What is obstructive sleep apnea?
It dawned on me early on in the blogging process that I might want to provide some links to information regarding the sleep apnea we have been talking about.
this site has the best layman's descriptions with the most up to date information on the diagnosis and alternatives.
Jeremy was diagnosed through a sleep study with 70+ cycles/hour (how many times you wake per hour, so, more than once a minute)
no wonder he was confused and loopy every morning! he hadn't slept much!
He has been on the C-pap and Bi-pap machines, he's had corrective surgery for a deviated septum, involving straightening his nose etc., and they rotorootered (spelling?) his turbinates (pictured in the deviated septum link)
The C-pap machine left him extremely bloated and he still woke up with the groggy feeling of the apnea.
The bi-pap was somehow supposed to be easier, something about not having to breathe out as hard, and it was less bloating, but still the groggy feeling.
The deviated septum surgery was great, much less snoring, but the effect of the apnea was not reduced enough to feel very rested. After this surgery he was diagnosed with a 20+ cycles/hr compared to the 70+ originally.
he has also purchased a fitted mouth guard from our dentist where a mold was made to move his tongue forward there by opening the throat passage. It cost $400 out of pocket and that worked for awhile, but he still has to lay on his side and the longer he uses the mouth guard, the less it seems to work. They tested this as well in the second sleep study and he was down to 14 cycles/hr
the only alternative we have been told will really be a serious correction is the Mandibular Myotomy in which they do both the top and bottom jaw. This involves 4 months of down time, with your jaw wired shut, and a traech tube to allow breathing.
I have heard good things but while 4 months of your jaw being wired shut is probably an effective weithloss plan, I can't picture how we would cope with 3 little ones and Jeremy speaking even less clearly than usual. (he's a mumbler)
I am encouraged that there are more alternatives being approved by the FDA. Since Jeremy is in his early 30s and his apnea numbers are lower, with no negative effects such as high blood pressure or heart disease etc. maybe we can hold out for more options in the future ;)
meanwhile, he's doing this POLYPHASICCRAZINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh yea, and I AM NOT A DOC. please don't use this to selfdiagnose. I do not recommend anything. I am merely sharing the information we have found. If you have any questions regarding your own health, please, ask your doctor.
disclaimer done :) and so is this entry
It dawned on me early on in the blogging process that I might want to provide some links to information regarding the sleep apnea we have been talking about.
this site has the best layman's descriptions with the most up to date information on the diagnosis and alternatives.
Jeremy was diagnosed through a sleep study with 70+ cycles/hour (how many times you wake per hour, so, more than once a minute)
no wonder he was confused and loopy every morning! he hadn't slept much!
He has been on the C-pap and Bi-pap machines, he's had corrective surgery for a deviated septum, involving straightening his nose etc., and they rotorootered (spelling?) his turbinates (pictured in the deviated septum link)
The C-pap machine left him extremely bloated and he still woke up with the groggy feeling of the apnea.
The bi-pap was somehow supposed to be easier, something about not having to breathe out as hard, and it was less bloating, but still the groggy feeling.
The deviated septum surgery was great, much less snoring, but the effect of the apnea was not reduced enough to feel very rested. After this surgery he was diagnosed with a 20+ cycles/hr compared to the 70+ originally.
he has also purchased a fitted mouth guard from our dentist where a mold was made to move his tongue forward there by opening the throat passage. It cost $400 out of pocket and that worked for awhile, but he still has to lay on his side and the longer he uses the mouth guard, the less it seems to work. They tested this as well in the second sleep study and he was down to 14 cycles/hr
the only alternative we have been told will really be a serious correction is the Mandibular Myotomy in which they do both the top and bottom jaw. This involves 4 months of down time, with your jaw wired shut, and a traech tube to allow breathing.
I have heard good things but while 4 months of your jaw being wired shut is probably an effective weithloss plan, I can't picture how we would cope with 3 little ones and Jeremy speaking even less clearly than usual. (he's a mumbler)
I am encouraged that there are more alternatives being approved by the FDA. Since Jeremy is in his early 30s and his apnea numbers are lower, with no negative effects such as high blood pressure or heart disease etc. maybe we can hold out for more options in the future ;)
meanwhile, he's doing this POLYPHASICCRAZINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh yea, and I AM NOT A DOC. please don't use this to selfdiagnose. I do not recommend anything. I am merely sharing the information we have found. If you have any questions regarding your own health, please, ask your doctor.
disclaimer done :) and so is this entry
posted by myhusbandiscrazy @ 2:26 PM
1 Comments:
At 2:58 PM,
Anonymous said…
Both I AND my husband have sleep apnea. Too make this short, my husband also went through the same procedures as did your husband and still was not feeling better either. Here are a couple of suggestions. Not knowing what mask he is using, some people still have air escape through their mouths. Taping ones mouth in an X with a sensitive surgical tape to keep the lips together REALLY works. Also, if this is not the problem, my husband went back to be tested again and after about 4 tests found that he has Central Apnea also. Not just obstructive. This is where the brain actually tells your body to stop breathing. Sadly, there is no cure for this. The Bi-pap machine my hubby uses helps, but he still struggles. Perhaps further testing and some trial and error will help. Bless you are you try to figure it all out.
There is nothing we can do about the "bloating". My face is always a bit puffy, etc. But, to sleep is WONDERFUL and to feel alive is FABULOUS and the alternative is heart failure -- I can live with it.
Hope you find all your answers!
Cheryl
Post a Comment
<< Home