sleep apnea

For those of you who have it or have had it, how did you find out that you had it? Did you know before the sleep study? For the past couple nights I have had trouble sleeping, I wake up and I can't breath. Its hard to get back to sleep because I feel like something bad is happening to me. However, I do have anxiety/panic disorder. So I'm wondering if this may just be my anxiety acting up or if there is something really wrong. Thanks for any input.

Hello Bobbi, My first clue was that I was sleepy during the day. I would fall asleep at the movies. Meetings at work would be horrible I could not stay awake. I snored really bad too. Mu hubby said I would stop breathing at night and then gasp for air. I have lost 158 pounds and no longer have to use my cpap machine. I hope this helps. Diana 379/221/?

I'm where you are Bobbie... I haven't slept well in years, I used to think it was back pain... but my back pain is probably from sleeping on 5 pillows every night so I can breathe without feeling that I'm smothering. I am guessing I'll have to get a sleep study when I go see my surgeon.

Hi, Dianna, Hi Kat! Yes Kat, it looks like we need to have that sleep study. I hear theres nothing to it but just the thought of sleeping in some strange bed all night while people watch me kinda makes me a bit nervous.

I can't imagine I'll actually sleep... without hubby, in a strange place, without my pillows... ugh

They usually let you bring your pillows, favorite blankets, everything but your hubby. Loris

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 1999. I did not sleep well for about a year and was extreemly exhaused all the time. I would fall asleep at work, in the middle of conversations with people and while at the traffic light waiting for the light to change. It was really bad until I would jerk up out of my sleep gasping for air all shaky and jittery and sometimes waking up on the floor because I would have seizures in my sleep from lack of oxygen. Currently I have a bipap machine and hopefully it won't be for to much longer ... but I'm not going to ru**** though. Georgeann

Hiya Georgie, I first have to say that I think you are awesome, and I love your posts. I have my sleep study scheduled for Sept. 21, and I hate the idea of sleeping away from home, in a strange bed, while being watched, LOL, but I am actually looking forward to possibly feeling better during the night. As it is right now, I wake up a lot at night feeling like my heart is sort of fluttering and just beating too hard. It's like my body is moving in my chest and shoulder area with every heart beat. It scares me. When you say you used to wake up all shaky and jittery, is this what you mean? My dad and brother have sleep apnea, so I think I probably do have it based on that and on other things I've experienced. My brother had Open RNY in May of 2004 and has gone from 528 pounds to 180 pounds. He no longer needs his CPAP, and is just plain old normal and wonderfully healthy now. I am so happy for him, and I so badly want to join him in health. Congratulations to you on all your successes and thank you so much for all that you share here with everyone. You are such an uplifting soul, and I am grateful for you. Take gentle care.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea also. My asthma dr. had been wanting me to get a sleep study for awhile and I kept putting it off (denial). I had to get one for WLS, so I finally did go for the sleep study. I used to wake up maybe once a night and just thought it was Mother Nature calling. But eventually I was waking up 3-4 times a night, woke up exhausted every day, napped constantly when I was home, etc. I 'woke up' over 100 times during my 1st sleep study! It is uncomfortable, but necessary. Once I lose my weight, hopefully I won't need the cpap machine any more! Huggs, Ruth

Bobbie, thats a really good question. I am about 100% sure I have it even before I have the test. I was just reading about it in the newspaper, they were saying all of the symptoms that everyone has been talking about here, plus one I hadn't thought of, which I have, a headache in the morning. Every morning I get a headache.Dry mouth too.Most of the time I feel like I work third shift. Debbie from Pa.