Question:

Lynn, I’m not a doctor so judge this accordingly. Snoring and daytime sleepiness are two of the most important signs of sleep apnea.  If you work with an allergist and are able to eliminate BOTH those symptoms by clearing up your breathing passages, it seems to me you’re home free. If you can’t (by treating allergies or getting rid of allergens) eliminate the snoring, and if you ever find yourself nodding off in meetings, in front of the TV, or while driving, then I think you would be smart to see a sleep specialist about the possibility of sleep apnea. (This is from a 10-year apnea spouse and medical writer who has written quite a but about sleep apnea.) Best wishes, Sally

Response:

Lynn Jackson wrote: > I don’t think that I have sleep apnea, but my husband says that I snore. > Every night I get very congested and stuffed up.  I take decongestants > that help but I wake up at 3am because the decongestant is 12 hrs long > and wakes me up.  I went to a ENT doctor and he said I had a very bad > deviated septum.  He did surgery, but it didn’t help the congestion at > night.  Should I go back to the ENT or should I go to an allergist?  I > am very tired during the day if I don’t take my Claritin D.  Do you > think I have apnea?

When I have a problem with night-time congestion, it usually means that the filter on my furnace/airconditioner needs changing.  We recently had a new unit installed, with a different kind of filter.  Yesterday, comparing our sleep and breating patterns, my wife (with asthma) and I (OSA) both noted a recent increase in our problems.  I am going to change the type of filter in the furnace to something much finer — something that will catch more dust.

Response:

Bill Musselman <bm…@haven.ios.com> wrote in article <56o1ut$…@nnrp2.farm.idt.net>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Sounds like me.  I couldn’t breathe through my nose at all at night.  I > have a CPAP now and the extra pressure enables me to breathe throught it. > I am somewhat worried about the surgery.  I was told several times that I > could have it done but no one would make a recommendation. They say: "It’s > up to you."  Some people have said having my nose fixed would make CPAP > easier.  But, for me, CPAP has made breathing enough easier that I thought > I might not need the operation. > I guess I would just like to know whether you would still go through the > operation if you would have it to do over.  How much benefit did it really > give you?   > I would also be worried about not being able to use my CPAP for some time > after the deviated septum operation. > Any thoughts would be appreciated. > –BillM

Bill, I would defently have the surgery again. My ENT did NOT pack my nose. I guess the more modern way now is not to. I was back to work in three days. It did feel as if I was hit in the nose with a bat, but that was nothing that I haven’t felt before! Regards, Joel

Response:

I don’t think that I have sleep apnea, but my husband says that I snore. Every night I get very congested and stuffed up.  I take decongestants that help but I wake up at 3am because the decongestant is 12 hrs long and wakes me up.  I went to a ENT doctor and he said I had a very bad deviated septum.  He did surgery, but it didn’t help the congestion at night.  Should I go back to the ENT or should I go to an allergist?  I am very tired during the day if I don’t take my Claritin D.  Do you think I have apnea?           Lynn Jackson

Response:

Lynn Jackson <c…@ix.netcom.com> wrote in article <328E99E8.7…@ix.netcom.com>… > I don’t think that I have sleep apnea, but my husband says that I snore. > Every night I get very congested and stuffed up.  I take decongestants > that help but I wake up at 3am because the decongestant is 12 hrs long > and wakes me up.  I went to a ENT doctor and he said I had a very bad > deviated septum.  He did surgery, but it didn’t help the congestion at > night.  Should I go back to the ENT or should I go to an allergist?  I > am very tired during the day if I don’t take my Claritin D.  Do you > think I have apnea? >           Lynn Jackson

Lynn, I also had a very deviated septum. My ENT could not even get that thingy that they use to look up your nose and down your throut in one side of my nose. He was amazed that I could breath through it at all. I wrestled in school and broke it several times. It took about 5 months before I could feel a difference. If you had the surgery just a couple of months ago, the results may improve over time. I no longer stash little spray bottles of decongestant around the house! I hope it works out for you. If the snoring continues, and it sure did for me, please get checked out at a sleep clinic. It could change your life! — Joel Adams ad…@ptdprolog.net In the Poconos "There is NO gravity, the earth sucks!"

Response:

Joel Adams <ad…@ptdprolog.net> wrote:

: I also had a very deviated septum. My ENT could not even get that thingy : that they use to look up your nose and down your throut in one side of my : nose. He was amazed that I could breath through it at all. I wrestled in : school and broke it several times. : It took about 5 months before I could feel a difference. If you had the : surgery just a couple of months ago, the results may improve over time. : I no longer stash little spray bottles of decongestant around the house! : I hope it works out for you. If the snoring continues, and it sure did for : me, please get checked out at a sleep clinic. It could change your life! Sounds like me.  I couldn’t breathe through my nose at all at night.  I have a CPAP now and the extra pressure enables me to breathe throught it. I am somewhat worried about the surgery.  I was told several times that I could have it done but no one would make a recommendation. They say: "It’s up to you."  Some people have said having my nose fixed would make CPAP easier.  But, for me, CPAP has made breathing enough easier that I thought I might not need the operation. I guess I would just like to know whether you would still go through the operation if you would have it to do over.  How much benefit did it really give you?   I would also be worried about not being able to use my CPAP for some time after the deviated septum operation. Any thoughts would be appreciated. –BillM

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Bill Musselman wrote: > Joel Adams <ad…@ptdprolog.net> wrote: > : I also had a very deviated septum. My ENT could not even get that thingy > : that they use to look up your nose and down your throut in one side of my > : nose. He was amazed that I could breath through it at all. I wrestled in > : school and broke it several times. > : It took about 5 months before I could feel a difference. If you had the > : surgery just a couple of months ago, the results may improve over time. > : I no longer stash little spray bottles of decongestant around the house! > : I hope it works out for you. If the snoring continues, and it sure did for > : me, please get checked out at a sleep clinic. It could change your life! > Sounds like me.  I couldn’t breathe through my nose at all at night.  I > have a CPAP now and the extra pressure enables me to breathe throught it. > I am somewhat worried about the surgery.  I was told several times that I > could have it done but no one would make a recommendation. They say: "It’s > up to you."  Some people have said having my nose fixed would make CPAP > easier.  But, for me, CPAP has made breathing enough easier that I thought > I might not need the operation. > I guess I would just like to know whether you would still go through the > operation if you would have it to do over.  How much benefit did it really > give you? > I would also be worried about not being able to use my CPAP for some time > after the deviated septum operation. > Any thoughts would be appreciated. > –BillM

I had my nose surgery in Feb 94.  If I had it to do over again, I would not have the surgery.  It did not help.  I am still congested at night. Since I am just congested at night, could I just have an allergy and not sleep apnea?       Lynn Jackson

Response:

Related Articles

• Chlorpheniramine. Question for Young Medicine Master Margrove
• 20mg of inderal/propranolol instead of 10mg?
• Can changes in weather affect sinuses?
• Stopping repetitive swallowing
• OT: *Bonus* Question of the day…. 3/29/06