Any CPAP Users Here?

[FJ1100mjk]

Going in tomorrow for a fit-up. Will be renting to start. Any feedback from CPAP users here welcomed.

[rktmanfj]

Dad has a bi-pap, seeing all that was enough to get me under the knife.   

[TexasDave]

Let me know how that works out for you Marty. I have been under the knife with a pallet reduction and tonsillectomy. That helped a little but I still rattle the walls when I snore. I don't recommend having tonsils removed at age 42.  Dave

[FJ1100mjk]

Let me know how that works out for you Marty. I have been under the knife with a pallet reduction and tonsillectomy. That helped a little but I still rattle the walls when I snore. I don't recommend having tonsils removed at age 42.  Dave

Will do Dave.

Doctor said to try this http://www.snoringdevicesthatwork.com/rematee-bumper-belt-review/ and I did for about $125. Waste of money (may work on someone else though), and I looked like a suicide bomber with it on. It's called "positional therapy". Didn't want to go the oral apparatus route either.

Pretty much conceded to trying out the CPAP. I know a few people, including an older sister, who swear by the things. Heard things like, "Should've gotten one ten years ago.", and the like. Hope to have the same results, but I am renting it first. Lady at the sleep clinic, says I'll know within a couple of weeks, if it will be a permanent nightime companion.

Dad has a bi-pap, seeing all that was enough to get me under the knife.   

Randy: I hear you on the looks of the CPAP. That alone is a hard sell for me. I discussed the surgery with my Sleep Doctor that Dave above talks about. She concurs also that at most, it's a temporary fix. Right inline with Dave's experience, and with my older brother (another sibling snorer), who has two surgeries with short term successes, and who himself is now contemplating going the CPAP route. When you "went under the knife", are you referring to the above procedure that Dave is? Has it been a permanent fix for you? Curious to know.

[Antonn3]

As someone that went through nasal surgery for a deviated septum  to help with restricted breathing with no help. I then went for CPAP testing, the person fitting me  was surprised, as I was one the worst cases she had seen for my age(44 then and in good shape) to one of the most drastic improvements she had ever seen.I was getting headaches upon waking up, prior to the CPAP. The mask I use keeps the mouth closed with air forced through the nostrils. I was tempted to go with nose and mouth full coverage mask but it seemed cumbersome

Suggestions:
are you a mouth breather when you sleep? if so, opt for the mask with chin strap
get the humidifier attachment.. I use it always.
They take getting used to, but the change in how you feel is drastic.

Good luck
Tony

[rktmanfj]

Randy: I hear you on the looks of the CPAP. That alone is a hard sell for me. I discussed the surgery with my Sleep Doctor that Dave above talks about. She concurs also that at most, it's a temporary fix. Right inline with Dave's experience, and with my older brother (another sibling snorer), who has two surgeries with short term successes, and who himself is now contemplating going the CPAP route. When you "went under the knife", are you referring to the above procedure that Dave is? Has it been a permanent fix for you? Curious to know.

I was a roof rattling snorer for a while, and nothing seemed to help.  A sleep study showed sleep apnea, to the point that I stopped breathing something like 156 times in 5.75 hours.

I went for the surgery.  Deviated septum repaired, tonsils and adenoids removed, along with the uvula and soft palate, and a section of my rear tongue right at the transition to my throat.  Surgeon wanted to do it three trips, I insisted on one.  He warned me that I'd be miserable, and for a few days he was right.  But, I was only miserable once. Oh, I did this at age 44, BTW.  I'm somewhat pain tolerant.

Apnea is still gone, but I still snore.  Not nearly as I did before, and waking pulse oxygen levels raised from 86 to 98%.

A few listers here have shared cabin space with me, they'd have to tell you how bad it is.  Dan, Steve?

Susan and I have been together for three years and it bothered her at first, but she very seldom mentions it anymore.

[FJ1100mjk]

Apnea is still gone, but I still snore.  Not nearly as I did before, and waking pulse oxygen levels raised from 86 to 98%.

Susan and I have been together for three years and it bothered her at first, but she very seldom mentions it anymore.

Randy:

Good to hear that the surgeries worked out for you in regards to the apnea and return of normal O2 levels.

You are lucky that Susan can handle the snoring. Not having that under my/our roof with the SO. 

[FJ1100mjk]

Suggestions:
are you a mouth breather when you sleep? if so, opt for the mask with chin strap
get the humidifier attachment.. I use it always.
They take getting used to, but the change in how you feel is drastic.

Good luck
Tony

Tony:

Thanks for the suggestions. Great that the CPAP works for you. You are another success story.

I am told that no, I am not a mouth breather while sleeping, but will snore when I roll onto my back. Hence, the ill-fated try with the positional therapy device.

When I go to the Sleep Clinic tomorrow, we will be going through the results of my Sleep Study, and choices of masks, machines, and such. Looking for relief (and a good night's sleep), hope to find it after tomorrow.

Thanks!

[Antonn3]

Psstt !     
If they try to sell you the damn filter packages, think it over, as I paid $50 for a pack of 12 or so ....when I saw them online for $12 afterwards.

As a former dental tech, the only mouth pieces that did help, were ones that locked your mouth closed in a prognathic position (your jaw would be protruding forward) but mouth closed.

Tony

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Marty, Paul Lawson has one. He was a terrible snorer and one year at the WCR after sharing a cabin with Paul I told him he had sleep apnea. He would wake himself up constantly gasping for air.
He went and checked it out and sure enough he had a severe case. Now he carries his CPAP with him on the rallies. He has the full mask version. I can tell you that the machine is whisper quiet. He rests much more comfortably with no struggle. His headaches are gone. He awakes refreshed. His energy levels are higher. He does not fatigue as easy.
His mind and body are finally getting rest. He always thanks me for pointing out his apnea to him and wishes he would have discovered the CPAP years ago.

[Hemi Bob]

I'm also a sleep apnea sufferer, after the sleep clinic experience that was horrible. I tried a nasal mask if I opened my mouth no air went to my lungs you feel like your going to die.  I was told that I stopped breathing 98 times per hour.
I never went back !
When my family Doctor caught up with me two years later he told  me I need to return to the sleep clinic to finish the sleep study.  Then he notified the minister of transportation and had my drivers license suspended for medical reasons. So Feb 1 2014 with no license and trying to operate my  snow removal business. My daughter quickly learned to drive my truck in a snow storm from customer to customer for the two months it took to show the sleep clinic Doctor my sleep apnea was controlled. I no longer have a family Dr.
The sleep clinic arranged with Medigas to loan me an   Apap machine for two weeks to see what my requirements are.
The Apap machine adjusts to your sleep requirements as you sleep. Its now going to be two years in February I use it every night, no more headaches, no more falling asleep at 2 in the afternoon, unless I want to. No more snoring and I don't wake up soaking wet from sweating when I sleep. I have had different masks, and as a mouth breather a full mask is amazing. You have to get use to it on your face but once you do you just breath like you always have. Hope you have coverage the machine in Canada is $1800. mask is $350 hose filters etc.
I have insurance so I replace the mask and hose every six months. I now have a couple extras for when I no longer have coverage.
Six months ago we did a funeral for a fellow that was 62 250lbs. His wife said when he slept he snored so loud she couldn't sleep.
she would go down stairs and sleep on the couch. On the night he died she woke up to him snoring went down stairs to sleep She said a half hour later he stopped snoring, so she figured he had rolled over on his side. When she returned to there room he was on his back dead. The doctors said his death was untreated sleep apnea. In the beginning I though if I can loose weight,sleep on my side get a mouth piece have an operation where they use a rotor rooter on your throat. In the end the apap machine has made a difference in my sleeping as long as I use it  6 hrs or more per night. I also have to take the memory card from the machine back to the sleep clinic every six months so the can see its usage.
I now stop breathing 6 to 10 time per hour with an average pressure of 10

Good luck
Bob

         

[FJ1100mjk]

Bob, Pat, Tony, Randy, Dave and any others who have an interest in this post:

History: With a Sleep Study, I was diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea.

I have just past the point of trying out the CPAP for the first week. It has, and will, continue to take some getting used to. I used it for a full eight hours last night, and according to its sleep study results on its screen, I had 0.8 "events" last night. Far under the maximum of five that the sleep clinic staff said that I should have at most. Previous nights of use were for shorter durations, due to getting to bed too late, and getting up early for work. However, the number of "events" in sleep studies results for those nights, were of similar numbers/fractions.

The machine.

Selected mask.

All-in-all, even with some discomfort from the mask, that I feel will subside with more time, using a CPAP is a good thing for me. I sleep more soundly, and dream too. An indicator of deeper, more restful and redeeming (REM) sleep. I do not wish to go back to snoring, waking constantly, and feeling tired throughout the day. Things that plagued me before using the CPAP.

If you're on the fence about this yourself, like I was, you may want to get a Sleep Study done, to see if you actually do have apnea, and see what treatment is required for your level of it.

I am renting the machine (you have to buy the mask and hose), to see how it would go. The staff said that I'd know within two weeks if I would take to it or not. I know now, so I will be buying the machine. I had to pay for the pricey Sleep Study first , and will get 80% off the purchase of the machine. If you're of retirement age and on Medicare, I think a lot of it is covered. Check with your insurance, that's the bottom line.

I've read here that "It sucks to get old." True, but there's help with some problems like the above, that develop in some folks.

Marty

[Pat Conlon]

.....I've read here that "It sucks to get old." True....

When I get thinking along that line, I'm reminded of the alternative.

Kudos Marty. Pleasant dreams.

[FJ1100mjk]

All:

CPAP continues to provide good, restful sleep. I bought it. Pretty much within the first four weeks of having it. I can't see sleeping without it. When I have a cold, I can't though. Luckily, that doesn't happen too often.

Someone here sent me a personal message (twice), and each time I replied, it gets blocked. So, I thought that I post the above.

Marty

[rktmanfj]

All:

CPAP continues to provide good, restful sleep. I bought it. Pretty much within the first four weeks of having it. I can't see sleeping without it. When I have a cold, I can't though. Luckily, that doesn't happen too often.

Someone here sent me a personal message (twice), and each time I replied, it gets blocked. So, I thought that I post the above.

Marty

That's a good deal Marty!   

Good sleep is worth whatever it takes to get it.