ask dr. bea

Q: Can you please explain the difference between sleep apnea and narcolepsy? My friend who is rather obese was just tested and told that he may have narcolepsy.

[Melissa]

If you are on the CPAP, can your sleep apnea get worse?

[Alicia]

Can one have both sleep apnea and narcolepsy?

[littleagrandma]

I have had A sleep study and have been diagnosed with Severe Sleep Apnea,my heart stops 46 times an hour. the cpap seems to help me waken a little more alert but it doesn't last .I have tried provigil and it helps some but I can still just full asleep no warning.anytime anyplace.Ihear things that aren't there and see and sometimes talk to people who aren't there .I don't do drugs or alcohol don't even smoke.Am I just crazy.

[Sam]

I have sleep apnea and narcolepsy. I first was sent to one pulmonary doctors and after 3 sleep studies he told me and my wife that he had no idea what was going on with my sleep apnea and said that I should seek out another doctor. I did and after 2 more sleep test and one day test I was diagnosed with a rare Obstructive/Central sleep apnea or sometimes called mixed sleep apnea and he also diagnosed the narcolepsy. I am on bi-pap, which has two differnt settings for airblowing into your lungs. The first setting for when you exhale is smaller than the setting when you inhale. The bi-pap machines also will over about a hour of sleep set to your way of breathing and make it even more easier to use. I also have oxygen added to mine as my oxygen was dropping down into the 60% level at night too. They think all of my autoimmune diseaes were triggered by environmental agents.

[nan]

I have been found to have sleep apnea and I have had excessive weight gain and cannot seem to shed myself of it. Is there anything I can take to help me?