Sleep apnea. Anyone here?

[Holladay]

The wife says I quit breathing whilst asleep. Yes, I snore but give a crap. We all do.

I just noticed this today when I was trying to take a nap. I kept waking up with a snort and out of breath!

I am 51 aged, 5'8", 180 lbs. I try and eat healthy. I don't get enough exercise, I have high bp and am taking cholestoral crap meds, drink too much et. al.

I did a sleep test 10 yrs ago with no bad results. I am thinking with age, things have changed. I seem to be tried all the time. I put it down as age, work etc.

I don't want to do the "C-Pap" machine, or cut out my uvula (not vulva). I was going to look into the mouth piece thingie that holds out your lower jaw?

I will probably do another sleep test, but think this time they will say I have a problem. Again, don't want to be hooked up to a machine at night (C-Pap).

Has anyone been through this and what was the best solution.

[BWillie]

I sleep like a baby. Every night. I guess I'm lucky. But from what I've read and learned, sleep apnea can throw your whole life upside down and cause you to be extremely unhealthy.

[seclark]

i've had one for 1.5 years and love it. my mask just covers the nose. had no problem at all getting used to it.

only issue i had was a grandson falling out of bed in the next room. i jumped up and started running w/the mask still on and yanked everything off the damn end table.

it sure took care of the snoring.
sec

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by seclark

it sure took care of the snoring.
sec

That's why my wife loves my mask. I've gotten a few terse "Would you put your mask back on"s in the middle of the night.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by tooge

Yes. Basically, we order a sleep study. Then the study is read by a sleep physician. Based on certain criteria, ie., positional apnea, airway classification, severity of apnea, we can construct a mouthpiece that moves the lower jaw forward, opening the airway. It's fairly effective.

I have a limited knowledge on it, but from that, IIRC, there are different "types" of apnea and only certain ones, are treated with re positioning?

[seclark]

Originally Posted by Frosty

That's why my wife loves my mask. I've gotten a few terse "Would you put your mask back on"s in the middle of the night.

yep...i fall asleep reading, and when she comes to bed she makes me put it on.

also, i used to get up 3 times a night to piss...sleep all the way till morning now.
rubber sheets ftw!
sec

[tooge]

Originally Posted by O.city

I have a limited knowledge on it, but from that, IIRC, there are different "types" of apnea and only certain ones, are treated with re positioning?

Yes. Basically, central apnea, no. Obstructive apnea, yes. Also, there must be 2x more apnic episodes when supine as opposed to not supine. There are a few other things, but those are the big ones.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by seclark

also, i used to get up 3 times a night to piss...sleep all the way till morning now.
rubber sheets ftw!
sec

I can't remember the last time I didn't wake up 4-5 times a night (just wake up, not necessarily to pee), mask or not. It's probably been 30+ years. I suck at sleeping.

[go bo]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I've had a CPAP for about a year now and am still trying to get used to it. I have no problem falling asleep with the mask on but I end up pulling it off after a couple of hours (I don't remember doing this). The biggest problem is that I can't sleep on my back. I have a deviated septum and I can't breathe if I'm on my back. Sleeping on my side makes the mask eventually slip because of the pillow and the mask will start blowing into my eyes. This is probably why I pull it off.

It's frustrating because I really need this to work because otherwise I am exhausted all of the time. I didn't even try the mouth guard because I know I wouldn't sleep with something in my mouth (braces and headgear as a kid). The only thing that would actually solve it isn't covered by my insurance.

long-term c-papper here (as in more than 20 years), and i emphatically urge you to call your c-pap provider and ask them to bring out a variety of masks for you to look at...

i chose a "nasal pillows" apparatus and it doesn't come loose like a full face mask...

had trouble with the standard mask for years, but this nasal pillow set-up is da bomb!!

all you guys who know you have it, the longer you wait before you get a c-pap the more severe your apnea will become...

you only notice that you're tired, but the people around you will begin to notice unusual cognitive deficits and difficulty staying awake during conversations...

by that time, you've killed off more brain cells than a street bum alcoholic...

get a c-pap now and make the provider let you look at a wide variety of "masks" and describe the benefits/drawbacks of each while you try them on...

stay away from the old-fashioned full masks and you'll be a happier camper, and those around you will like it very much as well...

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by go bowe

long-term c-papper here (as in more than 20 years), and i emphatically urge you to call your c-pap provider and ask them to bring out a variety of masks for you to look at...



i chose a "nasal pillows" apparatus and it doesn't come loose like a full face mask...



had trouble with the standard mask for years, but this nasal pillow set-up is da bomb!!



all you guys who know you have it, the longer you wait before you get a c-pap the more severe your apnea will become...



you only notice that you're tired, but the people around you will begin to notice unusual cognitive deficits and difficulty staying awake during conversations...



by that time, you've killed off more brain cells than a street bum alcoholic...



get a c-pap now and make the provider let you look at a wide variety of "masks" and describe the benefits/drawbacks of each while you try them on...



stay away from the old-fashioned full masks and you'll be a happier camper, and those around you will like it very much as well...

I don't know what kind of mask I have. Here it is, though. Only goes in my nostrils. I like it.

[Frosty]

I'm going to have to check out the nasal pillows when I can next get a mask. For full masks, the problem area is next to the side of my nose. It doesn't fit well there and will end up blowing into my eyes when up to full pressure. i don't think a nasal mask that fits over my nose will work because of that, so one like FMB's might work. I would probably have to get a chin strap because otherwise, I would try to breathe through my mouth.

My current mask fits over my mouth and goes under my nose, so it doesn't have the fitment problem alongside my nose. The problem is that it pushes the tip of my nose up and back and my nose gets sore by the middle of the night. 2am me isn't very reasonable about things like that, apparently.

[Fish]

I dealt with sleep apnea for a long time. Then I quit smoking, lost some weight, and quit drinking like an alcoholic every night, and I don't have problems with it anymore.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I'm going to have to check out the nasal pillows when I can next get a mask. For full masks, the problem area is next to the side of my nose. It doesn't fit well there and will end up blowing into my eyes when up to full pressure. i don't think a nasal mask that fits over my nose will work because of that, so one like FMB's might work. I would probably have to get a chin strap because otherwise, I would try to breathe through my mouth.



My current mask fits over my mouth and goes under my nose, so it doesn't have the fitment problem alongside my nose. The problem is that it pushes the tip of my nose up and back and my nose gets sore by the middle of the night. 2am me isn't very reasonable about things like that, apparently.

I have a full beard and mustache, so the full masks don't make a good seal for me. I don't have a problem with my mouth falling open, so I didn't need one with a chin strap, but I know they make them.

Brand new, mine will make my nose sore for a few days while the band loosens a bit (just elastic, no straps).

[go bo]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

I don't know what kind of mask I have. Here it is, though. Only goes in my nostrils. I like it.

nasal pillows like mine...

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

I don't know what kind of mask I have. Here it is, though. Only goes in my nostrils. I like it.

Umm..... does it really need the "L", "R"? .....

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by Fish

I dealt with sleep apnea for a long time. Then I quit smoking, lost some weight, and quit drinking like an alcoholic every night, and I don't have problems with it anymore.

Give me the mask, doc