Nervy legs and sleep apnea dreams

Hi BunnyGirl, Sleep Apnea can really do a job on a person, I have had it for many years, and use a PAP machine, also certain pain meds can cause central apneas, and they are not easily treated with normal CPAP or BiPAP machines, and usually require treatment with an ASV machine (Adaptive Servo Ventilator) machine that is the type I have, ( they are more expensive) but it is a real Godsend if your having central apneas!

If your having problems with your thighs, if it is in the muscles in the front, then you might be having problems with the discs above the L-5 area. I was having problems with the front of my thighs, and they did a Foraminotomy from L2 to L5 and that relieved the problem. However my L5 disc is shot and I suffer from severe Sciatica, and really need a fusion, but instead of having that surgery I have a implanted pain pump and it takes care of the sciatica pain really well! As for the problems with your calves that could be L5/S1 problems, hopefully that CT myelogram will show them the problem and they can do something to fix it or at least help relieve your pain!

I have had myelogram's before, they can be a bit rough, unless they give you twilight sedation or something. I do hope this all works out well for you BunnyGirl! Please keep us posted on how you are doing!

Good to hear from you again!

White Beard

BunnyGirl I can't tell you how many different masks I have tried over the years till I finally found one that really worked for me! I use the FitLife total face mask, because I am a mouth breather and I needed something that would cover both my nose and mouth! At one time I used to be very active on several of the sleep apnea forums, but haven't been on them in several years. I will tell you that getting used to using the PAP machines is really difficult for allot of people and it has a very high failure rate because people just can't get use to using them! I always told people that allot of it is attitude, you just have to be persistent and force yourself to use the mask and machine every night all night long! It is hard I know but persistence and perseverance will pay off in the end! After a while using the mask and machine will become just second nature, and it will become your best friend when going to sleep! Take it from one that knows! I use my machine every night all night long! For me I found using the humidifier that came with it helps allot! I fill the humidifier on it with distilled water every night and scrub my face and the seal on the mask. Just to make sure I get a good seal on my mask when sleeping.

Anyway I know exactly what your talking about, with your husband having to wake you up to breath! Been there, when I was married before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I would get a hard elbow in the ribs and her yelling at me telling me to breath! Ha, So use your machine and let your husband get some sleep too! LOL

Good Luck to you! And remember the secret of getting use to the machine is using it every night all night long! Persistence and Perseverance and Attitude will make you a successful "hose head"!! ( that's what we used to call each other on the apnea forum ha)

White Beard

Hi BunnyGirl There are several good sleep apnea forums, MyApnea.org is a good one also you might want to try sleepguide.com.

It is hard to get used to! I mean trying to sleep with a thousand mile an hour wind blowing in your nose or mouth or both, is something that takes allot of getting use to! Ha. I really can empathize with you! I think a forum might be a good idea, I know it helped me allot when I first was diagnosed with sleep apnea. In fact if it wasn't for the sleep apnea forum that I was on I might not have ever found out about this HealingWell Forum! There was a moderator on this chronic pain forum here...( Chutz) that I first met on the sleep apnea forum, and she was asking for some advice about sleep apnea and its treatment for a family member. Anyway to make a long story short, after a few conversations, she told me about this form here on Healing Well and asked me to come check it out. The rest is history! Ha

Anyway as you know from this forum, it always helps to be able to talk with someone that is familiar with what you have and they can help you with it! I do wish you well BunnyGirl and just please don't give up on using your PAP. It takes a good while to get use to it, but it does get easier as time goes by! And it does help! For me within just a few weeks the night sweats I was having was completely gone! I was no longer getting up a zillion times a night to go to the bathroom, and most of all I wasn't tired during the day and always falling asleep! So it does work! But the most difficult part is getting adjusted to using and sleeping with the mask and machine! Once you master that the machine will become your best friend, and you won't go to sleep without it!

Please keep up posted on your progress! Good Luck to YOU!

White Beard

Great News BunnyGirl,

White Beard talked me through my sleep apnea issues too. And like you the naps were soon not needed! After some time I noticed that I dream now, that had quit. My husband sleeps much better too. And he takes care of the cleaning of the equipment, he is very particular about all of that.

Hope you can find a good solution for the other issues too. Thanks for the update.