Anyone have sleep apnea?

[6_Time_Momma]

My doctor is 99% sure I have it based on symptoms. I go for a sleep study Tuesday night. I really don't look forward to wearing a CPAP machine, I can tell you! But, the few people I know with sleep apnea swear that the CPAP has made an incredible difference in their lives.

Anyone here have sleep apnea who can share about both the sleep study and the CPAP?

 

[Kteacher]

My DH was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 1 1/2 years ago. He now uses a cpap machine. It has made a huge difference! He used to be so sleep deprived he would literally fall asleep sitting up, to the point where it was dangerous for him to drive. His face would be bright red from the lack of oxygen. Although it did take a while for him to get used to wearing the cpap, it has been well worth it. Good luck to you!

 

[hbehrman]

I was diagnosed about two years ago. All I can remember is that when they put the mask (over nose and mouth) on me I couldn't fall asleep at all. I would almost be asleep and they would lower the flow of air so I would immediately wake up gasping for air. This went on for what seemed like forever. Then they put on a mask with nose pillows (nothing over your mouth). Bottom line is that that mask did the trick. When I woke up the next morning I was rested as I had never been before! Oh, and get this, the attendent told me the time that I had put the noser pillow mask on to the time they woke me up was only 2 hours! Unbelievable!

Do not fear! This is great if the diagnoses is sleep apnea and it solves your sleep/tiredness problem. There are all sorts of machines, masks, etc that you can try to be comfortable with. Oh, If you are diagnosed make sure you get a machine with a humidifier. This keeps your air passages from drying out overnight. As for the use of the machine you will get used to it pretty quick, since you are getting better sleep. My wife loves it because it stopped me from snoring.

Good luck.

Good luck

 

[GeorgeG]

I've been using a CPAP for 11 years and swear by it. My SIL is a respiratory therapist and she picked up on my apnea when I fell asleep in the middle of a converstion. She got the ball rolling for my sleep study and the doctor had a CPAP delivered the next day.

When you first get it set up you may wonder what you got yourself into, but it's really not bad at all. I got used to mine right away and felt better when I woke up the very first morning after using it.

A few hints: Make sure they get you fitted for the right mask; use a pillow that isn't too firm or too soft; try to get used to the full pressure from the start instead of using the ramp feature; use your imagination!

To clarify the imagination point, I have a very good imagination and the first time I put the mask on I imagined I was a jet fighter pilot and that I was flying. The mask, although only covering my nose, was part of the fantasy. I was sound asleep in minutes!

Good luck with your sleep study!

 

[NJBlackBerry]

I agree with GeorgeG 100%.

Getting (and USING) the CPAP is very important. Think of it like any other medical diagnosis. This is the treatment. Not using it is a very bad idea.

Echoing what George said:

- Get a good mask and have it fitted
- Get the right pillow or pillows - and this make take a while. 6 years into CPAP and I am getting a new pillow today because I don't like my current one. And I have a closet full of pillows.
- Use the CPAP every night. Even on vacation. Or a business trip. Make it part of your routine.

It's not that hard; it does take a while to get used to.

 

[Figment2]

There's always one in every bunch and I guess I'm it. I did the sleep study and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I used the machine for about two months and actually felt worse (more tired). I was a zombie during the day.

I have friends who use them who swear by them. More energy, etc. Not me. I tried with water, without water, different masks (5) - you name it, I tried it. I felt better after I stopped using it.

Hopefully it will work for you.

Cyn

 

[RealMickeysGirl]

I got my machine last October and I could tell the difference immediately.

My tests weren't bad - I didn't feel like I slept much during the first test but during the second test (when they calabrate the machine) I slept great.

They told me after the second test that the average person - as in non-apnea people - stops breathing in their sleep about 5 times an hour. During my first test, my average was 68 times an hour - no wonder I was tired all the time. During the second test, they got that down to 2 times an hour.

My DH noticed the difference almost immediately - as soon as I got used to sleeping with the mask - I hardly move now when I sleep. No more tossing and turning. Most of the time I wake up in the position I fell asleep in.

 

[arminnie]

There's always one in every bunch and I guess I'm it. I did the sleep study and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I used the machine for about two months and actually felt worse (more tired). I was a zombie during the day.

I have friends who use them who swear by them. More energy, etc. Not me. I tried with water, without water, different masks (5) - you name it, I tried it. I felt better after I stopped using it.

Hopefully it will work for you.

Cyn

CPAP does not work for everyone. Probably 95% but definitely not 100%. I was diagnosed 13 years ago. I tried CPAP for over a year with all sorts of variations including BIPAP with no success, and then opted for surgery.

Surgery has an abysmal success rate because 90% of the doctors doing it have no clue what they are doing. I went to THE doctors who invented the surgery at Stanford. They have an almost 100% success rate. I had my surgery over 12 years ago and am completely cured.

If anyone is considering surgery I would strongly suggest that it only be done at Stanford University or by someone who was trained there. To be done right it is very, very complicated (including moving the tongue forward) and is not just removing the uvula and part of the palate. Sometimes the jaw even has to be moved.

 

[jennyl772003]

DH has sleep apnea and uses a CPAP. He actually has it pretty severly. His dad has it too.

He never snored, but at night I could actually tell that he struggled to breathe and he stopped all the time. He could hardly function he was soooo tired all the time. he would go to bed at 8, and would still be tired in the morning.

He didn't care for the sleep study too much. He wasn't able to fall asleep with all of the electrodes on, so he had to take a sleeping pill.

It also took him quite a while to get used to the CPAP machine. It was a slow process. He has one with the humidifier. He recently bought a new pillow, one of the flat memory foam ones, and he thinks it works better then his previous pillows.

 

[mrsmom]

My dd is 12 yrs old and has been on cpap for 4 yrs, She had a second cleft palete repair which caused the sleep apnea when she was 9 yrs old. It has made a huge differences!! She doesn't get tired , she doesn't snore with the cpap machine. It really has been great for her and she doesn't mind wearing the mask. So if a 12 yr old can wear it for four yrs most adults can.
As far as the sleep study she just had another one a month ago and is getting ready to have another one with her cpap on. Just don't put conditioner in your hair or lotions on your skin because they hook leads up to you. It's really not that bad.
Kim

 

[amy4bruce]

I was diagnosed in 1992 with sleep apnea. I remember the first sleep test - when I woke up, the tech said, "Do you have one of those machines that pump air throught your nose?"

"No," I said.

He laughted. "You will."

Within a week, I had my first unit, and got my first decent sleep in years.

I've had a second unit now for three years. I've had about five masks, since they break first. They're the hardest thing for me to get used to. Once everything is okay, then I actually sleep normally.

The only drawback is that, if the power goes out, I'm stuck. I can't even go camping (this is not a negative to me).

 

[TheDoctor]

Good luck with the test. CPAP machines are a pain but they do help.

 

[OKWMom]

My father was diagnosed with sleep apnea 8 years ago after years of us begging him to go and be checked. His snoring was so loud you could hear him from one end of the house to the other. As a child, I can remember having dreams about construction equipment and trains only to wake up to his snoring.

He said it took him about three or four months to get used to the machine and to find the right pillow. But it has made a huge difference in his life. He now feels rested and can’t believe he ever lived without it.

Good luck to you.

 

[minkydog]

My DH has severe lung disease. He snores, but not heavily, and he pauses. I made a deal with him: if he would get a sleep study, i will too. I know I have sleep apnea. I snore, my mouth is dry when I wake up and often I have a sore throat. I "flip" all night long, 15-20 times. I wake up so much, I dread going to sleep at night and I put off going to bed until I absolutely have to.

So, DH failed the sleep study. To his horror and amazement, he has severe sleep apnea. His oxygen drops to 84% while he's sleeping. He went for his CPAP trial Tuesday and it was a disaster. The masks didn't bother him, the air pressure did. He has a lot of obstruction in his lungs, so his lungs don't expand & release well. He felt like he had been hooked up to an air hose at the gas station! Finally, at 4am he begged them to just turn it off so he could sleep a few hours. He was absolutely exhausted all day yesterday,his chest has been hurting badly ever since, and he couldn't sleep last night either(in his own little bed).

I'm concerned. Everyone I know who has CPAP loves it. All of them took to it like a duck to water. What are we going to do if DH can't tolerate the CPAP?

 

[southernbella]

DH has the CPAP. He went through the sleep study & I swear a different man walked out the next day. Before the sleep study, he would fall asleep while he was talking to you.

Do try out different masks. Dh has tried just about eveyone until he found on he liked. Good luck! I hope the CPAP works for you. Sbella

 

[Williamsfamily7]

My 16 year old daughter was diagnosed with moderate-severe sleep apnea. It took about 2 years to get to the diagnosis. Very simple once she had the actual Sleep Study done. The 2 years leading up were horrible - all sorts of school and depression problems. She had her tonsils out in April and her sleep has improved dramatically. Unfortunately, we're still working on the the other issues which I really feel were caused by the sleep apnea. Wish we had gotten a diagnosis earlier.

My husband is probably going in for a sleep study this fall. We're absolutely positive he has sleep apnea as well. For an adult, it's not treated the same way. (I'm happy my daughter was considered young enough to have her tonsils out. They won't do that for adults.)

If you think I can answer any questions for you, I'd be happy to try. I'm just not sure how much you can compare your experience with my daughters (because she is still considered in the pediatric area.)

Good luck!!!

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Thanks for your comments. I am actually quite curious to see the results of the study. So, part of me can't wait for the study (a very small part) while the rest of me is dreading it.