Boy do I feel dumb ......

[DariaVader]

I have not heard of a connection with thyroid problems. I would love for someone to school us on that one.

But your list may also not be exhaustive. I predict you will find relief to many of these issues with proper xPAP therapy.

Let us know how it goes.

I think that the connection with thyroid problems is the link between a variety of stressors (poor quality sleep, oxygen deprivation, partial rousing to breathe and cortisol release, adrenal fatigue) and *all* autoimmune conditions. People who are at risk for autoimmune by genetics are placed at further risk by sleep apnea.

Bottom line IMO is that sleep apnea amplifies whatever physical weaknesses you were born with.

[Mark Douglas]

Bottom line IMO is that sleep apnea amplifies whatever physical weaknesses you were born with.

IMO this is solid gold and should be duly noted by those in charge of the gold stars!

[GrammaBear]

Bottom line IMO is that sleep apnea amplifies whatever physical weaknesses you were born with.

IMO this is solid gold and should be duly noted by those in charge of the gold stars!

Agree 100%. I had absolutely no idea that I was suffering from sleep apnea - until I went to my Endocrinologist to seek help for my "sluggish ways and falling asleep the minute I sat down." Thank goodness he actually listened to my comments and not only ordered a sleep study but called after the sleep study to see how things went for me.

I had hoped that getting the sleep apnea under control would also help my hypertension, but I guess that is not to be the case. I'm thankful for any improvement I get from my cpap.

[DariaVader]

Bottom line IMO is that sleep apnea amplifies whatever physical weaknesses you were born with.

IMO this is solid gold and should be duly noted by those in charge of the gold stars!

:blush:

[Mark Douglas]

Bottom line IMO is that sleep apnea amplifies whatever physical weaknesses you were born with.

IMO this is solid gold and should be duly noted by those in charge of the gold stars!

:blush:

and I'm going to steal this for use at next Dr. appointment

[TiredToo]

I felt dumb myself when I finally started reading up on sleep apnea after years of my wife telling me I stop breathing, flail around and gasp for air every night; not to mention the extremely loud snoring.

I've been having problems with depression, energy, patience, concentration & memory for quite a while. Over the past year or two everything felt like it was snowballing out of control. My memory and concentration were so bad that I was becoming convinced that I had early-onset Alzheimer's (I'm 42). At the rate I was going with memory and depression I wasn't sure how I'd be able to work much longer. It was while researching Alzheimer's that by pure luck I stumbled on an article that explained how sleep apnea can exhibit Alzheimer's-like symptoms in some people because it can affect some of the same parts of the brain.

On the plus side, at least I no longer feel like I have Alzheimer's - for which there is no known cure. On the minus side, I fear that my failure to act on the apnea sooner may have caused some irreparable damage. From what I have read, much - but not all - of the damage can be reversed once the apnea is treated. I no longer feel like things are spiraling out of control but my memory and concentration are still pretty horrible. I do feel like I have noticed an improvement since beginning CPAP, and my wife says she has seen a positive change in my mood as well. At a minimum I am glad to be finally doing something about the apnea. I feel like I may have altered the course of my near future for the better.