Sleep Apnea... touchy subject.. or life saver

[Mama Bear]

Mama Bear stands up and says.. my name is Sue and I have sleep apnea.. even as a thin young person my snoring drove my siblings nuts.. and I was in denail of any loud happenings.. until I got to the point where I was falling asleep behind the wheel of the car at stop lights....

I now use a CPAP machine.. the mask is very 'sexy'.. I put it on at night and it starts blowing air and I get to say, Luke..I am your Mama... ;-)

It has gotten in the way of dating, I am more apt to not invite a gentleman home... as I don't want anyone seeing my Darth Vader persona live...

However after 10 years I have to say that I would rather leave Sam Elliot hanging than sleep without my machine. It is a godsend.. a life saver... and frankly a security blanket to me in many ways.. besides at my age a good nights sleep is so much more important than.. well.. frankly anything...

But it's awefully hard to admit that you have to sleep with a medical mask and a hot air blower on the nightstand.. anyone know what I mean??

 

[RF1963]

Sue

I came close, had the sleep clinic which decided I have a mild apnea. Even so that was several years ago and things might have changed, right now I have other things to resolve

When SWMBO and myself started living together my snoring was a bit of a problem. Not the gentle regular stuff, the no breathing followed by a grunting intake of breath. SWMBO would shake me, apparently I'd say sorry and fall asleep, or she would wriggle furiously, which scared the hell out of me and I couldn't relax. We've resolved this by having separate bedrooms. We both sleep undisturbed and our relationship benefits from this.

When you meet someone who cares about you the machinery on the nightstand won't matter. It's part of who you are and helps you to function. There are solutions to any problem if both parties care enough to find it. I suppose you could always start a CPAP dating site

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

But it's awefully hard to admit that you have to sleep with a medical mask and a hot air blower on the nightstand.. anyone know what I mean??

I have one for almost two years now. Got used to it, and so did the wife. In fact she likes it, as it means we can sleep in the same bed. She used to kick me out when I was snoring

 

[FOGEY]

My wife has been using the CPAP for over 10 years . Looks just like a WWII Kammikazi Pilot. But she doesn't travel with out it.... Even overnight.

I don't mind it but it's a very poor design as it blows wind and that's very disturbing. She keeps a small barrier pillow between us when she sleeps facing me. Keeps me from getting that blast of wind out of the mask.

Around here if you go in for a sleep test you are going to get a CPAP. End of story... I have suspicions that all are not needed.

 

[DavyRay]

I think Sam Elliot is too skinny to need one, but other gentlemen you date may have one at home. You never know. You might try to see them in the morning, to check whether they have the tale-tell creases on their cheeks.

A diving mask is better than the alternatives, and you know what they are. I hope to outgrow mine soon, but for now it keeps me healthier. The CPAP dating idea is a good one. Some interesting possibilities there. Buddy breathing? Tubing with a Y?

 

[npsarros]

My mom just started using one recently. She now sleeps much better, except that sometimes she wakes up with a dry mouth because her mouth opened. Any hints on fixing that? And don't suggest duck tape

 

[DavyRay]

My mom just started using one recently. She now sleeps much better, except that sometimes she wakes up with a dry mouth because her mouth opened. Any hints on fixing that? And don't suggest duck tape

Chin strap. Costs about $5. Don't ask how I know.

 

[MoreSaltThanPepper]

It is not a touchy subject at all. I have to give some credence to what Fogey noted but with the alternatives (of not using it) being what they are, it isn't an issue. There is a potential of long term use problems cropping up, mainly associated with sinus infections needs to be examined and balanced against anything else being considered (like surgery).

Is there anything else proposed to deal with this, since you have had apnea for this long?

Regards,

- John

PS: Dating? Darn Wisconsin gets everything. Cheese, most of my favourite famous actors, available soap crafters . . .

 

[DavyRay]

This last post has a good point. If you had sleep apnea as a thin young person, you may benefit from surgery. Perhaps you could get a second opinion from an ENT in your area.

 

[jsrdrnr]

I've got one too. I sleep much better when I actually use my mask. I am still in that phase where I dont like using it. I have only been using it since May and I am used to it for the most part but I just feel like I am closing my husband out when I put my mask on. I know we both sleep better when I have it on, but I dont know. Guess I am still working on the whole denial issue.

 

[DougK]

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea a year or so ago and I've been using a CPAP machine ever since. I don't particularly care for wearing a mask at night but it's much better than the alternative. My wife likes it because she sleeps better as well. Just don't put it on until you're ready for actual sleep and it shouldn't be much of a lifestyle impediment, if you take my meaning.

 

[Mama Bear]

Just don't put it on until you're ready for actual sleep and it shouldn't be much of a lifestyle impediment, if you take my meaning.

I hate to admit, but I love the thing.. I actually sleep with it and don't without it.. if I have to go a night without it, I am instantly reminded of how much I need it.

 

[Mama Bear]

I think Sam Elliot is too skinny to need one, but other gentlemen you date may have one at home. You never know. You might try to see them in the morning, to check whether they have the tale-tell creases on their cheeks.

A diving mask is better than the alternatives, and you know what they are. I hope to outgrow mine soon, but for now it keeps me healthier. The CPAP dating idea is a good one. Some interesting possibilities there. Buddy breathing? Tubing with a Y?

Laughing at buddy breathing... what an interesting concept....

 

[whiskey01]

I worked for 10 years in a Sleep Disorders lab and I can promise you that Cpap/Bipap is the best and ONLY real treatment. Surgery can decrease snoring, which may please others in the house, but does close to NOTHING to better the quality of your sleep. I can't tell you how many times a patient came for re evaluation after UPPP surgery and still had severe apnea. If you've been prescribed Cpap and don't "like it", suck it up and get used to it no matter how long it takes! As far as "sexy" goes...falling asleep while driving or at work, will not get you laid. My wife worked with a guy who crashed and totaled his car along a guard rail. When the police showed up, he was still asleep at the wheel, never woke up!

 

[danparker77]

I have had my CPAP for almost 4 years now. I don't even consider taking a nap on the couch for 20 minutes. I just go lay down so I can use it. I was lucky, it didn't hardly anytime to get used to it (maybe a couple of days). My life is 200% better than before. During my weeks up to my sleep study I had to record my sleep habits. I was sleeping 9 - 10 hrs a night then taking a 2 hour nap after work and was still tired. Now I sleep 5 hours a night no nap and feel great! I am glad that a few months ago I switched from a full face mask to the nasal pillows. I was getting "perma" lines around the bridge of my nose from the full face mask and it is easier to sleep on my side and belly.

 

[shyrlock]

I have been using a CPAP for about seven years now.
I went to my doctor because of chronic insomnia. I just coudn't sleep and when I did I didn't feel rested in the morning. Despite the fact that I excercised alot and watched my diet, my blood pressure was creeping higher and higher.
My doc sent me to a sleep specialist and after the usual sleep study he told me I had sleep apnea pretty bad and got me on a CPAP right away.
I didn't care much for it at first, but I kept with it and eventually got used to it.
Within two months, my blood pressure was back down to normal and I was feeling much more rested and alert during the day.
So, my CPAP is a part of my life now. If I go on a overnite camping trip or a motorcycle trip, I dont take it, and I alway wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air.
Using it, I sleep well through the night.
I will probably always have it at my bedside.
Thanks for starting this thread, Sue.
Merry Christmas!!!

 

[SeattleSparky]

Have had one for over three years and worn it maybe two dozen times!! I know I should get on a regimen, neighbor down the street died like 2 years ago and left his wife and three kids, just cannot get consistent. I know that once I do get with it, my life will improve!!

 

[luvmysuper]

I use CPAP. I'm 6 foot tall and weigh 165, not what you'd call an overweight person.

Surgery is painful, expensive and less than 50 percent effective long term, with some studies indicating only a 25 percent success rate.

If you have sleep apnea, the snoring isn't your worst enemy, it is stopping breathing and not starting again.
It only has to happen once.

+1 on the chin strap, it allows you to use a nose mask which isn't as much trouble as a full nose and mouth mask.

I was suspicious of all the people going to the sleep clinic getting a CPAP machine. Seemed odd to me, so I went and got a second opinion from a different area and physician. Confirmed.

Then I got to thinking. I don't find it surprising that the majority of people who go to a sleep center are diagnosed with sleep apnea - I mean if someone is having enough problems or having their spouse tell them that they stop breathing they are going to go to a sleep center.

 

[rajagra]

Have had one for over three years and worn it maybe two dozen times!! I know I should get on a regimen, neighbor down the street died like 2 years ago and left his wife and three kids, just cannot get consistent. I know that once I do get with it, my life will improve!!

Get a sound recorder of some sort and record the room as you sleep. The sound as you stop snoring ... and breathing ... for a minute or so at a time, should scare you into action.

My brother has the problem, but he's not the type to do anything about it. I think I know how that will end.

 

[binowatch]

When you do endoscopic procedures you give conscious sedation and monitor the patients oxygen saturation. Seeing obstructive apnea in this setting correlates very well with spontaneous apnea during sleep. The degree of oxygen desaturation, the length of periods of apnea can be very disturbing-we intervene quickly-and wonder how bad it must be every night with no one to jaw lift, stimulate, reposition etc. and this is with patients on oxygen! If you think you have sleep apnea get it checked out and treated-it can be life threatening not just an annoyance!