Sleep Apnea

[Scarlett]

I have had this for ages but just got my diagnosis. I am hypermobile and believe the two to be linked. My ENT said he had never seen anyone able to move their soft palate at will like I can...! Anyway, it's pretty bad- can't sleep, tired all day, have NO short term memory at all, wake up as soon as i fall asleep. Everything is suffering. As my results were so bad (65 episodes per hour) they are going to try and get me a CPAP asap, although my sleep test was in September, so it's taken 5 months to even see anyone. Has anyone here had sleep apnea, and what did you do to help solve it?

[goodgoalie]

Someone very close to me suffers from this, and has been helped immensely by a CPAP machine. Worth checking out, I'm sure:
https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-osa/cpap-machines

[Scarlett]

Thanks- I think they are going to give me one to try, I wondered if there were any other things I could try in the meantime?

[goodgoalie]

I would definitely give the machine a try as soon as possible - it has changed my friend's life.

[Sqad]

You are quite correct in that there is an increased incidence of OSA and hypermobility and that the first line of treatment is CPAP.
No, I have never had sleep apnoea, but have been involved in it's treatment over the years.

[Scarlett]

Thank you - yes I want to try it as soon as they give me an appointment, but I worry that it will take months! In the meantime I am totally spaced out from lack of sleep, jittery and can't focus on anything. Are there any other things to maybe try in the meantime?

[bednobs]

Would losing weight help?

[Sqad]

Bednobs......good point .

[Scarlett]

Yes it absolutely would I am certain. I lost weight last year and it got better. And then Christmas... the test I had was when it was at its worse. But it has seemed to come back since Christmas so I am on it again.