Can sleep apnea be misdiagnosed?
Question:
Lenny <ja…@iname.com> wrote: > I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all > symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have > one – heavy snoring. I also feel very tired all the time and have > difficulties with concentration, but who does not.
I can believe the last sentence because you have at least three symptoms. The snoring, the feeling tired all the time and the difficulties with concentration. You may have others that you are unaware of as well. The sleep test does not give false positives, some false negatives, but not false positives. If the sleep test shows apneas, you have it. They may miss apneas, but they do not show them when they are not there! Sleep well Ross Bernheim
Response:
I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have one – heavy snoring. Hi– It’s more than just snoring, for physical symptoms. I had the assumption that you were considering your only symptom as snoring. For example: As far as the (symptoms), don’t think of multiple night awakenings (apnea) as "fully or partial waking up" as a criteria. You would not be necessarily even aware of night time awakenings. These Apneas are awakenings that shift you suddenly between REM and other stages of sleep, destroying normal recuperative sleep, without fully or partially, "consiously" waking you up. I wasn’t sure if you are using your measure as "fully awake or even just awake". Sleep apnea is different from that, so don’t use "consious awake" as a judge. Best– Ron "Lenny" <ja…@iname.com> wrote in message
news:cc54ccbc.0211211504.34e30ff8@posting.google.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello alt.support.sleep-disorder group members. I’ve never > participated in the user groups before, so accept my apologies in > advance for not following right posting format or proper posting > rules. > I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all > symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have > one – heavy snoring. I also feel very tired all the time and have > difficulties with concentration, but who does not. > I never have a problem falling asleep, rarely wake up at night, and > always get up at the same time in the morning. Is it possible that > I’ve been misdiagnosed?
Response:
You feel very tired all the time and have diffiulties with concentration. Well I hate to tell you this but most people don’t have these problems unless they have sleep apnea so yes you most likely do have severe sleep apnea. I suggest you get out of your denial and accept that your doctor is probably right. You admitted to having more symptoms then just snoring in your post. People who get the correct amount of sleep do not feel tired all the time and have difficulty concentrating 99.9% of the time. Richie
Response:
Krlsagabg041777 wrote: > You feel very tired all the time and have diffiulties with concentration. Well > I hate to tell you this but most people don’t have these problems unless they > have sleep apnea so yes you most likely do have severe sleep apnea. > I suggest you get out of your denial and accept that your doctor is probably > right. You admitted to having more symptoms then just snoring in your post. > People who get the correct amount of sleep do not feel tired all the time and > have difficulty concentrating 99.9% of the time. > Richie
Richie….. that is NOT true! Thyroid, heart problems, vitamin deficiences, and a host of medical problems can cause a person to be tired all the time even if they are getting the correct amount of sleep. Many OSA’s find after CPAP that they are still tired and find another underlying cause that also made them tired. Regards Lee in Toronto —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–== Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–
Response:
>When I told my internist that I couldn’t have sleep apnea because >I slept
like a log, he said fine, but do you sleep like a human >being? Turns out I didn’t Wonder if our Drs went to the same school/ Professor? Mine said exactly the same thing! Best— Ron (lucky) "NormC" <no…@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:3DDD7C35.C92B83E8@socal.rr.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Lenny wrote: > > Hello alt.support.sleep-disorder group members. I’ve never > > participated in the user groups before, so accept my apologies in > > advance for not following right posting format or proper posting > > rules. > > I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all > > symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have > > one – heavy snoring. I also feel very tired all the time and have > > difficulties with concentration, but who does not. > > I never have a problem falling asleep, rarely wake up at night, and > > always get up at the same time in the morning. Is it possible that > > I’ve been misdiagnosed? > Ditto to everything Bear said. > When I was diagnosed, in a sleep lab (two years ago), I made two immediate > posts to this NG. Does everyone who is diagnosed with sleep apnea actually > have it? Does anyone spend a night at a sleep lab and not be diagnosed with > apnea? > When I told my internist that I couldn’t have sleep apnea because I slept like > a log, he said fine, but do you sleep like a human being? Turns out I
didn’t.
Response:
Guess its time to post this experience again, just to keep everyone awake (intentional pun). My wife went to same sleep lab as I did. First night no significant apnea(s), but low oxy sat levels. (I’ve never undrstood this.) Neurologist sleep doc recommended supplemental oxygen only. Initially decided that she would not return for second night…. no titration required. However, internist thought it would be a good idea to do it again, since Medicare would pay for it. She did. She showed enough apneas to be titrated, and was. The sleep doc recommended cpap. Since she was in the process of losing weight, our young Harvard MD said he wanted her to wait with cpap. She has continued to lose weight with no cpap. And, MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, I never hear her making any of those strange, old, familiar, breathing-problem, sounds. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -eric pearson wrote: > You would not have been invited for a titration if they > had not detected apnea. > regards, > eric pearson > db2e…@nospammindspring.com > On 21 Nov 2002 21:00:50 -0800, ja…@iname.com (Lenny) wrote: > >The Somnolent Phantom <Nos…@nospam.org> wrote in message <news:3DDD6E1B.DD48CCF@nospam.org>… > >> x-no-archives: yes > >> Lenny wrote: > >> > Hello alt.support.sleep-disorder group members. I’ve never > >> > participated in the user groups before, so accept my apologies in > >> > advance for not following right posting format or proper posting > >> > rules. > >> > I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all > >> > symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have > >> > one – heavy snoring. I also feel very tired all the time and have > >> > difficulties with concentration, but who does not. > >> > I never have a problem falling asleep, rarely wake up at night, and > >> > always get up at the same time in the morning. Is it possible that > >> > I’ve been misdiagnosed? > >> How and by who(m) were you diagnosed with Apnea? Did your diagnosis come > >> as a result of an overnight sleep study done in a sleep lab? If so, what > >> were the results of the sleep study? Are you treating with a board > >> certified sleep medicine specialist? What did you doctor recommend in the > >> way of treatment for your apnea? > >> An overnight polysomnography (sp?) (sleep study) is necessary to give a > >> accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea apnea. > >> Best Wishes, > >> Bear > >I underwent a sleep study and received a letter inviting me back for a > >CPAP titration study. During the sleep study I felt very uncomfortable > >because of the equipment attached to me and because the room was very > >hot. So I hardly slept at all. Also, as I mentioned, the only simptom > >I have is snoring. > >That is why I wonder if the test is 100% accurate.
Response:
Lenny wrote: > Hello alt.support.sleep-disorder group members. I’ve never > participated in the user groups before, so accept my apologies in > advance for not following right posting format or proper posting > rules. > I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all > symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have > one – heavy snoring. I also feel very tired all the time and have > difficulties with concentration, but who does not. > I never have a problem falling asleep, rarely wake up at night, and > always get up at the same time in the morning. Is it possible that > I’ve been misdiagnosed?
Probably not, and BTW, you have THREE symptoms according to your message! You are probably in a less advanced state (although still serious) of sleep apnea. Untreated on a longer term and all kinds of horrible things will happen to you, mostly not reversible. Stick with it, get your CPAP, and join the Hoover head club. Hang around here and learn and share with the group. We are a helpfull although sometimes a little crazy lot. <g> Regards Lee in Toronto —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–== Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–
Response:
> I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all > symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have > one – heavy snoring. I also feel very tired all the time and have > difficulties with concentration, but who does not.
you may THINK you only have one symptom….but you yourself just mentioned that you actually have three…three of the most common symptoms. You may actually be more tired than you even realise, most people dont’ realise just how tired the’ve been until they start getting results from treatment… If you had an overnight sleep study that showed you have apnea events, you have apnea…. you may have trouble adjusting to the cpap…but please, dont’ be afraid to ask here for advice cause the people here are VERY helpful and can help solve just about any issue you may have with the gear. — Beth in Australia =================== FAQ for alt.support.sleep-disorder can be found here www.anchorweb.com.au/sleepdisorders this site is a work in progress – feel free to submit info/articles
Response:
You would not have been invited for a titration if they had not detected apnea. regards, eric pearson db2e…@nospammindspring.com On 21 Nov 2002 21:00:50 -0800, ja…@iname.com (Lenny) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->The Somnolent Phantom <Nos…@nospam.org> wrote in message <news:3DDD6E1B.DD48CCF@nospam.org>… >> x-no-archives: yes >> Lenny wrote: >> > Hello alt.support.sleep-disorder group members. I’ve never >> > participated in the user groups before, so accept my apologies in >> > advance for not following right posting format or proper posting >> > rules. >> > I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all >> > symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have >> > one – heavy snoring. I also feel very tired all the time and have >> > difficulties with concentration, but who does not. >> > I never have a problem falling asleep, rarely wake up at night, and >> > always get up at the same time in the morning. Is it possible that >> > I’ve been misdiagnosed? >> How and by who(m) were you diagnosed with Apnea? Did your diagnosis come >> as a result of an overnight sleep study done in a sleep lab? If so, what >> were the results of the sleep study? Are you treating with a board >> certified sleep medicine specialist? What did you doctor recommend in the >> way of treatment for your apnea? >> An overnight polysomnography (sp?) (sleep study) is necessary to give a >> accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea apnea. >> Best Wishes, >> Bear >I underwent a sleep study and received a letter inviting me back for a >CPAP titration study. During the sleep study I felt very uncomfortable >because of the equipment attached to me and because the room was very >hot. So I hardly slept at all. Also, as I mentioned, the only simptom >I have is snoring. >That is why I wonder if the test is 100% accurate.
Response:
Lenny wrote: > Hello alt.support.sleep-disorder group members. I’ve never > participated in the user groups before, so accept my apologies in > advance for not following right posting format or proper posting > rules. > I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all > symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have > one – heavy snoring. I also feel very tired all the time and have > difficulties with concentration, but who does not. > I never have a problem falling asleep, rarely wake up at night, and > always get up at the same time in the morning. Is it possible that > I’ve been misdiagnosed?
Ditto to everything Bear said. When I was diagnosed, in a sleep lab (two years ago), I made two immediate posts to this NG. Does everyone who is diagnosed with sleep apnea actually have it? Does anyone spend a night at a sleep lab and not be diagnosed with apnea? When I told my internist that I couldn’t have sleep apnea because I slept like a log, he said fine, but do you sleep like a human being? Turns out I didn’t.
Response:
Lenny, ‘Very tired all the time and have difficulties with concentration’ are among the telltale symptoms of apnea – along with snoring and hypertension and nocturia. regards, eric pearson db2e…@nospammindspring.com On 21 Nov 2002 15:04:19 -0800, ja…@iname.com (Lenny) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hello alt.support.sleep-disorder group members. I’ve never >participated in the user groups before, so accept my apologies in >advance for not following right posting format or proper posting >rules. >I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all >symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have >one – heavy snoring. I also feel very tired all the time and have >difficulties with concentration, but who does not. >I never have a problem falling asleep, rarely wake up at night, and >always get up at the same time in the morning. Is it possible that >I’ve been misdiagnosed?
Response:
The Somnolent Phantom <Nos…@nospam.org> wrote in message <news:3DDD6E1B.DD48CCF@nospam.org>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> x-no-archives: yes > Lenny wrote: > > Hello alt.support.sleep-disorder group members. I’ve never > > participated in the user groups before, so accept my apologies in > > advance for not following right posting format or proper posting > > rules. > > I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all > > symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have > > one – heavy snoring. I also feel very tired all the time and have > > difficulties with concentration, but who does not. > > I never have a problem falling asleep, rarely wake up at night, and > > always get up at the same time in the morning. Is it possible that > > I’ve been misdiagnosed? > How and by who(m) were you diagnosed with Apnea? Did your diagnosis come > as a result of an overnight sleep study done in a sleep lab? If so, what > were the results of the sleep study? Are you treating with a board > certified sleep medicine specialist? What did you doctor recommend in the > way of treatment for your apnea? > An overnight polysomnography (sp?) (sleep study) is necessary to give a > accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea apnea. > Best Wishes, > Bear
I underwent a sleep study and received a letter inviting me back for a CPAP titration study. During the sleep study I felt very uncomfortable because of the equipment attached to me and because the room was very hot. So I hardly slept at all. Also, as I mentioned, the only simptom I have is snoring. That is why I wonder if the test is 100% accurate.
Response:
Hello alt.support.sleep-disorder group members. I’ve never participated in the user groups before, so accept my apologies in advance for not following right posting format or proper posting rules. I’ve been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a week ago. But out of all symptoms associated with this disorder that I read about I only have one – heavy snoring. I also feel very tired all the time and have difficulties with concentration, but who does not. I never have a problem falling asleep, rarely wake up at night, and always get up at the same time in the morning. Is it possible that I’ve been misdiagnosed?
