The past 6 months or so, I've been having increased difficulty breathing and swallowing during the day with very much increased fatigue. Daytime fatigue has been a problem for years now, and have explored most other causes with doctors with negative results. It didn't even occur that this could be a problem for me, because I do not fit the "typical" criteria (31 yo, female, slender, no noticable snoring) although I have been waking up on average 2 times a night for years. It wasnt until the daytime breathing and swallowing started to become noticably difficult and the fatigue became worse that I wondered if this could have been a problem all along. Thanks so much for your time!

Although it is posssible to have sleep apnea without snoring it is unlikely. Roughly 95% of people with sleep apnea snore. Snoring is the first sign of airway obstruction. When the obstruction gets worse, you get into sleep apnea. There are other sleep disturbances (such as periodic limb movement disorder) that could also wake you up as well as various types of insomnia. When you wake at night, can you get back to sleep easily? Do you have resless legs? Do you immediatly start vivid dreams on drifting to sleep? Are you acting out your dreams? These types of sleep disorders are diagnosed with a level 1 sleep study (you have to sleep in a hospital or sleep lab).

I am curious about the breathing/swallowing problem during the day. There are many possibilities for this as well. Does the sensation come and go or is it always present. Do you have reflux or heartburn? Are you drinking enough water? Have you been under a lot of stress/anxiety? Are you losing weight because of it?

This problem has been going on for over a year and you have developed new symptoms. I encourage you to discuss this with your doctor, let him order appropriate investigations, and ask for a referral to a specialist if there is still difficulty determining what is going on.

Hope this helps.