Sleep Apnea?

self ^ | November 23, 2001 | Auggy

[auggy]

Does anyone have this problem? In my sleep, I bite my tongue. Hard. Bleeding hard. I have ruined many pillow cases with large areas of blood soaked pillow cases. My tongue looks like raw hamburger meat, at times. I tested positive for sleep apnea. I woke an average of 49 times per hour, from lack of oxygen, or unable to breath. I use a breathing machine with a chin strap to help my problem. It helps,but it isn't a 100%. I woke this morning at 3:30 AM and immediately took the pillow case off to soak the stain. I have been up ,since, then. Afraid to go back to sleep. I have been tested for epilepsy. This started in 1990. It has progressively gotten worse.

[auggy]

I have considered having my teeth pulled, but, as of now, I haven't done so. Any suggestions?

[LadyDoc]

You need to get rechecked. The CPAP or BiPap machine usually cures sleep apnea, and most of my patients improve and feel better on the machine. Your mask might not fit properly. Also, there is surgery that helps: surgery of the palate, and also tracheostomy in severe cases used to be done in the old days(not used much nowadays, since other means work).

Tongue biting suggests epilepsy. Tests for epilepsy are not very accurate.I've had patients with major brain injuries who had several seizures a week yet had normal EEG's and CT scans. Sometimes a course in treatment will be done: you treat it to see if it gets better. This needs a good neurologist (a lot of neurologists aren't helpful, you might need to see another one).

[buffyt]

I had an 80% overbite. I had braces from age 37 - 40. It fixed my problem. It caused me to bite and even grind my teeth in my sleep. I no longer do that. The overbite had caused the muscles in my neck, jaws, and all the way down my back to be hard as a rock. My dentist noticed it before I did. Now I sleep in two retainers and no longer bite my teeth together real hard in my sleep. You might even be able to get a plastic thing to wear over your front teeth or all your teeth, as you sleep. It may keep you from biting your tongue. But you might bite through the plastic thing, too. I would see if a dentist could help.

[Cagey]

Auggy,

Check out this link, and follow LadyDoc's advice.

AMERICAN SLEEP APNEA ASSOCIATION

[YaYa123]

I bet you've already been here,

http://www.sleepapnea.org/

but maybe others haven't. What a wealth of information!!!

American Sleep Apnea Association
1424 K Street NW, Suite 302
Washington, DC 20005
202/293-3650
fax: 202/293-3656

asaa@sleepapnea.org

[Robert Lomax]

Actually, I have a problem with EMOH waking me up. And even once it a while they won't let me go to sleep. But I think that would be referred to as LEHO.

Bob

[prisoner6]

Sleep apnea takes many forms, or so I've heard. I have it but don't bite my tongue. Usually what happens is I just stop breathing...for quite a long time sometimes. So far everytime it's happened I've awakened (obviously), but It's funny as heck when I do. The only way I've found to start breathing again is to jump up, and run around. If that doesn't work I jumping up and down REALLY HARD. As a last resort Wife hits me in the stomach, which she takes great pleasure in doing since all the commotion wakes her up too.

As far as treatment I was told to just live with it and I'd outgrow it. I'm 52 now and still haven't grown up I guess.

Or maybe the oxygen deprivation (augmented by copious amounts of beer) has caused too much brain damage.

Hope you find some help!

prisoner6

[Bill Rice]

I have Sleep Apnea, and must use a c-pap. I've had my sleep machine for about 3 years, and love it. I snored so bad without it, the neighbors were complaining.

I've never heard of the tounge biting problem, what does the sleep doctor say about it?

[prisoner6]

Thanks for the Link!

prisoner6

[LadyDoc]

You don't outgrow sleep apnea unles you lose 50 pounds or if it was caused by large tonsils that shrink. Get thee to a sleep center.

[LoneGOPinCT]

I have a friend who had severe sleep apnea and was waking up about the same 49 times per hour that you are, but he didn't have the tongue biting problem. He started on a weight-loss regime (was as high as 300 lbs. now down to 185) and started using the breathing machine. Things got better but he was still "waking" up over 20 times per hour. His doc recommended throat surgery (I don't remember exactly what was done), which he had, and has been almost back to "normal" for 9 months now.

[RAY]

God Bless You! Unfortunatly, it seems these type problems get worse as one grows older. However, thanks to modern medical help many of us are alive today with a decent quality of life. Keep working on the problem in a very systematic way -- there is no magic.

[prisoner6]

WOW your good! Yes I have had extremely large tonsils but refused to have 'em out.

Think it's too late at 52?

prisoner6

[ReaganCowboy]

There is no hell on Earth like sleep apnea.

I've had my soft palate cauterized, to stiffen the skin and reduce the snoring/apnea. It helped, but it's not 100%. Still, it was worth the (intense) pain I experienced during the recovery period.

Unfortunately, the effect fades over time. I'll get a CPAP once I'm out of the military.

[Tennessee_Bob]

I bite my tongue.

Thank goodness then that you're not a knee-biter.

/arcane reference mode off

In all seriousness though, here's hoping that you find an answer here..

[LiberalBassTurds]

One thing you may also want to consider to help your tongue, once you get all the medical tests suggested above, is a a mouth/tooth guard. It is a small plastic protector, like the ones used in football or hockey, which covers your lower teeth. I use one now and never grind my teeth or bite my tongue. Don't know whether it keeps your tongue out of the way,or just eliminates one set of sharp surface, but it works.

You can get them from your dentist but they are pricey. A cheaper way to do it is to buy one of those teeth whitening kits that come with two clear plastic mouth pieces and the peroxide solution. For $10.00 you will have two guards which you dip in boiling water and form to your teeth.

Hope this helps and good luck.

[steamroller]

I had a real bad case of sleep apnea.I tried a CPAP,but alays had a problem with the mask.I was switched to a "nasal pillow"device which makes the CPAP much less confining and I have had excellent results.I've travelled overseas with the machine which has an internal dual voltage device and never had a problem.Good Luck!!I know how you feel,except for the tongue biting,which I never had.

[LadyDoc]

Yes, if your tonsils are large, you need them out.

The first thing they check for in sleep apnea is large tonsils and a crooked nose. Often they take out the tonsils, and straighten the nose first. If this is the problem, you need an ENT specialist.

Losing weight also helps, but the fatigue from waking often leads to obesity and even alcoholism: men drink so they can sleep.

As the other posters mention, teeth, throat, and also neurological problems can cause or make it worse.