Introduction

Hello,

I am new to this whole CPAP therapy. In fact, I just went in for the titration 2 nights ago. I haven't heard from my doctor yet nor have I started to pick out equipment. I think I am still a little bit in denial as well. I'm only 22 and I shouldn't be having these issues at such a young age. This seems like a helpful and supportive board and I need all the help and support I can get. So I figured that I would introduce myself and tell my a little of my story. Bear with me.

My name is Kori and, like I said, I'm 22. I am in nursing school at the moment with plans to get my master's to become a nurse anesthesiologist. I live with my fiance and two cats. My cats are like my children (call me a crazy cat lady if you want ) because I don't plan on having children for a long time. I am a huge gamer and spend most of my free time playing video games (not that I have much free time anymore with school.)

I have all sorts of health issues. Things started to get bad my first year of college. I was already a sufferer of depression, however, I started having really bad panic attacks. I also was fatigued, had major fog, and I would get so depressed because I was having trouble getting anything done. I went through a few doctors (who just wanted to keep giving me anti-depressants that didn't help) until I found the doctor I have now. Going between all these different doctors I found out that I had hypothyroidism, PCOS, and insulin resistance.

Fast forwarding a little, I've spent the last few years thinking that it was my slacker of a thyroid making me tired. However, I was very down on myself when my last blood work showed that my thyroid is where it should be. I didn't know what else it could be. All I know was that I was feeling sicker and sicker. I can't even hold a job now while I'm in school because it's just too much. About 5 months ago, I started to get migraines 5 times a week. And these were so bad I was rendered useless. I started to get up to go to the bathroom 5 million times a night and my aches and pains just keep getting worse. I've also been trying to lose weight and I haven't lost a single pound since October. But I haven't gained any either. I don't have my exact numbers. I just remember him saying something about I was only getting 70% of the oxygen I needed when I slept and that my sleep was only 60% efficient. I was also recently diagnosed with a heart murmur which, based on my research, could be because of the sleep apnea. That just makes me scared.

So here I am. Scared and completely mad at myself for letting myself get this fat where I would need help sleeping. I use food for therapy which I know isn't good.

Sorry if the post sounded too whiny. I am a fun person, I promise!

Welcome to the board. Yes, you are young, but at least you have found this out at a young age before more problems popped up. There are some of us who had all the symptoms since a young age but no one ever connected the dots. Imagine if you went another 20 or 22 years without being diagnosed.

When you went for your titration did they say what kind of machine you were titrated on. Meaning were you able to tolerate standard CPAP or did you require a BiPap? What kind of interface did you wear a full face mask, a nasal mask or nasal cushions?

Gerry

Hello & Welcome, Kori! Glad you found this forum—SO much useful info and everyone here is so willing to help!

You're lucky to have discovered your OSA so early before untreated apneas had years to do damage.

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

Gerryk wrote:Welcome to the board. Yes, you are young, but at least you have found this out at a young age before more problems popped up. There are some of us who had all the symptoms since a young age but no one ever connected the dots. Imagine if you went another 20 or 22 years without being diagnosed.

When you went for your titration did they say what kind of machine you were titrated on. Meaning were you able to tolerate standard CPAP or did you require a BiPap? What kind of interface did you wear a full face mask, a nasal mask or nasal cushions?

Gerry

It was a standard CPAP machine and I wore a nasal mask. I actually didn't have too many problems (except I couldn't sleep on my side because condensation from the mask would drip and wake me up.) I actually slept through most of the night on that machine and I woke up feeling rested so I am hopeful that this might actually help me. I want to be able to go back to work.

RipVW wrote:
Hello & Welcome, Kori! Glad you found this forum—SO much useful info and everyone here is so willing to help!

You're lucky to have discovered your OSA so early before untreated apneas had years to do damage.

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

Thanks and I am glad I discovered it now. It just still makes me a little angry. Now that I got diagnosed with OSA. My mom AND fiance want to go in for sleep tests!

Now that I got diagnosed with OSA. My mom AND fiance want to go in for sleep tests!

Hi, Kori, and welcome (from another newbie here).

I find that this diagnosis (and the research we all do afterwards) tends to have a domino effect on the friends and family in our lives. I've become an advocate of xPAP therapy since I started treatment. Anytime someone says they're tired all the time, I start asking questions. If the answers point in the same direction that mine did prior to therapy, I urge them to look into OSA. Thus far, two friends have had sleep studies done, and both are now on xPAP. My neighbor is next on the hit parade; she's dealing with other health issues at the moment, but she plans to get tested at some point.

Consider your diagnosis and pending treatment at the ripe old age of 22 to be a blessing. I'm 51, and I'm sure I've had undetected OSA for many years now. The sooner you start treatment, the less damage your OSA will be able to do. Best of luck, and congrats on finding this forum so quickly. You'll find lots of helpful people here as you navigate through treatment and related issues.

BleepingBeauty wrote: Consider your diagnosis and pending treatment at the ripe old age of 22 to be a blessing. I'm 51, and I'm sure I've had undetected OSA for many years now. The sooner you start treatment, the less damage your OSA will be able to do. Best of luck, and congrats on finding this forum so quickly. You'll find lots of helpful people here as you navigate through treatment and related issues.

Thanks. I am very proactive about my health. I always do research on my different health issues. Doctors don't like me too much because I tend to argue with them quite a bit. I had to fight to even get a sleep test. "Your migraines are stress related" just didn't cut it for me.

WOW!! If you felt better after your titration, just think how you will feel when your body gets the oxygen it needs every night! I am so excited for you. Many, if not all, of your health problems may be related to your apnea. You are so lucky to have discovered this at your age. You won't have to make multiple trips to the bathroom at night any more, your sex life will improve, your headaches will go away. You are on your way to recovery and we get to watch it happen. I love stories like this. Please keep us posted and while you are waiting for your equipment, start reading as much as you can, right here, on this forum.

Bev

I am very proactive about my health. I always do research on my different health issues.

That's a good thing, especially re: sleep medicine. PCPs know little about it. Hell, many of us feel our sleep doctors are fairly useless most of the time...

Doctors don't like me too much because I tend to argue with them quite a bit. I had to fight to even get a sleep test. "Your migraines are stress related" just didn't cut it for me.

It's good that you question everything and argue, if need be. Contrary to their own opinion of themselves, doctors are NOT gods. The arrogance factor is overwhelming, i.e., "I'm the doctor, I have the proper training, and I know what's best for you. How dare you question my authoritay!" (Props to Cartman. )

As I said earlier, it's great that you found this forum as quickly as you did. There are veterans here with loads of experience, and they're quick to offer good advice and suggestions. Welcome aboard.

krazykchan wrote:

Gerryk wrote:Welcome to the board. Yes, you are young, but at least you have found this out at a young age before more problems popped up. There are some of us who had all the symptoms since a young age but no one ever connected the dots. Imagine if you went another 20 or 22 years without being diagnosed.

When you went for your titration did they say what kind of machine you were titrated on. Meaning were you able to tolerate standard CPAP or did you require a BiPap? What kind of interface did you wear a full face mask, a nasal mask or nasal cushions?

Gerry

It was a standard CPAP machine and I wore a nasal mask. I actually didn't have too many problems (except I couldn't sleep on my side because condensation from the mask would drip and wake me up.) I actually slept through most of the night on that machine and I woke up feeling rested so I am hopeful that this might actually help me. I want to be able to go back to work.

I would ask for a data capable machine and not just standard data that some DME's will push that will only record hours used. You want a fully data capable machine.

Don't worry about that condensation in that mask right now. As long as you got a mask that works and you slept well with it and felt better the next day the rest is easy.

As far as the moisture it could have been that the humidity was set too hight or the room was humid. Their are ways around this, such as turning the humidity down or sometimes a hose cover will help. Some people have been known to but a piece of tissue in their mask to collect the moisture.

You are fortunate that you slept well and felt rested the next morning.

Gerry

Hello and welcome to the board. I'm new, too. Have only been using CPAP for a little over two weeks, but I'm starting to get a little bit of my energy back so I'm encouraged. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other around here!

Gerryk wrote: I would ask for a data capable machine and not just standard data that some DME's will push that will only record hours used. You want a fully data capable machine.

Don't worry about that condensation in that mask right now. As long as you got a mask that works and you slept well with it and felt better the next day the rest is easy.

As far as the moisture it could have been that the humidity was set too hight or the room was humid. Their are ways around this, such as turning the humidity down or sometimes a hose cover will help. Some people have been known to but a piece of tissue in their mask to collect the moisture.

You are fortunate that you slept well and felt rested the next morning.

Gerry

I have been reading the board for a few weeks so I hope to get a data capable machine. I want to be able to watch my own treatment of course! Now I just have to wait...and wait...I hope I get a call next week.

bobkat13 wrote:Hello and welcome to the board. I'm new, too. Have only been using CPAP for a little over two weeks, but I'm starting to get a little bit of my energy back so I'm encouraged. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other around here!

Hello! Good luck with your treatment! I can't wait until I start feeling like I'm actually 22 instead of 42.

OutaSync wrote:WOW!! If you felt better after your titration, just think how you will feel when your body gets the oxygen it needs every night! I am so excited for you. Many, if not all, of your health problems may be related to your apnea. You are so lucky to have discovered this at your age. You won't have to make multiple trips to the bathroom at night any more, your sex life will improve, your headaches will go away. You are on your way to recovery and we get to watch it happen. I love stories like this. Please keep us posted and while you are waiting for your equipment, start reading as much as you can, right here, on this forum.

Bev

I'm kinda excited too as weird as that sounds. I'm not sure when I started to have sleeping issues. I don't really remember when the last time was that I woke up feeling rested. This could have been happening way before now. It all finally caught up with me I guess.

krazykchan wrote: ..........completely mad at myself for letting myself get this fat where I would need help sleeping. I use food for therapy which I know isn't good.

.........

Untreated sleep apnea causes many people to overeat and gain weight, so don't beat yourself up about this.

krazykchan wrote: .........I hope to get a data capable machine. .............

Don't "hope", just refuse to accept anything less!