Does long term Sleep Apnea cause blue lips & pale fingernail

[JonBoyOhBoy]

I'm a new member. My doctors are sure I have sleep apnea. I'm seeing the pulmonary doc next week. First things first; I'm a severe hypochondriac. I have anxiety disorder and depression, for which I take Klonopin daily. I'm also on testosterone and I read that testosterone therapy can worsen sleep apnea. I'm 48 and weight 220', I was 245 but lost weight,

My son who sleeps down the hall tells me I snore so loud he can't sleep. He said it sounds like I grunt and snort like a pig. I wake up tired and feel like going back to sleep after breakfast. I'm exhausted all day and this has been going on for the last 10 years and worsening.

In the last 6 mo Tha I had a stress test, EKG, echocardiogram, abdominal ultrasound, colonoscopy and upper endoscopy. 2 years ago I had a chest x ray and spirometry. All normal.

Due to me weight and very inactive lifestyle I do get out of breath walking up stairs etc. But this is nothing new, I have been like this really all my life. I never was very active even as a teen,

My fi gear nails are VERY pale. Not blue, just pale. The doctor ran many blood test to check liver kidneys etc all normal. I have had pale nails since I was a child so nothing new.

Being a hypochondriac I read online about blue lips indicating copd and heart failure. So I never really noticed my lips as they always look pink. Yesterday I decide to do a test and did a very brisk 15 minute walk to get a little breathless, then I look in the mirror quickly and while I can't really say my lips turned blue, they did not look as "pink" as they did when I was resting. It was like the rim of my lower lip got a little darker then the inside moist part. So now I'm freaking out that I have some problem.

Can sleep apnea cause blue lips and pale fingernails?

Years ago when I was a drinker I remember waking up gasping for air almost every night. I also had a period of night terrors back then. I no longer do that since I don't drink any more, I was a smoker but quit years ago.

I'm sure next week I will be tested for sleep apnea, but I just wanted to get the opinions of the folks here.

[chunkyfrog]

Apnea is a common cause of low oxygen levels.
If this is the case with you, the best solution is at hand, non-invasive, and relatively painless.
This could be the start of wonderful changes for you.

[JonBoyOhBoy]

I apologize for the typos in my post above. I did this on an iPad

[JonBoyOhBoy]

Apnea is a common cause of low oxygen levels.
If this is the case with you, the best solution is at hand, non-invasive, and relatively painless.
This could be the start of wonderful changes for you.

Yes, BUT would the low oxygen levels linger throughout the day or just during sleep?

[hyperlexis]

What you are describing about 'pale' nails or blue lips has NOTHING to do with sleep apnea. Nothing.

I realize telling this to a hypochondriac likely means nothing, but worth a shot.

Severe snoring is one thing and maybe a sleep study would be helpful, but not because you think you have blue lips during the daytime, etc.

Someone with true anoxia caused by lung disease or other serious problems would have low blood oxygen levels, abnormal blood chemistries, vascular problems, other physical problems and ...would have already been diagnosed by a physician after all these years.

You do not have anoxia. Believe it or not those nails or lips = normal = you are fine.

If you want to worry about anything, focus on losing all that weight. Not another expensive test or procedure or drug to bill to medicare/insurance. Diet and Exercise is what you need.

Good luck!

[JonBoyOhBoy]

What you are describing about 'pale' nails or blue lips has NOTHING to do with sleep apnea. Nothing.

I realize telling this to a hypochondriac likely means nothing, but worth a shot.

Severe snoring is one thing and maybe a sleep study would be helpful, but not because you think you have blue lips during the daytime, etc.

Someone with true anoxia caused by lung disease or other serious problems would have low blood oxygen levels, abnormal blood chemistries, vascular problems, other physical problems and ...would have already been diagnosed by a physician after all these years.

You do not have anoxia. Believe it or not those nails or lips = normal = you are fine.

If you want to worry about anything, focus on losing all that weight. Not another expensive test or procedure or drug to bill to medicare/insurance. Diet and Exercise is what you need.

Good luck!

THANKS! I needed that last week I was checking my eyeballs for jaundice and could swear they looked a little yellow. it's not easy being a hypochondriac.

I was worried about something sinister like copd or pulmonary fibrosis. My chiropractor who actually does have copd reminded me that if I did have a pulmonary problem that was causing blue lips, it would have shown up in other areas like my echocardiogram and stress tests and blood tests etc.

But I really do think I have sleep apnea. I'm exhausted all day and wake up tired. Next week I'm getting tested

[kteague]

The good news is that people on here have reported that treating OSA with CPAP has improved symptoms of anxiety, depression, tiredness. If you are diagnosed with OSA and diligently treat it, you may find yourself relaxing a bit about life. I remember when my sleep disorders were not yet diagnosed or effectively treated, there was kind of a desperation to figure out why I felt like I felt. It was almost a sense of relief to be diagnosed, to bring understanding to my many wonderings. It's hard to know there's something wrong but not know what it is. Can't say that CPAP will cure your hypochondria, but hopefully as your symptoms improve you'll have less to worry about.

[Xney]

I'd get that checked out.

Sleep apnea would definitely not directly cause it, but long-term it could contribute to problems which might.

However, that really sounds like some separate heart, lung, or circulation problem.

[MidnightOwl]

I'd get that checked out.

He already did. See the list of tests.

My son who sleeps down the hall tells me I snore so loud he can't sleep. He said it sounds like I grunt and snort like a pig. I wake up tired and feel like going back to sleep after breakfast. I'm exhausted all day and this has been going on for the last 10 years and worsening.

This description however, unkind as it is, does sound very familiar to me and I'm sure to many of the others here. It certainly justifies a sleep test. And if you do have apnea it's an easy fix and you should end up less tired. I doubt it will make any difference to your nail beds.

[Xney]

I'd get that checked out.

He already did. See the list of tests.

Ah, right you are. My brain is dead today.

[Guest]

Yes and truthfully, Im not even sure if my lips are turning blue at all. In certain lighting the lower lip can look a little darker near the outside (dry part) and other times it looks fine. I guess if I truly had blue lips it would be very noticeable. I just have an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy in the last month and I know they had me on that oxymeter at the hospital. When I came out of the anesthesia my Oxygen came into normal ranges. I remember the nurse gave me some ginger ale and as I drank it she looked at my oxygen number and commented "why did youi oxygen drop off there?" but then she realized tat I stopped breathing for a few seconds to drink the ginger ale as I was waking up from the anesthesia.
I dont remember if the cardiologist who did the stress test was checking my oxygen levels or not during that test. But im sure he woul dhave seen blue lips as I was huffing on the treadmill

[chunkyfrog]

Put all your mirrors in a drawer. No peeking, except at a distance--for grooming only.
If your color were really 'off', your doctor would have noticed, or responded to your question about it.
Picture yourself healthy; using your CPAP, and otherwise following ALL your doctor's recommendations.
Let your inside work on your outside.

[JonBoyOhBoy]

Put all your mirrors in a drawer. No peeking, except at a distance--for grooming only.
If your color were really 'off', your doctor would have noticed, or responded to your question about it.
Picture yourself healthy; using your CPAP, and otherwise following ALL your doctor's recommendations.
Let your inside work on your outside.

Sometimes a really wish I were a woman, that way I could wear lipstck and paint my nails and stop obsessing over that stuff

[Thetoolman]

My blood OX levels were below 90. My fingernails looked blue underneath. Now I am on ocxigen. in thev day when I can & linked into my machine at night. They seem to grow out then start over BLUE again.

[SleepingUgly]

You've done the right thing by quitting smoking and drinking, losing weight, and continuing to do so. As noted, CPAP, if appropriate, may help some of your anxiety. After your sleep study, you would probably do better to invest in a good psychologist for your somatization issues than in more medical tests. You have good insight into your problem, which is great.