sleep help: I’ve sleep apnea real bad, anyone got an answer - Help.com

http://www.well.com/~mick/insomnia/

it has tips for apnea also, didnt read to far, so here are some suggests that prob. on it as well…

~those nose ’strips’ or ‘clamps’ that supposedly open up nose (though apnea is in the throat i think so those might not help)

~finding someting (like a candle) with chemical in it to help open up throat/lungs (like vapor rub, kinda…)

~getting a ‘message table’ like bed (with hole for face) so you could sleep comfortably on stomach… dunno bout that one either…

~posterpedic (or whatever) pillow that supposedly contours to your own head to keep neck supported…

I’ve read that physical fitness is still the best cure

Try going to sleep to classical music that helps

there’s no meds that can loosen the muscles (or tighten them) in your throat to avoid surgery??

like whateve said, i dont know why you’re throat is closing or becoming blocked… if the muscles are relaxing, and expanding in a cetain way then wouldn’t something like botox (not right spelling prob.) tighten it?
if it’s the opposite and your muscles are tightening up and restricting air-flow then wouldn’t muscle relaxers or some such help (if only a little)

either way, i hope you find something to help you overcome this porblem, if surgery is your only route then just remember, 20 yrs ago and you’d probably be alot worse of getting surgery than today… and just about every day something else is learned… good luck friend

FYI~ i know this girl that swears she cant sleep unless she has a fan blowing directly at her while she sleeps, might be a lesser case of apnea than you have, but thought you should know…

you mentioned surgery as a possibility. Did a doctor diagnose this? (just trying to clarify) If that is the case, get a second opinion! How does the doc feel about the surgery? Does she/he feel it would be best? Sleep apnea can be dangerous, and can affect many areas of your life. I would seek a few opinions and see how they (meaning the docs) feel about it.

What kind of odds is your doctor giving you?

Dude, Im saying get a second opinion before you set an appointment for the surgery. I would also ask why they cant give you more of an idea of what they think they can do for you.

I understand that the surgery has different success rates for different levels of sleep apnea, but they should have a good idea as to what degree yours is at. Which would leave me to believe they should be able to give you better odds.

I can ask my brother in law tonight, I think he had that surgery. Ive had a couple of surgeries. This kind of information has to be disclosed to you before you sign a consent form.

If your current doc is not guaranteeing results, I would be very apprehensive of the surgery. A couple of other opinions is the route I would take.

QZZZ, my dad has sleep apnea. Has been diagnosed with it for at least 11 years. He kept falling asleep anywhere because he wasn’t able to sleep at night, they thought he was narcoleptic at first. He went through various sleep clinics after he fell asleep behind the wheel, luckily he was at a red light when he fell asleep, but he rolled into the car in front of him. anyways, he had elective surgeryon his throat and nasal passages. He said it was painful and in his opinion it didn’t help him. He was as worse as it could get so the docs said, he was not breathing over 40 seconds out of every minute he was sleeping. He has been sleeping with a breathing machine for at least 8 years.
He also uses those breathe right strips for a good 2-3 hours every night before he goes to bed, sometimes he sleeps with them on. anyways, I’ll ask him about any other suggestions for you.

Sorry Q, I have no idea on this one. I’m praying for you though.

hey there pal, normally i would have something to say but i dont on this one. i would pray for ya but thats not something i do. srry. i can hope that u will feel betta and i can have faith ya will and that is what i am going to do. srry that is all i can do. i dont have any advise.

Dear Qzzzz,

My brother had the operation,

Semi-Radical Uvulaplasty”.

If he would have heard about the success rate
(which isn’t that impressive)
before going under the laser,
he would have refused the surgery.

It was a painful recovery and in less than a year
his wife proclaimed that his apnea was serious all over again,
as if the operation hadn’t actually happened.

There are side effects that no one explained to my brother,
such as…….it’s now a whole lot easier for him to choke
on his food. He also has a hard time clearing his throat.
He still has to wear a dental appliance (which isn’t
really effective either).

I’m not trying to discourage you from having the surgery,
but I’d sure like to encourage you to research the subject
until you’ve looked under every rock two or three times,
so that there is not one pebble of information
that has been overlooked.

Very best wishes to you (and your Mrs.) for improved sleep
and countless danger-free dreams while romping on Cloud 9.

Qzzz, have the doctors mentioned anything about possible weight loss helping. Sometimes that is all it takes. You must do something because about 2 months previous to Paul having his heart attacks he had developed sleep apnea so you cannot ignore it, especially if it is already at a serious level. We will keep you in our prayers Friend.

i was wondering qzzzzzz… might just be off the wall but….
when i lay back, relax my throat, and look down a little, i can feel my throat close off… and when i stretch my neck and look a little more forward, it’s almost hard to get my throat closed…
my question to you….
would a neck brace that stretched and keeps chin up help you?
maybe if one was altered it might be a little more comfortable than a mask…

I notice when I have this problem I drink hot milk read my bible and pray and before i know it I am knocked out cold :-)

Qzzzz, I hear the severe kind of sleep apnea can cause you to stop breathing. If you have it bad, then it’s worth getting it checked out. My sister has mild sleep apnea and she uses those nose strips at night. It helps a little.