Sleep apnea

[Drdogface]

I can easily believe all these positive comments. Just on O2 for the night during my test I felt wonderful the next day...full of energy and head clear for the first time in a long time. I hope to get my Rx next week and get started.

Thank you all very much !

Mask recommendations are great...I don't know if you are allowed to try different ones w/o buying them first ??

[Joeaksa]

Have a good friend with it and he said that the biggest thing that helped was losing weight.

[svandamme]

What Joe says.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by boba

I have been using CPAP since sleep study done in 1994. I love it because it works. The first night I used it I could feel the difference. I have used a number of different headpieces over the years. There are more options today, Find one that works for you. I now use a full nose mask with a swivel fitting for the hose. Getting a comfortable fit is the key, so it is worth trying as many of the options until you find what works for you. It is not hyperboly to say it will change your life, as well as possibly saving it.

BTW I also was a seismic snorer, no more.

This is not for everone as it does take getting use to. But, it does work, I feel rested and it is life changing. I have changed my sleep habits. I don't thrash anymore or snore using it.

My family is happier too.

[John Rogers]

I would suggest trying to find a "sleep center" that can do the test and they have different masks you can try. If I remember correctly there are 3 types: a full face which will not work the tech told me if you have a beard, a "nose" mask that fits over the nose and braces against the forehead and a "plug" type that fits into each side of the nose. I opted for the second type and it works very well. It has to be just a little snug and when the air pump starts it inflates a seal so no air leaks out.

Some things to note are the mask needs to be cleaned everyday and washed well at least weekly, use pure water in the humidifier tank and clean it with soap and water weekly, same with the air hose. If you can, get the heated air hose so there is no condensation in it.

Finally our local utility takes off the cost of running it after you send in a form that the doctor will fill out and sign so check to see if yours does too?

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Drdogface

Mask recommendations are great...I don't know if you are allowed to try different ones w/o buying them first ??

You can try on different masks, but really have to sleep with them for a few nights to decide. Insurance should pay to replace a mask every 90 days. They last much longer than that. Just get a different one each time and try them all...

[white85carrera]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Ask your dentist about an appliance. I don't know anything about them, just know they are available.

+1
Wife is fit as a fiddle but snores like a lumberjack. Cpap was prescribed and no way was that going to work for her. Tried the dental appliance and she has been on it for 2years. We don't stay overnight anywhere without it......I make sure.

[on2wheels52]

Okay guys, my husband said to reply on this thread. Being a respiratory therapist for 25 years I might have some good input.
A sleep study will diagnose the need for CPAP or Bipap. The mask, nasal mask or pillows can take a MONTH to get used to, yet many people once accustomed to the mask of choice have a hard time sleeping with out it. Better sleep and oxygenation will improve ability to lose weight, improve alertness and energy. Excess weight makes sleep apnea worse along with neck circumference, alcohol use and also if you have a recessed chin (your nose sticks out further than your chin) with no excess weight involved.
If you have had a sleep study done, really try to be compliant with your Dr's recommendation. It can improve your quality of life and decrease mortality due to a decrease in oxygen to very important organs(heart, brain, kidney etc.) which when your oxygen drops puts much more stress on said organs.
Wish you luck and all the best.
C

[Drdogface]

C... Thanks for all that good info... !!

[LeeH]

I've got a REMstar Plus CPAP machine, with heated humidifier and mask that you can have as part of the "Pelican Pay it Forward" program. It's fairly like new. I picked it up at a thrift store, but found Ebay limits selling of medical devices. Let me know if it's something you can use.

[Drdogface]

Thanks Lee, but I dunno just yet what I will need or want. I have to talk to the Doc first. Also might qualify to get one from the VA. I will remember this offer though. What might you want for it ?

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by Drdogface

Thanks Lee, but I dunno just yet what I will need or want. I have to talk to the Doc first. Also might qualify to get one from the VA. I will remember this offer though. What might you want for it ?

Let me know if you need it. Your undying gratitude and respect should be sufficient compensation.

[fintstone]

I have a question for you guys with apnea. I snore a lot... the wife says she can nudge me and I stop (and the snoring inproved significantly after losing about 10-15 lbs). As far as I know, I don't wake up at night and sleep soundly...but I am sleepy a lot in the middle of the day...almost to the point of feeling drugged. Maybe I just need to sleep longer. Did your sleep studies show you were waking a lot and you did not know it?

[ronster]

Originally Posted by fintstone

I have a question for you guys with apnea. I snore a lot... the wife says she can nudge me and I stop (and the snoring inproved significantly after losing about 10-15 lbs). As far as I know, I don't wake up at night and sleep soundly...but I am sleepy a lot in the middle of the day...almost to the point of feeling drugged. Maybe I just need to sleep longer. Did your sleep studies show you were waking a lot and you did not know it?

I've had two sleep studies done and didn't know I was waking up in either although the last one showed I was getting less than a half hour of solid sleep a night. With apnea you don't really "wake up" like you normally do in the morning and if you are at the point where you stop breathing, until CO2 builds up to the point your brain is starved and orders you to wake and breath, you are causing damage to your body and could at some point just not wake up. When the periods of not breathing occur is when you will start the loud gasping sounds that really drives a bed partner up a wall. One of the issues with apnea is how it affects your partner as well because they are also not getting quality sleep and begin to suffer from the experience as much as you do. I've had two relationships end over it. It is easier for someone you've been with for years to get used to a mask and CPAP then breaking in a new partner to the fact you look like Hannibal Lector at night.

[ronster]

Originally Posted by Drdogface

Thanks Toby. I have had the study done, but the results have only just been sent to my Doc. I can't wait to get started and get back into life... I may have the same problem with the RV, though, and going to fish camp in Canada.

There are rechargeable battery attachments for some of the devices and 12 volt convertors. There are also travel CPAPS that fit in the palm of your hand and work off multiple voltages.

[Drdogface]

Originally Posted by LeeH

Let me know if you need it. Your undying gratitude and respect should be sufficient compensation.

LOL...thanks...will do.

[Drdogface]

Originally Posted by ronster

There are rechargeable battery attachments for some of the devices and 12 volt convertors. There are also travel CPAPS that fit in the palm of your hand and work off multiple voltages.

Didn't know about that... mucho grass ... I'll look into it.

[boba]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Did your sleep studies show you were waking a lot and you did not know it?

That is correct, I do not remember the # times per hr, but it was similar to what others reported here. What is happening is that you stop breathing and that is what wakes you up. You start breathing again and resume sleeping without any awareness of this taking place.
With your description of your situation a sleep study is something you should discuss with your Doc.

[Drdogface]

Originally Posted by ronster

I've had two sleep studies done and didn't know I was waking up in either although the last one showed I was getting less than a half hour of solid sleep a night. With apnea you don't really "wake up" like you normally do in the morning and if you are at the point where you stop breathing, until CO2 builds up to the point your brain is starved and orders you to wake and breath, you are causing damage to your body and could at some point just not wake up. When the periods of not breathing occur is when you will start the loud gasping sounds that really drives a bed partner up a wall. One of the issues with apnea is how it affects your partner as well because they are also not getting quality sleep and begin to suffer from the experience as much as you do. I've had two relationships end over it. It is easier for someone you've been with for years to get used to a mask and CPAP then breaking in a new partner to the fact you look like Hannibal Lector at night.

What he said...same here...

[fintstone]

Thanks for the info!