I did read the info, but it didn't really leave me with many answers. After reading everything about sleep apnea, it seemed even less likely that I actually have it. But then again, it's impossible to be certain because I can't watch myself sleep. However, I don't find that when I wake up I'm breathing heavily to make up for lack of oxygen. I just realise I'm awake and think "Fuck, what time is it?" I also don't fall asleep during the day when I get the chance to sit down (I work in an office sitting down all day). But what I do notice is that generally when I wake up, I have a strong desire to pee. And even in winter, I can sweat quite a bit in bed.
The tricky part then would be treatment. I have already had my tonsils removed, and last month I was on predisone (for ear inflammation) and sleep patterns during this time were unchanged.
And bluemeanie, you don't necessarily need to feel like you have the flu all the time. However, I generally feel unwell (not runny nose or cough, just that sensation that you're sick) and get frequent headaches, cloudy thinking, difficulty focusing, waking up tired after a good period of rest and feeling pretty shitty after a good strenous walk or exercise. Below is a list of the symptoms of CFS. My primary symptom being overwhelming fatigue both physical and mental.
Symptoms According to the 1994 Fukuda definition there are eight main categories of symptoms in CFS:
Fatigue: People with CFS experience profound, overwhelming exhaustion, both mental and physical, which is worsened by exertion, and is not relieved (or not completely relieved) by rest. To receive a diagnosis of CFS, this fatigue state must last for six months. Pain: Pain in CFS may include muscle pain, joint pain (without joint swelling or redness, and may be transitory), headaches (particularly of a new type, severity, or duration), lymph node pain, sore throats, and abdominal pain (often as a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome). Patients also report; bone, eye and testicular pain, neuralgia and painful skin sensitivity. Chest pain has been attributed variously to microvascular disease or cardiomyopathy by researchers, and many patients also report painful tachycardia. Cognitive problems: people with CFS may experience forgetfulness, confusion, difficulty thinking, concentration difficulties, and "mental fatigue" or "brain fog". Additional signs may be experienced; in the 2003 Canadian Definition these include aphasia, agnosia, and loss of cognitive body map[1][2]. Hypersensitivity: people with CFS are often sensitive to light, sound, and multiple chemicals and foods. Many CFS patients report an increase in allergic-type sensitivity to foods, scents, and chemicals, and many also report a sensitivity to medications, which can complicate treatment. Patients with pre-existing allergies, asthma, and similar conditions often report a worsening of symptoms. Sensory overload is commonly reported by patients, leading to increased fatigue and even migraine or seizures. Poor temperature control: people with CFS often report either feeling too hot or too cold, possibly due to involvement of the hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature. Many CFS patients frequently run a low fever, or report fever-like symptoms (sweating, feeling too hot or cold, etc.) without measurable fever temperature. Sleep problems: "Unrefreshing sleep" and rest is a hallmark of CFS, and insomnia is also common. Maintaining a sleep schedule is extremely difficult for many patients. Vivid, "feverish" dreams are a symptom in many people with CFS, exacerbating disturbed sleep patterns. Patients report that exercise, unlike in healthy persons, worsens the insomnia and unrefreshing sleep symptoms alike. Psychological/Psychiatric symptoms: emotional lability, anxiety, depression, irritability, and sometimes a curious emotional "flattening" (most likely due to exhaustion), may manifest in CFS patients. Many of these symptoms can be directly caused by the CFS mechanism or, in some cases, may be secondary symptoms created by the syndrome, as many chronic pain or illness patients also show similar psychiatric issues. CFS patients with pre-existing psychiatric symptoms may report that these worsen with the onset of CFS. Treatment for psychiatric symptoms alone does not relieve the physical symptoms of CFS, indicating that the disease is not psychological in nature. Disturbances in the autonomic nervous system and hormones: People with CFS often have abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system such as low blood volume, orthostatic intolerance, dizziness and light-headedness, especially when standing up quickly. Hormonal abnormalities may include abnormal vasopressin metabolism and a blunted ACTH response, leading to hypothyroidism and/or low cortisol and reduced ability to respond to physiological and emotional stress. Patients sometimes show abnormally low levels of testosterone, growth hormone and other important hormones.
|