some people, they keep having an effect well into the night.

I also wonder whether you may benefit from light therapy. I know many OSA sufferers who use light therapy besides their PAP/MAD. Products like the Litebook can help combat fatigue, poor sleep, low mood etc. And in the winter it'll help against the dark days. I've heard good things about bright light therapy and of course, it's much more natural than drugs. I've seen it mentioned here before too.

Other things to look at could be psychological reasons for your aggresive dreams etc. Things like meditation, NLP etc. could help. I know there's a member here into hypnosis but forgot who it was.

Anyway, I'm quite curious to hear what they find so keep us posted.

[jonpspencer2]

Thanks James...

Hi James,

I dont really have much coffee 1 - 3 cups a day and never after 3pm, I dont drink tea at all,
The dreams are NOT always aggressive in fact mostly(95%) are just normal dreams that I obviously enact out. Very few are aggressive, generally they involve me defending myself. Im certainly not an aggressive type, only 5'6 wringing wet, so not big enough! Perhaps thats why Im defending myself!? Im not much of a drinker either.

The light therapy might be worth following up, sounds interesting. I have a some knowledge of Phsycology and human behaviour and yes, there may be a reason somewhere?

I did not go into things in my earlier post but I am medically retired due to ill health (Haemochromatosis) Iron overload, I have bad and painful joints and I am taking quite a cocktail of some very heavy drugs. Some of these drugs may or may not be having an effect? There are so many possibilities and variables to take into account.

Regards, Jon..

[James @ Intus]

That sounds very plausible indeed, many drugs have various side effects. Have you ever considered a theraputic detox fast? It can really help ridding the body of toxins though in your case, it would have to be supervised.

I see on Google there's a few things diet-wise you can do. I'm sure you've looked into it already.

There's even a miracle cure on a mile-long scroll sales page:

http://www.hemochromatosiscure.com/

Step 1 - Alkalize your body in order to increase oxygen and create a body that will absorb minerals more easily.

Step 2 - An ayurvedic technique using an item you've had in your pantry for years. This technique will suck out "hemochromatosis causing pathogens" out of your body.

Step 3 - Use a Natural Mineral that helps regulate iron in the body.

Step 4 - Alter your diet and lifestyle to support your new body - your hemochromatosis free body! It's the perfect Hemochromatosis Diet.

Step 5 - Use physical activity to jolt your circulatory system into clean up mode.

The steps do seem to make sense. Alkalizing can be achieved through a balanced diet. Nutritionists can help you with that. An anti-inflammaory diet wil help reduce pathogens. Lymph and blood circulation can indeed be achieved with exercise or things like a Zen Chi massager. Plenty of clean water helps too.

Sounds like you'll benefit from a holistic approach, quite possibly beyond what the through-and-through scientifical medical profesisonals can offer.

[jonpspencer2]

Haemochromatosis Cure (RUBBISH CLAPTRAP)

HI,
do not read and believe everything that you see! There is NO CURE for what is a Genetic Hereditory Condition!!! The whole Medical profession would be very interested to hear of these claims! Gobbledigook & claptrap springs to mind! The fault lays in some of the Genes G282Y from memory.

It is a shame when people make such claims about having a 'Cure' for Haemochromatosis. This is both upsetting and annoying as there is no CURE for this genetic condition. Sometimes, it 'may' be controlled to a small degree by diet, then again, diet is not the answer for everyone. Many suffer's face years of medical treatment and some are not so lucky as Liver Damage is often irrepareable resulting in a long term decline and death. Many die through Liver failure or 'waiting' for a transplant, others have severe Heart, kidney or pancreas damage.

Having this condition and at one stage I was a Director of The Haemochromatosis Society, I think I am qualified to respond and voice my annoyance at any such claims. Many freinds who I have met through the Society are no longer with us due to the Liver Damage or, Liver Cancer. There is a very high chance of me not having a full life expectancy as Liver Cancer seems to claim a considerably high number of sufferers!

Looking at it from another point, there are people with haemochromatosis who have no ill effects/symptoms whatsoever. Then there are others who die before their 30th birthday! Others like me, have to endure all sorts of symptoms resulting from the iron overload. to date I have been diagnosed with:- Arthritis, Enlarged Liver, Pituartry Damage. Hypogonadism, Testostrone and Calcium defficiency. Oestioporosis/Oesteopenia. Sleep Apneoa. Damage to my Synovial membrane in all joints.(There are some I forget at present)

As a result I have just had a knee replaced(Im 52) I will probably require both Hips and the other Knee replacing within the next 2-3 years. I went through 4 years of having a pint blood removed every week to remove the excess Iron. I have had several mini Strokes(T.I.A's) and been hospitalised on 6 separate occasions as a result. Im taking Opiate drugs for the excess joint pain that I have all the time, plus many others to 'control' the syptoms. At times I have to use a wheelchair because the pain is too much to even walk. I have to see an Oncologist who is responsible for my Pain Control. Im even registered with the Local MacMillan Team of Nurses should I need help.

All in all, Im one of the 'Lucky Ones' Lucky because Im alive, I can feel the sun on my back, I can even ride my Motorbike when Im OK. I have lost so much, my job/career, ability to walk for miles etc etc. I dont think a 'Detox' will sort me out! Im just trying to improve my quality of life but unfortunately there are so many 'Quacks' out there who are making ridiculous claims for fame or money at the expence of the innocent and those who can least afford it!

I shall clime down off my soap-box now, dont take it personally, Im just trying to make a pont and inform/educate.

Regards, Jon...

[James @ Intus]

Sounds like you know a lot about it already. I meant it more tongue in cheek, quoting that cure, than perhaps it seemed. Whenever I see such a scroll page with a 20 dollar e-book at the bottom, it obviously sets off alarm bells. It always makes me wonder why, if they were so grateful hearing about the miracle, they don't just pass it on for free considering it didn't cost them anything either.

Anyway, it's always fun to discuss these things and look into them. Now knowing your background better, it wasn't entirely necessary to post a few links more suitable for newbies to the topic.

[dhaxelbarqs]

If you have sleep apnoea, you don't just snore - you also make a gagging ... “The worst thing about snoring and sleep apnoea is that you've no idea it's happening to you.

[Sparticus]

If your having ticks and jerking movements and also shouting in your sleep thats sounds just like Tourettes not the swearing side but the ticks maybe worth a look round the net about it