Now I'm really confused. Do I have Apnoea or don't I????

[Snoring Insomniac]

So I had an "Apneagraph" conducted by an ENT Surgeon. The result showed big Snoring & waking, but no drops in Oxygen levels. So he told me I didn't have Apnoea, just Snoring & wanted to chop my Uvula & soft tissue.

I deferred the op & told him that I could live with the snoring, it's the Insomnia & poor quality sleep that affect my life. He gave me 2 referrals, one to have a mouth piece made to help snoring & to a Neurologist.

Went to the Orthodontist appt. He said was making the mouth guard, because I had "Sleep Apnoea". I said no, the ENT specialist said I don't, I just Snore. He said the ENT guy had confirmed Apnoea!

Went to the Neurologist. He was pretty thorough. Sent me for blood tests for Liver, Kidney, Thyroid etc..(awaiting results), but also re-referred me to a Sleep Clinic. He's suggested I either go to Dr Paul Reading at Middlesbro or Dr Zaiwalla at Oxford.

Does anybody know either of these? Any ideas which I should choose?


Also, is it possible to have Apnoea without Oxygen drop? Or am I just a Snorer? I know that I wake myself up. I have terrible trouble trying to get to sleep & the second I do, I snore & jump awake. If I've had a lot of alcohol or Zopiclone, I do sleep (& Snore like a jumbo), but don't lose Oxygen.


Thanks!

[James @ Intus]

It's almost comical, but I feel for you! You try and be thorough and get this...

Couple of answers...

Yes, you can be a non-desaturating apneic. Some definitions of apnoea include a reqiurement for desaturating, others don't so it all depends on which standards you adopt but we see it quite often that people do stop breathing, but don't desaturate 4% or more. Mainly women and not-overweight people.

That's not to say you don't have the micro-arousals that wake you up. You may well. Did you get any reports from your studies that you could post? Would be interesting to see your heart rate variability for example to see if there were hints of such arousals. Also, if no apnoeas, were there hypopnoeas confirmed? Some have just flow limitation and this could be enough to disturb their sleep.

Dr Zaiwalla heads the non-respiratory sleep clinic at the John Radcliffe in Oxford:

http://www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk/forclinicians/referrals/neurosciences/nonrespsleepclinic/nonrespsleepclinic.aspx

For respiratory sleep problems, you're probably better off to see Prof Stradling at the same hospital. But for Insonmia etc. Dr Zaiwalla would be a good one to see.

Dr Reading speaks at many conferences and equally would be a top doc to see so can't go wrong with those suggestions.

[Guest]

Prof Dodds is in charge of the sleep centre at James Cook, nice guy gives it to you straight. Hes well up in the anaesthetists, some of his work here britishsnoring.co.uk/the_state_of_anaesthesia.php

[Snoring Insomniac]

Thanks James

I'm not overweight (in pretty good shape), so that fits. I do have a big neck, which I've always had.

I'm chasing up my GP today re the referral & blood tests.

I'll contact the ENT surgeon & ask for a copy of the report.


Thanks again!