Sleep Apnea

[theGibber1]

My wife has been bugging me to get a sleep study done for a few years.. I thought there was no need. Sleep apnea is for overweight and old people.. Im 34 and 187lbs? Not in great shape but at 6'1 im not obese by any stretch...

NO WAY I thought.

Looks like I was wrong. Had the study done last Saturday night. Very bizarre, I was hooked up to all these wires from my legs up to my chest, eyes, nose and head.. Thought I would never get to sleep but I guess it was enough to get them the info they need.

Turns out I do have it. Fairly severe too. She said I stop breathing an average of 36 times every hour... And that I probably have no idea what an actual good night sleep feels like.

So anyway Ill be fitted with a CPAP machine soon... Not sure if its vanity or what but I don?t see myself wearing this contraption.

Curious if anyone else is dealing with this. Also, I know there is surgery for this as well but I hear it has only 50/50 chance of working.

 

[The Boys]

My daughter in laws 60 year old father is 6'0 190, plays baseball and is in great shape............he's hooked up to a machine at night for the same reason.

 

[theGibber1]

My daughter in laws 60 year old father is 6'0 190, plays baseball and is in great shape............he's hooked up to a machine at night for the same reason.

Its crazy.. I went in for this study and in the waiting room next to me is a dude who had to be 300 pounds.. I was like "What the phuk am I doing here?"

 

[marine]

My wife has been bugging me to get a sleep study done for a few years.. I thought there was no need. Sleep apnea is for overweight and old people.. Im 34 and 187lbs? Not in great shape but at 6'1 im not obese by any stretch...

NO WAY I thought.

Looks like I was wrong. Had the study done last Saturday night. Very bizarre, I was hooked up to all these wires from my legs up to my chest, eyes, nose and head.. Thought I would never get to sleep but I guess it was enough to get them the info they need.

Turns out I do have it. Fairly severe too. She said I stop breathing an average of 36 times every hour... And that I probably have no idea what an actual good night sleep feels like.

So anyway Ill be fitted with a CPAP machine soon... Not sure if its vanity or what but I don?t see myself wearing this contraption.

Curious if anyone else is dealing with this. Also, I know there is surgery for this as well but I hear it has only 50/50 chance of working.

my dad has this. not out of shape by any stretch of the imagination, and he swears by it. Won't go a single night without wearing it because he gets such a good rest.

 

[NIEM36]

I had the study done, and was told I had a moderate case. I have not been fitted for the machine yet, because I was waiting for my deductible to renew. The way my insurance is set up is you have to rent the machine for a few months, and then buy it. It is pretty expensive, and I am cheap ass. I have talked to other people about it, and they say they can't sleep without the machine now. One down side is it leaves marks on your face because it is so tight, and the cost to replace some of the pieces is also pretty expensive. I will be getting fit for mine soon.

 

[bleedingpurple]

I have had many patients who have use the machine. I have never seen marks left that didn't go away but it is snug.

Please don't give up on it right away. It is going to be like anything else and you need to adjust to it, but the health benefits out weigh the time it takes to adjust to it. Once you start getting good sleep, you should notice a huge difference. Remember your health should be the #1 concern when using this.

 

[saint]

Personally if it were me I'd lose a little bit of weight first to see if it helps. You are not in bad shape at all for your height/weight. Your bmi is 24.7 and "obese" is 25.

Before the morons here misinterpret what I'm saying.

1. I don't think you are obese whatsoever

2. Before I considered something significant like a CPAP machine I would try 'easier' remedies- ie, losing some weight. I have a feeling 10lbs would do the trick and that's not difficult to do.

3. If you don't you can lose the weight then the CPAP is better than nothing. But like I said, if it were me, I'd try natural remedies like weight loss and then if it's still an issue go from there.

I am 6'0 and when I was 193lbs I snored nightly, bad per my wife. When I got down to 180lb it completely stopped.

 

[hedgehog]

my dad has one and swears by it, he will not sleep without it, probably had it for 10 years or so, he is overweight but in pretty good shape for 65 :shrug:

 

[VaNurse]

While obesity definitely contributes to sleep apnea, structural causes are as likely. For some of the structural causes, a mouthpiece can be the cure. For others, weight loss is the resolution. Regardless of cause, the CPAP seems to resolves the apnea and related causes. I assume your doctor has based his/her decision on history and physical, as well as, sleep study reports and recommended this solution.

I have had patients and friends who use CPAP therapy and swear by them. Most report more energy than they'd experienced in recent memory and feel they didn't know what a good night's rest could be until they got them. I wish you well and hope you're one of the happy statistics! :0074

 

[theGibber1]

While obesity definitely contributes to sleep apnea, structural causes are as likely. For some of the structural causes, a mouthpiece can be the cure. For others, weight loss is the resolution. Regardless of cause, the CPAP seems to resolves the apnea and related causes. I assume your doctor has based his/her decision on history and physical, as well as, sleep study reports and recommended this solution.

I have had patients and friends who use CPAP therapy and swear by them. Most report more energy than they'd experienced in recent memory and feel they didn't know what a good night's rest could be until they got them. I wish you well and hope you're one of the happy statistics! :0074

Thanks for the well wishes. I actually haven't seen doc yet. I had the study and a nurse called me. She told me about my results and what doc recommends but my actual consultation is tomorrow..

Ill let you know how it goes.

 

[fatdaddycool]

Have you thought about a heavy alcohol and marijuana consumption regimen? I don't have sleep apnea or anything like that but I have heard good things about this natural remedy.

 

[ppabart]

I'm 36 and weigh 210......and I, too, have sleep apnea. I was diagnosed about a year and a half ago. I stopped breathing 40 times per hour for an average of 30 seconds per event.....once I stopped for 58 seconds.

Now, I swear by my CPAP machine. You'll notice that your overall quality of sleep will improve greatly and you'll have far more energy than before. Don't judge the results by the first week or two. Give it a fair shake. Many people give up on it too quickly when they really shouldnt.

Another thing I noticed was I needed less sleep than before. My body would be awake after 6-7 hours instead of 8-9. I ultimately had to adjust the time I went to bed so I would stop waking up at 4-5am.

Like most things, you'll get used to the mask over time. It's not as bad as you think.

 

[theGibber1]

I'm 36 and weigh 210......and I, too, have sleep apnea. I was diagnosed about a year and a half ago. I stopped breathing 40 times per hour for an average of 30 seconds per event.....once I stopped for 58 seconds.

Now, I swear by my CPAP machine. You'll notice that your overall quality of sleep will improve greatly and you'll have far more energy than before. Don't judge the results by the first week or two. Give it a fair shake. Many people give up on it too quickly when they really shouldnt.

Another thing I noticed was I needed less sleep than before. My body would be awake after 6-7 hours instead of 8-9. I ultimately had to adjust the time I went to bed so I would stop waking up at 4-5am.

Like most things, you'll get used to the mask over time. It's not as bad as you think.

Question.. Did you opt for mask that fits over nose only or full mask? The bitch practically forced a nose only one on me at the test and I hated it.. When you open your mouth it's a mind phuck with the air streaming out.. And I much prefer to breath out of my mouth anyway.

Thanks!

 

[ppabart]

Question.. Did you opt for mask that fits over nose only or full mask? The bitch practically forced a nose only one on me at the test and I hated it.. When you open your mouth it's a mind phuck with the air streaming out.. And I much prefer to breath out of my mouth anyway.

Thanks!

I use the nose only mask. I think that it's all personal preference (plus it does matter if you are more of a mouth breather). I find that the suction created by the air from the machine makes me keep my mouth shut.

To me, I thought there was way more of a chance for the mask to leak air out of the full mask then the nose pillows mask. Again, just personal preference.

 

[BuckwheatJWN]

Besides snoring what are the symptons? :shrug:

 

[ppabart]

Besides snoring what are the symptons? :shrug:

I used to wake up with headaches.....they would ultimately go away in an hour or so after waking up.

Also, falling asleep or being very tired in the afternoons.

And sometimes it causes higher blood pressure

 

[homedog]

My wife has been bugging me to get a sleep study done for a few years.. I thought there was no need. Sleep apnea is for overweight and old people.. Im 34 and 187lbs? Not in great shape but at 6'1 im not obese by any stretch...

NO WAY I thought.

Looks like I was wrong. Had the study done last Saturday night. Very bizarre, I was hooked up to all these wires from my legs up to my chest, eyes, nose and head.. Thought I would never get to sleep but I guess it was enough to get them the info they need.

Turns out I do have it. Fairly severe too. She said I stop breathing an average of 36 times every hour... And that I probably have no idea what an actual good night sleep feels like.

So anyway Ill be fitted with a CPAP machine soon... Not sure if its vanity or what but I don?t see myself wearing this contraption.

Curious if anyone else is dealing with this. Also, I know there is surgery for this as well but I hear it has only 50/50 chance of working.

Gotcha. They do this to everyone that goes in to get the test.

 

[Franky Wright]

Gotcha. They do this to everyone that goes in to get the test.

They do what? :SIB

 

[mtpockets44]

Long Time Sufferer

Long Time Sufferer

If too tight, not adjusted correctly.
I've had for more than 20 yrs. From
approx. 34 yrs old, 6'1" 190 to 54 yrs
220.
Newer masks coming out all the time.
Find the right one. I still have trouble
wearing but that is because I work at
nite and don't always give it a chance.
Nice feature is water added, keeps
nose, throat from drying. If you can
stick with it, it is great. I'm worried
about long term stress on heart, with
starting, stopping breathing all night long.
Good Luck.
P.S. Imagine your girl/wife seeing you
wake up gasping all nite. So, treat her
well or she may pillow your ass in middle
of night. What a terrible tragedy!!!??

 

[mtpockets44]

surgery

surgery

Yes, surgery is 50/50 at best.
Can change your voice. Compared
to tonsillectomy at late age, much
more painful. May work for a time.
No guarantees. It would have to be
last ditch to do and Docs still aren't
crazy about doing.
It would not really be your choice,
If that's what is needed. Doc would
have to be desperate.