Brian, On Sat, 20 Apr 1996 16:49:18 -0400 you wrote:

>>If anyone knows someone who has long "pauses" and then "snorts" while
sleeping - please encourage them to be evaluated by a physician trained in
sleep apnea - it is a deadly medical condition.  My brother has been in a coma
in a hospital for over a year - obstructive sleep apnea was ONE of the
contributing causes<<

Your contributions on Lactnet have been very helpful.  And now you've got me
thinking and concerned....I suppose that's good!  I'm so sorry to hear about
your brother.  I have had the experience of having my mother-in-law in coma
for 9 weeks, and I know what the impact on the entire family can be.  My heart
goes out to you and your family.
You mentioned other contributing causes beside sleep apnea in his situation.
Is there a significant potential for obstructive sleep apnea alone, with no
other contributing causes, to induce coma?  About how many seconds, in your
experience on the hospital sleep teams, constitutes a long "pause"?  Or is
duration of pause not important?  Would a snorer who occasionally "pauses and
snorts" be at significant risk for coma?  Wondering if I'm the only Lactnetter
who may be staying awake tonight listening for snorts and pauses from my
snoring spouse.....
Again, Brian, thanks so much.  You are certainly helping to enlighten us all.
Joyce Blangiardo RN, FACCE, IBCLC
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