Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mary Callahan on August 22, 2011 at 10:20pm

Thanks, Scout for your kind words. I do hope this next doctor can help.

 

I cannot use antacids as I have so little acid. If I used them, I would not be able to digest my food at all. I actually have to take Betaine HCl with food, and enzymes as well. I do however, stop eating early, and I don't eat much at night. And I especially don't eat those foods that take forever to digest, like ham or pork. I eat my main meal at lunchtime. And I sleep with my bed elevated. Am hoping that that helps somewhat.

 

And my sinuses are much better, as I have been through some allergy treatments.

Thanks again, Mary

Scout Bennet said:

Mary- So sorry to hear about that doctor and his attitude. While I agree that taking medication for sleep can be a problem (depending on what you are taking), he should realize that you take the meds because your sleep issues are unresolved and you are doing what you can. I read some of your other threads, noticed you have been diagnosis with UARS, and have sinus problems. They tested me for UARS at Stanford because I had some of the same symptoms. I meet with Dr Christian Guilleminault and he thought I might have had it early in life. Apparently it something that can cross back and forth. I too have the big tongue/small mouth. I also have nasal allergies. I was told by Dr Christian Guilleminault to take an antacid before I went to sleep to reduce GERD and the mouth and sinus inflammation it causes. He said with all Sleep Breathing Disorders, GERD happens (even if you don't have symptoms) as the diaphragm pumps to get air in the lungs and the stomach (or as one of the doctors at Stanford call it “that bag of acid”), spills it contents into the mouth and sinuses inflaming them. I now try to eat by 6 and go to bed at 12. It takes my stomach that long to finish digestion.

Nothing is worse than sleep trashed by insomnia, I hope this new doctor works out.

Blessings

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Permalink Reply by Judy on August 22, 2011 at 11:14pm

Hey, Mary! I was just Dx'd w/A fib late last summer. I've been on CPAP/BPAP since Oct 06/Mar 08.

Mary Callahan said:

Unfortunately I do not know anything about atrial fibrillation. But I am sure someone here would know the connection.

 

But regarding health, I just know that since my sleep stinks, among other things I have put on weight. I know for me it might be the fact that I don't get deep sleep, last sleep study showed only 6 minutes in stage 3. The one before that showed none. So I think my connection might be more insomnia (constant arousals) than sleep apnea. However, putting on weight from what I've read isn't good for the apnea. I feel stuck in a catch 22.

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Permalink Reply by Scout Bennet on August 23, 2011 at 2:00am

Mary-

Glad to see you are onto the stomach/food deal. I too, am finding my biggest meal is starting to be lunch. I have yet to elevate my bed. Dr CG suggested 10"(done with telephone books). Just can't seem to go that far. I'm just don't know about sleeping on a slope. I bought the pillow instead, but have yet to get fully used to it. The stomach thing for me is just my latest challenge. The machine is irrating my sinuses (I'm done all that I can with the allergies) so they want me to open them up. I am supposed to meet with a surgeon to see about that. This sleep thing is so difficult. I miss sleep.

Blessings-
Mary Callahan said:

Thanks, Scout for your kind words. I do hope this next doctor can help.

 

I cannot use antacids as I have so little acid. If I used them, I would not be able to digest my food at all. I actually have to take Betaine HCl with food, and enzymes as well. I do however, stop eating early, and I don't eat much at night. And I especially don't eat those foods that take forever to digest, like ham or pork. I eat my main meal at lunchtime. And I sleep with my bed elevated. Am hoping that that helps somewhat.

 

And my sinuses are much better, as I have been through some allergy treatments.

Thanks again, Mary

Scout Bennet said:

Mary- So sorry to hear about that doctor and his attitude. While I agree that taking medication for sleep can be a problem (depending on what you are taking), he should realize that you take the meds because your sleep issues are unresolved and you are doing what you can. I read some of your other threads, noticed you have been diagnosis with UARS, and have sinus problems. They tested me for UARS at Stanford because I had some of the same symptoms. I meet with Dr Christian Guilleminault and he thought I might have had it early in life. Apparently it something that can cross back and forth. I too have the big tongue/small mouth. I also have nasal allergies. I was told by Dr Christian Guilleminault to take an antacid before I went to sleep to reduce GERD and the mouth and sinus inflammation it causes. He said with all Sleep Breathing Disorders, GERD happens (even if you don't have symptoms) as the diaphragm pumps to get air in the lungs and the stomach (or as one of the doctors at Stanford call it “that bag of acid”), spills it contents into the mouth and sinuses inflaming them. I now try to eat by 6 and go to bed at 12. It takes my stomach that long to finish digestion.

Nothing is worse than sleep trashed by insomnia, I hope this new doctor works out.

Blessings

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scout Bennet on August 23, 2011 at 2:09am

Mike-

Hey thanks for this site.

I think until sleep apnea is better understood, defined and treated it would best to keep the site as it is. I have learned so much from this site about sleep apnea and all it's little terrible friends, companions and buddies that I think it would be a disservice until we get a better grip on this disease.

Blessings-

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Permalink Reply by Judy on August 23, 2011 at 7:59am

Elevate the head of your bed 10 inches!!! Ha! Let that doctor sleep standing up for all you care. Ain't no way in heck you're gonna be able to sleep w/the head of the bed tilted that high! At 6 inches my husband and I woke scrunched down to the foot of the bed every morning!

 

We did find that 4 inches worked well for us tho. Hubby just made some blocks out of 2" x 4"s. Two (for double bed - 3 for Queen) blocks 4 inches high by 4 inches long on the side rail (and center for the Queen) under the spring at the head of the bed and two blocks 2 inches high by 4 inches long on the side rail under the spring just above the middle of the bed length. Worked great for us.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Callahan on August 23, 2011 at 8:32am

Scout, I bought a wedge pillow at Bed Bath & Beyond that is about 27" x 27" x 7".  Seems to really help without feeling you are going to wake up scrunched at the foot of your bed. Been using it for months. I also don't feel like I am going to fall off of it if I turn over as it is a good size.

I have also just started taking milk peptides (I bought the Life Extension brand) at night and it seems to be really helping with my sleep. It is dairy so I am concerned that over time I could have a problem with it, but so far so good. It has really helped me sleep much better over the course of the night. You may want to give it a try and see if it works for you, too.

 

The ENT surgeon said I should have my deviated septum and my turbinates fixed, but I am not a fan of invasive surgery. THere is always that chance that one could be worse afterwards. But if needed at some point, I may truly have to do it. 

Scout Bennet said:

Mary-

Glad to see you are onto the stomach/food deal. I too, am finding my biggest meal is starting to be lunch. I have yet to elevate my bed. Dr CG suggested 10"(done with telephone books). Just can't seem to go that far. I'm just don't know about sleeping on a slope. I bought the pillow instead, but have yet to get fully used to it. The stomach thing for me is just my latest challenge. The machine is irrating my sinuses (I'm done all that I can with the allergies) so they want me to open them up. I am supposed to meet with a surgeon to see about that. This sleep thing is so difficult. I miss sleep.

Blessings-
M

 

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Permalink Reply by Scout Bennet on August 23, 2011 at 6:47pm

Mary- What are the milk peptides? I personal drink a little water and baking soda for the stomach. That seems for to be for me the best answer.

Also do you sleep on your back? They are trying to get me to do this but I can't handle the pressure necessary to sleep on my back. I prefer my side.

As far as surgery is concerned I have always thought from the get go when I started noticing my sleep problems get out of control that surgery is the right option. My problem has been getting the right surgeon and the right surgery. I too, have the enlarged turbinates and the deviated septum. With a good surgeon that should an easy fix. 

 But my case is more complicated. I also have collapsed nasal valves and when I was a kid my canine teeth never came in. They were stuck in my upper jaw. I had to have dental surgery and braces as a kid. Dr CG notice my small jaw, but at the time it did not occur to me that the problems I had as a kid with my upper jaw might be a factor. So I need to get this checked out. Something is not right.

Blessings-

 

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Permalink Reply by Mary Callahan on August 23, 2011 at 9:14pm

Scout, Here is a web page that has a short article on milk peptides. It seems to come from milk protein and they find it helps people get a better night's sleep, among other things depending on the article you read. http://www.elaine-moore.com/MyBlog/tabid/60/EntryId/191/Milk-Peptid...  

I take it for my insomnia, not for any GERD. And yes, I do sleep on my back for the first 4 hours of the night while I use my APAP. Then I take it off and sleep on either side. I trained myself to sleep on my back and it took some time. But I had to, since sleeping on my shoulders all night long created way too much pain in my shoulders. I felt the pain might be keeping me from sleeping. I also find that only when I sleep on my sides while still using the APAP, I get awful gastric insuflation. So I only use the APAP on my back. I do my four hours for compliance and I feel it has definitely has helped with the apnea.

And yes, I know, many people have said GERD could be the reason I get gastric insuflation on my side (another whole discussion). But I feel if I had GERD I would get it whether I was on my back or my side -- and it ONLY happens on my side and ONLY while using the machine. And there were other people who said they had the same problem while only on their side. I am sure it happens due to a change in my fascial structure while on my side and my face presses into the pillow.

I wish you luck with getting your jaw checked out and into better alignment. Doesn't sound easy, but I feel you will follow thru and do what is needed. I think most of us would do whatever is needed just to get some better sleep. Getting a good night's sleep is like chasing the Holy Grail. But progressing slowly and making sure you have the right doctor/surgeon is also very important. 

Scout Bennet said:

Mary- What are the milk peptides? I personal drink a little water and baking soda for the stomach. That seems for to be for me the best answer.

Also do you sleep on your back? They are trying to get me to do this but I can't handle the pressure necessary to sleep on my back. I prefer my side.

As far as surgery is concerned I have always thought from the get go when I started noticing my sleep problems get out of control that surgery is the right option. My problem has been getting the right surgeon and the right surgery. I too, have the enlarged turbinates and the deviated septum. With a good surgeon that should an easy fix. 

 But my case is more complicated. I also have collapsed nasal valves and when I was a kid my canine teeth never came in. They were stuck in my upper jaw. I had to have dental surgery and braces as a kid. Dr CG notice my small jaw, but at the time it did not occur to me that the problems I had as a kid with my upper jaw might be a factor. So I need to get this checked out. Something is not right.

Blessings-

 

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Permalink Reply by Scout Bennet on August 25, 2011 at 2:05am

Mary-

Thanks for the words of encouragment and I agree, chasin good sleep is like chasing the Holy Grail. Sometimes I get so tired I can feel it in my bones.

I looked up the article on milk peptides. I'm going to read some more but  Iwas interested in what is said about the stress. Lack of sleep for me is so stressing and it produces inflammation. I'm wondering if in the long term if these would help.

I'm sorry to hear you are having to wake-up and shift body position. I've done it and know how hard it is. I hope it gets better.

On the subject of the GERD and gastric insuflation. GERD is always present in a sleep breathing disorder, but you may not show the usual symptoms-ie heartburn, bad taste. Also the flap that closes the esophagus can get harden from GERD causing it to open when we sleep in certain positions but not in others-or to open all the time.

Also,  the pressure of your machine may need adjustment or lowered until you are used to it. If you are sleeping on your back and have a big tongue you will need more pressure than if you are sleeping on your side. Sounds like when you sleep on your side the machine is opening up the flap and the stomach contents go up and the air goes down. Either way I would urge you talk more with your respiratory therapist and let them know what is going on. They should have more insight. Bi-PAP is tricky. Let me know what happens

Blessings-

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Permalink Reply by Rette Tyrrel on August 25, 2011 at 2:43am

Since the etiology and treatment of sleep apnea can be multi-focal,  I appreciate the input along these lines as well.  Have learned a lot.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Callahan on August 25, 2011 at 7:45am

Scout, thanks for the info. I have tried talking to both my doctor and the DME provider about the gastric insuflation, however, none of them know what to do. So that is why I just take off the machine, and sleep on my side without it. I don't know that I have a respiratory therapist, because if you mean the DME provider, they have been totally useless. All they ever say is for me to call the doctor. The doctor tells me he can't help me. I feel like I've done all this on my own for the most part. If it wasn't for all the help I have gotten on this website, I would have given up a long time ago.

Scout Bennet said:

Mary-

Thanks for the words of encouragment and I agree, chasin good sleep is like chasing the Holy Grail. Sometimes I get so tired I can feel it in my bones.

I looked up the article on milk peptides. I'm going to read some more but  Iwas interested in what is said about the stress. Lack of sleep for me is so stressing and it produces inflammation. I'm wondering if in the long term if these would help.

I'm sorry to hear you are having to wake-up and shift body position. I've done it and know how hard it is. I hope it gets better.

On the subject of the GERD and gastric insuflation. GERD is always present in a sleep breathing disorder, but you may not show the usual symptoms-ie heartburn, bad taste. Also the flap that closes the esophagus can get harden from GERD causing it to open when we sleep in certain positions but not in others-or to open all the time.

Also,  the pressure of your machine may need adjustment or lowered until you are used to it. If you are sleeping on your back and have a big tongue you will need more pressure than if you are sleeping on your side. Sounds like when you sleep on your side the machine is opening up the flap and the stomach contents go up and the air goes down. Either way I would urge you talk more with your respiratory therapist and let them know what is going on. They should have more insight. Bi-PAP is tricky. Let me know what happens

Blessings-

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on August 25, 2011 at 8:05am

Mary, perhaps you need to see a GI doc (yes, I know, another doctor).  GERD may be part of your problem and if you're not being treated for acid reflux that's something to consider.  You can try OTC meds- even use them at prescription doses to see it they help.  Give it a good trial.

Going off the machine, while I know you're miserable, is not the answer. If you haven't already, Google "gastric insuflation and sleep apnea" and you may come up with some positional or other remedies.
Good luck, keep us posted.

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