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I am new here. Question about sudden onset - Babs2015 - 11-26-2017
I was diagnosed with severe OSA 2 years ago after a period of 6 months of daytime symptoms such as extreme fatigue, narcolepsy, and others. My question is this: why would my onset be so sudden and so severe? I am 47 years old, have no real changes in weight except for gradual weight gain from my 30's on. I was probably 50 pounds overweight at the time of diagnosis. I now believe that I may have experienced some daytime symptoms while in my 20's, when I was very thin, including sudden sleepiness and daytime dozing. Anyway, what the check? Why would this not be a constant or semi-constant thing in my life?
I have recently lost 30 pounds and am working to lose more. Will my sleep apnea go away?
RE: I am new here. Question about sudden onset - DeepBreathing - 11-26-2017
Hi Babs, and welcome to Apnea Board.
I suspect that most of us apneacs have had it for quite a long time, with the symptoms gradually building up before we become aware of them. A bit like the singer who became an overnight success after 20 years in the industry.
And although excess weight can be associated with apnea, it's by no means a simple correlation. There are quite a few skinny hoseheads out there as well.Quote:Will my sleep apnea go away?
I think that's very unlikely. Although some people report a "cure" after losing weight, there are a lot of other factors at play, including muscle strength in the throat which is not dependent on your weight. For most of us, our new bed-time friend is going to be a friend for life.
RE: I am new here. Question about sudden onset - Babs2015 - 11-26-2017
Thanks. I suspected that this will be with me forever. I'm more curious about the sudden onset. Is that common? I had seemingly no outward symptoms one minute and then suddenly I was falling asleep at work, five minutes after dinner, even a couple times while driving!? There seemed to be no gradual change, it was just there.
RE: I am new here. Question about sudden onset - upsman - 11-26-2017
You mention narcolepsy in your original post. Was this diagnosed by a doctor? Did/do you have any episodes of cataplexy?
Narcolepsy and OSA can both be treated, but with completely different regimes and methods. From what I understand, narcolepsy is treated through medication and lifestyle adjustments. I would think that this would need to be well controlled in order to get the best results from your CPAP treatment.
Just raising the questions because my Mom had both diseases and was being treated for narcolepsy and MS, but never started CPAP therapy. I believe much less was know about OSA back then, and the dual diagnosis appeared to be all she needed.
RE: I am new here. Question about sudden onset - Sleep2Snore - 11-26-2017
Hi Babs, Sleep Apnea creeps up on you slowly so as you do not much notice, then one week you are just so tired and fatigued you struggle to function properly.
If you then ignore it it just gets so much worse until you feel like you are ready to die!
You get by until it get to the point where it suddenly hit you, it is just an incredible fatigue feeling all of a sudden.
Loosing weight can help, not only with you feeling so much better for loosing weight and feeling fitter, but if you are the lucky few it can also vanish from your life. I know a few that has lost a LOT of weight and has kept it off (continuous diet) and they do not have Sleep Apnea now, they have gone through another Sleep Study and are clear of it.
So yes, some, but not all can get clear of Sleep Apnea if you loose a lot of weight, but not all can as there are other factors involved i.e. the shape of your airways and how your jaw sits, if it is a receding jawline it can affect you. There are also a few other things, but there is no point of even trying to list it all here, even if I knew them all!
So if you are trying to loose weight, go for it, you might be lucky and be clear of Sleep Apnea.
Go for it Babs, if nothing else you will feel better and a bit fitter.
RE: I am new here. Question about sudden onset - Hojo - 11-26-2017
Need more info as to your actual sleep apnea cause, Narcolepsy was mentioned, but there is also central apnea (CA). I have CA and it is NOT related to weight. Sleep position can have an affect on apnea, I tend to have more CA events while sleeping on my back compared to my side.
RE: I am new here. Question about sudden onset - Babs2015 - 11-26-2017
Thanks so much!
RE: I am new here. Question about sudden onset - Babs2015 - 11-26-2017
I'm really not sure as I was never diagnosed with narcolepsy, but I had many symptoms. My doctor was surprised by the number of events I had, although he did say I didn't break the record! All I know is that the CPAP saved my life!
RE: I am new here. Question about sudden onset - Sleep2Snore - 11-27-2017
Narcolepsy is not so easy to deal with and loosing weight will not help with that if you do suffer with it.
Loosing weight will help with OSA, Ca;s we will have to wait and see, but Narcolepsy is a specialised area.
RE: I am new here. Question about sudden onset - Babs2015 - 11-27-2017
Thank you. I will have to check into that.