Sleep Apnea. Now what?

[Evil Queen]

The DataJager was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.

But what now? Will he be stuck being hooked to a machine? Is there some sort of medication he can take?

So, so worried.

[Aethian]

Only hooked to a machine for six hours a night. Believe me it will help Queen.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Try talking to idrinkarum. She's mentioned both she and her husband have it.

[Midnight12]

grandmother is hooked to a machine it depends on how bad or severe it is. for some there is surgery but its their choice. for some the machine is all you get. but if insurance covers if (and this is purely a guess as each insurance is different) ask if you can either buy it and pay your insurance back as some rent it and you pay a bit of the rent fee while they cover the rest but still.

it sucks now but getting actual sleep via the machine will do wonders. HUGS

[42_42_42]

My DH has it. He wears a CPAP machine at night. Love, love, love that machine! (He snores to wake the dead without it). It will probably take him a week or two to get used to the machine. After that, it's no biggie.

[Geek King]

The new CPAP's are pretty quiet. I shared a hotel room with a guy that used one at a convention, and barely heard it. It really will help him sleep better too.

[telecom_goddess]

OH OH OH yay a thread just about sleep apnea

I have it and have been on the cpap machine for ohhh about 3 years now I guess? Anyway yeah he will have to wear a mask every single night. If they haven't already they will do a sleep study to determine the pressure he will need the air to blow at. Luckily there are all kinds of masks to choose from so you can find one that's comfortable. The difference will be amazing! Since I've been on it I feel more alert, I don't get up during the night at all, and I don't wake up choking like I used to.

It really is a great treatment and you do get used to it believe it or not. I'm at the point now where you couldn't pay me to sleep without it cause I know I wouldn't feel right.

Just make sure it's used every single night no exceptions!

[Evil Queen]

Well, at least I know there are others who have it or have a loved one that has it. Thanks guys, a lot of my fears are gone now.

DataJager has another test on Sunday. I think, like Telecom_goddess says, it's to find out what pressure he needs.

[RetailWorkhorse]

*Face-WALL*

You are aware that OUR FATHER has Sleep Apnea, right? Dad doesn't wear a mask.

[CaroPhoenix]

If you have sleep apnea, you will more than likely really really need the mask. Sleep apnea can be deadly because you literally stop breathing while you're asleep. Your lungs don't expand, your heart stops beating, and parts of your brain start to shut down because there is no oxygen getting up there. In time, if it's not treated, you can either a) have a heart attack or b) have a stroke.

FTR, I average 60 times an hour, which translates to, once a minute for an hour, I stop breathing. Mr. Rum averages 90 times an hour. The tech that administered the first sleep test I ever had (about 3 years ago) said his record was someone who stopped breathing 187 an hour!

Datajagger will need to get used to the machine. I knew someone who had the surgery to correct his snoring/apnea and it worked for him. Another person I knew lost enough weight that he no longer needed the machine as his sleep apnea was weight related. (Not sure if that's the cause of Datajagger's sleep apnea, but it's something to look at).

Since Mr. Rum has lost 81 pounds, his machine/mask has been making noises. I keep telling him to go back to his sleep doc (the partner of my sleep doc) to get the pressure readjusted, but he wants to wait until he's reached 100 pounds lost first. Men.

[Evil Queen]

Rummy; I checked with DataJager and he said he'll be getting a mask on Sunday with his second test. He's actually really looking forward to it because for the last several years (almost 4) he hasn't been getting restful sleep.

I've stopped breathing in my sleep a couple times. I think it was due to very vivid dreaming since I haven't done it in a couple years now. It's very scary.

*Face-WALL*

You are aware that OUR FATHER has Sleep Apnea, right? Dad doesn't wear a mask.

No. No, I'm not. I haven't lived with Dad in YEARS. Please remember that. Dad also has a fast acting inhaler. DataJager does not.

Admittedly, his breathing has gotten better since we moved back to a higher (and dryer) climate. I'm sure all the rain we're getting today is wrecking havoc with him though (like it is to me, damn you allergies!! DAMN YOU!!!).

-EQ
Evil Extraordinaire.

[Mishi]

My dad has a CPAP machine, and it means that he isn't snoring anymore (or so I'm told, I moved out of home years ago) and he's lost a little bit of weight. I'm very happy, because for as long as I can remember, he's been not sleeping well and has been exhausted all the time. He's trying to lose some more weight because that will help a lot. His insomnia has gone away, according to the tech that was his body trying very hard not to let him die in his sleep. He also had a rhinoplasty as his nose was naturally wonky on the inside as well as having been broken and badly reset.

[CaroPhoenix]

The masks are nice. I have a gel mask - where the gel is around my nose and up on my forehead.

After getting fitted for a mask and getting the CPAP machine, I no longer have dreams where my grandmother has returned from the dead. She's not a zombie, it's just like one day she's dead and the next she's alive and well as if nothing ever happened. Yes, I'm weird.

Good luck to Datajagger!

The sleep test is fun as they put wires on your head, legs, and chest. But at least where I was tested at, it's like a real bedroom. Nice bed, comfy pillows, dish TV. The first time Mr. Rum got evaluated, he had to sleep all night in a hospital bed.

[telecom_goddess]

I have a comfort gel mask, it's a nasal mask that's pretty comfortable. I've been trying a pillow mask, where there are pillow pieces that just fit in your nostrils but I don't like it as much. I have a full face mask for when I have a cold and my sinuses don't want to open up so I can still use the machine.

It's hard for the person who gets to start the treatment cause they have to get used to living with the mask every night. And worry that their partner will think less of them...I know I did at first. But if the partner is supportive (which is sounds like you are) that helps a lot.

Oh and keep the equipment clean!! mask should be washed with gentle soap and water every day, the hose once a week, the machine wiped down once a week and the filters need changing. If it's the kind with two, a rough spongy like filter and a fine white filter, change the spongy one once a week and wash it. It's best to have two so you can swap them out and wash the old one once a week. The fine white ones should be changed monthly and are just thrown out and replaced.

Go to www.cpaptalk.com it's a forum like this but its all cpap users ....you can get support and tips there. I haven't been on in a while but it was helpful when I first started. Also www.cpap.com is a good alternate place to get supplies besides your DME.

There are lots of us on here with sleep apnea and will support you and your so. Good luck and trust me it will be a good thing.

[Amina516]

Good luck with that, EQ and DJ. I seen lots of quiet CPAPs. The louder ones are usually the older ones.

Getting help with this is a really good idea in the long run, especially if he suffers from high bood pressure or migraines..this helps HUGELY.