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A Death from Sleep Apnea
Laurie posted this as a comment to an article on Death from Sleep Apnea:
"Hello, My husband had obstructive sleep apnea. His cpap psi was set at 16 and he wore the full face mask. He died on Jan. 9, 2009, I am now alone with 5 kids.
My husband had his mask on faithfully every night since diagnosed. Yes, we fought with the insur. comp. too for long time before we got his tests and machine.
The night he died was so tragic. I went to bed a 1/2 hour late that night. I was in bed for 5 minutes and heard one loud choke sound and snoring. I thought his masked had slipped. I called his name and no responses. I got up and ran to him yelling his name and said whats wrong? He said back, "I don't know". Those were the last words he spoke. Our 9 yr old daughter wanted to sleep with us that night and i told her no, go down stairs to sleep with your sister. We live in old house and her room is right next to ours. My older daughter 16 yrs. heard my screams and called 911. They told us to move ime from the bed and he ended up right next to my daughters bed, the one I sent down stairs. Three of my kids and I carried him, he was 6'5" and 310lbs. I couldn't do it alone. My 2 older kids and I did cpr for approx 15 to 20 minutes. We live in a rural area. One emt showed up and started to bag him while I continued the compressions. Then the house was full. They worked on him almost an hour naked on the floor of my daughters room. All my kids but one saw, the one I sent down stairs. She was daddy's girl always on him playing. They defibralated him the entire time and tried to entibate him. They finally took him out to ambulance still naked and left. I was about 10 minutes behind ambulance and he was dead when I got there. He was extremely bloated in the stomach and purple and blue in the face. He had vomited in his tubes aswell. He was only 39 years old, he was the love of my life!
They did an autopsy and said his death was natural due to complications of sleep apnea. He had a heart attack but having no air killed him. They told me even if emt was standing right next to him they still could not have saved him. I am struggling with the loss of him and really can not fathom how lightly the doctors speak of this illness. They never checked his heart and it was enlarged from the apnea. He had been on cpap for approx. 5 to 6 years. Right after he died the company that supplied his equipment called and I asked them if their clients die alot and he said yes. I had never heard any of this in all the years of having it.
Please get checked out and make sure you get to see pulmonologist and cardiologist. Please ask questions no matter how stupid!
Laurie "
"Hello, My husband had obstructive sleep apnea. His cpap psi was set at 16 and he wore the full face mask. He died on Jan. 9, 2009, I am now alone with 5 kids.
My husband had his mask on faithfully every night since diagnosed. Yes, we fought with the insur. comp. too for long time before we got his tests and machine.
The night he died was so tragic. I went to bed a 1/2 hour late that night. I was in bed for 5 minutes and heard one loud choke sound and snoring. I thought his masked had slipped. I called his name and no responses. I got up and ran to him yelling his name and said whats wrong? He said back, "I don't know". Those were the last words he spoke. Our 9 yr old daughter wanted to sleep with us that night and i told her no, go down stairs to sleep with your sister. We live in old house and her room is right next to ours. My older daughter 16 yrs. heard my screams and called 911. They told us to move ime from the bed and he ended up right next to my daughters bed, the one I sent down stairs. Three of my kids and I carried him, he was 6'5" and 310lbs. I couldn't do it alone. My 2 older kids and I did cpr for approx 15 to 20 minutes. We live in a rural area. One emt showed up and started to bag him while I continued the compressions. Then the house was full. They worked on him almost an hour naked on the floor of my daughters room. All my kids but one saw, the one I sent down stairs. She was daddy's girl always on him playing. They defibralated him the entire time and tried to entibate him. They finally took him out to ambulance still naked and left. I was about 10 minutes behind ambulance and he was dead when I got there. He was extremely bloated in the stomach and purple and blue in the face. He had vomited in his tubes aswell. He was only 39 years old, he was the love of my life!
They did an autopsy and said his death was natural due to complications of sleep apnea. He had a heart attack but having no air killed him. They told me even if emt was standing right next to him they still could not have saved him. I am struggling with the loss of him and really can not fathom how lightly the doctors speak of this illness. They never checked his heart and it was enlarged from the apnea. He had been on cpap for approx. 5 to 6 years. Right after he died the company that supplied his equipment called and I asked them if their clients die alot and he said yes. I had never heard any of this in all the years of having it.
Please get checked out and make sure you get to see pulmonologist and cardiologist. Please ask questions no matter how stupid!
Laurie "
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by The SleepGuide Crew on -
reproduced from comment posted to Sleep Apnea Death
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on -
I do believe it is important that we understand the damage that could have been done to our bodies as a result of sleep apnea. I have had my heart checked out twice in the last 3 years. The last time was in March of 2008 and was told my heart is healthy.
I don't think the medical community has caught up with how damaging sleep apnea is to our bodies.
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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I am truly sorry for your loss -- at such a young age, what a tragedy.
We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
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Permalink Reply by Cynthia Licharowicz on
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I too have heart enlargement, due to sleep apnea. I am currently not treated due to no insurance or job. i am thankful for every day i wake. i dont sleep alot. i am afraid all the time. I am so sorry for your loss. He was too young to go like that. i feel so bad for your kids.
I will pray for your family. cynthia
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Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on -
I am so sorry for your loss. It is very brave of you to tell your story so that others can be aware.
My doctor asked me to come in for a 3-D echocardiogram to check the right side of my heart since I have OSA. Your story illustrates how important this is.
Thanks for sharing.
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Permalink Reply by BPLink on -
Words can't express how the family must feel. In fact this loss is a loss for all of us who have apnea.
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Permalink Reply by Rock Hinkle on -
My heart weeps for you and your daughter laurie. I am very sorry for your loss.
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Permalink Reply by Wylie Miller on -
I am touched by your story Laurie. My heart goes out to you and your children. I have had sleep apnea for at least 30 years, treated for at least 17 (on my third machine). I have used CPAP faithfully for all that time. The doctors have labeled mine "severe" sleep apnea. I too am over weight and trying to lose the pounds. My experience tells me that doctors write off obese people. They act as if the only thing that can be done is for the patient to lose weight. My wife remembers that my patterns were just as bad when I was 40 pounds lighter. I am sure that being heavy exacerbates sleep apnea. But some how we need to convince doctors that more is needed than just to tell patients to lose weight. Even though surgery does not eliminate the need for CPAP, I wonder if lives could not be saved if patients who stop breathing more than 50 times per night (without CPAP) did go ahead and have the surgery to scrap the throat of excess fat and tissue. I know I don't feel I ever have an apnea when I am wearing my mask, but my wife tells me I do.
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Permalink Reply by David on -
The chief of Cardiology at the local hospital here has begun sending all of his heart patients for a sleep study as part of the treatment plan. Severe or untreated Sleep Apnea always results in Congestive Heart Failure. If you have Apnea demand a work up on your heart from the Pulmonologist or your Primary Care Physician.
Cynthia Licharowicz said:I too have heart enlargement, due to sleep apnea. I am currently not treated due to no insurance or job. i am thankful for every day i wake. i dont sleep alot. i am afraid all the time. I am so sorry for your loss. He was too young to go like that. i feel so bad for your kids.
I will pray for your family. cynthia
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Permalink Reply by Pamela Simmons on -
I am so sorry to hear of your husband's death.............I wish there was something I could do for you. I have sleep apnea too.................... I'm a mom of three sons and six grandchildren.
After reading some of the comments written to you..............especially those that include weight being an issue...........I wish doctors could learn to deal with real people. We don't all stay nineteen and a hundred pounds......... Pam
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Permalink Reply by Mary L. Montovio on
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I'm truly sorry for you loss, but I'm also glad that you were able to pass this information on to others with Sleep Apnea. I've just started using my since this past February. Really scares me, but I also see my cardiologist on a regular basis.
Again, my condolences on your loss, and your husband is no longer suffering. God is on you side and will protect and help you.
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Permalink Reply by Elaine Hooton on
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Oh, this is such a sad story and it hits me hard. My father had sleep apnea. He was obese and he died of a heart attack in his sleep. He was 47, so my brother and I were both in college already. I can't imagine what you are going through without him. My mother has finally gotten past the worst of her grieving, but it has been years and she didn't have us kids to worry about. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
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