Thanks for the warm welcome!!!!

Thanks, Titrator for the warm welcome!
I made my first post here about three weeks ago when I was given my official diagnosis of "sleep apnea" after a sleep study. My husband of 47 years says I have had it for most of our married life and I have given him many scares with my non-breathing episodes. After so long though and not knowing that there is anything out there to help with it, you tend to ignore it, I guess. I was put on an REMstar auto CPAP with a cool-air type humidifier and am on my third nasal type appliance. The first was just the nasal cannula type that went up into the nares and caused considerable irritation to the mucosa. Then I tried the Comfort Select mask, but had a real problem with mask leakage in addition to having a defective machine and having to convince the company of this fact. It was doing a real runaway with air pressures--like going up to 13 & 14 suddenly even before I could go to sleep and almost literally blowing off the mask. Now I am using the Mirage Swift Pillow Nasal system and finding it much more comfortable than the other two types. I still have lots of adapting to do, but I feel this may really be the answer to my extreme "daytime tiredness", hypertension becoming more difficult to control even with medication, plus all the good movies that I've missed the endings of because I couldn't stay awake once I sat down to relax.
I appreciate having found this site and drawing from the experiences of others as we travel this new path together.
Again, many thanks and may God bless each of you.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in June of 2003, but my husband says that we don't have the money to purchase a CPAP machine, also claiming that it won't help anyway. I am 41 years old and am (unwillingly) sleeping my life away. Since I stop breathing when I sleep, I try to stay up so that I don't kill any more brain cells...my memory is that of an 80-year old with dementia. Since eating also makes me tired, I try not to eat if I need to stay awake. I am currently trying to take classes for Medical Billing Specialist so that I can work from my home. I am not illiterate, however, I am unable to read the book because I can't stay awake while sitting (reading, writing, riding, etc.). If I am not physically active, I'm soon sleeping. My children laughed the other day because I fell asleep mid-sentence...I had never done that before. I can see my condition getting worse, but I don't have a supportive husband like you do. My husband says that I am "worthless". I believe the Lord was trying to show my husband things when a gentleman literally told my husband that I am at high risk for a stroke because of the sleep apnea condition (not to mention that I'm already at high risk for heart attack because I am a female heavy snorer), but he is blinded, stubborn and unwilling to "see". Last time I was coming out of surgery, the nurses were loudly telling me to "breath"! (Evidently I stopped breathing for them, too!) In all honesty, I am not "living" at all, and certainly not the abundant life that Jesus promised to give. Prior to getting you CPAP machine, did you also have some of the above problems, too? If so, did the CPAP machine help? To me, a CPAP machine represents being given a new "life" (again). Since you read the Bible, will you pray for me and my situation...God can work miracles both in me, in my husband, and in our relationship! As you stated, "God brought me to it, he will also bring me through it." May God Bless You and Yours, too! Thank You!

Worthy,

For the sake of you, your children and your marriage please seek assistance from a women's center that can give you some perspective on your husband.

I'll pray that you are able to find this help.