oxygen deprivation?

[songwriter]

My shrink talked to me today about the possibility that maybe when I sleep I am not getting enough oxygen (sleep apnia?)
She says that oxygen deprivation can create symptoms that mimic ADHD-One of my nasal passages is considerably narrower than the other which is why she is testing for this.
To night I am going to bed with a machine which will record my oxygen status while sleeping. ( I toss and turn so I'll probably have all the wires jerked out by morning and have to buy them a new machine.)
I guess I'm skeptical because I see ADHD in my children and my parents so I figure it's got to be ADHD. We'll see.
Does anyone here have knowledge or experience in this?

[rosyred45]

Thhis was one of the first things that was brought to my attention by my cousin, who was Mikey's pre-k teacher. She said that there have been studies that showed about the mimicking of adhd because of lack of oxygen.

I'll see what I can find for you.
Kaiti

this might seem to be geared to children, but I think that it has to do with adults too
www.drgreene.com/21_1189.html

hope it helps

[songwriter]

Kaiti-
thanx for referring me to that very useful info.
I found it interesting that kids who snore are more likely to have ADHD.
I really appreciate your input.
Paul

[HooDunnit]

Please let us know how you make out with this Paul. It sounds really interesting.

Barry

[rosyred45]

No Problem,
Mikey had a time with what we thought were night terrors because he didn't seem as though he was getting his proper amount of rest. Then when it was brought to our attention about sleep apnea, I looked into it.

Apparently some of the bedding that Mikey had effected his sleep as well. He doesn't use a pillow, he has been sleeping on the floor, his choosing, and the sheets rarely stay the right way on his bed.

He sleeps better is the spring and fall, when there isn't the pollen and he's not loaded up and hot with blankets. There is a method to the madness somehow, I'm just not an expert.

Hope it has helped, good luck

[songwriter]

Saw my psych. testerday and she shared the results of my 'sleep test'. I had 13 episodes of 'desaturation'. (Periods where my oxygen count dropped by 4 points or more.) I pointed out that 4 of the episodes were before I was asleep. She wants me to get checked for sleep apnea. I told her," I sleep good, I never wake up tired". She said the call was up to me. I told her that I felt I had ADHD plain and simple - I see it in my kids and parents,too. She reminded me that ADHD is often complicated by other issues.
Any help from you all? Any experience with sleep apnea ?

[aimee30]

My mom has sleep apnea. I'll give her a call tomorrow and find out what I can for you.

[SKay]

My dad has sleep apnea and allergies, but he is tired all the time, unlike you. He has some ADD traits, but I don't know that he has the disorder.

A lung specialist told me that to stop breathing for a short time isn't so bad if it starts again quietly, but if it starts again with a snort, that's bad.

[sportsmom]

Paul,

In may my son had a sleep study done. What we found out was he has periodic limb movement disorder (another name Rapid leg syndrome). He also had mild sleep apnea syndrome. First we are working on the RLS by trying to get his ferritin (iron) level up. Blood test showed he was very anemic--Levi takes 325 mg iron 2x a day. I still see him tossing and turning at night so I am not holding out on the iron therpy. The next step will be taking a med that people with parkingsons disease take(in a very mild form). This scares me because both my dad and grandpa have parkinsons and both Levi and I have many traits from my fathers side of the family (but we take each day as it comes). After we get the RLS under control we are going to work on the sleep apena. But doing some research on both of these syndromes I have found that the symtoms of these both resemble ADD. I do hold out hope that this will be the case for Levi but I will not be dissapointed if it is the cure for him.

[songwriter]

Sportsmom-
Is Rapid Leg Syndrome the same thing as Restless Legs Syndrome? If so, does your son have leg pain? (I dont)

Paul

[sportsmom]

Paul,

Yes it is Restless leg--sorry I usually mix it up . Levi does get pains in his legs but he is 13 so it could be a mixture of they RLS and growing pains. What kind of treatment are you doing for this? We proably won't have to do anything about the sleep apena because the scores on that were very low--not high enough to really worry about.

[songwriter]

Sportsmom-
I meet with the 'sleep doctor' (at the request of my psych.) Aug. 11 for the sleep apnea test, (whatever that is), but I really don't think I have the restless legs thing.
I am glad for your responses. I'll keep you posted on what happens and please keep us informed of your sons RLS.

Paul

[sportsmom]

Paul,

I am not sure what the test will be. Have you done the all night sleep study yet? If not your appt might be to meet with the specialist and to set up a date to do the study. I know what you meant about all the wires--Levi had loads of wires attached to him.....but the results will tell you everything you want to know. They can tell your eye movements, brain waves, leg movements, your snore factor, heart patterns and your oxygen levels. There are belts on your chest and abdm. as well. The nurse gave us 4 print out sheets of levi's study. It was broke down into 30 second slots so on one page I have 2 minutes of study. It is neat to see because you could tell when he was dreaming or in a relaxed state. We almost didn't do the study but afterwards I am so glad we did.....lots of neat info...something else to add to Levi's baby book ;D Good luck to you and keep us posted and I will do the same

P.S. I do know someone who has apena and he has to wear a mask to receive oxygen at night, but this persons case is a severe one. He will even fall asleep very quickly while riding or driving in a car.

[Brocksmom]

Sportsmom-
My dh has sleeping issues also(he's always tired during the day). He's had 3 different sleep studies done since 1996 and there's still no definitive answer for him. Every time he's gotten a different diagnosis.He's doesn't have sleep apnea or narcolepsy(sp?) . This time they said he had rapid leg movement. They did give him the meds for parkinsons (Mirapex)but when he takes it he has trouble sleeping. As we all say... every med works different for everyone. Hope you find an answer

[sportsmom]

Brocksmom,
I am so glad to find someone who knows what I am going thru.....did they check your dh's ferritin (iron) level? Levi's was very low. If I remember correctly his was at 5 and it should be 14. We have one more month of the iron therapy but I don't see any results yet. Levi gets tired during the day...I even give him his strattera at supper time so it will help him sleep, if I give it to him in the morning he would sleep all day if I let him. His deep sleep cycle usually starts around 4-5 am. It is hard to see results thou now that it is summer and we have a different schedule. I will keep you posted. Thank you for sharing