Sleep Apnoea and addiction to stimulants and/or sugar

[Patsyw]

In retrospect I am now beginning to understand certain behaviours, illnesses, cravings etc. that were probably largely linked to my OSA.

For instance, always having cravings for sugar and nicotine - I now realise the need my body had to find anything to wake me up and keep me awake. I have given up smoking for 3/4 years now but still suck nicotine lozenges to keep me engaged with life - I always said the only thing that got me up in the morning was the fact that my cigarettes were downstairs. Could never function until I`d had about 3 cigarettes and 3 cups of sugared tea, but at that time didn`t realise it was because I was continually tired. Still consuming vast amounts of sugar to keep me going. I can understand why people put on weight, so which came first - the OSA or the obesity.

Anyone else noticed they had cravings for stimulants pre-diagnosis/treatment?

Patsy

[Berneta]

Stimulants

Hi Patsy, Yes I have had to deal with lifelong cravings! I started drinking strong coffee when I was 10 years old--the only thing that would wake me up for going to school. At 14 I started to smoke--but stopped at age 28 when pregnant. The quest for sugar started at an early age too--snacks, bread and jam, candy and/or ice cream, when I was just a child. I used to steal a spoon full of brown sugar out of the sugar jar. Now that I think back--it was the Sugared Tea and Kool-Aid and other snacks that kept me awake. Along with a lot of caffiene from Chocolate and coffee. Then along came bottled Coke and that was added to the sugar express. Every cent of my allowance went on Coke and chocolate. I was still a thin child (lucky for me) but hyped up all the time. So I think that my dependance on sweets and caffiene and nicotine goes back a long long way. Now that I am sleeping well on my CPAP I have switched to herbal teas without sugar and de-cafe coffee. I no longer drink Soda Pop at all--and strangely all my arthritis like symptoms have disappeared. So maybe the artifical sugar in the diet pop wasn't good for me either! I no longer crave sugar--but can't resist a piece of chocolate now and then. Just because I am so fond of it. xx Berneta

[Patsyw]

So sad

Its flippin` sad that all this was happening and we didn`t no why. Yep, I started smoking early (14) and have always been skinny and anxious, probably because my body was drenched in stimulants to keep me going. I`ve always managed to steer clear of Coke and any fizzy drinks but used to drink lots of coffee with 2 sugars. Gosh - what damage have we done over the years? And all because we weren`t getting the right sort of sleep. Makes me wonder what else it might have caused - and - all those people out there with depression and anxiety - are their symptoms perhaps caused by OSA?

You mention that your arthritis symptoms have disappeared since being on CPAP - well I was attending Rheumatology before they found out I had sleep apnoea and this was because they thought I had rheumatoid arthritis, but the cause of my muscles and joints deteriorating was actually OSA. The consultant told me that during the 4th phase of sleep is when the muscles are tended and mended. Apparently the 3rd phase is when the brain is mended. So having never managed to actually get into the 4th phase because of constantly being woken up, my muscles have never had a chance to recouperate. Maybe this was the case with you. I`m just hoping that once I get sleeping properly my muscles will start to mend and my sugar and nicotine cravings will lessen.
Patsy

[James @ Intus]

Sleep deprivation leads to carb craving, which leads to excess fatty tissue if satisfied, which leads to sleep-disordered breathing, which leaks to more sleep deprivation. It's a terrible cycle which CPAP interrupts.

[Patsyw]

Thanks for the info James. Its good that OSA is becoming more recognised these days. It could be part of the answer to reducing society`s obesity epidemic.

[James @ Intus]

And will have a positive impact on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, driving accidents etc.

[dravidio]

In retrospect I am now beginning to understand certain behaviours, illnesses, cravings etc. that were probably largely linked to my OSA.

For instance, always having cravings for sugar and nicotine - I now realise the need my body had to find anything to wake me up and keep me awake. I have given up smoking for 3/4 years now but still suck nicotine lozenges to keep me engaged with life - I always said the only thing that got me up in the morning was the fact that my cigarettes were downstairs. Could never function until I`d had about 3 cigarettes and 3 cups of sugared tea, but at that time didn`t realise it was because I was continually tired. Still consuming vast amounts of sugar to keep me going. I can understand why people put on weight, so which came first - the OSA or the obesity.

Anyone else noticed they had cravings for stimulants pre-diagnosis/treatment?

Patsy

"Suck Nicotine lozenges to keep me engaged with life"? Why not just smoke a pack a day. You know you want to. I got into the "I don't smoke but just suck nicotine lozenges" trap before I finally broke the vicious nicotine cycle. It only takes 72 hours for nicotine to leave the body. You can take Zyban (Wellbutrin) to overcome the withdrawal symptoms - ask your doctor - and finally break free from this dependence. Six years since I smoked or allowed any nicotine into my body...

[dravidio]

Patsy - don't blame your OSA for your various "behaviours, illnesses and cravings" Isn't it the other way round?

[Patsyw]

Patsy - don't blame your OSA for your various "behaviours, illnesses and cravings" Isn't it the other way round?

Its hardly the other way round Dravidio or else I`d be saying the behaviours, illnesses and cravings triggered the OSA. I had the OSA well before any of the behaviours, illnesses and cravings surfaced.

Sorry Dravidio - but I could not tolerate a ciggie now. I cannot tolerate any nicotine substitutes including the patches, inhaler, chewing gum - I only have 1mg lozenges and have become convinced that I am more addicted to the aspartame than the nicotine. Very worrying for me considering the damage aspartame does - but I`m working on that one.
Patsy

[Tigers Fan]

What about aspartame, Patsyw? I eat and drink it by the kilo - trying not to - trying to slow the weight gain.

TF

[Patsyw]

There`s a lot of info on aspartame and other sweeteners on Youtube but I wouldn`t go watching before bed ! You might find the info on `diet drinks and weight gain` worth watching as well.

[Berneta]

Aspartame

Hi TF--If you are indulging in a lot of Aspartame then you should do some research on it. The ALS foundation claims that there is a link between Aspartame and ALS--Lupus--MS--Parkinsons--Fibromyalgia, and various other neuro health problems. The list of symotoms is endless, and its been studied for the last 20 years. The Gulf War Vets-- and World War !! Vets who were on Guam at the end of the War !!, have a much higher rate of Neuro dieseases than do the average public. The Military was given Aspartame in food packets, and got delivered tons of diet sodas by well meaning bottling companies. Not only are people experiencing deadly conditions--but studies are being done on others, who have loss of hair--loss of hearing--vision problems--migraine headache--arthritis like pain, sleep problems, muscle and joint pains, skin problems, numbness or pain in feet and legs, etc. I can tell you from my own experience that my Father (who was on Guam and used Aspartame afterwards-- died of ALS in 1985, !0 years later my youngest sister Cathy died of ALS also. She was heavy, and chose to drink a lot of diet soda and ate foods sweetened with Aspartame. For 20 years I drank and ate a lot of diet foods and gradually developed a severe Arthritis like condition--I could barely get out of a chair. 4 years ago I stopped consuming anything with artificial sweetners. Today I have no Arthritis like symptoms at all. The only problem I do have now is an occasional slight painless migraine (with squiggly lines and blurring) that goes away quickly after two aspirin. And of course I am still having some slight pain from my torn ligaments in my foot. But-- I no longer have the Terrible muscle and joint pain that had me crippled. By all means PLEASE read up on Aspartame. XOX Berneta

[dravidio]

Sleep deprivation leads to carb craving, which leads to excess fatty tissue if satisfied, which leads to sleep-disordered breathing, which leaks to more sleep deprivation. It's a terrible cycle which CPAP interrupts.

@James
How does sleep deprivation lead to carb craving? What study shows this?

Over eating leads to obesity. I think that is pretty obvious. Obesity and sleep apnea are certainly linked. We have the choice what we put into our bodies and are not helpless victims. We have to take responsibility for our own health. Life is difficult - get over it. Who said life should be easy? I know about this moaning I have done my share. The answer is discipline - the tools to solve life's problems - and that is painful and difficult. Benjamin Franklin said "Those things that hurt, instruct." We can construct elaborate fantasies to avoid problems and pain - and that way lies neurosis and illness.

[Patsyw]

@James
How does sleep deprivation lead to carb craving? What study shows this?

Over eating leads to obesity. I think that is pretty obvious. Obesity and sleep apnea are certainly linked. We have the choice what we put into our bodies and are not helpless victims. We have to take responsibility for our own health. Life is difficult - get over it. Who said life should be easy? I know about this moaning I have done my share. The answer is discipline - the tools to solve life's problems - and that is painful and difficult. Benjamin Franklin said "Those things that hurt, instruct." We can construct elaborate fantasies to avoid problems and pain - and that way lies neurosis and illness.

.............. and maybe a hair shirt as well

[Sparticus]

Diabetic

Probably why it goes with the terratory (Diabetees) Im destined for it so the doc keeps saying. As for sugar consumption try up to 5Kg a week not to mention the 2-4 cans of bull a day and thats on top of my apap.

..but whats even stranger is my actual doc phoned me today and he wants to see me asap???