waiting time to be assessed for sleep apnoea

Signs and symptoms
1

I am 60 and  have been seeing my GP for over 12 months with severe fatigue during the day.( ie having to go to bed on arriving home from work and sleep for 2-3 hours every day) He tested for iron deficiency, thyroid problems, diabetes, liver or kidney problems and could find nothing wrong.  I was left to suffer but recently the symptoms have become much worse.

On a recent holiday with my daughter she informed me that not only did I snore loudly but stopped breathing many times in the night and often woke myself up coughing and spluttering. She suggested that it may be sleep apnoea.

I went back to my doctor and he agreed that this may be the case and referred me for a sleep assessment ( he didn't ask me about my sleep patterns on previous visits )

The problem now is that I have to wait 3 months for my appointment but I am really struggling!!!!

I have stopped driving because I do not trust myself not to fall asleep.

I am off work because of this constant need to sleep and feel really bad about it. I am  irritable, anxious, cannot concentrate, keep forgetting things and lacking the motivation to do anything, even things I used to enjoy.  I now feel thoroughly depressed and it is putting a strain on my relationship with my husband, even thought he tries really hard to be supportive.

Is it normal to have to wait so long for tests?  What if a CPAP doesn't work for me ( I've read many people's experiences when it hasn't helped)  I am hoping that it will work for me and that I'll be able to lead a normal life again because I don't know if I can live like this for much longer.  My doctors only suggestion is to lose weight and take more exercise.  I feel I have no quality of life.  Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

2

Hey, plz txt me at 9792482744. -Clarisa

U may have something I can help u with

3

Thank you for your reply but I would rather communicate on this forum.

4

Okay, that's cool. Sorry its easier for me to txt, makes for an easier reply. Hope u get it figured out

5

Hi Jean. I don't know the normal time for waiting but try to hang in there. It depends on your health authority. I have just started using a CPAP machine (1 week) and it will take some getting used to but I think your tiredness is making you feel defeated before you've started. You may well have read lots of problems but that is because people only post when they are having problems, not when things are o.k. Your doctor is right that losing weight will help but not necessarily the reason for the Apnoea. Also I was told it's very hard to lose weight when you have sleep apnoea. Let me know how things are going. Don't feel guilty about the work thing either.x

6

Thank you for the encouraging reply. I will try to keep optimistic but I think after all this time depression has set in but I am taking an increased dose of fluoxetine for it. Good luck with your CPAP machine, please let me know how you get on.

7

Hello Jean. I too have depression and lack of sleep really doesn't help. I hope the new year brings you better luck and do keep me updated with how you are doing. You can send a private message through patient, so you still keep your privacy but also you can share anything you don't want to show for everyone.