then you're off to a good start!! bon appetit!! :toast:

I've never really been tired enough I need to nap, but I do feel run down and lethargic. I have woken up a few times here and there feeling like I was gasping, but we're talking once every 6 months. Hoping to drop some pounds and get back on the good side of things.

Thank you Sir. I'm headed out the door in a couple minutes to put a couple miles on the bike.

Unfortunately, the only reliable therapy for OSA is using a CPAP device.

You'll breathe better if you sleep on your side (preferably with the nostril that breathes with less restriction as the side up). Use a body pillow or put a pillow in between your legs

I don't use a body pillow, but I do use one at my side. Wife makes fun of me. I call it my pillow girlfriend.

HOLY SMOKES

I just got off the phone with Tooge (he is a certified sleep specialist). This sleep apnea is a true killer. I kind of poo pooed it, thinking as we age, we all are going to have a bit of this crap. No biggie. We are all gonna die of something i.e. plastic bottles, eggs, not eggs, bacon, booze, smokes, unsafe sex, living close to an electrical transformer....

He needs to post some of the stuff he told me. I will try and do a "cliff notes"

With apnea, you stop breathing for a short period. The O2 levels lower and the body kicks in the "fight or flight" system. Adrenaline pops in (as well as many other adrenal chemicals), redirecting blood flow away from everywhere to go to the heart. This also causes a spike in BP. (see high BP). This also releases Cortisol, which is a baaadd boy.
(see below) It aids in weight gain in the belly, stress etc. Other issues are the cholestrols lining the vessels.

In the end, apnea creates the fight/flight response, releases toxic chemicals, and leads other bad crap. Once the air way opens, everything settles back down. The body says "Whew". But only to start again, rinses and repeats up to 30-56 times an hour. All night.

I am not obese (could lose 15-20 lbs), smoke 10 cigs/day, prolly drink too much, try to exercise, eat moderately well and I am on BP and cholestrol meds. My last check up, the Doc said I might be border line diabetic. WHAT THE HELL. My family doesn't have a history of these. Seems that apnea could be the cause or contribute to the weight gain/BP/cholestrol/tireness;all of which could be fixed by a foot ball mouth piece?

Sign me up!

BTW, tooge says you can do a sleep study at your home. I started the ball rolling today:)

**********************************

The Stress or Death Hormones

Cortisol is called the "stress hormone" because it is secreted during times of fear or stress, whenever your body goes into the fight or flight response. Cortisol is made in your adrenals. In the constant state of stress so commonplace today, cortisol creates chronic to severe inflammation that eventually causes premature aging and leads to an earlier death. In fact, cortisol is often called, "the death hormone."

Cortisol suppresses another important, DHEA, the "youth" hormone.

Cortisol causes blood sugar to elevate and this then leads to an acidic blood condition. Acidic blood leads to the modern life-style epidemics we see today like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

SOME OTHER EFFECTS OF ELEVATED CORTISOL ARE:
Lowered immunity
Poor short-term memory
Constipation
Weight gain, especially in the abdominal region and the waist
Loss of muscle tone
Reduced growth hormone, testosterone, DHEA and estrogen
Osteoporosis
Cortisol and Fear

If you're a big fan of TV and newspapers, you are well aware that the media constantly reminds us that we live in an unpredictable and potentially dangerous world. For many of us our thoughts are on overdrive and our minds are constantly filled with negative chatter. Worry and concern cause fear and that fear can consume us.

In Chinese Medicine, it has always been understood that our adrenals, kidney and bladder are the organs connected to the emotion of fear.

When you live a life full of chronic fear, as many of us do, you are weakening your adrenals, your kidneys and your bladder. As they become weaker, you will find yourself becoming even more fearful. It's a vicious cycle that has to be broken.

I'd like to suggest a few ways to help manage fear and bring down those elevated cortisol levels so that you sleep better at night.

http://http://bodyecology.com/articles/reduce_your_cortisol_levels.php

everything in here is basically true. Not going to fudge on the details on a football board.

The bottom line is there is a big difference between snoring and stopping breathing if even for a second. A dentist can possibly fix obstructive apnea. Central apnea which most people have, can not be fixed with Dentistry. Quitting breathing is the canary in the coal Mine signal to you that you need to get this checked out or you are endangering your health.

But even if you don't care about your health down the road, getting the CPAP will yield immediate results will give you more energy. You will feel so Much better immediately.

Took way to long. Red tape etc. Not Tooges prob, was the home sleep lab paper work.

The end result didn't surprise me much, I have sleep apnea. What did surprise me was how bad. Using the "at home sleep test", might not be as accurate as a "true" sleep lab, I clocked in at a 79.2 things per hour. Meaning I have 79 times in a hour of fight or flight episodes. Crud, I thought that squirrels/rabbits/blue gill/ pheasant or hen pecked husbands had less.

Guess the next step is to go to a "true" location for a sleep lab test to figure out what CPap air pressures are needed.

I was hoping that Tooge could use an oral dental device, which would be more convenient then a full blown Cpap thingie. Guess not.

The wife has been harpying at me to get the ball rolling. I don't blame her. I WANT TO HAVE MY GUMPTION BACK AGAIN.

I don't have the document here, but 79.2 episodes with a 77 oxygen/hr saturation level??

I will keep you all up to date...this sucks with older age.

When you get your mask you will notice significant difference in your day to day life. You will regain those years that you feel have snuck up on you.

Yeah, sorry the oral appliance thing didn't work out on our end. Your case is too severe for me to even suggest trying one. FWIW, PM sleep lab is a "true" location and your results were read by a sleep pathologist. Now you need to get the CPAP titrated to a level that works for you. Make sure to try the nasal pillows, and several different masks. I hople this works out for ya bud. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Damn. Getting this under control, you're going to see a dramatic improvement in how you feel day-to-day.

I found that losing weight has helped a ton... I am down from 229 to 209 and working to get to 190-195 ish...

I still have sleep apnea at times, but not like I used to...

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 5 years ago. Prior, I was always tired, took naps afternoon naps and generally dragged all day long. Went through the sleep lab, got the machine, etc. Feel a hell of lot better, but fighting the tubing at night is a pain.

But on the bright side, using the full face cushion, you can play the old Darth Vader bit with your significant other.

One weird side side note - since I have been using the machine, I haven't had a cold. Just as well as sneezing in the mask would be just plain nasty.

I've had my CPAP machine 12 years now. Can't sleep without it.


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