How Were You Diagnosed With Sleep Apnea?
I kept waking up with a sore throat and experienced some significant daytime sleepiness for years, with it getting worse the older I got. My husband also complained I snored quite loudly and gasped a lot. This was before I became a sleep technologist, so I had no idea what I was dealing with then. I finally brought it up to my primary care doc and he set me up with two sleep studies (one to detect sleep breathing issues, the other to test for narcolepsy). The first sleep apnea test found I had UARS and not sleep apnea, which I treated with an oral device. It worked for a while, but eventually had an impact on my jaw position, so I had to put it aside after using it for 5 years.
I had another sleep apnea test at home 2 years after that, and this one confirmed I had moderate OSA, and I started right away on autoPAP... and the rest is history! Love my therapy!
Best, Tamara, community advocate
My husband actually showed me a video he took of me sleeping and I saw how I stopped breathing and jerked awake. It was awful and prompted me to speak to my family doctor who then referred me to a sleep doctor. I was diagnosed with severe OSA and started CPAP therapy and it's been the best thing for me. Warmly, Vashanti (SleepApnea.sleep-disorders.net Advocate and Team Member)
Great strategy on the part of your husband! I have worked as a sleep tech with so many patients who did not believe they had sleep breathing problems... until they got their test results and discovered that, not only did they have sleep apnea, but their current heart disease and cardiovascular problems (such as high blood pressure) were linked to untreated sleep apnea. Spouses of snorers really struggle with the noise and concerns about witnessing their loved ones choking in their sleep. I'm glad you are on the better side of this predicament! Best, Tamara, community advocate
I had been having difficulty with sleeping for some time so I brought it up with my family doctor. I mentioned a leg twitching that I thought could be restless leg syndrome and we discussed possible insomnia. He referred me to a sleep specialist who ordered a sleep study.
The study was horrible. The technician did detect signs of minor restless leg, but the real issue was a sever case of Central Sleep Apnea. I had an AHI of around 47 during the study. The tech also did a titration and we determined that CPAP would not work for me. So I ended up getting a BiPAP. I have now been using it for around 6 months.
@Robert Ross. I think it's great that you got properly diagnosed and a treatment that works for you. It sounds like you have adapted well to your therapy as well. Warmly, Lisa (SleepApnea.Sleep-Disorders.net Team Member and Advocate)
I kept having this weird dream that I had a big wad of gum stuck in my throat. I would dream that I would pull and pull until I got the gum off of my tonsils and out of my throat. I would then wake up with a big gasp. I finally told my doctor and she ordered a sleep study. I had the sleep study and was prescribed a Bi-Pap.
