Think I will be soon using CPAP

Hello my name is Anthony. I have snored pretty loud for a long time now, probably due to a deviated septum I have in my nostrils from some years of cocaine abuse. I also have heart disease. I always knew sometimes I would wake up with that gasp feeling. But it never stopped me from going back to sleep. Over the past week or so something has seemed to change. My throat and mouth are terribly dry when I wake up. I get up some nights 3-5 times to go to the bathroom. I have only gotten maybe 4 hours sleep the past 2 days and now when I try I can just feel ny throat start to close up a bit and it takes me right out of the cusp of going to sleep to cursing the gods for yet another problem in my life. My doctor appointment isn't until Monday, what can I do until then to help me fall asleep? Would stuff they sell at CVS help me at all? Like the jaw strap? Thanks for any advice, btw i am 51 years old and about 25 pounds overweight.

Do whatever you can to NOT sleep on your back, but your sides, anything (like wearing a backpack) that will work even while you're asleep - it can make quite a difference. And you can buy blue painter's tape to wear over your lips, unless your nose is not adequate for you to breathe properly, then a chin strap would help, but you can get an elastic wrap for knees, etc. and use it til Monday if necessary .

I swear I wish I could go back in time. I have this damn deviated septum in my nose from abusing cocaine for a while. I have heart issues from the same reason. Depression and drug usage in my past has ruined me. When I lay on my side to sleep my heart feels weird. I do think the extra weight I have put on is the main cause of that and maybe it is affecting this issue as well so I am on a diet but today is day one. I lay on my back and now I can't sleep due to this Apnea issue all of a sudden getting worse. Why did I have to be a follower instead of my own person. I would do anything for a do over. I guess sooner or later I will pass out hopefully, I'll also take a sleep aid tonight as well like Tylenol PM or something like that. I have never used sleeping pills before. I wish I had treated my body like a temple instead of mistreating it so badly in the past.

You might look at a cervical collar to help keep the neck in a position that would diminish the chance of getting in a position that could make any airway collapse worse.

Prop yourself up, bed or chair even, so you can sleep until you get your machine. Not sure why you would want to use a chin strap (or tape) without already having a machine AND already having a problem breathing through your nose. I was sitting upright for many nights before I got my machine.

Forget the past, only right now exists, we all had a path to get to where we are.

It's best not to beat yourself up over past mistakes... that just makes it easier to sink into the gloom and avoid what you need to do right now to get some problems fixed. Glad to hear you've a doctor's appt... possibly get a sleep study, in other words, get a plan of attack. Also please come back and ask questions, especially if CPAP is going to be part of your future. I know it's easy to feel overwhelming anxiety right now, but things will start to look up once you set a course for a more balanced life.

I wish had I had paid more attention to the postings on here about sleep positions and the heart. You might want to ask your doc about what's best for your particular heart problem. I do remember reading that with an enlarged heart it is better to sleep on the right side. The reason given was that the heart muscle is not strong and you don't want the weight of the lung on the heart in the left side position. Is stomach sleeping an option for you? But again, ask your doctor. And congrats to you for reaching a point of treating yourself better.

Thanks for the replies, and you're all correct in that I should just plow forward but it is easier said than done for me.

Again, forgive yourself, and stay clean.
Anybody can suffer from previous poor judgement.
Only look forward; and heal.

I can already tell I won't be getting much sleep tonight again. Even on my side I can feel close to the cusp of sleep then a weird feeling in my throat/sinuses and I don't get over the hump. I will try sitting straight up in a little while and hopefully I can nod out. I am on BP meds and still without sleep I just tested myself and my numbers were very high 150/100..how long did some of you go without sleep before going to a hospital for help? I can't wait for doctor appointments I am already 2 plys days in with very little sleep..

Nothing is working for me..at this point I am just waiting to pass out or for my body to give out somehow..

Should I consider the ER right about now? My BP is up to 155/100 even at twice the dosage I normally take and even laying on my stomach or sitting does not give me sleep as I get that choked up feeling when I get close every single time. Think I am going to the ER.

Try a wedge pillow from bed bath and beyond. Worked for me and stopped the snoring, however I am now on cpap per Drs orders.

Anthonym wrote:Should I consider the ER right about now? My BP is up to 155/100 even at twice the dosage I normally take and even laying on my stomach or sitting does not give me sleep as I get that choked up feeling when I get close every single time. Think I am going to the ER.

Well, what happened? Did you take off the CPAP and did your BP drop?

Its good to ask for advice under your circumstances I think you need your rest and a old remedy I use to sleep is "Nyquil" cough medicine because your body is telling you to rest.
You don't need a lot, it usually puts you to sleep.(usually in the morning I don't feel rejuvenated but I know I got sleep.)
Taking lots of blood pressure pills I'm thinking that isn't going to get your blood pressures under control over night, that's a longer time window.
Stay away from alcohol until you see your doctor who can evaluate what's best for you.
Your Cpap you receive takes time to use properly, everything will work out for you as long you are positive thinking.
All the best