Guest wrote:Hi there,
I was diagnosed yesterday morning with mild/moderate OSA, with an AHI of 15. I'm a 31 y/o male and in very good health otherwise (6', 70kg, BMI 22, fat % 5%), I ran a sub 4-hour marathon last year and am now a dedicated distance runner working towards Boston in the next 2 years or so. But despite this, it looks like I'll be needing one of these machines - something I guess my rather bruised ego will have to get used to. However, since I have spent the best part of the last 5-6 years watching this movie of my life play by, fatigued, depressed (and especially suicidal) and with memory problems so bad they're threatening my career and my relationships with friends and colleagues I am happy to accept whatever will help me out of this.
I've had an initial sleep study which produced my AHI. However, the Dr has left me with a prescription for a CPAP machine which I'm told I should pick up before I go back for my second study (where they will work out what pressure I need). I've generally read on the internet people picking up machines after they've had a second study, so to me this felt a little weird. Is this something to be concerned about? It was all a bit of a rush job at the doctors post-diagnosis, and since big news tends only to sink in a few hours later for me I knew I wasn't going to make any rash decisions - but they were keen on my to setup consultations with CPAP suppliers in the area there and then.
Secondly, I'm still thinking I'll be picking up this machine, using it for 5 minutes, finding out I don't really need it then being stuck with a rather expensive specialist bit of equipment I'll need to sell online. This could quite easily just be me in denial now, but should I not like...hire one of these first and try it out? Is it worth picking up second hand? (the idea of buying a machine second hand that I know nothing about sounds even worse)
Lastly, will I ever be able to unsee reading CPAP as CRAP? I'm finding it really distracting looking up CRAP machines, and to be fair it doesn't sound like the sort of thing you want pumping air down your throat through the night.
Hey all, hope the shock goes away soon - that's it for now!
well. it does sound like denial....but that's ok. we've likely all been there.
look at this way. you could have spent 10-15 years or more going from doctor to doctor to doctor trying to find out what is wrong with you. you could have lost everything in your life, your marriage, your career, your house, all of your possessions, perhaps even most of your friends, as you struggled to find something medically wrong with you all the while suffering with increasingly more frustrating and life changing symptoms. you could still be suffering and not have any idea what is wrong with you, or what you could do about it.
many people face such...and even worse.
i've been there over the last 10 years. i finally found out i have OSA in december of last year after literally a decade of going from doctor to doctor, with zero help or relief...and in the process i literally lost all of the things i mentioned. i'm 45, 6'2 200lbs. in pretty good shape...but my life has been hell for going on a decade.
i feel incredibly lucky that i found out i have sleep apnea and that it is something i can easily address. for the first time in 10 years i am truly excited and looking forward to feeling better. at least now i have something tangible i can address directly.
you are lucky. you found something that likely can help you feel better....and it's a relatively simple solution. CPAP is really not that big of a deal. sleep apnea is something that can be easily treated. sure it takes some getting used to...but you CAN do it. especially if it can make you feel better.
it may seem rather daunting at first, but it's really not. you will find many people here who have adjusted quite well to CPAP treatment. it's really not all that complicated once you really get into it.
one of the most difficult parts for many, including me..is just finding a mask that works well, and getting your pressure set in the most effective manner to treat your issues.
you can find machines used if you look hard enough. lots of sources out there. i found a basically brand new resmed autosense 10 on craigslist. it cost me $250. the masks i've sunk another $500 into because i've been trying a bunch. a few retailers offer insurance where you can return a mask if it does not work. i wish i had known that. it is something i learned here on this board.
i've spent literally my entire life savings over the last 10 years on doctors, MRIs, tests, etc. etc. the money doesn't matter if you can get you life back.
i've learned so much on this board. get a machine. get a mask. download the sleepyhead software and read this board. people will help you with any questions.
there are some trolls. ignore them. they'll go away.
there are many more people here who are experienced and knowledgeable and they will help you.
once you start using the machine, you can upload your data here and people will help you sort it out, as well as help you determine what steps you can take to optimize your treatment.
i wish you luck.
this isn't that huge of a deal. you can do it.
get better. feel better.
i for one, am right there with you.
cheers.
Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset_____Resmed AIRTOUCH F20 w/memory foam________11CWP prescribed CPAP.
