DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... Sleep Apnea

So I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and they want me to wear that CPAP mask thing. Anyone have this? How weird is it? Any tips? I am a side sleeper and feel like itll be a pain in the rear to sleep with.

I haven't, but I think I'm headed in that direction.

I have no advice, but would like some. My wife swears I have it. And I know I wake up feeling like I haven't slept at all on many occasions.

She said I would have to go in and have some sort of sleep study thing done. Is that how they diagnose it? I've been putting it off for years because I don't want to sleep somewhere else.

Get the mask!

(And spend some extra money for the de-sanitizer machine).

It saved my mom's life.

Sleep apnea is no joke.

Now I got C-Pap ads showing up on my screen!

AZ is right, get the "So Clean" machine from Amazon.

Kills 99 percent of all germs in your C-Pap.

You have humidity in that thang and you don't know what kind of crud you are growing in there.

Sleeping on your side is no problem with the nose only mask.
Just keep it tight.
I don't recommend the mouth and nose mask.
Some people like the pillow soft mask that just goes in your nostrils.

Oh, one other thing, tell them you want a Bi-Pap not a C-Pap.
Bi shuts down the pressure when you exhale and then the pressure comes right back on to fill your lungs.

C-Pap is constant pressure.

I’m interested in hearing if you do the mask approach. . I have relatives who’ve struggled with apnea

I have two relatives who have sleep apnea. They both use the masks and sleep better than ever. Also, sleeping with a mask on beats dying in your sleep.

Reggie White died of sleep apnea.

On Dec. 26, 2004 football lost one of its most beloved legends. White was at home in Cornelius, N.C., when he suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia, which was attributed to sarcoidosis, a tissue inflammation disorder, and the sleep apnea that plagued White

I have sleep Apna, and have worn a mask for several years now . If I can help ?

I've been on a CPAP for a year now. Life changer. No fatigue during the day anymore. My doctor explained the harmful effect on internal organs due to sleep apnea also. I frequently had to get up during the night to urinate, but that totally went away also.

I use a mask that only covers the nose. It's weird how it causes my mouth to stay shut all night. No dry mouth/throat when I wake up anymore. I've had zero congestion problems since I've been on it...which was somewhat a chronic issue for me before.

Getting adjusted to wearing the device was not a big issue for me. The positives FAR outweigh any negatives. My machine is through Apria, which has an app (on my iPhone) that shows me how many hours it was in use/how many apneas were experienced thru the night/how well the mask was sealed...and gives me a sleep score.

There is some good information in this thread. Thanks to those who are sharing.

Thanks for that info ... I plan to pass it along

I have had one for awhile now. It is awkward, but you adjust quickly. I have a mask that covers my nose and mouth and straps around my head. It stays secure and in place, and I am also a side sleeper.

I originally had a mask that was just two little pillows that sat up against my nostrils. This would shift easily while I was asleep and then I would get a blast of air in my eye.

I would recommend one of those sanitizers as well.

Did you guys have a sleep study done at a clinic or did you use one of the in-home tests?

If you want insurance to cover the cost of the mask, you'll probably need the sleep study and an official diagnosis.

Thank you.

My first one was at a clinic a while ago. I was not exhibiting symptoms of sleep apnea, outside of snoring. No waking up tired, no fatigue during the day. My doctor requesting the test because of structure - narrow throat, large tonsils, tongue and uvula. He was worried I was not getting enough oxygen. So I went to the clinic for the test, and ended up with a machine.

That machine broke after several years and in order to get a new one I needed to do a new test. This one I did at home, but was covered by insurance and all. I slept in a chair because I was worried about moving and knocking a sensor off or something. For the at home, it was still arranged by a sleep clinic. I went and picked up everything I needed.

Excellent info. Thank you!

If the problem is not getting enough oxygen, how does that help during the day when you are not wearing the mask? I'm in the same boat as you, I've been advised to have a sleep study based on structure, but don't have any other symptoms.

I have it very mild. I tried the mask for a couple weeks and hated it.. (individual results may vary).. my doc told me that mine was so mild I should probably just get a dental appliance which is like wearing a thin mouth guard and it doesn't bother me much.

I asked him that, and not sure I got a good answer. Something about how we breathe when we sleep versus how we breathe when we are awake.

They sent me an at home sleep study. You wear it for 2 days, it tracks your breathing and you send it back. they contacted me a few days later with results.

They said I stopped breathing 12 times an hour on average.

Do you know hat that device is called so I can try to find it?

Thanks for the information. I appreciate it. Sorry to hear about 12 times an hour thing. That's scary as can be.

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your Sleep Apnea.

The good news is you don't have to live with this forever or wear some mask forever in most cases.

Simply dropping a certain amount of weight usually resolves it completely in most people.

https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/obstructive-sleep-apnea-causes#1

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/weig...ea-201310026713

Simply put,

Buy one of these

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stamina-Cardi...-Seat/582262559

Buy one of these

https://www.fitbit.com/shop/charge3

Limit calories to 2100 per day (count and keep track using fitbit)

Ride Stationary Bike 30-35 minutes per day 5-6 days per week while watching tv or something

Drink 5-7 16 oz bottles of water per day

You will easily drop 10 pounds of water weight in about 2-3 weeks, and you will drop another 10 or so pounds over the next 2-3 months.

Wear your fitbit to bed, you will notice your resting heart rate will start to drop significantly because you are no longer stopping breathing.

I was diagnosed with this, and I was 208 pounds back in Feb and was classified as obese I am now 182 and Sleep Apnea is gone, my speeling heart rate went from 67-70 to 55-58 and i sleep like a baby now.

A relative of mine followed my advice and his most recent sleep study came back perfect, he no longer needs the mask at night at all anymore.

You don't have to be obese or fat to develop Sleep Apnea. Everyone has a "magic weight number" that causes them to develop it, and that number is different for everyone. Dropping your weight below this number and keeping it that way resolves it.

Maybe you only need to drop 3 pounds, or 5 pounds, or 10 pounds, or 20 pounds...only you will know by trial and error.

I am just trying to help you because I don't want to see anyone be forced to sleep with a breathing mask forever. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Regardless you will be overall more healthy and better for it regardless of your circumstance.

I only recommend the Stationary Bike because its easy low investment. You can fit it in while watching the morning news, or your evening TV, or whatever. Its easy enough that most folks can stick with it and its not a huge time requirement, nor does it require you driving X amount of miles to a gym or whatever.

30 mins on that bike will burn about a meals worth of calories off you per day (around 400-500 depending on intensity) so it just torches calories which makes it easy to eat 2100 per day and still create a defecit for healthy weight loss that can easily be maintained.

Good luck to you, and however things go, know I am root for you and that I think you can easily beat this issue!

Its worth a shot to try I think! Ofg course ask your Dr, before you start any exercise program, but outside of that you should be good.

I did an in-home test, prescribed by my doctor. Easy to do. It

Got my mask yesterday. Last night was the worst night of sleep I ever had. Hoping I can get used to this.

Praying for you bro.

I believe that is normal. Stick with it.

I get into a whole lot of homes for my job, and I've been surprised how many people have cpap's.

I have had one for a few years. It takes awhile to get used to it. I have a extra long hose (cpap hose ) and sometimes get tangled up in it. But now I can't sleep without it.

Quit bragging

It should come as little surprise. Obesity, the #1 cause of sleep apnea, is rampant in this country.

You will. Took me a few nights.