A question (may be sleep apnea)
Question:
Hi, I’ve been watching someone sleep and then I was reading to see if it’s sleep apnea. It’s scary but doesn’t describe like sleep apnea does. He used to snore really loud most of the night – but I hadn’t seen him sleep in a while. And now it’s like 40 seconds of so still and quiet he could not be breathing – or else breathing through his nose very quietly (uncharacteristic for him) with hardly any chest motion for breathing. At almost exactly 40 seconds he takes 3 big loud gulps of breathing, getting quieter with each, for about 8 seconds. Then he gets real quiet again. I’m afraid he’s not breathing during that 40 seconds – could that be possible? What I read on sleep apnea says that you have a few episodes a night and thrash around – he’s not doing that. He’s regularly seeming to stop breathing, then taking big breaths to make up for it, then stopping again. He’s about 55 and quite overweight. Thanks in advance!
Response:
> What I read on sleep apnea says that you have a few episodes a night > and thrash around – he’s not doing that. He’s regularly seeming to > stop breathing, then taking big breaths to make up for it, then > stopping again. He’s about 55 and quite overweight.
i’m wondering what you read exactly…..sleep apnea is characterised by waking up (this doesn’t mean you become fully aware, it’s more like a disturbance in the sleep) hundreds of times a night because you stop breathing… not just a couple of times… your description of your friend sounds quite typical of apnea "behaviour" It’s certainly possible your friend is not breathing during those quiet periods, some have been known to stop breathing for over a minute during an apnea event. Best thing is for him to see a certified sleep speciliast — Beth in Australia =================== FAQ for alt.support.sleep-disorder can be found here http://www.anchorweb.com.au/sleepdisorders this site is a work in progress – feel free to submit info/articles
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -C wrote: > Hi, > I’ve been watching someone sleep and then I was reading to see if it’s > sleep apnea. It’s scary but doesn’t describe like sleep apnea does. > He used to snore really loud most of the night – but I hadn’t seen him > sleep in a while. And now it’s like 40 seconds of so still and quiet > he could not be breathing – or else breathing through his nose very > quietly (uncharacteristic for him) with hardly any chest motion for > breathing. At almost exactly 40 seconds he takes 3 big loud gulps of > breathing, getting quieter with each, for about 8 seconds. Then he > gets real quiet again. I’m afraid he’s not breathing during that 40 > seconds – could that be possible? > What I read on sleep apnea says that you have a few episodes a night > and thrash around – he’s not doing that. He’s regularly seeming to > stop breathing, then taking big breaths to make up for it, then > stopping again. He’s about 55 and quite overweight. > Thanks in advance!
This person almost surely has sleep apnea. I don’t know where you read about thrashing around, but that is not very common. Cessation of breathing followed by a gasp is a classic set of symptoms. Get him to a a sleep clinic ASAP before it causes other health problems. And, stay on here and keep us posted as well. There are a lot of helpful folks here with a wealth of knowledge. 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:
Sounds just like sleep apnea to me! He needs a test ASAP! regards, eric pearson db2e…@nospammindspring.com On 19 Oct 2002 07:04:22 -0700, cyndi…@yahoo.com (C) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi, >I’ve been watching someone sleep and then I was reading to see if it’s >sleep apnea. It’s scary but doesn’t describe like sleep apnea does. >He used to snore really loud most of the night – but I hadn’t seen him >sleep in a while. And now it’s like 40 seconds of so still and quiet >he could not be breathing – or else breathing through his nose very >quietly (uncharacteristic for him) with hardly any chest motion for >breathing. At almost exactly 40 seconds he takes 3 big loud gulps of >breathing, getting quieter with each, for about 8 seconds. Then he >gets real quiet again. I’m afraid he’s not breathing during that 40 >seconds – could that be possible? >What I read on sleep apnea says that you have a few episodes a night >and thrash around – he’s not doing that. He’s regularly seeming to >stop breathing, then taking big breaths to make up for it, then >stopping again. He’s about 55 and quite overweight. >Thanks in advance!
Response:
cyndi…@yahoo.com (C) wrote: >I’ve been watching someone sleep and then I was reading to see if it’s >sleep apnea. It’s scary but doesn’t describe like sleep apnea does. >He used to snore really loud most of the night – but I hadn’t seen him >sleep in a while. And now it’s like 40 seconds of so still and quiet >he could not be breathing – or else breathing through his nose very >quietly (uncharacteristic for him) with hardly any chest motion for >breathing. At almost exactly 40 seconds he takes 3 big loud gulps of >breathing, getting quieter with each, for about 8 seconds. Then he >gets real quiet again. I’m afraid he’s not breathing during that 40 >seconds – could that be possible?
Absolutely! >What I read on sleep apnea says that you have a few episodes a night >and thrash around – he’s not doing that.
Neither did I. The closest was my wife saying that I shook the bed trying to draw a breath. >He’s regularly seeming to >stop breathing, then taking big breaths to make up for it, then >stopping again. He’s about 55 and quite overweight.
This sounds like severe sleep apnea, it’s nothing you (or he) can ignore. Get him to a sleep doctor as soon as possible. Tom
Response:
eric pearson <db2e…@deletethis.mindspring.com> wrote in message <news:bd73rughp73mqg8kckvej8r0lrd1jio30l@4ax.com>… > Sounds just like sleep apnea to me! > He needs a test ASAP!
Thanks all of you! I got the phone number of such a place and he promises to call. We had agreed anyway, but what you all said will help ensure he does go.
Response:
cyndi…@yahoo.com (C) wrote: >Thanks all of you! I got the phone number of such a place and he >promises to call. We had agreed anyway, but what you all said will >help ensure he does go.
That’s great, but you go with him, your observations of his sleeping behavior will be invaluable. In fact, don’t be surprised if his sleep doctor asks _you_ most of the questions. Please keep us informed. Tom
