Question:
I think I might have sleep apnea...

My husband is always kidding with me about my snoring. And I've been told that I snore no matter how I sleep. Even if I have fallen asleep sitting up, I still snore. I don't ever recall waking in the middle of the night gasping for breath, and hubby says he doesn't think I ever pause breathing while sleeping.. Ok.. here's my question... If I do have sleep apnea, and it's undiagnosed (my doctor hasn't mentioned me having a sleep study) What are the risks? Should I be worried? (I'm nervous as it is.)    — Michelle J. (posted on September 22, 2003)

September 21, 2003
I'm still preop but from what I understand, it does affect how the anethesiologist handles your case during and after surgery. I'd talk to my doctor about it. I snore but didn't think I had sleep apnea. I was sent home with a sleep oximeter (sp?) and it showed that I likely have sleep apnea. I go in for a sleep study 2 weeks from tomorrow. Hopefully once I'm fitted with whatever I need, I'll feel more rested after a full night's sleep.
   — ssundlee

September 21, 2003
Oops! That's a pulse oximeter not a sleep oximeter.
   — ssundlee

September 21, 2003
I never snored in my life until I put this unwanted weight on my body. I snore so severly I keep my husband up most of the night. he gets less sleep than I do. It was so bad, I reversed by sleeping position to the bottom of the bed. That makes things interesting. (laughing) But my surgeon announced at a seminar, if anyone has sleep apena, we will be required to sleep at Sea Pines our first night after surgery. This is for our protection. I have been through the first phase of my sleep apena test and basically failed. I stopped breathing 6 times an hour. Which surprised me. I didn't think I had the stop breathing problem. All I knew is I started to snore severly. The second part of the over night is sleeping with the C-PAP machine and the technician said, he promised I wouldn't snore and feel rested in the morning when I awoke. For your own protection, I would suggest you go through the sleep study process. There is a quiz on the sleephelpusa.com website that will help you determine if you have sleep apena or not. Good Luck. JoAnn Shurtz
   — SnoJo S.

September 21, 2003
I mentioned my snoring problem to my surgeon. He did not sem concerned at all and said I probably did have sleep apnea. I took that quiz at sleephelpusa and scored a 36! Ten is considered high. I took it upon myself to request to see a sleep specialist. Waiting on a date for my sleep study. Please go to the memorials page and look for Ginger Brewsters story. I think it is better to be safe than sorry. Good luck and best wishes.
   — Barbara D.

September 21, 2003
Hi Michelle, Snoring doesn't necessarily mean you have sleep apnea, However, it is better to be safe than sorry, especially if you have any other symptoms of it such as daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, not feeling rested upon waking up in the morning, etc. I am the friend who wrote the story on Ginger Brewster, the lady on the memorial page of this website, who died because of complications after her surgery resulting from undiagnosed/untreated sleep apnea. Please read her story to see what CAN happen if you have surgery and precautions aren't taken for you having sleep apnea. Hopefully you don't have sleep apnea, but if you do and they give you anesthesia and morphine without knowing that you have it, unfortunately it can be Deadly. Please be safe! I wish you the Best of Luck for a safe and successful surgery.
   — Hackett

September 21, 2003
I would not have had this surgery without having my sleep study done first. After the surgery may be too late. Mary Elgin
   — Mary E.

September 22, 2003
I agree with several of the other posters. I would play it safe and have a sleep study done. Your obese and snore. While that doesn't guarantee your have sleep apnea, those are attributes that may indicate you do. I snored for the last 15 years, per my wife. I had none of the other symptons. The sleep study was mandatory by my surgeon. I found out that I had severe sleep apenea and had my breathing interupted every 1 1/2 minutes. Now that I'm on the CPAP, I'm sleeping well through the night and my BP is slowly dropping. What's the worst thing that can happen by taking the study? You find out you don't have a problem?
   — rleffler

September 22, 2003
Don't wait. Have a sleep study done and let your doctor know the results. I was required to have one done before suregry so my surgeon would know what to watchfor during surgery. Good luck! But this is not something to just disregard
   — spring A.

September 22, 2003
My pre op tests included a sleep apnea consult/test if you did snore. I did snore, althought I did not have any of the other symptoms of sleep apnea (ie, sleepiness, daytime naps, not feeling rested). I had my consult, and my test, and I do have apnea. I now have a cpap machine, which is set to a 6 (the lowest is a 4) so I do not have it bad, but I do have it. Bring it up to the doctor that you are concerned that you may have it, and get the test! You may not need it for long, since you (and I, and pretty much everyone else on here) are obese, losing weight will help with the apnea, and hopefully it will go away. Good luck!
   — Jen W.

September 23, 2003
Michelle, Hi, I had similar problems, PCP sent me in for overnight sleep tests, turns out I snore, boy do I snore, the results showed I wake myself up 54 times per hour snoring. I never sleep more than 2 hours thru, always falling alseep while sitting still or mostly while driving, anyway, my syptom is called UARS, Upper Airway Restrictive Syndrome. Choices were weightloss or surgery to remove Uvela and trim off back of tonque and soft palet. I told them " I chose door #1 Bob," so I have WLS 9-30-03. Hope this helps some, I get told when I snore, everyone hears it, my 18 yr. old complains most, it doesn't mix well with her music!! Oh well! God Luck!!
   — pateblkbrn

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