Sleep Apnea & Brain Damage

[wintersgirl]

I have recently had surgery to correct my sleep apnea, which I believe I have had for at least 15 years.  I was not aware of it until I saw an ear, nose & throat specialist and had a sleep study.  I'm 52 years old and noticed my brain isn't as sharp as it was and even simple 'mental math' takes me forever (I was a math major in college).  Can sleep apnea have caused brain damage?  

[cat1955]

I went 5-6 years complaining to my PCP that I was waking up with bad heart palpitations and a feeling like someone was sitting on my chest, he sent me to a cariologist for 2 years of tests and the symptoms continued. I took a trip to Littleton Colorado and went as high as Red Rocks Ampitheatre 6,450 feet above sea level, I am originally from Boston, MA  and have been living in Florida (flat) since 1992. I was supposed to be there for 12 days and only lasted 4 days that were miserable. I was diagnosed with pulmonary and cerebral edema.  I never acclimated to the height above sea level and had to go on oxygen and take the first plane out in the morning. I then went to a pulmonologist (I have controlled asthma and allergies since 13) he recommended the sleep study and I was put on CPAP, I do not understand it all, I do not snore.. never have.. unless I have a cold, I have gained lots of weight  (mostly in the abdomen) over the last few years only and have felt bad for a while, I have been thorouhly tested at Mayo and have labile blood pressure, do all these tie in together. Is there brain damage that can be reversed, I am religious about the CPAP even though it is ugly and cumbersome but I am scared. I even nap with it on.  I am having trouble tying all these things together but I was not so bad up till teh roiginal symptoms which were not diagnosed very quicky. I am scared and want to be back where I was. I have even researched damage to the Vegus nerve since I had severe whiplash in a car accident in 1991. I just wnat to get to the bottom of this  and feel good. I am going crazy.

[roadhog]

Your prefrontal cortex has been starved of oxygen during sleep. Take a high quality Coq10 and vitamin C  along with Alpha lipoic acid to scavenge out free radicals and take up pranayama (Hindu)breathing regimen- watch your congnitive abilities return!

[kaznev]

Get your cortisol checked.  Sleep apnea causes excess cortisol in the system, which may lead to exhaustion of your adrenals, which leads to memory problems and exhaustion.  Nerves are coated with myelin which needs adequate amounts of cortisol to function properly.  If you have adrenal exhaustion, it may need propping up with adrenal support, or you may wish to see an endocrinologist.  The first step is the doc though for a cortisol check just in case.

[JustTrish]

I guess it all depends what you call "brain damage".  Depriving your brain of oxygen night after night for 15 years is certainly going to leave it's mark.  Good new is that we now know that you can grow brain cells at any age, so stick to your CPAP religiously and stimulate your brain.  

Hugs

Trish