My husband is 3 months out of treatment and a few weeks ago I noticed his strange breathing patterns at night. He was doing a lot of snoring and strange sounds that he never did before treatment. Now, the snoring is less but it seems like he might have sleep apnea or something else going on. He seems to be trying to take breaths coming from his stomach and his chest doesn't seem to move and then he takes big breaths with a lot of chest movement like he is trying to catch his breath and is winded. This movement seems to wake him a bit, he will move or try to say something and then the pattern repeats. I have him scheduled for a sleep consult but the soonest is Aug 15 I could get an appointment. His father suffered from sleep apnea. He can fall alseep at the drop of a hat and is seems extrememly tired at times. I know this is a result of radiation the fatigue but I wonder if the there is sleep apena going on that can cause you to not feel rested. Has anyone else had this problem or conerns?

Hi, sleep apnoea definitely makes you feel tired. This is because the sufferer does not get good sleep due to constant startling awake when they do not breathe. Daytime tiredness and sleepiness is a hallmark of sleep apnoea.
You have done the right thing in setting up an appointment for sleep studies.
This is also pretty disconcerting for the sleep apnoeas bed partner.
Thinking of you both,Tammy.

terrib
goodness yes!! Alex was not a snorer BC (except when he partook of a few too many drinks) so this was quite unnerving.

I would lie awake at night trying to characterise what was going on so I could tell the doctor. I remember counting the number of breaths before he stopped all together. His chest would sort of hiccup when he wasn't breathing just before a big noisy gasp which would start the cycle all over again. On the nights I paid attention, it was 4 breaths then a "non breath/gasp" followed by another 4 breaths. This went on for about 20 minutes and then it went to 5 breaths before the "non breath/gasp" for about 15, then 6 breaths and so on. I often fell asleep myself whilst listening to him but I also began giving him an hour or two in bed by himself by which time it had settled down.

Then one day I realised it had stopped. He doesn't do it anymore. Trying to remember when it stopped... I remember counting his breaths in October, 2 months out of treatment to tell the doctor in November. By the February check up there was nothing to report so it stopped somewhere between 3 and 6 months from the end of treatment.

Possibly related to swelling? Or mucous post treatment?

I was able to schedule a sleep consult but not until Aug 15th. It has become a lot worse!!!! It will be a long month, I have timed my husband not breathing at night for over 30 seconds. He didn't think he had a problem but now is realizing how tired he is during the day from lack of quality sleep. Went for a drive at 8:30 pm and he started falling asleep 4 times on the short way home. This morning he started to doze at a red light and realized all the cars in front of him had gone thru the intersection. It scares me to see him go without breathing and then take such huge breaths. One evening while sitting in the recliner dozing he kept startling himself awake. Told me he just couldn't stay awake. I told him he was waking himself up because he was struggling to breathe. Hope we get it figured out soon!!

Maybe there is some way the sleep consult could be moved up much sooner? Especially if you can impress on the doctor's office how it has gotten so much worse. Even if you have to cry a little, they may find a way to get your husband in sooner than Aug. 15th. I can remember being so scared when my son was recovering and sleeping so much - I kept checking on him every few minutes to see if he was still breathing. I do hope something can be done soon for your husband. It has to be affecting your sleep, too.

Yes, I have tried to find an earlier appointment and expressed my concerns about falling asleep while driving but no luck. After called to check if they have had any cancellations too. Yes, I definitely am loosing sleep but luckily he can fall asleep in a matter of seconds almost anytime of the day or night. No sleepless night for him.

Hi Terri, this definitely sounds like sleep apnoea to me.
Did he have any of these signs prior to his treatment?
Do you think that there is still some neck / throat swelling from his treatment. Sleep apnoea usually affects the overweight and those with thick necks. If it helps your worry remember that he will keep breathing. Once the carbon dioxide levels in his blood get to a certain level he will breathe.
Wishing you a good nights sleep,
Tammy

Never had issues till the last 5-6 weeks and definitely not overweight anymore after a 40 pound weight loss. His lymphedemia is definitely worse the last month and a half and he has been working on that but we have been told withthe warmer weather it can be effected. Tring a new therapist who is qualified to do the tape that has been recently discussed in the forums.

Why not go to the ER?