CPAP users?

[delta-419]

In 1993 I was working at Fort Richardson AK and was having sleep depradation to the point that I was falling asleep at stoplights. Almost T-boned a car when I thought that the light was green. Actually, I fell asleep at green and proceeded on red!! A wake up event!!! I took the study but could not adjust to the CPAP. I elected to have the surgery. Sought out a very renound doc that just happen to practice in AK. He said that it was going to hurt bigtime. He did not lie, it requires the removal of the uvla in your throat plus I also had a deviated nasal septum. Two weeks on a morphine pac plus removal of the nasal bloodclots. A life changing experience! Fast forward 12 years (2003) and I start experiencing the symptoms all over again! the surgery does not last forever. As you get older the tissue around your airway begins to sag and closes up, they won't or can not do a second surgery.
I was in the middle of an inspection at an AZ fort and could not put two coherent words together for lack of sleep (high altitude, desert enviorment). ER doc says I don't recommend sleeping pills, your heart may be slowed down too much and it was to risky. Go home! I finished the SAV.
Got home, arranged for another sleep study same old problem. Bottom line the CPAP and BIPAP machines have improved so much that I was use to it in about a weeks time. It came with a universal electrical system that will adapt to foriegn systems, so travel was no problem as my job was world wide. The small ones are portable and easy to carry in your luggage. It will save your life as others have stated. It is a BIG safety issue as well. Live and prosper.

 

[HCD]

In 1993 I was working at Fort Richardson AK and was having sleep depradation to the point that I was falling asleep at stoplights. Almost T-boned a car when I thought that the light was green. Actually, I fell asleep at green and proceeded on red!! A wake up event!!! I took the study but could not adjust to the CPAP. I elected to have the surgery. Sought out a very renound doc that just happen to practice in AK. He said that it was going to hurt bigtime. He did not lie, it requires the removal of the uvla in your throat plus I also had a deviated nasal septum. Two weeks on a morphine pac plus removal of the nasal bloodclots. A life changing experience! Fast forward 12 years (2003) and I start experiencing the symptoms all over again! the surgery does not last forever. As you get older the tissue around your airway begins to sag and closes up, they won't or can not do a second surgery.
I was in the middle of an inspection at an AZ fort and could not put two coherent words together for lack of sleep (high altitude, desert enviorment). ER doc says I don't recommend sleeping pills, your heart may be slowed down too much and it was to risky. Go home! I finished the SAV.
Got home, arranged for another sleep study same old problem. Bottom line the CPAP and BIPAP machines have improved so much that I was use to it in about a weeks time. It came with a universal electrical system that will adapt to foriegn systems, so travel was no problem as my job was world wide. The small ones are portable and easy to carry in your luggage. It will save your life as others have stated. It is a BIG safety issue as well. Live and prosper.

Can I get an a-men?????

Or for those of you south of the Masson Dixin Line a YEEEE-HAWWWWWW

 

[yncrogers]

The Navy was also experimenting (successfully) with injecting the roof of your mouth and your throat (on the inside) with botox to firm up the tissue and decrease snoring/apnea. Don't know the details.

 

[Rugskipper]

Stupid question...what about facial hair? I know with respirators an airtight seal is necessary and facial hair is not allowed...will a CPAP mask work with a beard?

Full beard and mustache here. No problem. I use a Resmed Activa that covers the nose but not the mouth. I don't ever sleep with my mouth open. Those little nasal thingies drive me nuts. I do keep an old full face mask for those rare occasions when I have a cold & can't breathe through my nose. Like the others have said, whatever floats your boat. There's no single mask made that works for everybody.

 

[carlo1776]

A friend of mine had a stroke a few years ago. During his hospital stay they made him wear a cpap machine because of his obvious apnea. The doctors said the apnea was probably the main cause of the stroke. During my study they totalled by breathibg stops to 90 min. Blood which is that de-oxygenated has to be pumped at a greater volume causing higher blood pressure. Something will eventually give either your heart blows up or a blood vessel in your brain blows out. I've used a cpap since 1997 and I can still turn handsprings in the morning when I wake up.

 

[Win75]

I snored terribly for years...always felt draggy during the day...got to the point that I was falling asleep in meetings, when driving, etc. After reading and hearing about sleep apnea, my wife filmed me when I was asleep (without my knowledge) and I was horrified...I would literally stop breathing for a long time, then gasp for breath, and then stop breathing again. After seeing that, I went to my doctor and he sent me to a sleep clinic. Sleep apnea can be very dangerous, and can lead to heart attacks or strokes.

I had to report in the evening, and had to spend the night. They wired me to a monitor, as well as filmed me, and said that I would sleep as I usually did for the first half of the night, and then they would put me on a CPAP for the second half, to see what difference it made. After I had been asleep for about an hour, they woke me up and said they had never seem anyone with such a bad case of sleep apnea, and they were going to go ahead and put me on a CPAP machine. They did so, and I got the most delicious, wonderful sleep I have ever had! I woke up feeling so refreshed and energized, it was amazing!

The CPAP machine uses a steady stream of air pressure to keep your air way open. That is what causes sleep apnea, an obstruction of the airway...some cases can be surgically corrected, like if it is due to too much tissue in the throat, but others (like mine) are because I have too much double chin. Even some thin people have sleep apnea, though.

I have used a CPAP machine ever since, and that was in 1997. There are various kinds, and use various masks, including some that cover the nose and mouth, nose only, or even nasal inserts that just go in the nostrils. Mine is a small mask that just covers my nose. Some units include a humidifier that adds warm moisture to the air. Most units have a "ramp up" feature so that the force of the air gradually increases when you turn it on so you don't feel like you are being "blown up" like a balloon. I don't need that, myself...I guess I am used to it.

I didn't find it hard at all to get used to it...and if the power goes out at night, I immediately wake up because I can't breathe! I sleep very well with mine...the one thing that is different is that before, I never slept on my back...just on my side or stomach. I also thrashed around a lot. Now, since I have the CPAP, I sleep flat on my back, and I don't move once I go to sleep.

Good luck with your sleep study, and if you need a CPAP, I think you will find that it helps a great deal.

Except for my wife filming me, this is almost exactly my story also. At least now I don't stop breathing every couple of minutes. You need to try it.

 

[HCD]

I would wake up in the morn. and sit on the side of the bed nodding off listening to the alarm go off. When the Dr. put the oxcimeter on my finger the last day I worked, my O2 level was 62. It should be 98. The CO2 build up occurred over such a long time my body adjusted to it. It damaged my heart, liver, kidneys, and other internal organs. I will never work again, but I can tell you this. After my hospital stay I came home with a Bi-PAP and I slept 16 hours the first night in my own bed, I am trying to get back in shape, I was a hodcarrier for over 20 years and I thank god each day I have a Bi-PAP. Don’t listen to ANY BS horror stories you hear from anyone. Keep going to your Dr. until HE tells you what to do. Good luck you will be fine in the end.

 

[GKC]

Another thing we did that has also helped my sleep a lot was we bought adjustable beds. We got the sleep number bed, in king size, which is actually two twins, and we can adjust the softness or firmness of either side independently, as well as the incline of the head and foot of each side independently. It was expensive, but worth it. I position my bed to almost a full U, but it feels good! When I want to get up, I just touch the remote and it automatically goes to a full flat position.

The downside? When we travel, regular beds are definitely not as nice and comfortable!

 

[OLDFED]

Life long Apnea and...

...three sleep studies. CPAP used but can't get used to it. Had the very expensive "pillars" inserted but no success there. I'm 73 inches, 195 pounds and not overweight. I do have an excess of throat tissue which may have to go via sonoplasty or surgery. Has anyone had to go that route? I'm 70 and very healthy otherwise.