QuiltnCowgirl

Well I have to say that after reading that so many of you felt soooooooo much better after starting to use the machine, I don't feel as apprehensive about maybe having too. Still a big maybe of if I will, since I don't see the sleep doctor until June 8th & see from there what the game plan is (sleep study, machine, ???)

I am curious though as to how many of you also have asthma? And what came first - the asthma or the sleep apnea? Has a doctor ever told you that there is a connection between the two?

chickadee_42us

Love this - I too enjoy the 'personal vacations in the tropics' regularly!

CRicart

Hubby and I both have it. He adapted to the mask immediately. I tried 8 of them with little luck, but now have an oral device and am sleeping really well! I have a little jaw pain from time to time, but I can sleep now, without air blowing in my eyes and waking me up.

CRicart

Sadiemae, they have a chin strap to help keep your mouth shut. Actually, once you are responding to the C-PAP, you won't need to open your mouth. That's what happened with my husband. Naps with mouth open, snoring, sleeps with machine and mouth shut

grandma nurse

I can't say enough good things about my CPAP. I have used one for 10 years. Before being diagnosised I would fall asleep during a conversation, while I was doing the talking. My 30 mile trip to and from work was so hard. I would have to stop my car 2 or 3 times to get out and walk around to wake up. A few times I even pulled off the highway on a side road and slept. I felt tired all the time even after waking up for 10 hours of sleep. My CPAP gave me a renewed life.

DianD

My DH got his C-PAP first, and a couple of years later, I got mine. My Honey is a "mouth breather," and I'm not. He would open his mouth and I thought I was sleeping with a Leaf Blower!! We found out that they make chin straps...they aren't tight, they just keep his mouth closed...YAY!! No more leaf blower! We both feel better than we have in years. I sleep like a baby and, finally, don't wake up with a headache every morning.
All I can say is that if you are having trouble with adjusting to your machine - Hang in There! It is so worth it! Once you get comfortable with it, you'll regret the years you spent without it!

...and to all a good-night.

Peckish

My husband got one about 7 years ago, and I am very thankful. He was diagnosed with moderate to severe apnea, with episodes at least once a minute. That means he would stop breathing once a minute, and his body would go into alarm mode because he would not be getting any oxygen. This is very, very bad for the human body - the amount of stress hormones the body releases when it doesn't get oxygen will destroy your system over time and can cause heart attacks.

Our insurance pays for a CPAP every 5 years, and new mask and headgear every 6 months. My husband switched from a mask that covered his nose to the nose pillows and has been happy ever since. And what a change in his personality - he's less grumpy, less depressed, and WAY less tired! (Has a lot more "energy" too, wink wink, nudge, nudge.)

edited to add:
The nose pillows are individual plastic flexible tubes, sort of corrugated, that fit onto each nostril. You can do a google search for them and find all kinds of different styles.
By the way, my husband is a mouth-breather and uses the nose pillows successfully. The air goes in through his nose and goes out his mouth. Not a problem.

g-maquilts

Please everyone, if you need a cpap use it. My best friend (my younger by 16 months sister) passed away last year while waiting for her cpap machine to come in. Her 02 levels were also low but in the 70's. She died during the night and her adult daughter found her the next day. I went for a sleep study after that and found that I too had sleep apnea, but funny thing, my doc had me on oxygen right away, while waiting for further studies. Of course we don't really know why my sister died, we suspect the low 02 levels, but no way to know for sure.

Donnasue

I have an appt with a specialist for SA. I was diagnosed this past March when I had foot surgery (Bunionectomy). I also have a 10 year old neice that has it and sleeps with a machine. For the most part, I just want to be able to sleep all night and not get up more tired than I was when I went to bed.

Treasureit

You guys are making me reconsider this Apnea thing. My cardiologist had be take an at home test with some mask thing that was so heavy on my face that it kept pulling my head down toward my chest and I would wake up choking. I guess sometime during the night I shut it off and they didn't get any results from the test. I refused to do it again...but I too wonder if I wouldn't have better health/sleep etc if I do need one. Maybe I will ask for a full study at a facility instead of that other thing.

I just don't think I could sleep with that mask..especially if it is anything like that thing I tried. Do you have to sleep on your back?