Sleep apnea

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rkt
rkt Member Posts: 793
edited February 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hi, everyone,

Have any of you been diagnosed with sleep apnea since your stage iv diagnosis?   If you have, did CPAP machine/other interventions really help you sleep better? 

I underwent night 1 of sleep study - slept better than I have in months, but obviously some issues were identified, because I have been invited back for night 2, where they will use CPAP machine. Just curious.  I guess there is a school of thought that with breast cancer (or any cancer), healing/health is improved when one is sleeping well, so they are more prone to intervene with sleep issues once identified. Even though I thought I slept good, I guess I really didn't!

Becky

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  • chainsawz
    chainsawz Member Posts: 3,473
    edited September 2011

    I've gained a ton of weight since my stage IV dx 3 yrs ago, and I think I have sleep apnea.  You have inspired me to get a sleep study.  I'm so wrapped up in my weekly chemo that I just don't acknowledge the problem, but good sleep has to be better for your body!! 

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  • dmacw
    dmacw Member Posts: 886
    edited September 2011

    My husband is on cpap and both he and I sleep much better.  T here is a 100% improvement in him.  I recommend it to anyone who has a sleep problem.  However, it took 3 weeks for him to get used to the machine.  He wears the full mask though.  Definiately could not get adjusted to the nose pads one.  ITS A GOD SEND THAT MACHINE.

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  • reesie
    reesie Member Posts: 2,078
    edited September 2011

    Sleep apnea isn't my problem - it's insomnnia. My NP prescribed Benedryl to helpme sleep but I don't think that's really helping. I wake a couple of times a night - the Benedryl helps me get back to sleep faster but I still wake (I am awake for hours if I don't take the Benedryl though).



    I just started Paxil (low dose) so maybe that will help too.



    Of course last night I didn't sleep from pain but I was wishy washy on taking percs - they give me migraines (love that healing hurts almost as bad as injury). I can't wait until my leg is healed from surgery.



    Let us know what the deal is (maybe I need a sleep study too.

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited September 2011

    My oncologist [the one on leave] highly recommended that I do a sleep study. His experience has been that many of his patients start to have sleep disorders during treatment. I chose to ignore this tidbit, but it is interesting.

    *susan* 

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  • MJLToday
    MJLToday Member Posts: 2,068
    edited September 2011

    I've thought about it, since I too have gained some weight with the mets diagnosis. I've always had a deviated septum and I know that doesn't help.

    As far as the interrupted sleep / insomnia, you might try Remeron (an anti-depressant also used for sleep issues) or melatonin.  If I'm having a hard time with falling asleep the melatonin helps me a lot. 

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  • Frapp
    Frapp Member Posts: 1,987
    edited September 2011

    I went with my 74yo mother to a memory specialist because she was having problems loosing words during conversation and a brain scan showed brain shrinkage.  They gave her some basic tests, which I also took since I was in the room, and I found that I did just as bad if not worse than she did.  They then did a sleep study on her and found that she was not getting any air for most of the night.  They have since put her on a cpap machine and a medication patch (because of the dead brain cells) and the difference is incredible.  She is no longer searching for the words she wants to use and can have a normal conversation.  I expressed my concern over not being able to do much better with the tests to the doc and was given an apt.  I then had a sleep study done (which was 3 days in my home) and was found that I was not breathing for up to 1.5 minutes at a time.  I can't hold my breath that long if I tried.  I am now in the process of getting a cpap machine.  I am awaiting approval from my insurance co.  I hope this helps because I am noticing a problem trying to remember words my self at work.  When I take 6mg of meletonin, I find that I sleep through the night, but this doesn't help with the lack of oxygen to the brain. 

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  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited September 2011

    I have been using a cpap for over a year. I use the nasal pillows but there are many designs of masks--dozens and dozens.  My oxygen had been getting really low--62%--from not breathing, many times a night.  I would have nightmares involving scenarios where I could not breathe and would wake up gasping with my heart racing and pounding. It took me a few weeks to get used to the mask and not breathing thru my mouth, but now I wouldn't be without it. Looking back on it, I think my sleep apnea started shortly after bc treatment.

    It is now believed sleep apnea is quite common. People who have mysterious deaths in their sleep are often attributed to sleep apnea. Blood oxygen levels get so low, people lose consciousness and die. Often a spouse notices the sleep apnea first--the regular breathing, then the cessation of breathing, then the startled awawkening (which the sleeper does not remember) and the gasping for air-- are hard to miss. My sleep study showed I went thru this cycle about 100 times per night. No wonder I was always tired... 

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited September 2011

    Interesting discussion.  I also have insomnia since chemo 2 years ago.  I started on melatonin and that worked great the first year.  Sometimes I take 1 benedryl at night but it dries up my nose tissues.  Last month, my doctor gave me Ambien 5mg. for sleep.  She said when we lose estrogen, we may have a hard time sleeping.  Today, I told her the Ambien was not working, so she gave me a perscription for 12.5 mg time release Ambien.  Hope that does the trick. 

    Terri

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  • annafrederik
    annafrederik Member Posts: 66
    edited September 2011

    From what my onc has told me, if you have any kind of edema, it settles in the neck while you're horizontal. I sleep much better with my head elevated or sleeping in a recliner.

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  • billiegirl
    billiegirl Member Posts: 85
    edited September 2011

    I was diagnoised with severe sleep apnea and am on a C-Pap machine at the highest setting. Have been using it for 2 years. Amazing...I am now afraid to even nap without it. Sleep better and now, no more falling asleep or feeling constantly exhaused during the days. I don't know who invented the idea...but I love mine. For many years I woke up everyday with a headache, dry mouth & sore throat. As soon as I started using the C-pap the chronic head-aches and mouth problems went away.

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  • donnabee
    donnabee Member Posts: 580
    edited September 2011

    I particiapted in a study thru Army of Women that sought to correlate sleep disturbances with women with MBC. That included a sleep study that indicated I had sleep apnea, but I attributed it to the snoring i had recently started after I had radiation to my neck.

    today Ive had a headache for the past 8 weeks. I went to the neurologist  wednesday and in trying to identify the cause of the headache, he's sending me to a sleep study to see if i actually do have sleep apnea. --donna

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  • rkt
    rkt Member Posts: 793
    edited October 2011

    Dear Donna,

    I hope that the test will help identify the source of your headache - I have learned sleep apnea can manifest itself in many different ways - a lady I work with has been dealing with heart arrhythmia and extremely high blood pressure (200/140) even on meds as she tries to get sleep apnea under control with CPAP machine.

    Becky

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  • Frapp
    Frapp Member Posts: 1,987
    edited October 2011

    Well, I got the call regarding my cpap machine and my insurance coverage.  My insurance will cover 70% for the machine so it's only $30 a month and after 6 months I own it.  Now the "hitch"...they can't tell me how much the attachments will cost until the nurse comes to my house to set this thing up and fit me.  They can't even give me a range.  MY COST for the nurse visit is $198.  When I told them I didn't have it they offered to put it on my charge card.  I told them "you don't understant, I have stage IV cancer and my charge cards are already full paying for that treatment.  Guess my cpap machine is out.

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited October 2011

    This seems to be the moment to get your hospital social worker involved. These women, well all the social workers I have met are women, are miracle workers and can get services and equipment at reduce or no charge. Worth a shot I would think. Sleep is the best healer we all have at our disposal.

    *susan* 

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  • rkt
    rkt Member Posts: 793
    edited October 2011

    Dear Frapp,

    I agree with Susan - if your oncologist's office has a social worker, talk with them - even though the CPAP machine may have been recommended by different doctor, the onc's office will still know who to contact in your area to get support.  It may be goverment office, church group, community group - they should know who in the area could help.  Talk to the doctor who recommended the CPAP also, and fill him/her in on the situation - they may be able to do what you need to have done in their office at much lower/no cost and avoid the nurse visit to your home and the associated charges.

    Becky

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  • Frapp
    Frapp Member Posts: 1,987
    edited October 2011

    Thanks all.  Good suggestions.  I don't think my onc has a social worker in the office but I think the hospital does.  I'll check on that and also check with the doc who prescribed it.  

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  • DJ64
    DJ64 Member Posts: 152
    edited October 2011

    After dosing off at the wheel of my car, I was recommended for a sleep study.  Sure enough, the tech showed me how often I woke up at night.  I had apologize for not sleeping and he told me I did, it just felt like I didn't.  That was why I was so tired.  

     I have a small throat so intubation for surgery usually done going down my nose.  Since using a cpap device I have not had any episodes of dosing off while driving.  I feel it helps me breath better with lung mets so I like my device.  Couldn't live without it.

    DJ 

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  • helenmoore
    helenmoore Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2011
    Sleep apnea usually has symptoms such as interrupted breathing while you sleep, loud snoring, chronic fatigue, headache upon waking, difficulty falling asleep,etc. If you have any of these signs I would recommend you get a sleep test done. I had mine done at the sleep center, NJ. The second time was with a C-PAP machine. Its a little difficult to get used to it, btu I've been sleeping much better now.
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  • Itsmejennifer
    Itsmejennifer Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2017

    Yes, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea a year ago but I'm sure I had it beginning shortly after I was diagnosed with MBC in 2013. I've started having dental issues too, possibly from teeth grinding. Was told by my new dentist that it is very common for sleep apnea sufferers to also grind their teeth. On to a mouth guard. Something new to deal with. :) Just happy to be here and still have my teeth.

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  • cliff
    cliff Member Posts: 290
    edited February 2017

    I was put on a cpap long before the bc, congestive heart failure. I didn't believe sleep apnea till my son stayed with me in the hospital one night, he said my breathing would slow down and stop, then I would fight a bit and it would start back up. it really helps your heart and sleeping once you get used to it, just don't watch "alien" before starting with the mask.

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