Since coming home from hospital, my Mum has slept on her back with her mouth open and she snores. She never used to do these things. Her sleep is disrupted and she drinks a lot (presumably mouth dry) and then is up for the toilet a lot.
The other night, I did an internet search on ‘sleeping with your mouth open’ and I came up with sleep apnea. From what I can see, it does seem to be quite a common issue after stroke but, perhaps, under recognized? There don’t seem to be that many references to it here on the forum.
It means yet another visit to the GP but thought I’d ask on here first. This leaflet makes a lot of sense, especially the bit about tiredness interfering with her ability to engage in therapy. Is actually really strange because she has improved so much in terms of the stroke - it’s as though other issues are holding her back.
There was someone on the forum who had sleep apnea. Here is one link (don’t know if it will help).
It is definitely worth checking with her GP so they can treat it if necessary. I sleep on my side but will snore if on my back. I imagine it is under recognised aa most people tend to put lack of sleep down to other things.
Yes, I have a friend who wears a mask for sleep apnoea. He never had a stroke though. There are some techniques that can stop apnoea. There was something useful and simple that solved mine years ago ; losing weight, the humidifier against dry heated air… but I forgot what was the key to solving this. Will post if I remember.
Roland
Snoring can often be cured by upping your levels of Vitamin D
There is a link between vitamin D deficiency and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and some studies suggest that vitamin D supplements can improve sleep quality and reduce OSA severity:
Vitamin D levels and OSA severity
Vitamin D levels decrease as the severity of OSA increases. For example, in one study, the mean difference in 25(OH)D serum levels between controls and patients with mild OSA was -2.7%, while the difference for severe OSA was -17.4%.
Vitamin D supplements and OSA
Some studies have found that vitamin D supplements can improve sleep quality and reduce OSA severity. One study found that a week of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment was able to reverse vitamin D deficiency in men with OSA.
I was diagnosed with OSA after my stroke . I wear a CPAP during the night and will remain under the hospital for the rest of my life
Its affected my energy throughout the day and often wake up still tired My wife has to wake me up to eat and take my medication I am consistently tiered throughout the day and have been unable to return to work
Hi Simon
The type of mask I have is designed for people that move around in your sleep
It takes a bit of getting use to at first I woke up and thought someone was suffocating me
To tell you the truth the only noticeable thing is that I don’t snore anymore while wearing the mask
But it’s still early days and haven’t been back to the hospital for my checkup
Hi @JohnMillington, just popped in to welcome you to the forum I don’t suffer from OSA, although my hubby does suffer from my snoring and occasionally has to move into the bedroom whilst I sleep like a log once I get to sleep
Hi
I never had sleep apnoea until I had my stroke, I have mentioned this in the get involved groups. Usually the side that’s effected the neck
muscles are not strong, so they relax more. It is very common to develop this condition after a stroke, and your right it’s not discussed enough. Your gp will refer to your local hospital that has a sleep department, she will need to do overnight study(usually a finger probe and a chest monitor that sits on the chest) it’s not uncomfortable, but needs to be a good connection as study will fail, from that it will be reviewed then treatment offered such a cpap machine. You find it will make fatigue less as if she slept for 8 hours with cpap it’s equal to 16 hours. I average around8-9 hours per night. Hope that helps you and any one else
I don’t suffer from OSA, although my hubby does suffer from my snoring and occasionally has to move into the bedroom whilst I sleep like a log once I get to sleep 