#56121 01-31-2005 11:09 AM | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 Senior Member (75+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 | Hi All,
My husband, Ron, is 2 months post radiation treatments on his throat. No surgery or Chemo. Over the past couple of weeks I have noticed that when he's sleeping, it seems like he stops breathing for awhile and then he will take some deep breaths. Plus his breathing sounds weird, not regular snorring. It almost sounds like his airway gets plugged up (he's been sleeping with his mouth open). This pattern keeps going on and for some reason it seems to be worse between 3am to 4:30 am. After that it stops and he seems to start sleeping normally. But during that time, I can't sleep because I'm making sure he's breathing. I have heard something about sleep apnea occuring after radiation ended. He sees his Doctor next week so I'm going to make sure he asks, but wanted to know if any of you experienced this and did it eventually go away? Should we be concerned?
Thanks for your help,
Shelley
Caregiver to husband, Ron. Throat cancer, Stage II. No Chemo or Surgery. Completed 35 Radiation Treatments in November 2004.
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#56122 01-31-2005 11:43 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | I had just the opposite problem. I had sleep apnea before treatment because the tumor had gotten so large it was choking me. The radiation wiped out my uvula and thinned out the other tissues in the back of my throat eliminating (much to my wife's delight) my snoring.
Since he is a "mouth breather" he will have more problems with dry mouth. A humidifier may help a little. I still use mine 2 years out from Tx.
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#56123 01-31-2005 11:49 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Hi Shelley
We had the same problem and like Gary used a humidifier.
Scares the stuff out of you doesn`t it, Pete still does it occasionally.
Your Doc should be able to help, in the meantime poke him in the ribs!
Take care
Marica
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
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#56124 01-31-2005 12:00 PM | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 | Hi Gary and Marica, thanks for the info. We do have a humidifier and you are so right Marica, it does scare the you know what out of me!!! The only thing is, it's wearing me down because I can't sleep because I'm too worried about him and making sure he's breathing. Hopefully this too shall pass.....
Shelley
Caregiver to husband, Ron. Throat cancer, Stage II. No Chemo or Surgery. Completed 35 Radiation Treatments in November 2004.
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#56125 01-31-2005 09:54 PM | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 156 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 156 | hi shelley,i had radiation, tumer on right vocalchord no surgery or chemo.but my breathing /noises when asleep horrendous my hubby worries about me to,idont think it is anything to worry about??? mind you i was not like it bfore rads
regards maz | | |
#56126 02-01-2005 10:38 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 | Shelley:
My snoring was also cured by the radiation. He may have problems with Mucocitus, I do. I still cannot sleep horizontal. I still sleep in my recliner. If I get horizontal and get on my back the slime backs up in my throat and I choke... I am not effected in my recliner.
Darrell
Stage 3, T3,N1,M0,SCC, Base of Tongue. No Surgery, Radiationx39, Chemo, Taxol & Carboplatin Weekly 8 Treatments 2004. Age 60. Recurrence 2/06, SCC, Chest & Neck (Sub clavean), Remission 8/06. Recurrence SCC 12/10/06 Chest.
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#56127 02-03-2005 11:33 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Shelley, I am really sorry to hear of your sleepless nights while "on call". You should try to get something from the doc to help you get a much deserved good night's sleep. I get my Ambien filled every month and Susan uses them. Don't tell the feds!!  I had sleep apnea pretty bad before treatment and it feels different and I don't snore quite as loud and violent as before. The snorts that come with the gasp from air have started back but not the frequency it was before treatment. I am convinced the tumor at the base of my tongue was the culprit of my dry cough and sleep apnea. Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#56128 02-03-2005 12:13 PM | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 | Thanks Ed! And don't worry about the Feds, your secret is safe with me...LOL...Ever since I posted my question to all of you about the sleep apnea, Ron is sleeping better and it's not happening so much. Go figure! At least I don't have to be "on call" so much now. Thank God I'm a light sleeper anyway.
Shelley
Caregiver to husband, Ron. Throat cancer, Stage II. No Chemo or Surgery. Completed 35 Radiation Treatments in November 2004.
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#56129 02-04-2005 05:30 AM | Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 206 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 206 | Hi Shelley, I too have sleep apnea, Mom says no
one can sleep in the same room with me I'm so noisey. It wakes me up I don't know what to say
except get some help from the Doctors and try
get some sleep yourself.
Cathy
Cathy
SCCA Stage IV diagnosed 01/90
base of tongue with 1/2 removed.
With neck resection, radiation and chemo
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