Habs Passing - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Duke41 · 09-27-2007, 07:30 AM

The manner in which Habs passed in his sleep makes me think that he may have suffered from Sleep Apnea. This is a dangerous affliction but can be dealt with. I discovered that I suffer from Sleep Apnea when I explained to a co worker what was happening to me and he recommended that I see my doctor and sure enough I had it.

The systems are lack of sleep, waking up gasping for breath, foggy mind during the day, falling asleep at any given time...I fell asleep at a stop light. Dreading going to bed at night. If you have any of these systems call your doctor today.

What happens is once you fall asleep the muscles that hold your airway open collapse and your airway becomes blocked, you are now not breathing and your heart is pounding away. Your body wakes up enough to clear the airway, then back to sleep you go and the cycle repeats it self up to 300 times per night. You never get any REM sleep so your battery never gets recharged. Thus all the daytime issues.

When you see the doctor he will recommend a sleep study and you will spend the night in a hospital wired up like a monkey, they will make an assessment after a few hours then if you have it you will go on to step 2

Step 2 is fitting you with a mask that will allow a steady stream of pressurized air to be blown into you nose, mouth or both.
The air will keep the passage way open and you will wake up the next morning feeling like a 10 year old that just drank a pot of coffee on Christmas morning. Talk about recharged!! A sleep tech will come to your home and set you up with a BiPaP machine they are small and quite, the machine will blow the air into you passage way through your nose or mouth.

I hope that any of you that read this and have the symptoms I mentioned take action on it, you life may depend on it. I am always available to discuss this issue. PM me you phone number and the best time to call. You can also check out this website www.SleepApnea.org

I never met Habs, after reading all you posts I wish I had. He was very special to many of you and that says a lot about the man. I have a Habs plug, I think I will just put it away for now if you know what I mean. Tight lines.

JohnR · 09-27-2007, 07:54 AM

I'm a barely moderate case - a 9 on CPAP (a little less involved than a BiPAP). I do sleep a lot better now on my mask and my wife does to as I no longer snore and I no longer scare the daylights out of her when I stop breathing.

As a lot of us fish night time and severely interrupt schedules as it is, we may be more predisposed to Sleep Apnea than the next guy...

BigFish · 09-27-2007, 08:20 AM

Angie says I stop breathing (I guess I hold my breath?) and she often has to give me a nudge.....is this sleep apnea and should I be concerned??

Duke41 · 09-27-2007, 08:41 AM

absolutely call you doctor today! That sounds like it. How have you been sleeping overall?

BigFish · 09-27-2007, 08:50 AM

I sleep ok......good for about 5 hours! No problems.

MAC · 09-27-2007, 09:54 AM

I did a sleep study in 03. They said I had sleep apnea. Tried the CPAP machine and couldn't sleep with it. (plus I didn't want to me anchored to a machine for the rest of my life)

Next step was in the hospital for some cutting. They removed my tonsils, fixed a deviated septum, cut my palette and electrocuted the back of my tongue. (to shrink it) The discomfort was worth it.

I no longer have sleep apnea and sleep better than I have in years.

MAC · 09-27-2007, 09:58 AM

Larry, I'd go see a doc if I were you. Chances are you aren't holding your breath. Your airway is being closed off so your body is struggling for oxygen. Have you ever snored so loudly you woke yourself up?

Sleep apnea is nothing to fool around with. Definately not something to think will just go away. It can kill you.

TheSpecialist · 09-27-2007, 10:01 AM

I have a mild case of it, had the deviated septum fixed. Tried to sleep with the mask and could'nt, too claustrophobic.

John and I went bird hunting shortly after my septoplasty. We talked alittle bit about the whole thing. I told him I had trouble with the mask and could'nt sleep with it. He told me he had trained himself to breathe deeply through his nose while he was sleeping. Does anyone know for sure this was his cause of death?

The Dad Fisherman · 09-27-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC

I did a sleep study in 03. They said I had sleep apnea. Tried the CPAP machine and couldn't sleep with it. (plus I didn't want to me anchored to a machine for the rest of my life)

Next step was in the hospital for some cutting. They removed my tonsils, fixed a deviated septum, cut my palette and electrocuted the back of my tongue. (to shrink it) The discomfort was worth it.

I no longer have sleep apnea and sleep better than I have in years.

I'm pretty sure I have a bit of it but I know I can't do the machine thing.....I would not be able to sleep with that on my face. What was the surgery like for it....and recovery time.

I have already had my tonsils out and I don't have a deviated septum

Duke41 · 09-27-2007, 10:08 AM

give the mask a chance they have little nasal pillows now that are so small you hardly can feel them.

MAC · 09-27-2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

I'm pretty sure I have a bit of it but I know I can't do the machine thing.....I would not be able to sleep with that on my face. What was the surgery like for it....and recovery time.

I have already had my tonsils out and I don't have a deviated septum

It's hard to say. I don't think they will do anything without the sleep study though. When I did mine it was the day before plugfest in Middleboro and I was there. Uncomfortable, but there.

If it is only electrocuting your tongue, you would probably be in and out same appointment.

zacs · 09-27-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

Does anyone know for sure this was his cause of death?

No. I was told yesterday at the service that he had a massive heart attack.

TheSpecialist · 09-27-2007, 10:21 AM

Thank you.

Clueless · 09-27-2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zacs

No. I was told yesterday at the service that he had a massive heart attack.

In general, sleep apnea can put huge stresses on the heart and cause a heart attack. We lost an extended family member to exactly this a little over a year ago. Of course, I'd have no idea if this was the case in Habs passing.

JohnR · 09-27-2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zacs

No. I was told yesterday at the service that he had a massive heart attack.

I don't think John's passing was at all a result of apnea and as Zac said, it was a heart attack. But also like mentioned above, sleep apnea can be a major cause of heart troubles...

For a while I would not sleep on my back but on my side because I was less likely to have sleep episodes on my side (according to the wife) but with the mask I can sleep well on my back which is WAY BETTER for my back... The white noise helps too.

Larry - make an appointment with your doctor

macojoe · 09-27-2007, 06:35 PM

I only sleep 3 hours at a wack! every 3 hours I am awake pee drink go back to sleep and start all over again, and i need a nap in the afternoon.

Duke41 · 09-27-2007, 07:03 PM

Mako that is defintaly a sign of sleep apnea call you dr tommorow. You are going have a brand new life buddy. no more of this all day

Squid kids Dad · 09-27-2007, 08:48 PM

I too have have sleep apnea..Diagnosed maybe 8 years ago...Sleep study was done at my house..They determined I stopped breathing over 100 times per night....Gave me a machine to wear, mask..I beleive my # is a 10....Best thing I ever did..Takes a while to get used to but well worth it..Now I cant sleep with out it..
Before I was always tired during the day..Needed to pull over and take a nap..

zimmy · 09-28-2007, 09:01 AM

macojoe- could also be prostate issue if the waking is due to needing to go. Also something to get checked and treated.

mrmacey · 09-28-2007, 10:34 AM

I lost 115 lbs and sleep apneia gone!

Duke41 · 09-28-2007, 11:13 AM

Macy you r the man!!!

Finaddict · 09-28-2007, 11:27 AM

Was tested for sleep apnea ... discovered I stopped breating 240 times per night plus 78 partial blocks. Gave me the mask and machine.

That said, I could not sleep with the mask, would always wake up in the middle of the night and freaked out as if I was suffocating - this is with the mask on - I'd pull it off then go back to sleep. Then tried it again, but the mask wound up not fitting properly, tried to go back to the medical outfit that set me up and the representative that I worked with kept blowing me off. Not helpful at all and she was a you know what.

So I stopped using it about three or four years ago and just do what I can. Still snore, but don't want to be tied down.

Will consider the surgery option, but not ready for that yet, but will seek it within the next year or so.

Mike P · 09-28-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimmy

macojoe- could also be prostate issue if the waking is due to needing to go. Also something to get checked and treated.

That and type 2 diabetes. Frequent urination is a symptom, especially when accompanied by a constant dry throat/thirst.

Most men experience some prostate enlargement when they get into their 50s. Usually benigh prostate enlargement (BPH).

eelman · 09-28-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike P

That and type 2 diabetes. Frequent urination is a symptom, especially when accompanied by a constant dry throat/thirst.

Most men experience some prostate enlargement when they get into their 50s. Usually benigh prostate enlargement (BPH).

I have Type 2 Diabetes, those are indeed the symptoms, I went to the doctor because of the constant thirst..Much better now with meds..I had no idea I had it..

redfin · 09-28-2007, 02:11 PM

I was diagnosed back in '98, averaged 97 stoppages of breath per hour. Doctor told me it was the worst case he'd seen in his career. I tried the bipap, what a PITA! The mask would cock if I moved my head too much, blowing air into one of my eyes, the maintenance of the machine was a headache(constantly sterilizing the H20 reservoir)
and I hated being tied to the damn thing so I deal with the dozing in meetings, movies, traffic lights, etc. I'm going to have the surgery...one of these days.

macojoe · 09-28-2007, 04:26 PM

I have had type II Diabeties for 18 years and I am insulin dependent. Sugars have been ok for a while, That might have to do with going, But i just don't get enough sleep?

I am going to follow Mr. M soon maybe I have to get some 130 pounds off!

Duke41 · 09-28-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redfin

I was diagnosed back in '98, averaged 97 stoppages of breath per hour. Doctor told me it was the worst case he'd seen in his career. I tried the bipap, what a PITA! The mask would cock if I moved my head too much, blowing air into one of my eyes, the maintenance of the machine was a headache(constantly sterilizing the H20 reservoir)
and I hated being tied to the damn thing so I deal with the dozing in meetings, movies, traffic lights, etc. I'm going to have the surgery...one of these days.

Mr. You are playing with fire. Find a new company and get a bipap with swift nasal pillows. Before you end of hurt or worse.

spinncognito · 09-29-2007, 10:57 AM

I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea when I was 30 (ten years ago). Did the whole C-PAP machine thing but could not deal so opted for surgery. Got a complete Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty- otherwise known as a UPPP. Despite the painful recovery it was worth it as I do sleep better and snore less. Plus, I love telling people that I have no uvula (the dangly thing in the back of your throat). Amazing how many people think a uvula is a female body part!

Seriously, do not take apnea lightly and like Mr. Macey said, weight loss can fix the problem without the surgery or the machine.