Question:
It's only recently I've become aware
of how my sleep disorder has plagued me for years. I was just wondering
whether other people have suffered the same symptoms that I've come to live
with, namely:
- Poor memory. Sometimes I can't even remember what I did a couple of days
ago. This is the most frustrating problem.
- Constant sleepiness and fatigue. I don't feel like doing much during the
days. I come alive a bit in the evenings but by then it's time to go to bed
again. I usually get at least 7 hours of sleep a night, but sleeping longer
doesn't make any difference.
- I have a slight problem with depression. At other times I get overly
excitable and emotional.
- I find it hard to muster enough energy to do anything but sit around and
rest.
I haven't taken a sleep study yet, but hope to in the near future. In the
meantime, is there anything I can do to improve my sleep? What if I slept
with my upper body propped up a little more? Would that help keep the
airways open?
I heard of this mouthguard that's being developed for people with sleep
apnea. Does anyone know anything about this?
Answer:
Sounds a lot like what happened to me. My memory didn't deteriorate quite so
bad, but I do notice I sometimes have trouble coming up with a word or phrase I
need much more often than I used to. I also had the fatigue and as I got worse I
started nodding off at work when we were not very busy. I got to where I could
sleep most of the weekend and still feel like I didn't get any sleep when I got
up Monday Morning. I had a problem with finding the energy to go run errands,
and stopped doing many of my favorite hobby groups, or falling asleep during my
favorite hobby groups. Not good.
The depression and excitability are side effects of sleep deprivation (which is
a side effect of Apnea and other sleep disturbances). Mostly this has to do with
a Neuro transmitter/Hormone called Seratonin which regulates emotions, but other
neurotransmitters are also involved (which also explains some of the loss of
memory). Low blood oxygen to the brain (which happens during Apnea and other
illnesses) does bad things to the Nervous tissue in our brains, sometimes it
gets better with treatment, sometimes it doesn't.
You sound like you may have Sleep Apnea. If you have sleep Apnea, sleeping
upright in a recliner MAY help you breathe better, depending on what is causing
the Apnea. At best it is a temporary fix while you wait for the sleep test. I
suggest you go to your Doctor and insist on the test if he hasn't decided yet if
he will send you.
Question, do you also snore? You don't need to snore to have Apnea but it is one
more symptom of the disease.
If it is sleep apnea, nothing will help that I can think of. But if you are
going to get a sleep study, ask to be put on the cancellation list if the wait
is long. You say you hope to get a sleep study.
Either see a doctor to see what is going on, a sleep study is the only way to
find out if you have a sleep disorder.
Sound like me I have like a lot of other people on this ng Sleep Apnea below
is a page to a questionaire which I found to be good.
After reading all below sugest you go to a sleep clinic and see a sleep
specialist.
Please do not drink Alcohol untill you get treatment as alcohol could kill
you will sleep apnea.
http://www.newtechpub.com/phantom/question/quiz.html
