Narcolepsy and sleep apnea
Common Questions and Answers about Narcolepsy and sleep apnea
narcolepsy
t have sleep apnea but it was narcolepsy. He never told me what I needed to do about it. Do you also know if people with this disorder have periods of sleep walking. I have walked in my sleep from time to time since I was a child but it seems to have suddenly multiplied in the last few years. I am now 56 and have had some very life changing events in my life during these last 3-4 years. I am wondering if these traumatic events could have caused the sleep walking to increase. I stay exhausted.
Yes, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea earlier this year. They were surprised. They said I did not have the "throat" of a sleep apnea person, I'm thin, non-smoker, no drugs, don't snore, don't sleep with my mouth open etc. They thought it was just narcolepsy but did the 2 sleep studies and said sleep apnea in addition. I have no obstructive, no central, no hypopnea's but had quite a bit RERA's (respiratory effected related arousals).
Many people have both sleep apnea and narcolepsy and either one alone is bad enough - together they can cause real damage.
I was actually diagnosed about 2 years ago with positional sleep apnea and low nighttime oxygen levels and so now hubby and I are both in a pickle.
Good luck and remember not all narcolepsy patients are alike.
I have undergone a sleep study, that's my only qualification to comment, that and a long life's experience... and old guy.
I read you do not suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea.. look right and while I don't recall the % time in REM needed to be rested in the morning, you must have been given the number. In my case I was told I was marginally well rested relative to test results, but do suffer from mild sleep apnea.
I have had narcolepsy (and sleep apnea) for a long time. I had had three bariatric surgeries over the past 14 years, and my drs have wondered if some of my meds are not being absorbed properly or at the right rate, yet no one has done any kind of 'test' to determine that. I have tried everything possible for my narcolepsy---the ritalin patches, elixir ritalin.......etc, provigil, other meds....and of course xyrem. I take dextroamphetamine daily, even though it does litte...
You might want to inquire about having a full sleep study to rule out sleep apnea and/or narcolepsy. The sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and daytime sleepiness are hallmarks of narcolepsy. Narcolepsy isn't just suddenly collapsing in a state of sleep. I tell you this not as a medical professional, but as a person with narcolepsy. Best wishes.
Can you be thin and still have sleep apnea? I'm in my late 20's and am somewhat skinny, yet I wake up gasping for air several times a night. My doctor told me that it couldn't be sleep apnea because I'm not fat, but I don't understand what else can make someone wake up gasping for air at night. He said it's probably anxiety, but this doesn't make sense to me. Could anxiety make you stop breathing and wake up gasping at night?
blood work done (CBC, glucose, etc.) and also have a sleep study done. If you have sleep apnea, it means that you stop breathing while sleeping and thus your body wakes you up during the night. It may be just a few seconds you are awake and so you wouldn't notice it.
When I got married almost six years ago, I told my husband that I was pretty sure he had sleep apnea. He didn't think he did at first. Then he said he might have it but that it was really mild if he did.
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which your breathing temporarily stops during sleep due to blockage of the upper airways. These pauses in breathing interrupt your sleep, leading to many awakenings each hour. While most people with sleep apnea don’t remember these awakenings, they feel the effects in other ways, such as exhaustion during the day, irritability and depression, and decreased productivity.
I've had horrible fatigue for over two years now. I've had the million dollar workup- so far it's not shown anything conclusive. A few months ago, my Doctor started me on provigil, because I finally told him I was afraid my constant need for sleep would cause an accident at work. At that point, I had stopped driving. I HATE not driving!!!
I finally had a sleep study D/T RLS, which I've had my whole life with no real problems.
The sleep doctor who diagnosed his narcolepsy can answer this based on the sleep study that was performed for the diagnosis.
Dr.
t appear as often or as severe. I looked up narcolepsy, and it said that they sleep about 15 minutes and awake refreshed. I usually wake myself after a few seconds and never feel refreshed. I have very little energy and have tried changing my diet, drugs, and I have low thyroid which is well managed. When I fall asleep, even for a few seconds, I am dreaming immediately, sometimes talking or talking as I wake up. Can someone please help me-I'm getting really scared.
Depending on how quickly you fall asleep, and how quickly you reach REM sleep, they can tell if you have IH, narcolepsy, or something else.
I use the CPAP for my sleep apnea and know that I would constantly wake up during the night because the mask would slip or would be uncomfortable or even the most annoying--hissing. Maybe it's as simple as that. I switched the type of mask I use in the last month to a nasal pillow and it is much better for me. I don't have to strap it on tightly and it's much more comfortable, leading to better rest at night. You should consider using an alternative mask and see if it helps.
From your history it appears he has narcolepsy and is on therapy. He also has obstructive sleep apnea, for which he is not using the CPAP. Sleep apnea can cause variations in heart rate. And he should try to start using the pressure ventilation. The heart rate and the arousals you mentioned are not in the normal range. Masks can give a claustrophobic feeling to certain individuals. He could start by trying them for very short periods and then increase the timing as he gets more comfortable.
Frequent awakenings are a hallmark of several disorders, including sleep apnea and narcolepsy. If you find yourself waking up with headaches, having cold sweats or feeling out of breath, apnea is a real possibility. Try sleeping on your side and if you have a stuffy nose, get some afrin to use only at night.
I have narcolepsy and had pretty much identical symptoms to yours. It's not like on TV. Best wishes. If you have further questions feel free to ask!
Again, only a sleep study can show what is going on. Narcolepsy can also indicate sleep apnea and potentially cataplexy. I waited 18 years before talking to a doctor about my paralysis and one month later, I learned I have sleep apnea. Who know what 18 years of severe sleep apnea did to my heart, brain and organs. It would be worth your time to speak with an MD. The longer that apnea goes untreated, the more damage occurs to the body.
Best of luck!
Hi, I'm new to this site, it's fantastic. I was wondering if there is anyone out there who has Narcolepsy and Obstructed Sleep Apnea?? I have both and feel like I'm the only one on the earth who is this lucky..LOL! My Neurologist calls me her Medical Phenom !. I also do not have cataplexy, but regularly experience Hypnagogic, at onset of sleep. Thanks, have a good one....
For the past 30 years (I'm 53), my doctor had been treating me for "excessive daytime sleepiness" that was so bad that it was ruining my life; after a 2 night sleep/daytime nap study at a major university, the results were still "disorder or excessive sleepiness" or "similar to sleep-attack narcolepsy, but not REM-onset". No drug other than the stimulant ritalin helped, so I took that for almost 30 years and all was well.
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