Do you really have sleep apnea?

I have alway had allergy issues. I have taken a series of allergy injections on more than one occasion. I also developed adult asthma in my 40's. I'm now 53. My asthma would surface through a cough, never a wheeze.

When I would get this cough, it would be hard to shake. I visited many doctors in South Florida and they all threw up their hands. One finally sent me to a sleep specialist even though I have never experienced the typical apnea symptom of being drowsy during the day. I did sometimes snore on occasion. I have always been a very high energy person and I told the doctor that. He put me thru a sleep study and told me I had apnea. He prescribed a breathing machine to be used at night. These machines take a very long time to get used to and make it very hard to sleep as you feel so constricted by the mask.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I moved to Los Angeles last year. A prominent allergy doctor was recommended to me. I went in and told this doctor my entire allergy story. He spent roughly an hour listening to what I had to say. He tested me in ways that I had never been tested before. He changed some of my meds around and he found some swelling in the back of my nose. One of my new meds reduced the swelling greating and it really helped my night breathing. He took me off the breathing machine and I'm fine. He told me he doubted that I ever had apnea to begin.

Bottom line is to get a second opinion if you are in doubt. Healthcare in South Florida is not great. I feel like I have a new lease on life without that breathing machine.