British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Hello guys

Sorry I've been absent these last few weeks, it's been a rough old time.

I had a cold swiftly followed by a chest infection which I only seem to be recovering from now. Still feeling very tired despite my APAP readings looking spot on. Given up on the stupid humidifyer though - every time I turned in my sleep the unit tipped over and emptied water into my tube making a horrific noise!

I had my medical for ESA last week and they have decided (despite my consultant letter saying I'm not fit for work, and that my GP has signed me off) that I am fit for work! The medical is rubbish, they have set questions to ask and can't take in to account any additional information. Daytime sleepiness, no matter how severe, doesn't count! Idiots. Why on earth they're hounding sick people in this way instead of targeting those who decide they're just going to get pregnant and get a council house is beyond me!

Also, I saw an ENT specialist the day before yesterday. Apparently (and shockingly) all is fine with my ENT area apart from a narrow throat and enlarged turbinates. I have now got a steroid inhaler which is supposed to help.

Also, the last week I've been getting dreadful migraines and I can't figure out why. The first evening I thought it was a combination of warm weather and perhaps not drinking enough but having upped my fluid intake and still getting the same migraine every evening I am at a loss. Any ideas anyone??

I'm trying to stay positive but still no real improvement so I'm getting quite down about it all now. I'm recieving the right treatment so why arent I getting any better??

So, thats all my news. If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to throw them in.

Hey Jippity, I am really sorry to hear you are not so good. I haven't any answers or solutions but just wanted to say, hope you are better soon and try to keep smiling

Thanks Mags, the same to you

Nope NM, couldn't possibly be that! The nearest I get to baby-making these days is watching the discovery channel!

JPT



Now for a serious post!!

I had the same problem, i would say the humiderflier is an important part of the process. (NM still cant spell humiderflier)

Dryness for the CPAP in your case APAP will cause dry throats etc.

My machine is strapped to a small stool to stop me puling it around the room. I have on several occassions thrown the machine round the bedroom and it is still in repair at my local hospital.

Sorry to hear you have not been well hope you get better soon

Pat

Hiya Pat, my APAP is pretty heavy so that doesnt go anywhere but the humidifyer is this one



and has to be on the floor so that the water doesnt tip in to the APAP. I'm saving for an attached one.

If it were doing more good than harm I'd stick with it but my nights with humidifyer attached I am so much more tired the next day than when its not!

Can migraine headaches make someone permanently blind? I suffer regularly from migraine headaches with aura (I go blind for about twenty minutes and then my vision returns when the headache starts..) I've just been googling migraine on the intenret and have read that it can make someone permenantly blind, and can increase the risk of strokes and coma. Is this true? I'm panicking now because I suffer from migraines at least twice a week.

Kingana, you could run your question past this organisation.

http://www.migrainetrust.org/

Nobody but a doctor should answer such a question and certainly not on a general Sleep Apnoea forum. I think you've come to the wrong place here, but hope you will get the information and reassurance you so desperately need.

kingana, that sounds serious, get yourself along to your GP.

Hi Jippity! Glad to see you posting but sorry that you are feeling so rubbish. Keep pushing your GP for answers and stay in touch with us. I hope that this will be a passing phase - even though it seems to be lasting for longer than you would wish. Have you considered contacting The Migraine Trust about your poor head? I just hope things get better soon xxx

OH! Sorry, WELCOME back Jippity

Hi Jippity,
I know just how you feel. Was accepted for ESA in January this year, then in June after a very extensive and thorough medical examination carried out by ATOS for the DWP (the meeting took about 10 minutes at the most and the so called doctor was more interested on what was on her monitor!) I was found fit for work.

This doctor must be really very good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My own GP, my psychiatric nurse, my psychologist and my rep at the local Welfare Rights all think that due to my mental health condition, I am not fit for work.

I guess that's the problem, it's easy to see psychical ailments, not mental health issues and especially nothing related to sleep problems.
People just say, go to bed earlier, get up at a reasonable time etc.etc.etc
And then, when I'm asked, "Did you sleep well?"
My answer is, I can sleep for anything from 8 to 13 hours a night and wake up feeling more tired than when I went to bed. And that's using my CPAP all night!

All the best Jiggly, hope things work out for you.

ps. at least you manage to watch the discovery channel, my package doesn't go there.
pps. Asia's my cat!