Re: Re: Sleep apnea - Brain fog - where does this fit in?

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There are some new home screening units that are being used to cut down on the expense of having a complete study which may cost $2000. But would be interested in what others have been billed or had to pay.CE Grim MDOn Jan 19, 2011, at 8:42 AM, Francis Bill SUSPECTED PA wrote:I have sleep apnea and brain fog. Not sure about PA. I have and use the CPAP. I question as to how well it helps me. Most sleep studies have you spend a least one night in a sleep lab. This is because they need to check more then just heart rate and O2.A CPAP has to be set to your needs there has to be enough air pressure to keep you air way open.To much perssure causes other problems.From the web site link to the sleep it doesn't sound like they have you stay over night. If this is the case I would question how good is this sleep lab. >> > When all the investigation to get a diagnosis for me started last October, I was > referred to a sleep apnea clinic. I had my first appointment yesterday. I was > sent home with a moniter that I wore on my finger tip to measure % oxygen > saturation and heart rate. From what I have read about hyperalderstone, not > sleeping well is part of the problem. > > > Well when I discussed the topic of sleep apnea with my GP, I had never heard of > hyperaldosteronism. I am sharing this story with others on this group as it > may help some others. And, before I share my story, I have to ask - does > anyone know if there is a connection between sleep apnea and poor adrenal > health? I am using a simple term in the last sentence, calling > hyperaldosteronism by the term poor adrenal health. > > > The whole idea about the sleep apnea clinic came about because my brother was > diagnosed with sleep apnea and he was telling me his story - snoring, poor > sleep, brain fog, heart palpitations. Bingo - that was what I was feeling. I > was just ignoring those things as minor inconveniences. But when he told me > sleep apnea could damage the heart, I went to my doctor to get a referral. At > that time my high blood pressure had not been discovered. > > > Well, I learned a lot about myself last night in the wee hours wearing this > moniter!! As I was drifting off to sleep my blood saturation was about 97% > and my pulse was 65-70. At one point in the night I woke up with a splitting > frontal headache and the blood sat indicated 91%. Pulse was increased but I > forget the number. All I know is I could feel my heart pumping quickly. > > > Another interesting thing was that when I woke up 4 hours into sleep and > needed to go to the bathroom, my pulse was 103. I forget %oxygen. About 1/2 > hr later, when I was drifting back to sleep, the heart rate was 65 > pulses/minute.> > I woke up feeling lousy terrible headache, a little dizzy and feeling hunger > pangs (not normal). Pulse was 89 and oxygen saturation was about 95. While > still laying in bed, I tried some deep breathing (ie - relaxation - something I > am not good at). I still had the moniter on my finger so was able to watch > the oxygen saturation percentage increased to 97% and the pulse decrease back > into better levels, 65-70. > > > Funny thing too, when the cat jumped on me about 10 a.m. to remind me to "get > up and feed me", I felt irritated, I just wanted to stay in bed!!! I watched > my pulse rate go up on the moniter from 65 to 90. Proof was seen on the > moniter that negative emotions raise our pulse. Since I have a real interest > in research, I would like to wear that moniter all day, but I can't, the sleep > apnea clinic wants me to wear it at night - when I am supposed to be sleeping. > > > I am also observing that I am feeling worse - sleeping much worse since I went > off my Atenolol (beta blocker). I have been off it about 9 days, and am > beginning to feel the heart palpitations in the night. I am off the beta > blockers in prep for lab-work for aldosterone-renin. I had been taking my > morning pulse when I started the Atenolol and during the three weeks that I was > on it, I was sleeping better - no racing heart in the night, my pulse was about > 63-65 while I was laying calmly in bed upon waking, and best of all I wasn't > waking up with a headache. So, I am starting to see the effects of being off > the beta blockers - not sleeping well again, waking up with a nasty headache, > muscle weakness and brain fog. It is actually a good thing that I have been > off the beta-blockers for this sleep apnea testing. My sleep patterns are > returning to how they were before I was put on atenolol. By that I mean a > sleep pattern of tossing and turning, heart racing, getting up to pee, etc. > > > Speaking of brain fog, I combined some of the files about brain fog into a one > page document to show to my husband and to take to the sleep clinic. I have > attached it here. The brain fog is the main reason I have not been able to > work. I am using Linux operating system on my computer so I hope the > attachment opens. See attachment - What is Brain Fog.odt. I just quoted and > combined the individual stories from this groups files on brain fog onto a one > page document. I thought the stories really captured "brain fog". Dr. Grimm is > there a medical term for what we are calling "brain fog"?> > Oh what a journey. But when I set my aches and pains aside, I would have to say > that from a purely clinical point of view, I am learning a lot and will be a > better dietitian. I also think my GP will become more aware of > hyperaldosteronism. I am taking her copies of information I have printed from > our support group. It is the endocrinologist that is investigating for PA, and > I need my GP to know about it in case I am given a positive diagnosis for PA. > She will need to follow me and she will need to know about PA. > > > I just hope that it is PA is my diagnosis. I hear from you all that it can be > controlled with Spirolactone, DASH diet, relaxation techniques, exercise. If > it isn't PA, I don't know what I have!!!!??? It is almost good that HT was > diagnosed because before that all my complaints about how lousy I felt and vague > symptoms weren't pointing to anything conclusive. Since I haven't gone for > serum or urinary aldosterone tests yet I have no idea what I really do have. > But, the stories of others on this site so parallels my experience that I would > be shocked if it isn't aldosteronism whether it is primary or secondary. > > > Oh by the way........ the counsellor at the sleep clinic was very understanding > - she said that she knew people "can not get there life together" - ie - eating > well and exercising, dealing with everyday stressors - if they feel terrible > from night after night of poor sleep. She indicated that if the moniter shows I > have poor oxygen saturation during my "sleeping" hours that I will be sent home > with a mouth piece which movers my lower jaw forward to open the airway while > sleeping. Or, if the apnea is severe I will be asked to buy a oxygen/humidity > machine which involves wearing a breathing mask during bed hours.> > So, if there is a connection - does hyperaldosteronism cause sleep apnea - or is > it the other way around? Does my story fit in to all this?> > By the way the sleep clinic is based out of Vancouver, BC, Canada and is called > the Dr. Halstrom Sleep Apnea and Snoring Clinic. www.drhalstrom.com. They have > just set up a clinic hear in , BC. The clinic has a nurse counsellor, > respiratory technician, referral to a dietitian to help with the weight gain as > a result of poor sleep. > > > Elaine> "I just want to get my mojo back"> elainecobblehill@... or mojo1154@...>

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So you can see why we are tying to get cheaper home screening methods.CE Grim MDOn Jan 19, 2011, at 8:38 PM, Francis Bill SUSPECTED PA wrote:My study was done at Dartmouth Medical Center. It was paid for by the VA. I was sent a bill the cost for one night was $2600.> > >> > >> > > When all the investigation to get a diagnosis for me started last > > October, I was> > > referred to a sleep apnea clinic. I had my first appointment > > yesterday. I was> > > sent home with a moniter that I wore on my finger tip to measure % > > oxygen> > > saturation and heart rate. From what I have read about > > hyperalderstone, not> > > sleeping well is part of the problem.> > >> > >> > > Well when I discussed the topic of sleep apnea with my GP, I had > > never heard of> > > hyperaldosteronism. I am sharing this story with others on this > > group as it> > > may help some others. And, before I share my story, I have to ask > > - does> > > anyone know if there is a connection between sleep apnea and poor > > adrenal> > > health? I am using a simple term in the last sentence, calling> > > hyperaldosteronism by the term poor adrenal health.> > >> > >> > > The whole idea about the sleep apnea clinic came about because my > > brother was> > > diagnosed with sleep apnea and he was telling me his story - > > snoring, poor> > > sleep, brain fog, heart palpitations. Bingo - that was what I was > > feeling. I> > > was just ignoring those things as minor inconveniences. But when > > he told me> > > sleep apnea could damage the heart, I went to my doctor to get a > > referral. At> > > that time my high blood pressure had not been discovered.> > >> > >> > > Well, I learned a lot about myself last night in the wee hours > > wearing this> > > moniter!! As I was drifting off to sleep my blood saturation was > > about 97%> > > and my pulse was 65-70. At one point in the night I woke up with a > > splitting> > > frontal headache and the blood sat indicated 91%. Pulse was > > increased but I> > > forget the number. All I know is I could feel my heart pumping > > quickly.> > >> > >> > > Another interesting thing was that when I woke up 4 hours into > > sleep and> > > needed to go to the bathroom, my pulse was 103. I forget %oxygen. > > About 1/2> > > hr later, when I was drifting back to sleep, the heart rate was 65> > > pulses/minute.> > >> > > I woke up feeling lousy terrible headache, a little dizzy and > > feeling hunger> > > pangs (not normal). Pulse was 89 and oxygen saturation was about > > 95. While> > > still laying in bed, I tried some deep breathing (ie - relaxation > > - something I> > > am not good at). I still had the moniter on my finger so was able > > to watch> > > the oxygen saturation percentage increased to 97% and the pulse > > decrease back> > > into better levels, 65-70.> > >> > >> > > Funny thing too, when the cat jumped on me about 10 a.m. to remind > > me to "get> > > up and feed me", I felt irritated, I just wanted to stay in bed!!! > > I watched> > > my pulse rate go up on the moniter from 65 to 90. Proof was seen > > on the> > > moniter that negative emotions raise our pulse. Since I have a > > real interest> > > in research, I would like to wear that moniter all day, but I > > can't, the sleep> > > apnea clinic wants me to wear it at night - when I am supposed to > > be sleeping.> > >> > >> > > I am also observing that I am feeling worse - sleeping much worse > > since I went> > > off my Atenolol (beta blocker). I have been off it about 9 days, > > and am> > > beginning to feel the heart palpitations in the night. I am off > > the beta> > > blockers in prep for lab-work for aldosterone-renin. I had been > > taking my> > > morning pulse when I started the Atenolol and during the three > > weeks that I was> > > on it, I was sleeping better - no racing heart in the night, my > > pulse was about> > > 63-65 while I was laying calmly in bed upon waking, and best of > > all I wasn't> > > waking up with a headache. So, I am starting to see the effects of > > being off> > > the beta blockers - not sleeping well again, waking up with a > > nasty headache,> > > muscle weakness and brain fog. It is actually a good thing that I > > have been> > > off the beta-blockers for this sleep apnea testing. My sleep > > patterns are> > > returning to how they were before I was put on atenolol. By that I > > mean a> > > sleep pattern of tossing and turning, heart racing, getting up to > > pee, etc.> > >> > >> > > Speaking of brain fog, I combined some of the files about brain > > fog into a one> > > page document to show to my husband and to take to the sleep > > clinic. I have> > > attached it here. The brain fog is the main reason I have not been > > able to> > > work. I am using Linux operating system on my computer so I hope the> > > attachment opens. See attachment - What is Brain Fog.odt. I just > > quoted and> > > combined the individual stories from this groups files on brain > > fog onto a one> > > page document. I thought the stories really captured "brain fog". > > Dr. Grimm is> > > there a medical term for what we are calling "brain fog"?> > >> > > Oh what a journey. But when I set my aches and pains aside, I > > would have to say> > > that from a purely clinical point of view, I am learning a lot and > > will be a> > > better dietitian. I also think my GP will become more aware of> > > hyperaldosteronism. I am taking her copies of information I have > > printed from> > > our support group. It is the endocrinologist that is investigating > > for PA, and> > > I need my GP to know about it in case I am given a positive > > diagnosis for PA.> > > She will need to follow me and she will need to know about PA.> > >> > >> > > I just hope that it is PA is my diagnosis. I hear from you all > > that it can be> > > controlled with Spirolactone, DASH diet, relaxation techniques, > > exercise. If> > > it isn't PA, I don't know what I have!!!!??? It is almost good > > that HT was> > > diagnosed because before that all my complaints about how lousy I > > felt and vague> > > symptoms weren't pointing to anything conclusive. Since I haven't > > gone for> > > serum or urinary aldosterone tests yet I have no idea what I > > really do have.> > > But, the stories of others on this site so parallels my experience > > that I would> > > be shocked if it isn't aldosteronism whether it is primary or > > secondary.> > >> > >> > > Oh by the way........ the counsellor at the sleep clinic was very > > understanding> > > - she said that she knew people "can not get there life together" > > - ie - eating> > > well and exercising, dealing with everyday stressors - if they > > feel terrible> > > from night after night of poor sleep. She indicated that if the > > moniter shows I> > > have poor oxygen saturation during my "sleeping" hours that I will > > be sent home> > > with a mouth piece which movers my lower jaw forward to open the > > airway while> > > sleeping. Or, if the apnea is severe I will be asked to buy a > > oxygen/humidity> > > machine which involves wearing a breathing mask during bed hours.> > >> > > So, if there is a connection - does hyperaldosteronism cause sleep > > apnea - or is> > > it the other way around? Does my story fit in to all this?> > >> > > By the way the sleep clinic is based out of Vancouver, BC, Canada > > and is called> > > the Dr. Halstrom Sleep Apnea and Snoring Clinic. > > www.drhalstrom.com. They have> > > just set up a clinic hear in , BC. The clinic has a nurse > > counsellor,> > > respiratory technician, referral to a dietitian to help with the > > weight gain as> > > a result of poor sleep.> > >> > >> > > Elaine> > > "I just want to get my mojo back"> > > elainecobblehill@ or mojo1154@> > >> >> >> >>