I realize I haven't given an update. Forgive me. It's been a harrowing week.
It began about a week ago, with a very, very, very (very) brief moment of slurred speech. I don't remember much of it, but I was reading something aloud and managed to read the whole of the piece (twice), albeit slurred. I don't remember reading the words, I remember struggling with my tongue. It felt as though it were encased in cement.
Within two minutes it was over.
I went to the doctor, mentioned it to her. Seems I had a transient ischemic attack, or mini-stroke. So now there's an MRI in my future, but I doubt it will show much. It was so... so... minor seeming.
It seems, as I read more about them, that these are fairly common with sleep apnea. Or maybe sleep apnea is a common thread in people that have TIAs. I'm not sure, and my guess is the link isn't totally explained. They are linked with high blood pressure, as is sleep apnea (I do not have high blood pressure.) Also with obesity. So it's likely that those two factors are at least part of the link.
I'm a young sleepy chick. Please don't think this can't happen to you if you're under 60. I'm well under 40. It might be awkward at first (and looks downright silly) but please, wear your CPAP! If it doesn't eliminate the chances of this happening (I wear mine every night, so there are no guarantees it will) I'm sure it lessens the chance.
I've also found I've been waking up periodically, drowning in sweat. Last night, for instance. Not a hot night, I wasn't overdressed for bed, but my husband came to bed and said not only had I soaked my side of the bed, but his. Ewww. I am wondering if there is some sort of relation.
I do see the sleep doctor on Thursday, and (sigh) I guess I have a lot to tell her.
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About sleepychick
I'm a 34 year old woman with multiple sleep disorders (sigh). Sleeping's been a lifelong sort of love hate thing for me. I had my first polysomnography in 2001, and I was told I was "fine." Turns out, from my history and the muscle tone that the PSG returned, I showed signs of REM Behavior Disorder.
Fast forward three years, where my neurologist, on hearing my reports of ungodly fatigue (more like someone turned up the gravity) and daily headaches, declared I needed a sleep study.
That time they found moderate obstructive apnea.
Did my CPAP titration, wear it dutifully. But I was still so tired. I mean, tired like I was smote from on high. So two weeks ago, I had a re-titration.
They discovered (this time) I needed my CPAP turned up and I have Periodic Limb Movement in Sleep Disorder. I also have an extremely abnormal sleep architecture.
What I wouldn't give to sleep through the night!
