C-PAP and Sleep Apnea (my throat, cold, hormone, doctor)

[Buckeye77]

My PCP had me perform an "at home" 2 night sleep apnea test. I was not surprised to learn I have mild to moderate sleep apnea and I snore a lot.

PCP now want so send me to an overnight sleep lap for more test, but I let him know I would not use C-PAP equipment. My first wife (may she rest in peace) used CPAP for the last few months of her life, and I vividly remember her struggles. I promised myself then that I would never live like that.

So, now my PCP guy is a little pi$$ed but sorry.

For those of you who use CPAP as a result of sleep apnea, are you happy with it?

[BabyBear1234]

My husband used it for a while...he HATED it...I have a friend who also hated hers and her husband hated his. So, no, I dont' think you're alone in how you feel lol. Personally I think side sleeping resolves a lot of it as does losing some weight if needed. My husband has a double chin which seems to be the reason.. he is aware he needs to lose some weight but of course it's harder than it looks.

[bluecar]

It's the best thing I've ever done. I've been using for about 3 years now. I feel so much better. I'd encourage you to try it.

[Serious Conversation]

I have a difficult time using it.

I'm 5'7, ~240 lbs. I'm a weightlifter, but have extra fat. I do get more consistent deep sleep with the CPAP, but I find it very uncomfortable. The air intake almost shocks me back awake in and of itself.

I have a short, thick neck, and snore if I'm laying completely flat. I bought a new bed last year with an adjustable base, and sleep at a maybe 20-30 degree angle. I feel the apnea systems - fatigue, fogginess, daytime sleepiness, etc. - far more when I'm at my girlfriend's house (she hates the upright sleeping), than at home, sleeping alone.

Upright sleeping, a bit of weight less (used to be 260 - 20 lbs. down seemed to help a bit), and most importantly, replacing a lot of my alcohol consumption (used to be a 10 drink+ a day drinker, most days) with marijuana, has helped the symptoms tremendously.

[Teacher Terry]

I have used a cpap machine for 12 years. I knew from reading in advance that untreated sleep apnea causes damage to your organs so I was motivated to adapt to it. I feel much better using it. It did take time and patience. If you wear it for at least 4 hours a night you will feel much better.

[Dashdog]

While I do not have sleep apnea so do not use CPAP, I have worked as a Respiratory therapist for 40 years. I have met many people that say they are willing to sleep with CPAP because it makes them feel so much better during the day.

I asked one lady if she noticed that she feels better during the day from using the CPAP. Before she could answer her husband said '"OMG she is back to being the sweet kind woman I married". He claims before the CPAP she slowly got more crabby, grouchy and mean but now that she gets good sleep she is no longer that way.

Left untreated sleep apnea often results in cardiac issues as your Oxygen levels drop each night as you sleep and your heart does not like that.

CPAP has changed a lot over the years and the new home machines are smaller and very quiet. Most you can program to ramp up which means they start out at a lower pressure then slowly raise the pressure so some people are asleep when they hit the full pressure. There are also a lot of different interfaces no longer is it just a mask strapped to the face but there are prongs or pillows that sit under or nose or in your nose. Masks are also made of different things and while some can not tolerate the normal plastic mask they do can tolerate a gel mask. With masks the secret is to wear the smallest mask that fits as then it will not have to be strapped on as tight.

When I would be starting a hospital inpatient that had never used CPAP before on one of the hospital machines for the first time I would tell them do not base any decision on how much you hate it by this experience as home machines are much quieter and there is a much better selection of interfaces ,( masks etc) that are much more comfortable the what hospitals are willing to buy for single patient use. We had patients that would forget to bring their home machine in with them so need to use a hospital one and refuse it because it made too much noise and they were use to their extremely quiet machine, Really when we help a patient with a home one we often ask "is it on?" as we hear nothing, which is not so with the hospital ones.

Very few people seem to be able to wear one the whole night the first time but increase the time they wear it each night until they are use to it and can wear it all night.

Hope this helps you some.

[Ruth4Truth]

OP, a few years ago, someone posted that they'd tried it and didn't like it, at which point their doctor said, that only 50% of people who try it are comfortable with it. I think that person had an unusually honest doctor.

I tried it, and couldn't sleep with a machine shoving air down my throat all night. I could feel my airway collapsing throughout the night, and the air flow pushing it back open, so there was this subtle internal clicking going on when that happened. I did this under observation at a sleep clinic, and in the morning, the doctor claimed that I had slept through the night and their machines had registered the right type of brain waves to indicate restful sleep, but I felt like a wreck, because I'd been very aware of the machine and the physiology of what it was doing all night.

I don't know how old you are, but if you're middle-aged or beyond, and did not snore when you were younger, your apnea might be resolvable via hormone replacement. You could look for one of those anti-aging doctors who are very knowledgeable about HRT for men, and see what they say.

[guidoLaMoto]

The common wisdom is that sleep apnea can lead to cardiac problems, but quite honestly, I never saw a sleep apnea pt whose cadiac condition couldn't be explained by the other usual risk factors.

Many pts who can tolerate the CPAP equipment do see an imprvement in symptoms (less day-time somnolence, lethargy, and even see weight loss (!!)....

...The first question to answer is "so what? Does your sleep apnea cause you any problems?"...If not, then no reason to bother treating it.

If you are symptomatic, then the newer equipment is much more streamlined and tolerable than the old stuff...Give it a try. You can always quit.

[lunetunelover]

I've been using CPAP for about 17 years. While I don't use it for the occasional nap on the weekends, I need it to sleep at night. It makes it so much easier to breathe and I don't wake up with headaches every day.

It is a godsend.

I think the issue is that you have to try many different kinds of masks to find one that works for you. Don't let the technicians tell you how loose or tight it needs to be - you need to be comfortable for it to work.

At first, I used the ramp-up feature on my machine but after about a year, I no longer needed that. I also never thought I'd use the heating element either, but I do find that sometimes the air gets too cold (which is so weird for me).

Many people refuse to use one because of vanity concerns and IMO that is a ridiculous reason to not try it.

You might also consider BiPAP as opposed to CPAP...there are a lot more options today to make the equipment more comfortable for continued use.

I have to wonder why your doctor suggested the test to begin with? Did you have a reason for visiting him that had to do with sleep? If so, I think you might want to give it a try...

[Nov3]

Confer with your specialist on the Airlift procedure.

I currently endure sleep apnea due to a fatty throat. Who knew a bit of weight gain would end up there!

After explaining to my ent doc that I cannot sustain any pressure, pinching or touching around my nasal. I literally go into panic mode . He suggested that I may be a candidate for the Airlift procedure.
First he asked that I put forth more of an effort to change my dietary intake. He suggested that if I lose ten-15 lbs I may not even need the procedure .

Anyways see what options are available .