Poll: How Many Have Celiac And Sleep Apnea?

[Janine]

Hi- I am trying to post a poll named "How many people here have celiac AND sleep apnea?". Let's see if it works... janine

[Judyin Philly]

Hi- I am trying to post a poll named "How many people here have celiac AND sleep apnea?". Let's see if it works... janine

good job Janine

It worked.

Thanks for getting it up there I'm so anxious to see the results.

judy in philly

[cinbrown]

I was thrilled to find this topic! I too have celiac and apnea. I have used the CPAP and now the BIPAP,

but I am still having a difficult time with drowsy driving. Has anyone found any remedy to this specific problem?

I also have RLS and hep c. I am always looking for connections.

Cindy

[wozzy]

I was just diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea...I did a sleep test a few nights ago with a CPAP. I haven't heard the results yet, so I don't know if it helped. I do have a deviated septum, though, so I think mine might be fixable.

My doctor thought I had narcolepsy, but I have a feeling it's just good ol' gluten (on accident, of course).

[Ursa Major]

Well, I voted "I have one but not the other". I used to wake up gasping for air (suspecting sleep apnea), but since going gluten-free haven't had that problem! Thank God, it was scary.

[eKatherine]

I wonder how many people would have chosen the option "I have neither" if it was offered.I know this is a celiac board, but I consider myself to have a gluten intolerance that is not (yet) celiac, and probably won't be so long as I don't consume gluten.

[plantime]

My apnea is "mild, does not require a cpap machine, but does need to be watched, as it could get worse." I was biopsy diagnosed with celiac in 2004. Hopefully, losing weight will help the apnea not progress!

[penguin]

I had apnea until I was 14 when I got my adenoids removed and my sinuses widened. Apparenly, I couldn't breathe hardly at all because my sinuses were filled with my adenoids, and they were abnormally small to boot. I don't snore or anything anymore

[learay]

I have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and Celiac Disease. My sleep apnea has only recenly been diagnosed. I am scheduled to see a doctor in another week to discuss my options. I think I will be sleeping with a CPAP. I have gained weight lately, but with the sleep apnea am so tired during the day and after working all day it is hard to come home and exercise. I am really hoping that once I have the machine it will help and will be able to start exercising again.

[ebrbetty]

my hubby had it, had to sleep with that terrible mask, he ended up having the surgery, said besides loosing weight its the best thing he ever did, feels like a new man, not tired all day.

good luck

[givingthanx]

Check out this website:

Open Original Shared Link

It says there is a connection between sleep conditions (such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome) and autoimmune diseases.

I haven't been diagnosed yet, but I came down with celiac bowel and malabsorption symptoms a month and a half ago. Three days into that, I developed sleep apnea. I went off gluten, and the bowel and malabsorption symptoms went away. I still get the sleep apnea, usually combined with headaches, on occasion. I wonder if it's when I've ingested hidden gluten. I haven't yet learned everything I need to know to keep it out of my diet, and sometimes I'm lazy about it. Especially in the beginning before you have amassed a decent list of known gluten-free products, it can be a real drag to check everything and make all those phone calls. And having low variety of foods is a drag, so occasionally I'm lazy.

A couple weeks after I went gluten-free, I was tempted to take communion, and I did. I got a headache, and I had sleep apnea that night.

I'm so sure I have celiac. It's ridiculous how many related conditions there are in my family - and in myself.

When I went gluten-free, I also lost my "geographic tongue," which I've had for years. There was a spot on the left side of my tongue that was totally smooth - no taste buds at all. Miraculously, since going gluten free, all my taste buds have grown back. It took about a month - maybe a few weeks - for them to grow back. They grew in from the back toward the front. Now you can't even tell to look at it that I was ever missing taste buds. Weird. I had always just assumed my tongue looked like that because I had strep all the time when I was a kid, until they took out my tonsils. I thought it was scarring. Interesting.

I know that has nothing to do with sleep issues, but it's just way interesting to me.

I wish this sleep apnea would go away. It woke me up this evening. I don't know what I could have ingested that caused it. Surely frozen fruit wouldn't have gluten in it?... I've eaten a lot of chocolate today, but it was all supposedly gluten free. What else did I eat today? All wine is gluten-free, right? Maybe the pumpkin seeds, which I scooped from bins at EarthFare, were contaminated. Fish oil capsule? Probiotic capsule? (Maybe there's something in the capsule part.) Olive oil? Coconut oil? Anybody have a bad experience with any of these products? I can't think of what else I ingested that wasn't specifically labelled gluten-free. It's such a drag calling all these people.

[Adelle]

I have both! I tried to use the CPAP for a few months. I couldn't handle it. I would have panic attacks right when I almost fell asleep, it took me about 30-45 min to recover, then to try to sleep again. I went into such a state of sleep depravation, which only made the celiac worse. I couldn't even speak w/o slurring, couldn't walk straight, etc. The only "solution" was to pump me full of xanax to make me sleep. Which also didn't work. Then I gave up. Then I found the gluten-free diet. I'm always a little tired, but I don't snore or quit breathing anymore. I'm not tired in the same way I used to be. I still have the joint and muscle pain, but that's a whole other story...

I recently got glutened, the breathing issues are the first symptom I typically feel. I'm glad I am not alone! Sorry I'm rambling, it's getting late!

[Gerri]

Hi my name is Gerri, I am new to this forum.

I was first diagnosed with mild sleep apnea back in 1987. I have GERDs (most of my life), lactose intolerant, IBS (most of my life), leaky gut, constantly constipated, bloated all the time, always gassy as shown on my many abdomenal ultra sounds. These symtoms have been going on most of my life. I believe I have small intestine crohns disease (not diagnosed). I have been diagnosed with NASH (Non-alcohol fatty liver disease with inflamation, and will be starting insulin shortly). I have been diagnosed MS by Urologist but not confirmed by Neurologist. I have lesions on my brain. I am so tired all the time. I have been diagnosed with Osteopenia. I have Central Auditory Processing disorder, with Hyperacusis, which is worsening. My dentist diagnosed me with Sjogren's, and they are checking into Lupus. I also have many allergies to sulfa, sulfites, sulfates and any derivative of sulfer. My health issues are many and are not all listed. I am also HLA B27 positive.

It's funny, I started following a glutten free diet, with low starch, months back (close to a year). My sleep apnea improved. This past week I haven't been able to follow my diet, and now my now severe obstructed sleep apnea, is worsening. Even though I take Ativan at night, I still wake with insomnia throughout the night.

I haven't been able to loose weight. I look at food and gain weight, when I eat bread. I told my Gastroenterologist I was following a celiac diet because it seemed to help my stomach, she did not rule celiac disease out, and has not ruled out Lupus.

Does any of these symptoms sound familiar.

Gerri

[Gerri]

Hi my name is Gerri, I am new to this forum.

I was first diagnosed with mild sleep apnea back in 1987. I have GERDs (most of my life), lactose intolerant, IBS (most of my life), leaky gut, constantly constipated, bloated all the time, always gassy as shown on my many abdomenal ultra sounds. These symtoms have been going on most of my life. I believe I have small intestine crohns disease (not diagnosed). I have been diagnosed with NASH (Non-alcohol fatty liver disease with inflamation, and will be starting insulin shortly). I have been diagnosed MS by Urologist but not confirmed by Neurologist. I have lesions on my brain. I am so tired all the time. I have been diagnosed with Osteopenia. I have Central Auditory Processing disorder, with Hyperacusis, which is worsening. My dentist diagnosed me with Sjogren's, and they are checking into Lupus. I also have many allergies to sulfa, sulfites, sulfates and any derivative of sulfer. My health issues are many and are not all listed. I am also HLA B27 positive.

It's funny, I started following a glutten free diet, with low starch, months back (close to a year). My sleep apnea improved. This past week I haven't been able to follow my diet, and now my now severe obstructed sleep apnea, is worsening. Even though I take Ativan at night, I still wake with insomnia throughout the night.

I haven't been able to loose weight. I look at food and gain weight, when I eat bread. I told my Gastroenterologist I was following a celiac diet because it seemed to help my stomach, she did not rule celiac disease out, and has not ruled out Lupus.

Does any of these symptoms sound familiar.

Gerri

[deesmith]

Hi- I am trying to post a poll named "How many people here have celiac AND sleep apnea?". Let's see if it works... janine

I have not been diagnosed yet with sleep apnea, but I suspect it. That along with the insomnia and RLS make sleeping fun. What's even better is when I'm very badly glutened and I have wild nightmares and night sweats!

Glad to hear that the diet may help improve the sleep apnea. That is good news.

[AliB]

I don't have SA but my son who is 27, 6'4" and only weighs less than 200lbs does seem to suffer with it. He has noticed that he is better when he eats less sugar and carbs, and is also less sluggish and has less brain fog.

My symptoms are certainly better when I eat less carbs and sugar. I know that carbs have been a problem for me for years, and am definitely better when I go low-carb, as going low-carb cuts out not only carbs in general but gluten also.

I can't help thinking that whilst gluten is certainly a significant part of the problem, it might be that for many it is not just gluten, but carbs in general that they cannot cope with. I read recently that apparently, whilst 20% of the population can cope with carbs, the other 80% can't.

I have noticed quite a lot when reading this forum that a lot of people, after going gluten free, tend to compensate for their 'deprivation' by consuming even more carb in the way of sweet and high-carb gluten-free products which seems kind of counter-productive to me. Perhaps that is why some find, although they are gluten-free they are not really seeing much improvement.

We don't need carbs to survive. Many communities survive perfectly well without it, or with just a little. It is a fuel booster in times of high activity or stress, but other than that it is not necessary. Communities that do not eat much in the way of carbs do not have either weight problems or the illnesses that we have. They stay fit and healthy unless they are exposed to our 'Western' high-carb, high sugar diet. Then they end up sick like us! Says it all really.............

I have cut gluten, dairy, most carbs and sugar since end of Jan, and am beginning to reap the benefit. I am certainly sleeping much better and am able to stay in one place rather than have my digestion causing my legs to thrash about all night with restless leg syndrome! My blood pressure is coming down. My digestion has settled and I very rarely have any bloating or 'gurgling'. Because I am eating less carb my blood sugar isn't spiking like it was and is much lower and more stable, and I have heaps more energy.

I have advised my son to continue to restrict the carbs and sugar as he can see the benefit of doing that and I am sure he will sleep much better if he does.

[edye911]

I have both sleep apnea and celiac, also was diagnosed with fibromyalgia years ago. I have tried the CPAP also but found it woke me every few hours. I have recently began taking Lyrica and my husband says I don't snore much and I don't stop breathing like I did before. It of couse helps with the pain also.

[ISGoddess]

I have sleep apnea and a wheat allergy -- am saving up for the genetic testing re celiac disease. I am 100% CPAP compliant -- it has changed my life. And don't think that thin people don't get OSA --- a lot has to do with the structure of your airway. For example, I have a deviated septum. Granted, my symptoms improve when I lose weight -- I don't need as high a pressure on the CPAP. I think if I could get to my goal weight I probably could get by on Breathe-Right strips.

Anybody who snores, wakes up with headaches, is constantly tired in the daytime, falls asleep in church, the movies, while driving -- should talk to their doctor re sleep apnea regardless of their weight or body habitus.

[babygirl1234]

i have both i was just dienosied (SP?) with mild sleep apnea they thing thats why i get headaches .

[ISGoddess]

Headache relief is the first, practically instantaenous thing to happen once you get treatment. I was floored the morning I woke up after having the sleep study -- no headache, no grogginess, and NO need for a nap! It's the oxygen deprivation that causes the headache (and problems with weight gain, etc.).

[Tiger73549]

I have been diagnosed with both. I'm in college and use a CPAP. I was told I had sleep apnea last year, but only recently diagnosed with Celiac.

[nasalady]

Just diagnosed with sleep apnea; diagnosed with celiac disease last fall.

One more health issue......