Does anyone suffer from sleep apnea?

[Lachesis00]

I was tested last night and "scored" above 15 "stops" per hour. I see my doctor next week. Any idea what to expect?

At least now I know why I am so tired all the time. Sleeping 20+ hours a day sometimes is really no way to live.

 

[sam517]

My son has sleep apnea. He uses a cpap machine at night. It's a positive pressure breathing machine which keeps his airway open when he sleeps. Without it he has VERY LOUD snoring and he is exhausted. It took him a while to get used to wearing the mask to sleep but it has made a tremendous difference in his ability to function without always being exhausted.

 

[amy4bruce]

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 1994. I was outfitted with a cpap unit, which gave me my first good night's sleep in I-don't-know-how long.

Sleep apnea is bad, but at least it can be managed. Good luck. You'll love your unit.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Coincidentally I had my CPAP sleep study last night. Can't say it felt like the best sleep I've had in my life, but certainly the most "productive" sleep I've had in a very long time. I probably slept about 5 hours in total, had some breathing distress during the testing, but woke up feeling refreshed. I usually need to sleep in the early afternoon just to get through the rest of the day. No need for that today -- although I'm feeling rather tired now. (10:26pm EDT)

As for the sleeping "arousals", breathing incidents, or stops -- I averaged 72/hour during my initial testing. I stopped breathing for 64 seconds on one occasion and my blood oxygen levels plummeted to 50%. Apparently there are concerns when it drops to 94%.

I toured the home healthcare shops today and checked out the CPAP machines available. My wife is looking forward to the snoring cessation. I'm looking forward to having some energy to get through the day.

 

[MerryPoppins]

DH has sleep apnea. He's had a cpap for several years now and I love it! He is much more rested and happy. He doesn't rattle the windows with his snoring. The only real complaint he has is that he doesn't like the mask too much, but the good sleep is worth it. Other masks are available, but don't fit him too well.

 

[Lachesis00]

I wish they made a duel machie *lol*. I know and have known my husband needs some type of machine for a long time. He refused to go in. When I made my appt, I made him his. ha!
He is actually happy about it though. He is a procrastinator!

Thats my worry is I have been reading some boards and people have a heck of a time finding the right mask or nose piece. I cracked up at how people manuvered their hose so they wouldn't get tangled up. They really are creative people.

I am looking forward to getting a decent nights sleep and not feel like I need to sleep the days away!

Cpap boards

DH has sleep apnea. He's had a cpap for several years now and I love it! He is much more rested and happy. He doesn't rattle the windows with his snoring. The only real complaint he has is that he doesn't like the mask too much, but the good sleep is worth it. Other masks are available, but don't fit him too well.

 

[MerryPoppins]

DH has one that sticks out in front of his face. I tell him at night to give me a kiss before he gets on his Gonzo nose.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

My DH has it. He has some special sleep mask which lets him sleep all through the night..but when it's time to change it, YOU KNOW! It whistles a lot!!

Thank goodness he has it...his snoring is HORRIBLE. He went on a trip with a friend of his two years ago, and one more he work up and found his friend asleep in the bathtub. My dh's snoring drove his friend to the bathroom! He even recorded it on his phone, because he never believed me when I told him he snored

 

[TinkNH]

DH was diagnosed with it about 3 years ago and has been using a cpap since. Made a world of difference. (At first it was a little like sleeping next to darth vader for me ...but i got used to the white noise fast..and now miss it when he is not there!)

 

[mrsstats]

I was recently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. Getting use to the mask is proving to be a real pain. Between the mask & hot flashes going to bed at night is a real challenge. I know that I need to do it because no doing so makes you at a higher risk for strokes, which run in my family

 

[MerryPoppins]

DH says wearing the mask is still a PITA several years later, but worth it in the long run. He says you do get more used to it. He just doesn't like wearing it. He does love the way he's able to sleep and how rested he feels. And how rested I feel is another plus.

 

[jfulcer]

Another Sleep Apnea CPAP user here. Yes, it was hard to get used to the mask, but in reality it was only a couple days before I was comfortable with it. Our home healthcare came to my office in the middle of the day so I could try fit and comfort on a bunch of masks and they showed me how to adjust it.

The CPAP has made a world of difference for my entire family's sleep habits. My CPAP machine goes with me anytime I travel - even just overnight.

And the funny thing is that even though DW doesn't like the air blowing on her so lays facing away from me, our cat just loves it and will come up and sleep right next to my head so it blows on him. He'll actually get upset if the pillow is in his way - he'll paw at it until I move it to make room for him.

You can be proud of yourself for taking the steps to do this. I can't tell you how many people post on this board "My DH snores and practically wakes the dead but he refuses to get tested." ugh.

Congrats to you and your husband. You'll both sleep a LOT better.

 

[megan4777]

Dh has sleep apnea. He's in his early 30's and has had this for about 10 yrs now. He's had numerous sleep studies and I remember having to hit him to make him breathe again in the middle of the night.

His drs initially suggested he lose weight and he's about 5'10" and was 210 but is pretty muscular due to his job. Everyone we know with sleep apnea has had their dr suggest they lose weight.
He tried to lose weight and it didn't work (we don't really eat junk) so he tried a dental device that worked for a short while.
He finally started using the CPAP with the nose piece and he didn't mind it too much. If he can use it, ANYONE can.

On 7.31 he had surgery to remove his uvula, tonsils and move his tongue forward. He sleeps SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better now.
It really amazes me how he can sleep on his back now with (and without, at times) his CPAP and it doesn't wake me up.

He's going to have another sleep study in about 2 months and hopefully things will be better so they won't have to go to stage 2 surgery. My guess is that he's ok for a while, b/c he's not so cranky and isn't snoring.

Good luck with your sleep apnea. I definately suggest the CPAP. DH HATED the mask and does well with the nose piece. He's a total PITA and if he can deal, anyone can!

 

[momrek06]

My best friend's DH has what was diagnosed as SEVERE sleep apnea. He went to a sleep study clinic. He was fitted for a cpap machine. They delivered it to his house. THAT WAS ONE YEAR AGO. It just SITS on his nightstand. My DGF said that the mask is too tight (or something). I told her to call the company and have them come back out and re-size it or whatever....NO she said because her DH hates it anyway.

DGF has not slept in the same room with him in maybe easily 5 or 6 years (at least) and it is HE** when they go away and have to stay in the same hotel room because DGF does not sleep at all!!!

Her DH is incredibly overweight and smokes 3-4 packs a day. His MD said "maybe" if he lost some weight and stopped smoking it would greatly improve his sleep apnea. DGF said her DH will never do that at all... !!

We went away with them to Mohegan Sun and they were in the room next to us and DH and I could hear him through the wall...I really felt bad for DGF. She looked awful in the morning and her DH had a bad headache. When he asked for the tylenol I asked WHY...and they both said he wakes up every single morning with a headache....

 

[Liberty Belle]

My best friend's DH has what was diagnosed as SEVERE sleep apnea. He went to a sleep study clinic. He was fitted for a cpap machine. They delivered it to his house. THAT WAS ONE YEAR AGO. It just SITS on his nightstand. My DGF said that the mask is too tight (or something). I told her to call the company and have them come back out and re-size it or whatever....NO she said because her DH hates it anyway.

DGF has not slept in the same room with him in maybe easily 5 or 6 years (at least) and it is HE** when they go away and have to stay in the same hotel room because DGF does not sleep at all!!!

Her DH is incredibly overweight and smokes 3-4 packs a day. His MD said "maybe" if he lost some weight and stopped smoking it would greatly improve his sleep apnea. DGF said her DH will never do that at all... !!

We went away with them to Mohegan Sun and they were in the room next to us and DH and I could hear him through the wall...I really felt bad for DGF. She looked awful in the morning and her DH had a bad headache. When he asked for the tylenol I asked WHY...and they both said he wakes up every single morning with a headache....

That's really sad. I hope he gets a not-so-severe wake up call soon.

My dh has sleep apnea and uses a cpap. I like the white noise, but sometimes the little stream of air blowing out bugs me (unless I'm hot, then I get under it to cool off.

 

[PoohPrincess76]

My DH has it. He has some special sleep mask which lets him sleep all through the night..but when it's time to change it, YOU KNOW! It whistles a lot!!

Thank goodness he has it...his snoring is HORRIBLE. He went on a trip with a friend of his two years ago, and one more he work up and found his friend asleep in the bathtub. My dh's snoring drove his friend to the bathroom! He even recorded it on his phone, because he never believed me when I told him he snored

When my DH was younger and they went on a family trip, he woke up with his cousin in the bath tub too.

After about 2 months of dating I made my him go in for a sleep test. He has 124 stops per hour. No one in his life ever thought to mention to him that his obnoxious snoring could be helped. I could deal with the snoring, but, the stopping of breathing and him waking up gasping scared the crap out of me.

His twin brother has not had the test yet, but, their older brother had the test and opted for the surgery. DH is good with the CPAP for now. Our local surgeon told him that his operation would be too intense and he would have to go to UCSF for it.

 

[momrek06]

That's really sad. I hope he gets a not-so-severe wake up call soon.

My dh has sleep apnea and uses a cpap. I like the white noise, but sometimes the little stream of air blowing out bugs me (unless I'm hot, then I get under it to cool off.

It is really sad...because as strange as this may sound...his insurance has gone and paid for all these services and bought him that machine and he could not even be bothered by attempting to use it, AT the VERY INCONVENIENCE OF HIS VERY OWN FAMILY. DGF sleeping in another room. And them very rarely being able to go away. I think it is sort of selfish that he went through all that and then choses not to listen to what the MD's say to him and DGF agrees with her DH that IF he does not like it then he does not need to bother with it....WTH!!!

Not to mention his HEALTH....hellllllo!!!! Would you like to live a few more years???

 

[Poppinsme]

Im a Respiratory Therapist and have put many many people on CPAP home machines. Advice: Lose weight and dont smoke. 99% of the people that I have put on CPAP are over weight. Also heavy smokers are prime candidates for CPAP at home. End stage COPD pts. are also on CPAP but that makes sense. Surgery can help those that are not over weight and have a legit reason to have surgery.

Remember smoking IS really a killer. And getting COPD and dying by suffication is a horrible way to go.