Question about Sleep Apnea

[DurocShark]

My 1 1/2 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. The doctor won't discuss the issue with me until next week when we have our next appointment, but maybe someone here can answer my question.

There's a chance my job will be moving to Denver this coming spring. I had planned on going... But will the high altitude aggrivate her apnea? I mean if she's not getting enough oxygen here near sea level, will it be worse at a couple thousand feet?

 

[flamingelephant]

Technically it could, but once you start treating it it wont make a difference what elevation you live at. There will be less O2 in the air at the higher elevation, but the body will adjust and be able to handle it more efficienty fairly rapidly. The treatment could be surgical (removing certain tissue from the throat) or mechanical (you get a pump that basically helps force air down so your wind pipe doesnt collapse). Either way the reduciton in O2 is really not a factor.
hope this helps

 

[daveshel]

The oxygen level should have no effect on sleep apnea. It is more of a musculoskeletal thing.

 

[AnyMal]

I highly recommend a C-PAP machine. I was diagnosed with apnea few years ago but have resisted sleeping with the machine for the longest time. It was uncomfortable and just the whole idea of sleeping with a face mask did not go well with me. But as I progressively got worse I decided to give it a try. After getting the intial "getting use to" stage (few days) I wouldn't sleep without it.

 

[BigJ]

What's so dangerous about sleep apnea? I'm 99% sure I have it (my parents and friends have told me I stop breathing in my sleep) but I've never paid any attention to it.

 

[flamingelephant]

there are risks of affecting brain development from O2 deprivation in smaller children. Adults typically just get tired.

 

[Wallydraigle]

Originally posted by: BigJ
What's so dangerous about sleep apnea? I'm 99% sure I have it (my parents and friends have told me I stop breathing in my sleep) but I've never paid any attention to it.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Wallydraigle

Originally posted by: BigJ
What's so dangerous about sleep apnea? I'm 99% sure I have it (my parents and friends have told me I stop breathing in my sleep) but I've never paid any attention to it.

Well stop breathing as in I skip a breath or a few, and then I like shock and regain the breath. It's weird to describe.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Is it obstructive sleep apnea, hypopnea, or both? Childhood OSA is usually caused by tonsillar or adenoid hypertrophy and usually can be treated by a adenotonsillectomy. I'm sure your doctor will tell you more.

 

[mcveigh]

I'm a sleep tech... I actually do the testing on people that have sleep apnea.
first of all your daughter will probably grow out of it. in small children it is often the result of the body growing, sometimes their neck may grow but their airway hasn't caught up yet. I would be suprised if the Dr. puts her on CPAP. I've never heard of a child that young using it.

sleep apnea is when you stop breathing at night. the airway collapses. it puts a LARGE amount of stress on the heart, as a matter of fact there is a direct link between apnea and strokes. it also ruins your sleep. it will fragment your sleep, you may be in bed 8 hours but you may only be getting 5-6 hours worth of sleep.

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/publications/sleepap.cfm

ask more questions on sleep if you want to. or PM me.

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
I'm a sleep tech... I actually do the testing on people that have sleep apnea.
first of all your daughter will probably grow out of it. in small children it is often the result of the body growing, sometimes their neck may grow but their airway hasn't caught up yet. I would be suprised if the Dr. puts her on CPAP. I've never heard of a child that young using it.

sleep apnea is when you stop breathing at night. the airway collapses. it puts a LARGE amount of stress on the heart, as a matter of fact there is a direct link between apnea and strokes. it also ruins your sleep. it will fragment your sleep, you may be in bed 8 hours but you may only be getting 5-6 hours worth of sleep.

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/publications/sleepap.cfm

ask more questions on sleep if you want to. or PM me.

My wife has told me a couple of times over the last few months that she has noticed me stop breathing at night....only a couple of times. Anything to worry about? Also I have begun snoring in the last 6 months. Never did before. It is still just an occasional thing....but it has her worried. Any link?

Thanks!

 

[Antoneo]

How the heck do you guys know all this stuff?

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: Antoneo
How the heck do you guys know all this stuff?

They have these things called books.......

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Antoneo
How the heck do you guys know all this stuff?

There are these things called schools, and sometimes people go to them to learn how to become EMTs, Nurses, Medical Technicians, PAs, and Doctors. Some of us happen to attend/have attended them.

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: BigJ
What's so dangerous about sleep apnea? I'm 99% sure I have it (my parents and friends have told me I stop breathing in my sleep) but I've never paid any attention to it.

Low oxygen in blood supply will also cause your arteries to harden which will lead to a stroke or heart attack.

 

[DurocShark]

Thanks for the tips. I suppose if we're treating her one way or another then it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

We just did the sleep study and all the doctor would say over the phone that she definitely has apnea and isn't getting enough oxygen. She refused to discuss more until our visit next week.

I stop breathing, snore, and generally suck at sleeping myself. My doctor said I would hate using the cpap because I sleep on my side and stomach and toss and turn too much...

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
My wife has told me a couple of times over the last few months that she has noticed me stop breathing at night....only a couple of times. Anything to worry about? Also I have begun snoring in the last 6 months. Never did before. It is still just an occasional thing....but it has her worried. Any link?

Thanks!

Go to a doctor, get an appointment to get tested.

My g/f noticed mine (breathing stops, heartbeat goes way up), I've been on a CPAP for about a year now.

I need to go back & get re-tested, I still don't feel like I'm sleeping well at all.

Now that I know it's happening it's VERY apparent when I try to sleep without my CPAP.

Viper GTS

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: shinerburke
My wife has told me a couple of times over the last few months that she has noticed me stop breathing at night....only a couple of times. Anything to worry about? Also I have begun snoring in the last 6 months. Never did before. It is still just an occasional thing....but it has her worried. Any link?

Thanks!

Go to a doctor, get an appointment to get tested.

My g/f noticed mine (breathing stops, heartbeat goes way up), I've been on a CPAP for about a year now.

I need to go back & get re-tested, I still don't feel like I'm sleeping well at all.

Now that I know it's happening it's VERY apparent when I try to sleep without my CPAP.

Viper GTS

Been thinking about that.....being an employee at a hospital makes that stuff easy...just need to get over to the sleep lab some weekend. Haven't done it yet because she has only noticed it a coulple of times. I know....I know....GET TO A DOCTOR!!!

How difficult is it for you to sleep in the CPAP? I'm a side sleeper.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: BigJ
What's so dangerous about sleep apnea? I'm 99% sure I have it (my parents and friends have told me I stop breathing in my sleep) but I've never paid any attention to it.

This is the dumbest thing I've heard in weeks, unless you can clarify. Do you really mean to say that you have been told that you stop breathing in your sleep and decided to just ignore it? Is that how you handle all medical problems in your life? Ignore them as long as they don't kill you?

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Thanks for the tips. I suppose if we're treating her one way or another then it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

We just did the sleep study and all the doctor would say over the phone that she definitely has apnea and isn't getting enough oxygen. She refused to discuss more until our visit next week.

I stop breathing, snore, and generally suck at sleeping myself. My doctor said I would hate using the cpap because I sleep on my side and stomach and toss and turn too much...

bullshit. with cpap you won't move around as much. my dad and mother-in-law both have sleep apnea, I work with people with apnea, cpap is the best option by far for it. just give it a try.

shinerburke.... talk to your doctor about getting a sleepstudy, apnea is very common, about 75% of people who snore have it.

did I mention cpap stops snoring as well? most wives like that part.

 

[Chaotic42]

Sleep apnea runs in my family. They tell me I have sleep apnea and REM disturbance disorder or whatever its called.

Sleep for me seems to be anything but.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
How difficult is it for you to sleep in the CPAP? I'm a side sleeper.

It's a bit odd at first, but eventually you won't feel right sleeping without it.

Viper GTS

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: shinerburke
How difficult is it for you to sleep in the CPAP? I'm a side sleeper.

It's a bit odd at first, but eventually you won't feel right sleeping without it.

Viper GTS

Thanks for the info........I don't feel tired in the mornings....but still won't hurt to get it checked out.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: BigJ
What's so dangerous about sleep apnea? I'm 99% sure I have it (my parents and friends have told me I stop breathing in my sleep) but I've never paid any attention to it.

This is the dumbest thing I've heard in weeks, unless you can clarify. Do you really mean to say that you have been told that you stop breathing in your sleep and decided to just ignore it? Is that how you handle all medical problems in your life? Ignore them as long as they don't kill you?

I've heard it's a rather common problem with minimal consequences from family and relatives. How many times have you known you've had what you consider a small health problem but have never gone to the doctor over it?

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: mcveigh

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Thanks for the tips. I suppose if we're treating her one way or another then it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

We just did the sleep study and all the doctor would say over the phone that she definitely has apnea and isn't getting enough oxygen. She refused to discuss more until our visit next week.

I stop breathing, snore, and generally suck at sleeping myself. My doctor said I would hate using the cpap because I sleep on my side and stomach and toss and turn too much...

bullshit. with cpap you won't move around as much. my dad and mother-in-law both have sleep apnea, I work with people with apnea, cpap is the best option by far for it. just give it a try.

shinerburke.... talk to your doctor about getting a sleepstudy, apnea is very common, about 75% of people who snore have it.

did I mention cpap stops snoring as well? most wives like that part.

Hehe.....I'm sure she would love that....though she says I only snore once in a great while.