Question about apnea diagnosis
Hi - My first forum post. So - here's my question: Could I really have sleep apnea when neither I nor my partner of 20 years have ever noticed me stopping breathing at night, or gasping for breath, or even snoring on a regular basis?
I have taken the wrist oximeter test, and spent a night in the sleep lab, and both tests said I have a problem. Apparently I stop breathing something like 30 times an hour. I just wonder how that's possible when I can't see any outside evidence of it. Anyone else have this same experience?
I am scheduled to go back to the sleep lab in a week to try out a CPAP.
Thanks for any advice!
05-15-2016, 05:16 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-15-2016, 05:16 PM by FrankNichols.)
RE: Question about apnea diagnosis
Welcome to the Forum,
Yes, it is possible to have Sleep Apneas even if you are not waking or don't notice it. The Apnea events are classified into arousal and non-arousal events (among other classifications). One of the issues with Sleep Apnea is the disruption of Deep Sleep and of REM sleep, and those disruptions can be harmful to your health and they do not require that you awaken to disrupt those levels of sleep.
I am not a Medical professional and I don't play one on the internet.
Started CPAP Therapy April 5, 2016
I'd Rather Be Sleeping
RE: Question about apnea diagnosis
I too could not believe I had sleep apnea. I not over weight, tired during the day or snore. My only symptom was that I could not sleep. After several visits to the Dr., she set me up for the test. In fact I was so healthy, the ins co would only pay for the home study. I tested to have mild results of 7 per hour.
After 2 months of therapy, and some minor adjustments (thanks to the information on this board) I had my first good night in over 6 months. I didn't know I was feeling bad until I got well.
Don't put it off. It's a long hard road, but it WILL pay off.
CPAP is a journey like “The Wizard of Oz”. It’s a long slow journey. You will face many problems and pick up many friends along the way. Just because you reach the poppies, it doesn’t mean you are in Kansas.
RE: Question about apnea diagnosis
Snoring indicates some airways obstruction but may not be prominent in central apnea as in obstructive apnea
AHI 30 or more classified as severe sleep apnea
Scoring apnea event require 10 seconds or more, assume all events are 10 seconds category ... 30 X 10 = 300 seconds = 5 minutes = stopped breathing 5 minutes in every hour (at least but depend on duration of events, could be more)
Good luck with the sleep study
RE: Question about apnea diagnosis
Thanks Frank - very helpful! Jane
Yes, it is possible to have Sleep Apneas even if you are not waking or don't notice it. The Apnea events are classified into arousal and non-arousal events (among other classifications). One of the issues with Sleep Apnea is the disruption of Deep Sleep and of REM sleep, and those disruptions can be harmful to your health and they do not require that you awaken to disrupt those levels of sleep.
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RE: Question about apnea diagnosis
Thanks for the information! Jane
RE: Question about apnea diagnosis
Hi JaneAM,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
I want to encourage you to go through with the sleep study. Good luck to you.
Hang in there for more answers to your questions and much success to you as you start your CPAP journey.
trish6hundred
RE: Question about apnea diagnosis
(05-15-2016, 05:12 PM)JaneAM Wrote: I just wonder how that's possible when I can't see any outside evidence of it.
Well... there has to be
something that prompted your doc to think there was a sleep issue prompting them to send you to the sleep lab! I'd say whatever that was would count as outside evidence.
Now that I'm paying attention I'm starting to think that maybe there's LOTS of signs of lack of sleep... the thing is... I've spent over 4 decades sleeping like crap so that's all my body knows. That's my "normal", and as such, I never really questioned anything. I had no reason to think my "normal" was unusual because well... I thought it was "normal" (if that makes sense).
RE: Question about apnea diagnosis
You're right - I was tired every afternoon. That's what caused my doc to first order the sleep test.
Still just trying to digest the apnea diagnosis!
RE: Question about apnea diagnosis
This presentation from ResMed explain it all ... Understanding Sleep Disordered Breathing:
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...hing_(SDB)