Sleep Apnea Support/Questions Thread

[Don Fernando]

i must admit, the first couple of years I wasn't using my cpap regularly, used it for weeks, then used it not for weeks untill Al posted the topic on CS. I posted my irregular use and a few botl's, including Al and Conch, told/begged me not to play Russian roulette with my life. Been using my cpap ever since and I will even bring it with my on my US trip next month.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

my doctor (and my own internet research) advised me not to go with surgery as the chance the symptoms would go away are not high and would be only temporarily. That's why I went with the respironics cpap.

True, the surgeon advised me the surgery only has a 60% success rate...not great odds. I was lucky enough to have my apnea reduced significantly, at least for the last 4 years.

[azherfer]

Hi, my name is David, and I had sleep apnea.

It nearly cost me my life and my mind. I gained a significant amount of weight and at one point was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. I could barely function on my job and nearly lost it. I suffered mini-seizures which caused ruptures on my right cornea.

Sleep apnea is not a joke. During my sleep study, I scored one of the worst results tested at that facility. For many years I knew I had a problem, and I let it go. One night, I woke up unable to breathe and went into a severe panic because my brain wasn't telling my lungs to function. That was the final straw.

14 months ago I underwent Gastric-bypass surgery and as of today, I've lost 200 pounds. My sleep apnea is cured, my hypertension is cured, and my memory and cognitive skills are back to where they were at the age of 25. I am in top physical shape and weigh less than I did when I graduated high-school.

I used to have the mask that only covered the nose. Then I turned into a "mouth breather" so I went to the full mask. I really don't mind it however with a goat I do have air leak issues that I wished I didn't have. If anyone knows of a full face mask that works well with a goat please provide link.

Just got my new bi-pap machine. Very nice and much more quiet than the old model.

Happy breathing everyone!

And certainly the surgical options shouldn't be the first option, by any means.

There is a spectrum of treatments. If the plan systematically moves through and evaluates the individual benefits of each option in the plan, then you are bound to reap the full benefits. Thus, surgical consideration has its place in any plan regarding OSA. But, what I commonly say is: "Surgery is a non-reversible treatment though...Once changed, the anatomy can never change back (not entirely true)", so certainly explore all other reversible therapies first.

Explore all options when the time is right. But exploring them doesn't mean committing to them. Each person will find their optimum therapy if they keep looking.

Cheers


John

Congrats to you David and thanks for sharing.

[G G]

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.

Congrats David, that is a scary story with an apparently happy ending.

[azherfer]

What's truly sad is that sleep apnea is the most un-diagnosed illness and yet is causes so many others. My father suffered with Parkinson's disease for many years before his death and I've lost other family members who've suffered from Alzheimer's. All snored like freight trains. Had they known then what I know now, they might be alive today.

The short and sweet is, sleep apnea ultimately results in the loss of oxygen flow to the brain. Repeat that enough times and I think you get the picture.

[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.

[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?

[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.

Originally Posted by ggainey

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 have that EXACT same thing happen to me fairly regularly..think I'm choking and wake up in a panic,
I have it whether I've had an alchoholic drink or not and I'm a fairly fit-ish guy, 32yr old, 5' 7" (nearly 5' 8"!) and 137lbs.

Did you ever go to the docs about it?

Originally Posted by dentonparrots

I have that EXACT same thing happen to me fairly regularly..think I'm choking and wake up in a panic,
I have it whether I've had an alchoholic drink or not and I'm a fairly fit-ish guy, 32yr old, 5' 7" (nearly 5' 8"!) and 137lbs.

Did you ever go to the docs about it?

I'm not a doctor but I bet you have it. Get a study done soon and prove me wrong please.

[Nabinger16]

Hi... My name is Trent and I have severe sleep apnea. I now realize I've had sleep apnea since I was a young child. I've always snored excessively and always had trouble staying awake while in school. I had a sleep study done about a year ago which revealed an AHI of 97 in a 4 hour sleep sample. According to the tech, I actually stopped breathing over 400 times for varying durations during the 4 hour sample. My SpO2 dropped to a low of 74%. After the official diagnosis I was placed on CPAP with a relatively low pressure of 8. I had a septoplasty to correct a deviated septum about 7 months ago, and was switched to APAP post surgical.

Now... I would pity the poor fool that would have the grapes to attempt to take my APAP!! I've had 100% compliance since I've been able to tolerate it after the surgery. I use a ResMed Micro Mirage mask with complete success. My AHI is down to 3.4. I haven't fallen asleep while driving since my diagnosis/treatment. I have a ton more energy, and my fiance's absolute favorite... I don't snore!!! I look at my life as before CPAP and after CPAP. Sleep apnea is truly a life altering condition that most people that have it, don't even realize they suffer from it. You don't realize how bad it is until you can experience life without it.

Originally Posted by Nabinger16

Hi... My name is Trent and I have severe sleep apnea. I now realize I've had sleep apnea since I was a young child. I've always snored excessively and always had trouble staying awake while in school. I had a sleep study done about a year ago which revealed an AHI of 97 in a 4 hour sleep sample. According to the tech, I actually stopped breathing over 400 times for varying durations during the 4 hour sample. My SpO2 dropped to a low of 74%. After the official diagnosis I was placed on CPAP with a relatively low pressure of 8. I had a septoplasty to correct a deviated septum about 7 months ago, and was switched to APAP post surgical.

Now... I would pity the poor fool that would have the grapes to attempt to take my APAP!! I've had 100% compliance since I've been able to tolerate it after the surgery. I use a ResMed Micro Mirage mask with complete success. My AHI is down to 3.4. I haven't fallen asleep while driving since my diagnosis/treatment. I have a ton more energy, and my fiance's absolute favorite... I don't snore!!! I look at my life as before CPAP and after CPAP. Sleep apnea is truly a life altering condition that most people that have it, don't even realize they suffer from it. You don't realize how bad it is until you can experience life without it.

Thank you for sharing your success story Trent. Getting treatment really does make a huge impact on your life!

You need to have an overnight sleep study done to be sure.




Made the appointment yet?

[G G]

Originally Posted by ahc4353

You need to have an overnight sleep study done to be sure.




Made the appointment yet?

Nope. Like I said it's not happened in a couple years now.

Originally Posted by ggainey

Nope. Like I said it's not happened in a couple years now.

Does not matter. You don't have to be woken up to have it. Most times your brain wakes you up just enough to get started again and you never know it.

Schedule the test please.

[G G]

Originally Posted by ahc4353

Does not matter. You don't have to be woken up to have it. Most times your brain wakes you up just enough to get started again and you never know it.

Schedule the test please.

I gotta go in soon and I will talk to my Doc about it Al.