I have chronic insomnia, which is obviously different from sleep apnea, but I was tested for it a couple of years ago. My doctor was convinced that I had apnea and not insomnia, so I had to see a pumonary/sleep specialist and go through a sleep lab study to see what the problem was.
Turns out that I do have some breathing irregularities when I do sleep, but I don't actually stop breathing. I know that a lot of times the person actually stops breathing completely, and that's what wakes them up. Usually they don't remember it and they are tired all the time and don't know why.
Although I don't use it much, my doctor assigned me a C-PAT machine to assist with my breathing when I sleep. It's a mask that is attached with hoses to a machine that has a water reservoir for moisture, and the machine will pump moist air through the mask, and will keep airways open so the person won't stop breathing.
If your husband is found to have apnea, he will probably get one of those machines. I should use it more than I do, but I have enough problems trying to sleep as it is, and I have a harder time falling asleep with the mask on, as I tend to sleep on my stomach. I don't know if that's any help to you or not, but that's about the extent of what I know about it. I have some friends and co-workers that have sleep apnea, and I know it's no fun. The good news is it's something they can treat, so good luck to you and your husband. I hope they get him feeling better if he's having issues.
