<p>My son has always had trouble sleeping. I mean, every night it was an issue. There was a time when he was so anxious about sleeping, we’d find him at the top of our stairs and under the bright hall light because he was so worried. Now he’s a college kid who still has sleep issues, but what prompted his visit to an ENT was a persistent cough. During his ‘work-up’ the doctor felt his profile indicated he could have sleep apnea. (He’s also very sleepy during the day, has ‘mild’ ADD so he takes Adderall, and always has his Red Bull. He often takes naps whenever he can.)</p>
<p>Does anyone have any experience with sleep apnea? How about a sleep study? What kinds of treatments work, if any? And is this whole business even worth undertaking? I mean, if he goes through a “sleep study” and we find out he has sleep apnea, so what?</p>
<p>In a way, I really want him to have this condition, because then we can figure out how to help him. But after doing some research, I didn’t find anything too helpful.</p>
<p>I have several friends with sleep apnea. All were diagnosed after a night of monitoring. The primary cause for all was loss of tissue tone in the throat, due to aging. All use “the mask” which pumps air into the nasal passages.</p>
<p>Based on their experiences I’d be a little surprised if your son has sleep apnea. But to be certain (either way) you could arrange for a night of monitoring at your local sleep disorder facility.</p>
<p>Yes, ask your doctor for a referral to a sleep center. That test is very important. When you speak to a sleep specialist, or even a cardiologist, he/she will tell you that sleep apnea is the root cause of more than one malady, like hypertenstion. The mask and machine will provide a lot of help. And your son will feel much better, naturally.</p>
<p>I’m surprised by the number of men I know who have Sleep Apnea and a CPAP.</p>
<p>By all means have your son tested. My husband snored like a jet engine at a young age, but it got pretty bad after a cold, which prompted me making the appointment at a sleep clinic He, in fact, had probably had sleep apnea most of his adult life.</p>
<p>After the diagnosis and being fitted with the CPAP, he slept fitfully, probably for the 1st time in his life.</p>
<p>The CPAP is now his best friend (after me of course!). Don’t leave home without it!</p>
<p>My H just went through the sleep tests. He now uses the CPAP machine and it has been a godsend. He is not snoring! He sleeps through the night and feels 100% better. He only has a “mild” case of apnea, but during the test, he stopped breathing 37 times for a prolonged period of time, when he was ready to enter REM sleep.</p>
<p>For a lot of people, the CPAP works pretty well. Some people who can’t tolerate the CPAP do well on the BiPAP. Depending on the cause of the apnea (e.g. excess weight, jaw shape, narrow airway, uvula too large), there may be other possibilities - I know one guy who had apnea because of an extremely oversized uvula, and it went away after he had uvula-reducing surgery.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If he has a sleep disorder, or you think he might, then yes, absolutely. Untreated sleep disorders are terribly detrimental to quality of life. They can also hurt his performance in school, and cause him to be unsafe when driving a car (among other things).</p>
<p>MY H has sleep apnea and uses a CPAP machine. He was always a snorer, but is also fit and trim and does not fit the typical profile. When the snoring really started to interfere with the well being of both of us, his doctor sent him for a sleep study. The idea of a CPAP was very unappealing but once he tried it, we were sold. Now, neither of us can imagine a night without it. A sleep study can provide a lot of good detailed info. I would definitely address any potential sleep disorder, it can affect so many aspects of his life.</p>
<p>Shawbridge’s S was diagnosed as a teen and may be able to give you info pertinent to your S, given his age.</p>
<p>I just had a sleep study – actually 2 of them. I am awaiting my followup with the Dr., but I definitely have sleep apnea. The first study showed that I have very low oxygen levels at night because I stop breathing during the night – often. However, my breathing didn’t get bad until later in the night, so I had to come back to sleep with a CPAP machine. I slept better. </p>
<p>I am usually tired during the day-- even with 7+ hours of sleep. I can’t believe that I am looking forward to sleeping with the CPAP machine. I am going to try to get my husband to be tested. He snores at night, and I was told that snoring is not normal and should be investigated.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your reassuring comments. I had a conversation today with the pediatrician. He said a sleep study is very revealing, especially for an older patient. I know also that this kid has a true profile of someone with sleep apnea. My research tells me that this is more common in men than women. I’m not so sure my S snores, but I know he only breathes through his mouth. It’s amazing, but once I got this idea that that’s his “issue”, I’ve been very excited to think “this could be IT!” Sleep (or lack of sleep) has given him a lifetime of troubles and he’s only 21 yo.</p>
So quite a lot. My husband has sleep apnea. We always kind of suspected it but never really did anything. A few years back he had a blood clot that almost killed him We were told that sleep apnea can be a contributing factor (something to do with not getting enough oxygen) and one of the first things they wanted (after he was out of the critical care unit and the hospital) was to check out the sleep apnea. He has a CPAP and also has to have oxygen with it at night. </p>
<p>Wish we had done something about it before the permanent heart and lung damage he suffered. But we had no idea it could cause such serious problems.</p>
<p>Both Adderall and Red Bull are stimulants and Red Bull has a lot of caffeine. If he takes either after 3 PM, he will have trouble sleeping, sleep apnea or not.</p>
<p>When I had my sleep studies, I didn’t have any caffine that day. I also made sure that I didn’t put myself into a position that I would take a nap that day. I occationally use ambien. I did not use it for the first study, but had to take it for the second – their orders.</p>
<p>His future wife/partner/girlfriend/housemates/children thank you in advance.</p>
<p>Seriously though, sleep apnea is the underlying cause of many medical problems. Many wish they had an opportunity to get on top of it at your son’s age.</p>
<p>Also, has he had sports injuries, have allergies, ever had broken nose or sinuses, etc? Sometimes that can mess up your breathing, too, and make you a mouth breather. Not everyone is properly diagnosed allergy wise. My son takes Klonopin to help with his anxiety regarding sleep (he does not have apnea).</p>
<p>Both my parents and one of my cousins have had sleep studies. At my dad’s they woke him up partway thru the night - his oxygen level had dropped so low it was dangerous. He has snored loudly for as long as any of us can remember. My mom’s wasn’t that bad. My cousin was told he also had sleep apnea. All 3 of them ended up with various CPAP devices and all 3 were very pleased with the results. My dad’s machine is small and portable. My cousin said he could think clearly at work for the first time in years.</p>
<p>They’re finding that more and more serious conditions can be related to sleep problems (heart disease, hypertension, etc). I’d definitely do the sleep study!</p>
<p>I have severe sleep apnea, finally tested 1 year ago. I stopped breathing 50 times per hour and never entered REM sleep. I snored horribly and was always exhausted. My CPAP has been a miracle for me and my husband. My irregular heartbeat resolved itself after a few weeks on the CPAP. </p>
<p>The first night (and next day) they monitored my sleep. The next week they monitored me with the CPAP. It took about 2 weeks to get used to it, but I even use it when I nap now.</p>
<p>There were 2 children under five having sleep studies done. My doctor said it can affect anyone, anytime.</p>
<p>my husband has apnea…and the CPAP makes a huge improvement for his life…but you must plan…campouts and cancelled flights in airports where you are suddenly doing an overnight…you must keep your machine with you. Also Red Eyes are no longer viable on planes. I don’t trust my husband to be alert enough to drive after a certain hour despite the improvement on CPAP</p>
<p>Don’t mean to threadjack as your title is sleep apnea, but as you haven’t actually done a sleep test yet and there was the just the suggestion of what his diagnosis might be, I too would strongly recommend a sleep clinic. My H too was also drowsy too much of the time and had actually fallen asleep at the wheel once, thankfully with no damage to himself other than our car or to others. His diagnosis was narcolepsy, the prescribed treatment being Modafinal which works absolute wonders for him. Obviously he still gets tired if he hasn’t had enough sleep, just like the rest of us, but that extra frightening dimension of falling asleep at the dinner table sitting in his chair or even standing in a doorway, is gone. Being diagnosed has made a life-altering improvement in our lives.</p>
<p>My son’s best friend had ADHD and was horribly anxious all through high school - even had to switch schools to a much smaller one with more flexibility. He was tired all the time and missed a lot of school as a result. He had a sleep study done his senior year and had surgery right after graduation. A combination of allergies and chronic respiratory infections had caused sleep apnea. His surgery included removing the tonsils and adenoids, cutting back the uvula, and correcting his deviated septum. Recovery was very painful for a couple of weeks but has paid off in spades. The chronic dark circles under his eyes are gone, and he is having a great freshman year, sleeping 8-9 hours a night and waking up refreshed. He no longer takes medication for either ADHD or anxiety and is doing very well without it.</p>
<p>His surgeon offered him the option of CPAP, but he tried it once and didn’t like it. The surgeon said that long-term success with CPAP is very low with teens. It’s annoying for roommates and off-putting for potential romantic partners, so teens tend to give up on it.</p>
<p>nice to hear that your son’s buddy is getting some needed help! My spouse has to use Modafinal plus CPAP to function and he also has a large uvula. His local doctors don’t think surgery would help him. I am glad this younger man got good results.</p>
He, in fact, had probably had sleep apnea most of his adult life.</p>