Dear Dr Rosenberg,
I was diagnosed with Acromegaly several months ago. I have Sleep Apnea and my Endocrinologist says it might have been caused by the Acromegaly. I will be undergoing surgery to eliminate the tumor. Does that mean, after surgery; I won’t need to wear my CPAP anymore?
That is possible, but not probable. Acromegaly is caused by the overproduction of growth hormone by tumors of the Pituitary gland. This can cause narrowing of the airway by enlarging structures such as the tongue. In some patients treatment may eliminate the Sleep Apnea. So retesting down the line to see if your Sleep Apnea has resolved may be reasonable.
Dear Dr Rosenberg,
Our son suffers from Cluster Headaches. They are very severe and disabling. They usually occur at night. Is there anything that can be done for this?
The majority of cluster headaches occur between 9 pm and 7 am. They seem to occur most often during REM (Dream sleep).They are one sided and accompanied by a watery eye, nasal stuffiness and sometimes a droopy eyelid. They usually occur in clusters several times a day with long remission sometimes for months in between. There are numerous effective treatments available, such as inhaling high concentrations of oxygen, medications used in migraines and even intranasal application of topical lidocaine. I would strongly advise your son to see a Neurologist. There is no reason to suffer with intractable pain from this condition anymore.
Dear Dr Rosenberg,
My niece is four years old. When she comes over to my house she is tired and irritable. My sister says she sleeps eight hours a night. I don’t think that is enough sleep for a child her age. Could that be why she is so tired and irritable?
Yes, I would tell your sister that is not nearly enough sleep for a four year old. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that preschoolers age three to five years old, get between 11 to 12 hours of sleep per night. Otherwise; moodiness, fatigue and difficulty concentrating are commonly seen. Eight hours is sufficient for an adult, but not a child.
Dear Dr Rosenberg,
My wife has Restless Leg Syndrome. She was started on a medication called Requip. Ever since she started on it; she goes shopping every day. It is costing us a lot of money. Is there any relationship, because it seems like too much of a coincidence.
Yes, Requip and some of the other medications used to treat Restless Leg syndrome such as Mirapex have been associated with impulse control disorders. Problems noted include: compulsive gambling, shopping, hyper-sexuality, and compulsive eating. It has been reported in up to 7% of those using these medications. I would definitely bring this to the attention of your Health Care Provider.
Dr. Robert Rosenberg, Board Certified Sleep Medicine Specialist, will answer readers’ questions by incorporating them in furture columns. Contact him at askthesleepdoc@yahoo.com or via mail at the Sleep Disorders Center of Sedona, 210 S. Sunset drive, suite A-1, sedona, AZ 86336.
