Sleep Apnea

[malcolminthemiddle]

Has any one have experience of this?

[Soph]

Me!!

Its AWFUL, I tend to get it when im over tired or have drunk too much the night before. I spend hours tying to get to sleep, and everytime I start to drop off, Im bolted up into sitting positions gasping for air and feeling like the end is near

I used to have panic attacks (a result of my rebelious years of debauchery) and I wonder if it is related to that.

[loong]

Yes,

It is terrible as often you feel sooo tired because of the lack of sleep. Waking up, heart pounding, feels the same as extreme fear!

My missus tells me that I seem to be snoring less lately and I haven't suffered from it so much.

Can't make any suggestions to cure it tho. It does seem to be better when I have nothing worrying on my mind and go to bed relaxed. Also, nowadays I go to bed when I'm ready (sometimes 8 o'clock) not when I think I should. Maybe it helps not to be overtired

Edited September 19, 2005 by loong

[rio666uk]

Me!!

Its AWFUL, I tend to get it when im over tired or have drunk too much the night before.  I spend hours tying to get to sleep, and everytime I start to drop off, Im bolted up into sitting positions gasping for air and feeling like the end is near 

I used to have panic attacks (a result of my rebelious years of debauchery) and I wonder if it is related to that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ive experienced exactly the same thing on a few occassions - usually the night after a big night out...

[Soph]

Well, its interesting to hear that other people suffer from this. I kinda thought it was maybe just me being a bit of a freak! My boyfriend thinks im barmy and doesnt understand at all about how I feel when it happens.

I sometimes wonder if ill not manage to wake up in time and just stop breathing, although that sounds a bit morbid doesnt it

[rio666uk]

apparently that wont happen - your brain knows when youve stopped breathing and will automatically kick-start you off again - hence those bolt-upright starts you mention.

[tutsiwarrior]

this condition can be a big problem in certain situations due to the associated sleep deprivation. I've nodded off a few times while driving at high speed...luckily the road was deserted (weekdays on the Abu Dhabi - Dubai highway) and I woke up before I went off and crashed. I've also fallen asleep in a few meetings at work...quite unseemly for a well paid professional person...

There's been a lot written on this subject...do a google...

[sbk]

My dad has sleep apnea, that combined with emphysema can be very dangerous. He has a sleep apnea machine which consists of a face mask that fits over the nose and mouth hooked up to an oxygen generating machine, it forces oxgen into his lungs and makes him breathe during the night. He said at first it was hard to fall asleep strapped in but now he feels so much better in the morning it was worth the initial trouble.

[Boon Mee]

My father had this condition as well and he suffered a good deal until the VA got him on one of those machines. He fought it at first but when he found out what a good nights sleep he got, that face mask was on every night.

[samran]

My father has the oxygen mask and it has worked wonders for him.

I’ve very recently taken the sleep test where you are hooked up to all sorts of gizmo’s to see what happens to your breathing during the night. Tend to be pretty tired during the day sometimes.

[malcolminthemiddle]

My father has the oxygen mask and it has worked wonders for him.

I’ve very recently taken the sleep test where you are hooked up to all sorts of gizmo’s to see what happens to your breathing during the night. Tend to be pretty tired during the day sometimes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is the sleep test available in BKK. Any one know?

[sbk]

Bumrungrad has two "sleep medicine" doctors:

Dr. Benjamas Intarapoka

Specialities:

Medicine: General Medicine

Medicine: Pulmonology (Lungs)

Medicine: Sleep Medicine

Dr. Chankanok Kuagoolwongse

Specialities:

Medicine: Critical Care(ICU)

Medicine: Pulmonology (Lungs)

Medicine: Sleep Medicine

You might call Bumrungrad and see if they have sleep testing. Doctor Appointment 667-1555 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Daily

[lappami1]

Me!!

Its AWFUL, I tend to get it when im over tired or have drunk too much the night before.  I spend hours tying to get to sleep, and everytime I start to drop off, Im bolted up into sitting positions gasping for air and feeling like the end is near 

My girlfriends have told me that when I'm drunk I can sleep long time not breathing. After that I'm coughing strongly. Having hangover I have similar experiences than above, I wake up and while a sort period I feel I can't breathe.

[johnboi]

In my student days before I came out to Thailand I got a little experimental with recreational drugs which (I believe) led me to have sleep apnea coupled with panic attacks. Horrible feeling and such a shock. Thankfully the panic attacks and apnea stopped after a while. For good I hope.

[Padkapow Guy]

My wife wakes me up once in a while and tells me I am not breathing. I don't really notice anything, but it scares her.

PKG

[SoCal]

They have machines that push oxygen into your lungs, and ones that push ordinary air.

Understand the one that pushes air is better, as your body doesn't become overly dependent on the (pure) oxygen. Also, would imagine it saves you from purchasing oxygen.

[Dara]

I know someone who swears by "Breath Right" nasal strips to help lift open the nasal passages while sleeping - seem to help with snoring as well as sleep apnea....

[malcolminthemiddle]

Just want to say thanks to everyone for all the positive contributions.

[Abandon]

Meditation helps a lot with sleeping, as you learn how to let go and allow the mind to rest. most sleep problems, including snoring (to some degree) come from the mind still busy thinking when you are alseep. If you slow the mind, you slow the breathing.

I do get occasional sudden suffocation feelings, but have trained myself not to panic when it occurs, and there is no problem. I am told by Thai friends that it is a certain kind of ghost that comes and sits on your chest at night.

[LivinLOS]

While I understand meditation can assist with sleep related problems created by stress and other mental issues sleep apnea is usually associated with the airways closing as your muscles relax and deep sleep.. Prevent deep resorative sleep..

I have had insomnia and also sleep apnea.. Partially my apnea can be blamed on substance / powder abuse causing swollen and aggrivated nose and airways.. Since living out of Holland nad here my sleep patterns have become better though I am still a very light sleeper and seem to have a low need for sleep (same as both parents)..

Solutions range from machines, surgery, mouth grips (move your jaw into a better position) nose strips and muscle tightening sprays..

I was reading Billy Connolys memoirs the other day and hes on the machine..

[usatrader]

It is a serious condition often left untreated. Reggie Jackson, All pro- and some day hall of famer for American Football died in his sleep when he stopped breathing not that long after he retird from active play he was in top shape, large and had good medical tests prior to dying in his sleep.

I have it, appearantly for years, and now, after going through an overnight sleep study, use the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): CPAP works by gently blowing pressurized room air through the airway at a pressure high enough to keep the throat open.

This pressurized air acts as a "splint." The pressure is set according to the patient's needs at a level that eliminates the apneas and hypopneas that cause awakenings and sleep fragmentation. Pressure that is too low will not be as effective in eliminating the apneas and hypopneas.

It was difficult to adjust to at frist, but now I sleep soundly never awaking. Awake fresh and have more energy and as well, have, subsequently, according to my doctor, increased, positively some blood tested aspects of my matabolism and have begun to slowly loss wieght without much of a change in what I was doing.

Consequences:

The Greek word "apnea" literally means "without breath." There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed; of the three, obstructive is the most common. Despite the difference in the root cause of each type, in all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the two. With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.

Sleep apnea is very common, as common as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Rarely fatal but in some types it is more commonly associated with one stopping to breath while asleep.

Options:

http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/treatment.html

Good luck have it checked out.

THA T

IS

ALL!

[thailoneus]

It is a serious condition often left untreated. Reggie Jackson, All pro- and some day hall of famer for American Football died in his sleep when he stopped breathing not that long after he retird from active play he was in top shape, large and had good medical tests prior to dying in his sleep.

I have it, appearantly for years, and now, after going through an overnight sleep study, use the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): CPAP works by gently blowing pressurized room air through the airway at a pressure high enough to keep the throat open.

This pressurized air acts as a "splint." The pressure is set according to the patient's needs at a level that eliminates the apneas and hypopneas that cause awakenings and sleep fragmentation. Pressure that is too low will not be as effective in eliminating the apneas and hypopneas.

It was difficult to adjust to at frist, but now I sleep soundly never awaking. Awake fresh and have more energy and as well, have, subsequently, according to my doctor, increased, positively some blood tested aspects of my matabolism and have begun to slowly loss wieght without much of a change in what I was doing.

Consequences:

The Greek word "apnea" literally means "without breath." There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed; of the three, obstructive is the most common. Despite the difference in the root cause of each type, in all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the two. With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.

Sleep apnea is very common, as common as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Rarely fatal but in some types it is more commonly associated with one stopping to breath while asleep.

Options:

http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/treatment.html

Good luck have it checked out.

THA T

IS

ALL!

Is CPAP equipment available in LOS? Are they cheaper than in Oz?

[zazaza]

Has any one have experience of this?

I've had experience with this too. A number of years ago my wife told me that I snoored very loudly and then stopped breathing. She got so scared that I was going to die that we ended up sleeping in separate bedrooms. Eventually I went to see a specialist [in the UK], had a sleep test and was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnia. This can be a serios problem as the brain gets staved of oxygen and in extreme conditions can lead to heart failure and worse. There are two options: Surgery. Using lasers part of the soft palette at the back of the throat is removed. This is usually successful but not guaranteed. The other option is a CPAC machine. I opted for the CPAC and used it very successfully for about 5 years. I'm not sure what the reason is but now I don't need to use it anymore as my sleep apnia seems to have gone away. You can buy these machines plus assocciated face mask etc. in Bangkok but I'm sure a good doctor at one of the major BKK hospitals will advise if surgery or CPAC is the best option for you.

Don't delay in getting treatment, the condition can be fatal.

[onomataho]

I have sleep apnea . When it was first diagnosed (after an overnight sleep study) I was doubtful, but the more I learned about the condition and how to recognize the symptoms, I came to realize that it needed to be treated.

Taking a proactive approach has changed my life and greatly improved my sleep and daytime energy. So far I have avoided using a CPAP machine...to me it is just too intrusive to my traveling lifestyle, but in the future when I am a bit more settled in somewhere I may try one.

Instead of the CPAP, I use an oral appliance (made by a dentist in the US) that looks like two mouth guards (upper and lower) held together by a titanium pin. It cost over $4000us to have the appliance made. The design does two things:

1) keeps my mouth closed while sleeping (mouth breathing is a problem directly related to apnea), and

2) keeps my jaw from sliding back and obstructing the airway.

Last Fall, while staying on Koh Lanta, I broke my oral appliance and was in a world of hurt...my sleep was seriously compromised. I decided to go to Bangkok to the Bumrungrad Sleep Clinic for a consultation. I met with Dr. Kaseansom Viranuvatti, MD. He told me two things:

1) I needed to have a overnight sleep study to determine the amount of oxygen that would be need to correct my apnea if I was to go on a CPAP;

2) the oral appliance was not a realistic approach and the CPAP was the "Gold Standard" for treating sleep apnea; and

3) I'd be better off buying a CPAP in my home country in case I needed it serviced.

Based on my previous experience with a well-known sleep clinic in the US, I felt that Dr. Kaseansom knew what he was talking about. I was a little surprised at his negative opinion about oral appliances, but I have found that there area as many opinions about sleep apnea as there are doctors. One thing that I did note was that the sleep study/CPAP treatment program is much less expensive in Bangkok versus the US. No surprise here.

During this same trip to Bangkok I also consulted with my dentist about replacing the oral appliance. He referred me to Dr. Amornpong at Rama IX Hospital. I didn't follow up on this referral due to a time constraint, but I plan to do this in the future as I want to have a back-up appliance made in case I break the one I now have (I sent the original back to the US for a rebuild).

In summary, it is my personal opinion and experience that sleep apnea is not something to take lightly. Do your homework...there's a lot of good information on the web. see:

Try to understand the way it affects your sleep and what treatment options are available to you. You'll be thankful that you did.

[Tung_Thaid]

I suffer from Sleep Apnea when I put on too much weight.

Quote from this advice site: http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/treatment.html

"Additional fat around the neck may make the airway narrower, making obstructions more likely to occur. For some overweight people, especially those with mild cases, losing weight can be an effective treatment. Or weight loss may reduce the severity of the sleep apnea."

In my case, it is certainly true that my sleep apnea is under control when my weight is under control.

[zorro1]

I have it mild to moderate and use a CPAP machine. its very small, a resmed s8 elite. Really easy to travel with and a LIFE SAVER. Millions of people have it and a very large portion will die from Diabetes, stroke or Heart attack or simply choking to death .After to many drinks your brain may forget to wake you when your airway collapses.

Its no fun sleeping with a mask but you only use it when you switch the lights off to sleep