What made you get treatment ?

[chelseauk]

Thougt this might be an interesting question for both members and lurkers.

What was the thing that made you get treatment - why and when did you cross from oh I snore - ha ha. To oh I snore and I have a problem and would you do things differently if you could do it all again.

For me I had snored badly for years and was ill for years (diagnosed as FM). The catalyst for me was a program called sleep clinic on the bbc that me and the wife watched - and when they did sleep apenea - she looked at me and said that's you and you are going to the doctors.

I found this all pretty embarrising but the wife came with me to talk to the doctor - who was brilliant and immediately referred me.

If i could do it all again - and my message to others would be - really bad snoring isn't a joke and isn't funny ! It's your body screaming for help - I wish I seen the doctor sooner - the evidence was there - but i ignored it.

[flyinpete]

I can’t say my doctor was brilliant as during a 2 year period they had no idea what was causing my problems. We have a problem in our doctor’s surgery that you can never get to see the same doctor of the 9 that practice there without a 3-4 week wait. This means you present the problem to a different doctor each time, who makes an assessment of the problem and then makes brief notes on the PC. It is difficult in this situation to see any pattern given that I have fairly recently been diagnosed with Diabetes, and this as some similar side effects.

It may be good to post the effects OSA caused me, but I will post that else where. That said I suffered all the usual effects, bad sleep, peeing 4 times a night, woolly head in the mornings, head aches, bad memory and falling asleep at work. The biggest problem was my change in behaviour; with me becoming VERY short tempered at home to the point my son especially was scared of me.

I had to do some searching on the web, and coincidentally I had the same doctor twice, who had been at a conference where OSA, diabetes, Blood pressure and arrhythmia being linked. My searching and her recent attendance of the conference 17 month route to the cause of my problems.

Due to the chaos in the health service in Northamptonshire I had to wait 6 months to see an ENT consultant, who said there was little wrong with my tubes. Then it was a further 11 months to get to see the sleep specialist in Northampton who gave me a box to wear at night to confirm I had OSA.

Northampton did not have a sleep clinic so I was shipped out to Oxford Sleep clinic......but that would be a further 16 months before I could be seen, and as I was told not to drive until I was on treatment my life came to a sudden halt. Thankfully after much pleading the Sleep Specialist at Northampton gave me an APAP machine to see how I got on and from the infomation he gained from that signed the order form from RESMED to privately supply an APAP machine allowing me to drive whist I waited to see the Oxford clinic.

Peter

[SteveP]

My story started around 20 years ago when I started snoring. The GP thought the problem was my nose because I had hay fever and some other allergies. After different attempts to solve my problems with nasal polyps, I was then referred to ENT and they decided to take them off. 2 years on a waiting list.... then 18 polyps chopped.

6 months later, I started snoring... and again was referred to ENT. 12 months on a waiting list to be told then that there was no polyps to be seen. For the next 10 years, I complained to my GP maybe once a year, was sent again to ENT twice, with same negative diagnostics. The last time I saw the ENT specialist was in June '07. He looked at my neck and he said "I bet this is your problem". He told my GP to refer my to a Sleep Clinic, and then was diagnosed with severe OSA. The lowest point was early in 2007 when I became too noisy to sleep in the same bad as my wife. I have been using a CPAP machine since November, and my life has changed for the best since. And I sleep with my wife again!

So null point for my GP, full 10 points to the last ENT guy.

SteveP

[puffin]

About 18 years ago I started to have problems at work, you know the usual, silly errors, forgetfulness, nodding off. Saw a programme on TV and a light went on. Went to my GP, told her the problem and what I thought it was. She said that the LHA did not have a Sleep Clinic. Then told me to go to bed earlier.

To cut a long story short, I move home by 25 miles into another LHA area. February 2007 I was rushed into hospital with gall stones and had an emergency operation. While talking to the anetatise (SP!) he asked if I had OSA, I told him the story. Ask why I had not followed up since moving, nice man, German with a Hello, Hello accent, suggested that once I got over the op. I should speak to my GP as the hospital has a sleep clinic.

I did just that, within four months I had seen the Specialist, had the tests, and was sleeping with a CPAP.

[flyinpete]

Then told me to go to bed earlier.

Hay that seems a standard doctors quote.

That and

"try a less stressfull job" or "do less hours" or "its normal to fall aspleep in the evenings" or " everyone has a down time in the afternoon"

Any others?

[SteveP]

... a standard doctors quote.

Any others?

Do some exercise... (and get knackered early...)


SteveP

[puffin]

Get some of that Fat off, is a standard reply for anything from a head cold to head transplant!

[Andysee]

I've been a snorer for over 20 years but about 5 years ago when I woke up in the morning I would find my wife missing. The noise I was making had become so loud it had driven here downstairs to sleep on the settee. Over the last two years I have stopped breathing during the night and my wife would nudge me to start me up again (if not downstairs already). The symptoms of OSA were also taking more affect. I was aware of the drowsyness, lack of concentration and generally feeling ugh but I wasn't aware of my tetchyness and the hard time I was giving my son (Peter I know how you must feel).
Last year a friend from America who is a nurse visited. I was dropping off in the chair and she remarked that her husband had been the same and now had to sleep with a mask connected to a "breathing machine" (kept it simple for me to understand). She also went into the complications that OSA can cause. Because of her revelations, my dropping off while driving a few months before and with much persuasion from my wife I visited the doctor in November. He immeadiatly refered me to the sleep clinic. They arranged a sleep test for early December and as a result supplied me with a CPAP machine earlier this month. I have since bought my own.
I am thankful that I have been lucky with the post code lottery and wonder if this is a record for diagnoses to treatment.
I cannot speak too highly of the NHS service in my area and would particularly like to thanks the sleep clinic professionals at Nevill Hall hospital Abergavenny.

Best regards
Andy

[acebass]

I had had private treatment for the headaches, osteopathy on the neck and Cranial osteopathy as well (let me tell you, that is a totally weird experience.....). I kept returning to the doctor each time a bout occurred and mentioned my tiredness as well, but he didn't seem too worried about it at that time. I had blood tests to check for diabetes, under active thyroid, overactive thyroid, 24 hour blood pressure monitoring, you name it I had it.

In early August 2004 my Line manager and his manager sat me down and said they had had several reports of me nodding off at my desk, from different people within the IT department (a department of over 48 staff at this point), obviously I knew this was happening to me, but didn't know why I was so tired all the time. I was sleeping for 9 hours a night! They said if I had a medical condition they would assist me but I would need evidence of this.
The doctor said that he had just been given the go ahead to refer a small number of patients to the Oxford Sleep Clinic, and that he would arrange for me to have an appointment with a consultant there. He then asked me to tell my employers that my symptoms were being investigated and that Occupational Health could contact him for details if it were required, I filled out the relevant permission forms for this straight away, I couldn't afford to be without my job.
The consultant put me at my ease and she explained that yes, although my weight was a contributory factor, it was not the whole case. I have a set back lower jaw which makes my airway smaller and could possibly be a cause of snoring and apnoea's. She booked me in for a sleep study........The rest is history!

[SarahW]

The topic only came up by accident which was quite fortunate I suppose. My regular doctor had left so had to see locum. Was asking about a different illness altogether and said I was finding I was really tired so my friend who came with me jokingly said yep she even falls asleep mid conversation(which I have done). He went oh you may have sleep apnea ill send you for tests and all went from there.
I think I would do it all again at first I was very oh my they could take my license but having recently started CPAP and feeling so much better I think its a risk worth taking.
Not sure my staff are appreciating my improved memory and lack of morning fogginess.

[Tigers Fan]

Hi SarahW

Welcome to the cluib!

The risk around OSA is in not getting treated, when you risk your health, your life and the lives of others when you are driving.

The risk of losing your driving licence is preventable with a little good management.

I wish you a long and happy life, full of good sleep, energy and alertness. CPAP does it again!

TF

[Berneta]

News to me!

Hi everyone, I had experienced fatigue so bad for at least 10 years--I could barely get out of a chair. Dozed all the time an never felt rested. I went to the Dr and found out I had Diabetes. I had a Nurse Practitioner put in charge of my Diabetes, The fatigue, sleepiness, continued. I took Diabetes Medication which did no good and caused severe muscle pain,. I was sleeping 12 hours a day--only to wake up exhausted with a headache. after having made a trip to the bathroom 5 times a night. I was so tired that I was not wanting to get out of bed in the morning. I told the NP that I was so tired all the time--that I constantly fell asleep before the tv, and was not longer able to do the easiest of household chores, She said, "If there was a pill for fatigue--we would all be taking it." It never occurred to her that it might be my medications, or something else making be feel so tired and rotten. Then 3 years later we moved, and I changed Dr's. He got me on the right track with my meds for Diabetes--but the tiredness continued. Then last December 2009 I had a seizure. My whole left side tingled then went numb. I could not stand or walk. It lasted about 40 minutes, I was taken to the Hospital by ambulance, They ran every test they could think of on me. The good news was that nothing appeared to be wrong with me. The bad news was that they could not find anything that would cause a seizure. The seizures continued and after the 5th one I was sent to Iowa University Hospital. They did every test too--including wiring my head to a machine until I looked like Medusa. NO reason showed up on screens, X-Rays. MRI's Cat SCANS, EEG's or EKGS-- or in blood work. The good news was I had no tumor, deposits, blood clots, etc. I was there 3 nights without sleep. Every time I dozed off-- a very Loud Beeper when off on a machine. A Nurse came in and shook me yelling breathe--breathe. Sometimes I heard the beeper and sometimes not. I left the hospital the next day with a prescription for valium to control my seizures, and a note to my regular DR that I should have a Sleep Apnea Study done. (They wanted to do it at the University Hospital-- but I wanted it done near my home in my local hospital.) That was 3 months ago. It was varified that I had 52 arousals an hour during REM Sleep-I could not dream. Oxygen dropped to 79 while I was in a fitful state of restless sleep. I went back and I was fitted with a CPAP and Nose Pillow. That showed No Obstrucions,No Snoring, 3 Central Apneas, and no mixed apneas. I slept great and woke up feeling like I was alive again. I got my CPAP, humidifer, and nose pillows a week later (that was 3 months ago). Now I am doing great. I am still on the Valium for the seizures which are now nothing more than slight chilling about 5 minutes on my left side once a week or every 2 weeks. Nothing I can't handle. And they are getting less frequent as I get more sleep. Could Sleep Apnea been the cause of the seizures? Don't know-- complete testing in two Hospitals found no reason for it, Ijust know that the more sleep I get--the less spells I have. Now I feel great---except for the sore muscles from all the exercise I get now! My Sugar levels have dropped to nearly normal--my High Blood Pressure in going down now to slightly above normal. So for me to find out about it--it took several trips to my local hospital and a trip to a University Hospital where I was monitored constantly, I didn't even know what Sleep Apnea was then--I just knew something was very wrong. (Lost 12 bs since I started CPAP too.) I am loving my CPAP and my DR and doing well, Able to walk again and lead a normal life. Best Wishes, Berneta

[petemcarthur]

For me it was chronic tiredness over some years. I'm diabetic as well and that was being blamed by the doctor for the fatigue even though it was well controlled. My wife said that I had a tendency to stop breathing when sleeping and that along with a totally unconnected tv program (CSI of all things!) led me to suggest it to my doctor.

[shuckie]

For me I sought treatment after years of feeling tired despite supposedly getting a "good night's" sleep. That, plus the fact that my other half told me that I stopped breathing multiple times a night while I was snoring like a trooper!

I'd already been nagged for fidgeting in my sleep and hogging the duvet, and even though my partner needs a hearing aid for moderate hearing loss due to Usher Syndrome, we've ended up sleeping in separate rooms for the time being because my snoring is so loud!

On the plus side we recently slept together (in separate beds) in our caravan over the Bank Holiday weekend, and my better half was pleasantly surprised that; a) I didn't snore and b) he couldn't hear the CPAP at all.

We have two single beds in our bedroom so I can't hog the duvet and we're now planning on rearranging the room so I can have my CPAP and humidifier on a low table between the beds. With any luck we'll be able to sleep in the same room soon without me keeping my partner awake.

Being a Hose Head isn't so bad after all...


shuckie

[red angel]

surprise!

For me I knew that I snored.......who doesn't????? However my osa journey began just a couple months ago when i needed an operation and at the pre-op clinic they measured my mouth and looked into my throat...... "oooo it looks small in there" the nurse said..... lol friends laughed and said maybe small but noisy...cheek

Anyway they said i would have to have oximetry tests to check for apnoea low and behold it showed i had nearly 200 events

Within a couple of weeks i was hooked up to my 'best mate' and i now have had complete uniterrupted nights sleep....energy abounds and i didn't even know there was an issue