Sleep Apnea Support/Questions Thread

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by ggainey

Hi my name is Greg and my doctor said I don't have sleep apnea, not sure how he knows without any testing. I used to wake up in the the night gasping for breath. It was almost like I was dreaming and in the dream I would know I needed to breathe, and finally wake up and just be gasping for breath. I haven't had that happen in a long time now. Not sure just thought I would share.

My doctor told me he doubted I had it too, but he still sent me to see a specialist because I insisted my wife wasn't making it up that I was stopping breathing for 30 seconds at a time. When I had my sleep study I stopped breathing about 500 times and they almost came in and woke me up at one point because I didn't breath for about 45 seconds. I'd ask your doctor for the referral or get another doctor.

[RGD.]

Hi! My name is Ron and I've gone 10 years now without a drink . . . ummm, sorry - I mean without sleep apnea.

I had it so bad that I preferred to just stay awake for days at a time because I hated to go to sleep. If I looked hard enough I could probably find the test results with the amount of time I quit breathing, how long for, etc etc. It was very scary. The doc said I could move to the Pacific and dive for pearls with no problems.

Anyway - I had the surgery. I now sleep all through the night - and day if allowed - LOL. A freight train would not wake me up. After the surgery my wife use to do a breath test on me because she said she could not tell if I was still breathing - that's how quiet and in a deep sleep I was.

So for me - the roto-rooter surgery worked out excellent.

As for front, back or side sleeping - I had to sleep on my back for so long - I still can't/don't know how to sleep on my stomach. Either the side or back.


Ron

[skullnrose]

Damn this threads filling fast you sure their is no connection between cigar smoking and sleep apnea On a more serious note my sleep apnea subsided do to my recent weight loss. DR still wants me to have the tests done but for now I'm putting it off. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge on this medical condition.

[ade06]

Thanks for all the info, I didn't realize this was so common. When did you all start noticing there was a problem? Any ideas what caused it or it's preventable?

[G G]

Originally Posted by BigCat

My doctor told me he doubted I had it too, but he still sent me to see a specialist because I insisted my wife wasn't making it up that I was stopping breathing for 30 seconds at a time. When I had my sleep study I stopped breathing about 500 times and they almost came in and woke me up at one point because I didn't breath for about 45 seconds. I'd ask your doctor for the referral or get another doctor.

Well I guess the reason I havent thought about it in a few years now cause it hasn't happened and the wife hasn't noticed anything for that long either. Did you have no symptoms?

I'm Richard and I'm your future pulmonologist!

Originally Posted by Emjaysmash

Hi, I'm MJ and I probably have/will have apnea.
My father has it, both my Grandpa and Grandma have/had it, as I'm sure a few other in my family I may not know about. I'm 19, and I dont really know about what the usual age it is for having sleep apnea...I'm thinking about getting tested in the summer.

You can have it at 19. Most of the guys above aren't too much older than you; and I've seen a couple patients that were younger or just a tad older. So if you think it's a problem, definitely check up on it.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by skullnrose

Damn this threads filling fast you sure their is no connection between cigar smoking and sleep apnea On a more serious note my sleep apnea subsided do to my recent weight loss. DR still wants me to have the tests done but for now I'm putting it off. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge on this medical condition.

I had it before I started smoking cigars on a daily basis, for what it's worth, Scott.

Originally Posted by ade06

Thanks for all the info, I didn't realize this was so common. When did you all start noticing there was a problem? Any ideas what caused it or it's preventable?

I would never have even gotten tested in my ex hadn't been so angry about my snoring. A man with sleep apnea and a woman with sleeping problems are not a good combination.

[RGD.]

Originally Posted by ade06

. . . When did you all start noticing there was a problem?

I actually thought that I had insomnia. After several years I finally asked the Doc for some sleeping pills - which he gave me - which didn't work of course. So when I went back and told him they were worthless - he sent me to the Ear, Eyes and Nose people who figured it out rather quickly.


Ron

I have a mild form of sleep apnea. I use a cpap. Doc says I'd probably be fine if I dropped some serious weight. Working on it, but the cpap helps in the meantime.

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by ggainey

Well I guess the reason I havent thought about it in a few years now cause it hasn't happened and the wife hasn't noticed anything for that long either. Did you have no symptoms?

No, I snored like a lord and my wife would find me not breathing for a while and then having my chest heave as I tried to catch a breath. But I didn't have high blood pressure, etc., which are the kinds of symptoms which are readily measurable. I think I misread your post though. I must have stopped reading at the "it hasn't happened in a long time" part. My bad. I would imagine your wife would notice if you were exhibiting signs of it, especially if she noticed it a few years ago.

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by Emjaysmash

Hi, I'm MJ and I probably have/will have apnea.
My father has it, both my Grandpa and Grandma have/had it, as I'm sure a few other in my family I may not know about. I'm 19, and I dont really know about what the usual age it is for having sleep apnea...I'm thinking about getting tested in the summer.

Don't just think about it and don't wait till summer.

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by ade06

Thanks for all the info, I didn't realize this was so common. When did you all start noticing there was a problem? Any ideas what caused it or it's preventable?

my (now ex)girlfriend noticed it and told me to get tested.

[kaisersozei]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I had it before I started smoking cigars on a daily basis, for what it's worth, Scott.

I would never have even gotten tested in my ex hadn't been so angry about my snoring. A man with sleep apnea and a woman with sleeping problems are not a good combination.

QFT x2

I've probably had it since college. Just about every roommate, girlfriend, wife and child of mine have complained about my snoring I just chalked it up to, "Well, I snore, wtf...?!" Runs in my family--my dad, brother, even my mom are big snorers. Plus, I don't fit the typical body profile or exhibited other symptoms that guys with sleep apnea usually have.

It wasn't until I took seriously the concerns of my current wife, who is a light sleeper, that I decided to get checked. She said she has to shove me a few times each night to "jump start" my breathing. Now I have a sleep study scheduled for May 14th and we'll see what the clinical data shows, although I am already anticipating the outcome: cpap for me.

I'm so glad everyone has stepped in and told their stories and offered encouragement. To all that have not had a sleep study please do so and soon. Keep us all updated on your progress. This is such a simple thing to improve the quality of life for your and those that love you.

Anyone scheduled their test yet?

Any updates? Who has scheduled their test? Come on boys lets get this done.

[kelmac07]

Hey guys, Mike here and I have sleep apnea...I was diagnosed about 9 months ago as a result of my beautiful wife of 20 years kicking me and sick of sleeping with her Ipod on. I use my CPAP faithfully...but I feel no different waking up than I did before the CPAP. I always felt rested, just thought I snored (like a bear as the wife says).

Welcome Mike.

No difference? WOW. First person I have ever heard say that.

[awsmith4]

My ultimate problem is my weight and i am working o that, with that said has anyone used one of the moth pieces offered on tv? I am looking for a temp solution until I finish shedding the pounds

No experience with those Albert sorry.

So your sleep study doctor said lose some weight and all will be ok?