My husband had his brain scan and thankfully it is good news.
By jugsjugs
@jugsjugs (12967)
March 10, 2011 6:44pm CST
Last Friday my husband had to have a brain scan and that was due to him being in severe pain with what he thought was head aches or migrains.With him having high bp as well as now being put on beta blockers the same as me the dr had noticed other changes in him.This Monday he went to see a neuroligist and they said that the brain scan looked ok, but they noticed that he lacked oxygen to his something or other in the brain and that is due to him having sleep apnea, now he has to wait to see a person that is a sleep therapist in a sleep clinic.He is now trying to lose weight as that do not help and he has in the last week lost 4lb in weight.I had noticed that he seems to stop breathing in his sleep, as he is a snorer.At least we know what it is now and that he is trying to help himself as well by losing weight.He has even got weight lifting gym now as well as other exercise equipment.
11 people like this
27 responses
@GardenGerty (157563)
• United States
11 Mar 11
I am glad that there is not something bad going on like a tumor or a blood clot. If losing weight helps then that will be awesome. I know some people with apnea do well once they lose weight and some of them get what is called a cpap machine. I sure hope his headaches stop.
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
11 Mar 11
Oh gosh yes, as a long time headache sufferer it is so tiring to go through the agony of pain daily. There are many days that I feel some relief yet so drained from all the pain the days before. It is worse then exerting a great deal of effort when tired.
1 person likes this
@dnatureofdtrain (5273)
• Janesville, Wisconsin
11 Mar 11
For that they usually give a person a machine that helps them breath better in their sleep. Some of my friends have that.. They hated their machines for the first couple of weeks, but after they got used to them, they said they felt more energizes and better than they ever have before.. My prayers and thoughts go out to your husband.. After he sleeps better, he will have more energy, and less stress on the body, to be able to work off the weight he wants to lose.
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
11 Mar 11
Well my husband had sleep apnea, he wasn't diagnosed with it, but we just knew what it was, I'd hear him stop breathing for a couple seconds, then he'd start breathing again. He used to snore alot too, but since he went on a diet and lost 40 lbs, the snoring has stopped and so has the apnea, he doesn't breath like that anymore. So losing weight will help alot, even to where it might go away. Good luck to your husband in everything.
1 person likes this
@Sanitary (3968)
• Singapore
11 Mar 11
LAck of oxygen to his brain is caused by sleep apnea? I think my brother has got similiar symptoms as well, just that his breathing is normal when he sleeps. There are times whereby he gets too much blood on one side of his head, claiming to have headache. It can be on any side, and sometimes it happens after long usage of the computer with him staying in the same position. I don't know if that's anything to do with weight issues because ht's lean, unlikes your husband.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
19 Mar 11
Good to hear that they were able to help diagnose your husbands issue, and hope this helps with some of the headaches he gets, and that the loosing weight helps with some of the issues. I am still dealing with Bad migraines and headaches here which for some reason this time I cannot seem to kick, and really need a solution found. Hope the weight loss and the Sleep therapist can help find something that will work.
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
11 Mar 11
good to hear a good news. we all need to discipline ourselves in order to get well. i am glad to hear that he is doing his part. i feel sorry for my mother who does not help herself in order to get well. its like we wasted a lot of effort and money and she does not like to cooperate with us. but thats another story. i am happy to see other people do something to help themselves. hope your husband gets better. cheers.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
11 Mar 11
It is good that he found out about the sleep apnea now. I have had several friends where I used to work that all were overweight and they all found out they had that. I had thought about getting myself checked for this as well, but I guess they would have found it when I was in the hospital for 10 days (part of it being monitored), but they didn't say anything about it so I guess I don't have it. My dad was also a snorer and I think that may have been what happened to him. They told me from the autopsy that he had a silent heart attack, but knowing his snoring history, I think it was caused by sleep apnea. I hope all goes well for him!
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
13 Mar 11
Sleep apnea is something that is very common, but it is also something that can be treated. You are right that losing weight might be a big help with sleeping and not stopping breathing while sleeping. However, there are also machines that will put pressure on the lungs forcing a person to breathe while they are asleep. When I worked at the hospital, it was fairly common to have patients that needed to use a bipap machine.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
11 Mar 11
I am glad that this is good news, I often prefer to further see specialists then to sit at home in agony and not know what could be wrong with me. It does sound like your husband is on the path to resolution.
Very glad to hear he has also taken a healthy approach, loosing weight and weight lifting will certainly make his healthy stronger.
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
12 Mar 11
That's something serious when it concerns the brain. LAcking of oxygen going to the brain can be deadly because our brain might not be able to send out the right signals to other parts of the body, which might cause our system to shut down. It's best that your husband gets a thorough check, seeking a 2nd opinion. Maybe weight might be an issue, it will be good for him if he stays lean.. haha 
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
12 Mar 11
A lack of oxygen in the brain may explain the headaches, but then again, maybe not. High blood pressure can cause severe headaches, and so can many other things, as I am sure you already know.
As far as his sleep apnea, that can be very scary. I wonder if sleeping with his head elevated slightly and/or using nasal strips would help give your husband some relief. The main thing is to keep the airway as open as possible and those two things would really help.
It is good that he is exercising too. Not only will it help him lose weight, but it will also strengthen his heart and lungs, and probably improve his breathing and circulation as well.
In the meantime, take the good with the bad and be thankful that his brain scan was okay.
@Nadinest1 (2016)
• Canada
12 Mar 11
That is great....that he has sleep apnea....at least you know that it wasn't something worse causing the headaches. Sleep apnea can he controlled.
Glad to hear the good news.
@alicia812 (646)
• Australia
12 Mar 11
Hi jugs. I hope there is no major problem with your
hubby. I wish him all the best. I am glad though
that because of this health issues he have right now
he seems to be determined to lose weight. To lose 4lb
in a week is really a great job! Well done.
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
12 Mar 11
It was good news that your husband's scan didn't show anything. Isn't there some kind of machine people that have sleep apnea can wear to bed. It helps with the breathing. I don't know if it has oxygen or what it is. I have seen it on TV shows and movies.
