Radiana

I'm just wondering if there are some of you here on the board with sleep apnea? I've had it for several years and got a machine three years ago but just couldn't get used to it so I never really used it.

Finally the doctor pushed me to use it because my health is so bad. I got a new mask for it and now I'm sleeping soundly all night. I'm sleeping a little too much and the dreams I'm having are pretty vivid but I'm feeling so much better physically.

Anyone else on this machine? Have you had good results? By the way, if you are on the machine you may qualify for a discount on your utility bill.

AZTeri

I was diagnosed with it about 4 years ago and have been using my machine since then. It took trial and error to find the right mask, and I'm still not really that happy with the one I have. I didn't use it in Paris - forgot a part to it - and did ok. Of course, that's probably because I slept with Ambien's help the entire time there.

I'm still not sleeping soundly, but I attribute that to "personal vacations in the tropics" that love to hit all the time at night. :/

greenini

Yeah, aren't they just the sexiest sleep accessory??? I've used mine off and on for years. I had a lot of trouble adjusting to it, in fact at first I quit using it because it just woke DH Up too so we were both sleep deprived :wink:

I finally talked to sleep doc and I am now on my 2nd machine, I got a battery operated one that will run for 3 days when we camp with no power.

i now will at least start every night out with it on, and if I wake up in the middle of the night and it's annoying, I allow myself to take it off. If I can put it back on and go back to sleep, I do. My doc pointed out that some hours are better then none and so I do try to use it all the time. I don't feel like getting up on tabletops and dancing, if it made that much difference, i would most likely wear it all day too :lol:

Periodically, I try nasal pillows or a new mask, but I pretty much like the Respironics comfort gel one and stick with that.

I am also familiar with the personal bed shower routine...I take anti=estrogens and have for almost 5 yrs...my oncologist and I have an agreement, I'll try to tough it out till Sept which will be 5 yrs, if the summer is too miserable I can quit early...I can live with that. I put on sox, take them off, pull up covers, pull them down, put on T-shirts, take them off...ain't it fun :lol: :lol:

I had to quit taking Ambien after I tried to bulldoze DH who didn't want me to raid the fridge while I was asleep, imagine that! At least I didn't gain 100 lbs like that one woman or eat frozen leg of lamb...
My sleeping pills consist of 10 mg of melatonin, soma and Benedryl. It all kinda works....

bjeriann

I've had one for about a year and use Ambien every night. I sleep great. It was a trail and error with the mask. The first one was a zest mask and I had alot of eye problems with it. I now use a swift FX for her, it works wonderful.
I can't sleep without it or if I sleep, I wake up with a sore throat and headache.

great aunt jacqui

DH has had one for 8 years now. He did have trouble and tried a lot of masks before he found one that he likes.(just nasal pillows on the apparatus.) He sleeps better and has eliminated his panic attacks when he couldnt get his breath. So we say....yay for the mask. no more snoring either, yay
keep with it, it will make you feel better in the long run.

great aunt jacqui

sorry

Sadiemae

I have Critical Sleep Apnea, which is the most severe of all of the levels. I sleep using my machine every night. I also use it if I nap. It is just too dangerous not to use it(My 02 levels can go down into the high 50's), and I don't like the severe migranes I get if I don't use it. After 30 minutes I enter REM sleep and stay there all night, which is also not normal. I need a new mask, but even just my portion is over 60 dollars.

Can you explain how you can qualify for a discount on the utility bill?

Grama Lehr

The Electric company will give you a form that the doctor signs that you need it to live. Mail it back, you get a life line discount, same with Asthma.

glassnquilts

I had sleep apnea too but the doctor said that the fact that I only stopped breathing 9 times an hour wasn't enough to use a machine. He recommended surgery. I had rhinoplasty and turbinectomy. I don't stop breathing but I still snore and loud.

QuiltnCowgirl

Well I get to go have a consult on June 8th with a sleep apnea doctor and then probably a sleep study. When I gained weight I started snoring. Last summer had an upper respiratory infection morph into bronchial irritation & asthma. Recently my husband has noticed that the snoring is worse & I am not breathing quite a bit during the night (his description). If I sleep on my side I may snore, but don't stop breathing, so for the past few weeks, and until my appointment, I am sleeping on the futon couch so I can keep on my side. I'll be watching this thread to see what others say. Sounds like maybe I can pick up some facts & tips that will help me get adjusted to a machine/mask sooner.