GrannyHanaDa

I have had apnea for years, and got my machine about a month ago.

As a child I stopped breathing, Mom said I would snort and gasp and then start breathing again. We did not know then how severe apnea is to your health. In fact we did not even know what "apnea" was.

I knew something had to be done when I would wake in the morning to find my husband sleeping in his recliner because I had snored him out of the bedroom!

Finally after 46 years I am getting a good rested night of sleep, I just turned 57. I do dream, and they feel like I am right there and I remember them. Before I never went into REM sleep, so never could recall dreams.

My machine is totally silent, and I took to it like a fish to water.

During the night of my sleep study, I stopped breathing 133 times in 116 minutes.....all my doctor could say when reading those results was OMG.

I love my machine, it is the first thing I pack when we are going away.

Jingle

Our 48 YO Son just admitted this weekend that he has a problem and is going to see his doctor about it. He falls asleep at the blink of the eye. Even falls asleep eating, whatever, we knew he had a problem, he wouldn't admit it.
we are afraid he will fall asleep driving.

butterflywing

i just emailed my insurance carrier to find out if they'll cover a new one. mine is so old, i can't even find it online anymore.
the on/off button doesn't work so i unplug and plug it. and i don't think the pressure is strong enough, even though it stopped the snoring. mostly i want a mask that doesn't leak air and i'd like to try the 'nasal pillows' that i read about here. i never heard of them before. i am soooo out of the loop. i know i won't hear back from them until wednesday, earliest.

Sadiemae

Usually it is every five years, but you never know...

kit'smamma

I believe that I suffered from apnea for many years before I was diagnosed. I have been sleepy at the steering wheel forever. Finally, when I was having increasing problems including fybromialgia, it was the rheumatologist who sent me to the sleep clinic and sure enough. I had snored my poor husband into the other side of the house and my children and a son-in-law teased me about hearing me from several rooms away. Not long after starting the use of the CPAP we had guests and DH had to bunk in with me and announced that I had passed his sleep test. Over the years the machines have gotten more compact and quieter but still a bit of a pain to haul with me when I travel but I wouldn't dream of not doing so. I also have restless leg which commonly occurs with apnea and take a generic anti seizure drug at night for that. Mirapex works very well but costs the moon.

You need a sleep specialist if you are having problems. It sounds from some of the posts that the docs some of you've seen were not up on the latest developments. A tip I recently learned from my sleep doc which she said she learned from a patient is to use silicone earplugs from the drug store or Walmart to help with leakage from the edge of the mask. I have a very narrow lower face and even with the smallest full face (my mouth drops open)there are leaks sometimes around the lower part. You rub the earplug between your hands to make a crude string or cylinder which will adhere to the soft plastic that fits against your face. No more leak!

Sweet dreams everyone. I have a quilt to make.

NannySandy

I've snored LOUDLY as long as I can remember, even when I was thin, growing up. A few years ago I started having memory problems. I could not remember simple things, and it worsened. I was spending the weekend with my Mom, when she made me aware I stopped breathing numerous times during the night, and would gasp for breath. DH always goes to sleep before me, so he's never noticed how I stop breathing during the night. I went for a sleep study and it was scarey how often I stopped breathing and for what length of time I am not breathing, in addition to how low my oxygen level got. My CPAP machine is quite, so it does not disturb my husband's sleep. I have a nose mask. However, I've had a really hard time getting used to it. Most mornings I wake up, and I've pulled it off sometimes during the night. I don't remember doing this but I am. To be honest, I feel like a monster from the blue lagoon wearing it, but I KNOW the need for it and I know the consquences of not wearing it. I've lost 26 lbs and hope as I lose more weight, I will be able to come of the machine. But for now, I look at it as my life saver.

probles

My husband had it several years ago. he came down with toncilitis. I went to ENT with him. Doc asked me if he snored a lot. We had a long discussion. Since he had to take his toncils, he said he could do surgery to assist that. He took his toncils because they were so bad. Then he took his adenoids and shaved his uvula down to next to nothing. He no longer snores. Yeah. He did have to learn to swallow water more slowly, as the uvula helped it from going down into his lungs. We are both thankful.

He claimed he never dreamed before the surgery. Now he has dreams. He doesn't fall asleep while driving. For most part he stays away all day. It is wonderful.

I would look into having that done if I had to deal with it myself. Hard surgery for an adult, but lifelong betterment.

sew wishful

I have been on the machine for 5 years. I own three of them, one for the bedroom, one in the living room for a quick nap, and one in the camper! They are a life/marriage saver! My DH and I moved into separate bedrooms about 15 years ago due to my snoring, so I had no one to inform me that my apnea was bad. During my sleep study 5 years ago they woke me after an hour and a half and put the machine on me. I slept peacefully for the first time in years!! I highly recommend it and want you to give it all you have to keep it on...The first night I hated it...the second night I fell asleep and slept soundly....that's all it took! I go no where without it!

lots2do

Thanks everyone again for all of your comments. I went for my appt. today. Next sleep study is scheduled for two weeks from now. I can't believe how much smaller the machines have gotten in 5 years. Looking forward to trying out nasal pillows too.
:)

QuiltnCowgirl

I had my appointment with the sleep doctor yesterday. He said that I do have a lot of the symptoms of sleep apnea, along with conditions that contribute to it. So...I get to do a sleep study on the 27th. I'll let you know how it goes. :)