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Help! my 9 yr ols stops breathing.
My 9 yr daughter started having episodes 2 1/2 weeks ago where she would wake up struggling for air (gasping). It started out as an evey other day, now its every day 1-4 times a night, she has seen a heart dr, and she has also has seen a neuroligist and he did a sleep study, he said its not seizures, and said she cannot have sleep apne b/c shes not over weight and does not snore, her heart is fine, and now we are trying a gastric specialist to see if possible reflux. Do you have any other ideas as to what this might be? or any ideas, I am at my witts end, with getting no sleep watching her all night. HELP!
Hey, you might want to take her to a ENT doctor. Has she been sick lately or has she stressed her vocals chords? This happend to my husband he was sick and what happen was he stressed his vocals along with a another little flap back there that got swollen causing to wake up gasping for air. I know it is scary! and none of the other doctors would listen. The ent doctor gave some meds and also told him to keep a bottle of water near the bed and if he wakes up before the gasping to take a sip of water to keep everything moving.....Hope this helps....
Please do get a full copy of her records to review yourself. I'm not saying you know more than the doctors, but I know from experience that knowing what questions to ask can lead to more answers. Possibly have a consult doc review them with you in detail. Did she not have any of the episodes while at the sleep study? If so, they should be able to tell you what else was happening at this time. If not, she may need home monitoring till an episode is captured. If her parents say she stops breathing, they should not dismiss that. At the very least an oxygen monitor could provide some protection until this gets sorted out. If a monitor was running when you noticed an episode, I would think it could be of diagnostic value. It's not invasive, just a finger clip, so it wouldn't bother their sleep.
I've talked with another mother who said her child is 11 now and she's spent her life sleeping with her hand on his chest, as his episodes of central sleep apnea are so random and far apart the docs didn't want him confined to a machine every night for an occasional episode that should correct itself after a short period of time. His mother just said she will rest when he turns 18 and decides for himself whether to use a machine or take the risk. What a life.
I'm not saying that's what your child has, just that a mother has to follow her instincts, and yours is telling you to continue to seek answers. Best wishes on your search.
I've talked with another mother who said her child is 11 now and she's spent her life sleeping with her hand on his chest, as his episodes of central sleep apnea are so random and far apart the docs didn't want him confined to a machine every night for an occasional episode that should correct itself after a short period of time. His mother just said she will rest when he turns 18 and decides for himself whether to use a machine or take the risk. What a life.
I'm not saying that's what your child has, just that a mother has to follow her instincts, and yours is telling you to continue to seek answers. Best wishes on your search.
Yes she was hooked up to the wires and all during her 2 night stay at the sleep center, and no she did not come home with any type of monintor. My husband and I take shifts keeping an eye on her, and in any case she sleeps next to me in my bed now, and my husband has been relocated to the couch. I have been looking for another neurologist for her to go to for a 2nd opinion, I am just not comfortable with the "its possible it could be reflux" from the dr's.
It certainly could be sleep apnea, but the sudden onset could also be asthma caused by a newly discovered or even newly developed allergy.
I'm sorry, I'm not sure about something you said. Did she actually sleep all wired up overnite in a sleep lab? For the doctor to say she "cannot have sleep apnea because she is not overweight and does not snore" is simply not accurate. Unbelievable a medical professional in this day and age would still think that. I would not accept that as the final answer unless she did have a full sleep study. Besides, there's both obstructive and central sleep apnea. Are her tonsils very large? I would want to have a copy of that sleep study in hand to make sure you understand what was said and done.
In view of her frequent episodes, was she sent home on a monitor with an alarm so you can get some sleep and she can be safe? If not, why? Follow your mother's instinct and tell her doctors you are not satisfied that your daughter is ok and want them to DO SOMETHING! Even an oxygen monitor on her finger with an alarm would be better than nothing.
Please let us know how she does.
In view of her frequent episodes, was she sent home on a monitor with an alarm so you can get some sleep and she can be safe? If not, why? Follow your mother's instinct and tell her doctors you are not satisfied that your daughter is ok and want them to DO SOMETHING! Even an oxygen monitor on her finger with an alarm would be better than nothing.
Please let us know how she does.
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