Sleep Apnea

[Second Hand Snore]

I believe my husband has OSA. He has gained a tremendous amount of weight over a few years and has sleeping problems. He has insomnia and snores so loudly I can't sleep, when he snores loudest, he is lying on his back. His mother has been diagnosed with OSA.

One night I listened to him sleeping and it seemed like he had a hard time breathing, almost like he was choking so I woke him up. Another night he stopped breathing momentarily so I woke him again. As far as I know none of these episodes has awakened him, only me.

He has been snoring for about eight months off and on. At first he thought it was just nasal congestion, but it didn't go away.

He doesn't think he has OSA, he keeps making excuses so he doesn't have to deal with the possibility.

I'm wondering if he should try to lose weight before seeing a doctor to see if maybe that could be the problem. He smokes, but he is working on that. What is everyone opinion on the matter. Does it sound anything close to OSA?

Also I'm going to get a tape recorder so when he wakes me by snoring I can record it and let him hear it and if we see a doctor let him/her hear it.

[mockingbood]

Your husband's symptoms sound like what my husband experiences--- and he definitely has OSA! Before my husband received his CPAP, he was often groggy, irritable, had decreased energy and would fall asleep constantly throughout the day. He was in college at the time and it really hurt his grades (An A-B student receiving Ds and Fs), not to mention the unbelievable stress it puts on relationships. The sleep tech estimated after his testing that he probably only got a few hours of true sleep each night. Your husband may think he's getting enough sleep, but if you notice his quality of life decreasing and his snoring is still a problem, it might be time to make an appointment.

I've heard that weight loss will help in some situations but not all, so maybe you'd want to consult a doctor before trying any "home remedies?" Just a thought.

[Second Hand Snore]

Thanks for the info. See he doesn't seem so tired during the day that's the only thing that seems not to be a symptom of his. We are planning to get an appointment soon. Thanks again :)

[elainefair]

Your husband's weight gain may be caused by the sleep apnea. My husband denied that he had sleep problems even though I could hear him stop breathing. He said he would not do a sleep study because he was unwilling to do anything that they recommended (he is hard-headed). That all changed when i went in for my sleep study and the neurologist told me that there are studies that show that getting less than 6 hours sleep CAUSES weight gain in 100% of the people that have been studied. I have gained about 90 pounds over the last 2 years. Once I told my husband that his weight gain may be CAUSED by the lack of sleep, he became willing to go in for his own sleep study. I finished my study last Monday and received my CPAP on Friday. I am still struggling adjusting to the machine, but I am desperate for sleep. My sister believes that I have had the apnea for 5 or more years. It took me along time to admit that I was having problems, instead, I would go drink a coke or a cup of coffee to keep me awake. So, HOW IS HIS CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION? No one should need caffeine to keep awake.

Elaine

[Second Hand Snore]

His intake is a very large amount. He'd grab the strongest caffeine drink in the morning before going to work to help him wake up. He is constantly drinking a coke, he'd say he was just really thirsty but maybe it's because he needs the caffeine not necessarily that he's so thirsty. Thanks for the info!

[SnorzAllNight]

FWIW, it sounds quite familiar. Over the past five years I gained 50 lbs. I have lived a very active lifestyle, skiing, hiking, motorcycles and over these past few years, just can't get stoked to do the things I enjoyed. I was tired and even felt at risk of sleeping at the wheel a few times. Once I actually crossed the rumble strips on the road before my wife brought me back. Even more recently, I have been aware of waking up gasping for air, and had poor focus on my work. Being self-employed, it affects my ability to make a living. This is all the more stressful because I am a successful and strong individual. My belief in my gifts of health, intelligence and athletic abilities (at least until recently) led to a pretty good case of denial. I have almost never been sick in my life, and my initial view of this problem was that it was a weakness.

Symptoms like you describe, and the fact my wife had left the bedroom during the work week to get a decent night's sleep, led me to the conclusion sleep apena was likely. I described my symptoms to my doctor who referred me to an EAr Nose Throat guy who charged the insurance company like $4000 to look up my nose (nasal endoscopy) and refer me to a sleep study. Another $4k and what felt like a sleepless night told me what I already knew; I have "very severe obstructive sleep apnea". The sleep study found over 50 arousals per hour due to respiratory disturbances. My sleep is very inefficient consisgting of 72.8% stage 1, 15.5% stage 2 and 15.3% REM with 0% stage 3 and 4 sleep.

Once your husband confronts his issues he will seek the answers that may lead to a solution. Keep giving him good information and feedback of your observations of his sleep patterns. His denial will eventually give in to seek an answer. So my first post :)

Good luck.

[Second Hand Snore]

Thanks everyone! Yes his mother has it and she owes the sleep study about 3k that's why we are afraid to actually go test. Also I noticed something else, sometimes we sleep with our window open at night and that seems to make him snore more than on the nights that it is closed.