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I took my sister to my sleep specialist yesterday as she has had depression, CFS and FM all her life. He thinks she may have SA or possible one of the other sleep disorders. Her symptoms are oversleeping and tireness all the time, aches and pains all over, he said she has a thick neck, is overweight, large tongue and one blocked nostril, a lot of the typical conditions. She is doing a home sleep study next week and gets her results on 30th November, she can't wait and hopes this could be an answer to her other illness's.
My sleep specialist looked at me and said 'Hereditary, the gift that keeps giving'.
After the consultation, we sat down and had a coffee and I explained what SA was, how it was caused, the treatment etc, she was grateful and my brother in law said I may have just help another person, my sister this time and that he was proud of me.
I feel funny because all my life we have never really been close, I only saw her at Christmas when I had too, many times I thought she was just saying she had things wrong with her to get out of things. Hopefully this will bring us closer, it's funny how these illness's can change us and our relationships.
I have told her if she is diagnosed with SA and needs a CPAP, I'll go with her to get the right machine, mask etc. At least she will have someone that understands and can give her the help and support we all need at the start. I also spoke to her about an exercise regime that I have done and continue to do and she seems receptive but one step at a time.
In some way I hope she is diagnosed with SA because I know I can then help her.

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wow so glad that you have possibly recognised symptoms and gone with your sister to get help in finding out if SA is the cause 

She is lucky to have your support and knowledge 

Your brother in law is right be proud for stepping up to the mark to help someone else 

Keep us posted on how things go with her

P.s my hubby was on hundreds of diets and exercise was impossible prior to cpap as he didnt have the energy however since treating his aponea he has lost 3 stone

Thanks Carol, I was very much the same way as your husband, sorry the opposite, lost so much weight due to lack of sleep but have now put it back on and are slightly above my idea weight but feel great.

Sounds very much like your sister will get diagnosed Terry, but if you lead her onto this forum we may have to delete some of the posts, as she might not like you telling us you've not been close  Let us know how it goes (as if you wouldn't lol).

Thanks Kath, I was thinking about her getting on here and reading this, I think we would both admit we have never been really close, there is a 6 year age difference. I will let everyone know as soon as I do. I'm not 100% on the home sleep study, but it comes down to cost in Australia a normal sleep study is about $1000 (two thousand pound), a home sleep study is $100 (two hundred pound) and they don't have insurance. Will see how it goes, if she is diagnosed she will have to have the proper one for pressure setting etc. I have a really good friend on DS and she is more excited than me and my sister, I have told you about her before.

Just an quick update, my sister did her home sleep study last Wednesday and said it took 1.5 hours to put all the wires on but felt like she slept all night. She gets the results on the 30th November, not sure who is more excited me or her.

Just an update, my sister has been diagnosed with mild/moderate SA and periodic limb movement disorder, I have both but my SA is servere. Her figures are 7 non REM and 12 during REM and her oxygen desat was 89%. We are going to get her Resmed Auto, the same as mine, tomorrow and her new life begins. She has had depression pretty much all her life and fibro and all the anti depressants havent worked, wonder why. I rang our specialist this morning because she didnt understand what he was talking about and now I know I can help her. She is positive about it which is a really good start and I'm positive we will see results like mine. I've told her this is a life style change and if she works at it she can get her life back like most of us have, thanks for listening. 

I was going to ask last night if there was any news Terry, but it was a bit late so I sensibly went to be

Pleased to hear your sister got diagnosed and is hopefully now on the way to better health, and just a shame she hadn't been diagnosed before now.  The discussion I posted the other day sums this up http://hope2sleepguide.co.uk/forum/topics/anxiety-depression-psychi... where Dr Park's says that sleep disorders should be considered before dishing out anti-depressants!

The good thing is that you know all the pitfalls when first starting out on CPAP, so will be an amazing support for your sister.  Let us know how she gets on.

Thanks Kath, I will let you know and hopefully she will join soon and post something herself. I cant believe here in Australia and around the world so many people still dont get the 'after sales service' they require. You do a fantasic job and not sure if I would have continued with out yours and other sites support. That's why I treat the helping and supporting others as my second job, thanks again.

That's good to know I remember telling you in the early days that you would end up being an 'expert' and start helping others.  Support is one of the most important keys to success, which is why I started the forum.  Wish Hope2SleepGuide was there when I first started out

My sister has had her CPAP for nearly two weeks now and the first 10 days were shockers, she changed her mask numerous times mainly because of soreness on the bridge of the nose. She finally decided to try nasal pillows (which I have never liked) and she loves them. Her AHI results over the last 3 night have been between 0.8 and 2. She is doing better than me lol. I'm so happy, this is the best Christmas present I could get and it's free, well sort of. She goes to see her first data results on Friday and has asked me to go with her. It proves if people want to do it they can. Below is an Email she sent me this morning.

Terry, my AHI was 0.8 today. I think my neck is just the usual pain but it's always hard to tell. I'm feeling a bit better today anyway Kris

Great news Terry - no wonder you're happy I always say, the mask is the most important part of any successful treatment, and as usual, what suits one doesn't always suit another - even brother and sister lol.

Just an update, I saw my sister Christmas day and she looked fantastic, she used to have to have a 1-2 hour nap each day and now she has 15 mins and I trying to get her to stop that. I'll trying to get her on an exercise regime but she still struggles with her Fibro and CFS but she will get there, I know it. I had tears in my eye all of Christmas day seeing how good she looked. She said she will continue on and I have offered to buy her machine for her as she doesnt have any insurance as long as she keeps going which I'm sure she will.

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