Sleep apnoea

[Melanie]

I have tried a new mask because my quality of life has been deteriorating to that of an animated zombie. I had had sleep studies done some years ago and it confirmed that yes I had sleep apnoea.

Got a machine and never really got the hang of it and tended to rip the mask off during the night.

Now I have a full faced mask and yes I probably look scary.....I scared the dickens out of the cat the first night....but oh it is lovely not to wake with a cracker of a headache, and drag myself around for most of the day.

I am also very overweight ...I wonder if my seeking of sweeties has been an attempt to keep going...it seems to be the case although it is early days yet.

The other part of the amazing resurrection of the mostly dead me is the fact that old habits do die hard....I expect to wake with a headache and automatically go to get analgesia....then it is ..."wait a minute, I do not need this!"

Fabulous!!!

 

[Carolina Baptist]

I am supposed to hear in the next day or two about getting a CPAP for my apnea.

Maybe I'll find out what it is like to stay awake all the way through a meeting or sermon.

 

[Melanie]

Good luck Caroline, I hope it makes a difference in your life. I always sit in the front pew on the Gospel side so when there is a sermon I am directly under the gaze of the priest.....I do not fall asleep. I love the front pew as I have far fewer distractions that way.

 

[abcgrad94]

I am glad the CPAP is working well for you. We thought that was my problem, got the sleep study and mask, and then found out it was acid reflux choking me in my sleep. My dh has the mask and does not keep me awake all night snoring now.

 

[Carolina Baptist]

I have had that accursed machine for about 4 months now. I have slept through the night with the mask on 4 times and I get less restful sleep than ever before.
I would write more but I would have to repent for the names I would find myself calling that thing.

 

[Melanie]

I have had that accursed machine for about 4 months now. I have slept through the night with the mask on 4 times and I get less restful sleep than ever before.
I would write more but I would have to repent for the names I would find myself calling that thing.

THe settings are probably in need of tweeking....the ipap...do you have a ramp feature?

If that fails.....another type of mask maybe considered? I don't know how it is costed in the States but the mask is an expensive item, whereas having the settings adjusted should not be costly.

 

[SaggyWoman]

I sleep with the CPAP ever since I got it a number of years ago. Yours might need adjusting. I have more recently had some issues, which is why I think that.

 

[Dr. Bob]

I lost 105# in 9 months and now kept it off 7. Went to MD to reset my CPAP and he said "Don't use it".

So gave it up and never looked back.

 

[Gina B]

My husband (not overweight) uses one. I think it's relatively normal to rip it off at times.

I grab it on occasion and stick it on. At first it was just to see what it was like. I'm very claustrophobic and thought it would be horrible, but I love that thing! I'll use it for a short time on occasion and end up going to sleep much better, or I'll simply snuggle up and have the air from the vents on the upper part going on my face.

He's told me that he also felt the same about headaches and alertness after he first got his, as if it was a major turn around. I don't know what causes it in him, especially with him not being overweight and in pretty decent shape for his age; he has had surgery for his sinuses though and has a form of asthma, so perhaps those things contribute.

BTW, hubby wanted a sleep test for me and the doctor said no. For some reason when HE had the same symptoms as me, they checked him and found he had a pretty strong case of sleep apnea. He recognized the symptoms in me, told the doctor, and he just said I'm probably stressed out and should try to relax more. :laugh: I still find that rather amusing. Seems like too often when men have a problem, the doctors immediately try to find a medical cause but too often if a woman complains, they immediately think it's something mental. Ah well, such is life.