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Permalink Reply by Mike Smith on December 29, 2012 at 17:00

Just adding to this intro I had a 5 min minute laser op in Harley street 10 years ago to correct my S-shaped septum, which had been shaped by various fists in my punky youth, it cost me £1500 and I may as well have thrown it all up in the air for all to grab considering the good that it did me.

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on December 29, 2012 at 20:20

Welcome to the forum Mike, and glad to hear you're going to visit your GP.  Really hope he listens to you, as that's often the stumbling block so don't take no for an answer, as it certainly sounds like you are a sufferer of sleep apnoea.  There was a study released just this month about insomnia and sleep apnoea, which I posted on the forum here hope2sleepguide.co.uk/forum/topics/insomnia-sleep-apnoea?

Regarding the depression, that's a massive link too, and I wrote a blog on this very subject which you can find here http://www.sleepapnoeablog.com/the-link-between-sleep-apnoea-depres...

I've just noticed your other post too Mike, and unfortunately surgery doesn't normally cure sleep apnoea, so such a shame you had to fork out all that money.  I've had a septum operation myself, plus one on my turbinates, and neither cured me (although I never expected it too so wasn't disappointed).  However, it has made using CPAP much more comfortable.

Good luck with the GP and let us know how you get on.

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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on December 29, 2012 at 22:00

Wwelcome Mike, Kath is right in everything she says, I would be getting an refferal to a sleep specialist urgently.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Smith on December 30, 2012 at 19:44

Hi Kath & Terry, thanks for your concerned replies, it really makes an enormous difference to understanding my condition when we meet fellow sufferers and it helps me to focus and clarify my complaint, giving me confidence that an answer lies just around the corner.

Although my insomnia/headaches have been greatly reduced by taking Magnesium/B6 capsules daily and wearing a silk blackout mask, my listlessness/apathy/lack of concentration tells me that Im seriously sleep deprived and having watched a number of sufferers on Youtube with my wife, shes says that is exactly like me, so I know I have SA. Thanks again and I keep you updated. Mike

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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on December 30, 2012 at 21:18

 Mike, the Magnesium will help the insomnia but you have to fix the underlaying cause which sounds like SA, headaches are another symptom because you are not getting the oxygen you require to your brain, please look into this ASAP, you wont believe how much better you feel, happy new year from Australia. 

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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on December 31, 2012 at 4:59

Mike, just copied this from a reliable source that I get daily Emails from thought it maybe relevant to you especially the last one.

 

There are four major classes of headache that can variably interact with sleep. Some may occur exclusively at night and others, such as migraine, may actually be relieved by sleep. In addition, morning headaches may suggest an underlying sleep disorder such as sleep apnea.

Migraine Headaches

Migraine is an intense and often debilitating headache disorder. It may be associated with visual changes such as seeing bright lights or stars, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes even numbness or weakness. Getting either too little or too much sleep may provoke a migraine headache. One sub-type, called nocturnal migraine, occurs during REM sleep. Sleep can often be helpful for relieving the symptoms of migraine, and afflicted individuals will often find comfort in lying in a dark, quiet room until they have recovered. The relationship between migraine and sleep seems to be due to the neurotransmitter called serotonin.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches frequently afflict males and may occur in multiples over a short period of time. The headache can be quite intense and may localize around the eye or temple. Cluster headaches can occur predominately or even exclusively at night. In this case, they often arise from REM sleep.

Hypnic Headaches

In what is a rare disorder, hypnic headaches occur recurrently and typically affect the elderly. These moderately severe headaches are diffuse in character and occur almost exclusively during sleep. They tend to occur at the same time each night and last from 30 minutes up to two hours. Hypnic headaches may respond to medications such as lithium and indomethacin.

Morning Headaches

Morning headaches may result from various causes. They typically occur upon awakening, but may even wake someone from sleep. They tend to be diffuse and dull in quality. Thankfully, they are short lived and often resolve upon getting up. Morning headaches commonly occur in association with sleep apnea, with 36-58% of people with sleep apnea reporting them. The exact cause of this is not known, but it may relate to changes in the oxygen or carbon dioxide levels in the blood. The frequency of apneas or the number of nighttime arousals may also correlate. In general, these will resolve with treatment such as CPAP therapy. Other causes of sleep disruption may also lead to morning headaches, including: restless legs syndrome, insomnia, chronic pain, and even depression or anxiety.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Smith on January 2, 2013 at 16:25

My goodness Terry that really is me. I really appreciate the effort in sending this information and I eagerly anticipate my doctors appointment.

Many many thanks

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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on January 2, 2013 at 20:24

Mike, no worries, just make your appointment as soon as possible, headaches are a symptom, the bigger problem is the more problems this illness can cause like heat attack, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetics, depression, etc Onviously if we are not getting enough oxygen in our blood and vital organs like our hearts and brains, you can see how these illness's occur. Good luck and keep us updated.

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Permalink Reply by snoreyhead on January 9, 2013 at 16:51

Do push for your doctor to make an urgent appointment for you to see someone who will more than likely start by giving you a home sleep study if you are in the UK.You will find that a CPAP machine will help with your symptoms.

I have also had my turbinates operated on but it had no impact in assisting my breathing.

Trust all goes well for you and look forward to hearing a positive outcome for you.

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Permalink Reply by symmit on January 12, 2013 at 8:52

Mike if your doctor is slow you can always pay for a private test and a cpap trial if needed, i see from your post you are not averse to private treatment and it will cost under a thousand pounds when you buy your own equipment. That was the route i chose, from suspect i have sleep apnoea, to having a machine of my own took a week, and i have never looked back in regret.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Smith on January 12, 2013 at 9:00

Hi Snoreyhead and Symmit I have had my first meet with my beautiful Greek doctor who has referred me to a specialist  I need to go through the process and be patient, I know I have had this problem for many years so I don't mind waiting a little longer for the remedy. I guess if it becomes a long drawn out process I will go down the private route Symmit. My daughter complained that I sometimes keep her awake at night with my snoring, so everyone in the house is behind me in finding a solution.

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Permalink Reply by snoreyhead on January 12, 2013 at 9:38

An advantage Mike of going through the NHS (as I see you are in the UK)  is that you are issued with a mask and machine free of charge and it is maintained free of charge too. Maybe if there is an initial delay in seeing a sleep specialist a private consultation would speed up the process but ask for the equipment to be supplied via the NHS, which you will be entitled to do. As in my case if I had bought a CPAP machine it would have been a waste of money as I have now had to change to an AVS (Ventilator) machine. You could also request your Doctor to contact the sleep specialist again requesting an urgent appointment. Trust you get sorted soon, you will feel so much better.

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