Trying Again

Six years ago, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I tried for a while, using different masks and just kept taking the off in the night. After listening to my husband (he has sleep apnea also) complain about my noisy sleep, I decided to try again. I will get my machine next week. There are new types of masks and I am very determined to make it work. Although I hope it will happen overnight , I am just hoping for the best. Wish me luck and I will update with my progress.

The machines are better, there are more masks to choose from and there are some amazing people here.

Hope you get a data-capable machine. That way you can see how you are doin'. Best of luck to ya'.

Sheriff

Missgirl50 wrote:I am very determined to make it work.

Glad to here you have the determination to make it work. I'm not trying to scare you here, but, a little of my story. I was diagnosed and became an official hose head a little over a year ago, and couldn't seem to make it work. No one had ever taken the time to explain how serious of a condition OSA really is. A few months before being diagnosed with OSA, I had a sudden attack while I was in Atlanta, I had numbness and tingling all over my entire body, from my feet to the top of my head. I was taken to a Hospital just south of Atlanta and spent the night there. They woke me up 3 times that night and ask if I was alright?

The next morning, the Dr. come in and told me my heart had quit beating 3 times the night before. They wanted to implant a pump immediately. I told them that I wanted to get closer to home (300 miles away) and to get a 2nd opinion. They finally released me that afternoon around 5:00 pm. When I got back to Nashville, I planned to come home, get a shower and pack some clothes and head back to the hospital. But, I got to feeling so bad, that I went straight to the hospital. The next morning they ran a stress test on my heart and checked my arteries for plaque buildup. They informed me that afternoon that it wasn't my heart. They said they received the paperwork from the hospital in Georgia and that my heart didn't quit beating, but slowed to a resting rate of around 32 BPM. While below average, it is not unheard of.

Since that time, I have been to numerous Dr.'s and have spent over (insurance and I) $140,000. Still having test run and seeing Dr.'s, but no answers. I have tried really hard the last 2.5 months to get compliant with xpap therapy. You see, I had been dealing with the numbness and tingling on and off for over a year, while also having 3 degenerative disk in my back and having to see a chiro. I finally got on the net, and started to research my problems, that is how I found this site. Several things lead me to look into my OSA a little more. I was having chest pains, starting to have pains in both elbows, feet and ankles were swelling, blurred vision and short of breath after minimal exertion. I was fatigued, light headed, and getting up to use the bathroom 4 or 5 times a night. Most of my symptoms were possible signs of congestive heart failure. After reading up, I found that xpap treatment is recommended for congestive heart failure. Dr.'s still don't think that is the problem.

I honestly believe that I ignored my sleep apnea for so long that it has now lead to other medical problems. If I had been diagnosed with OSA a few years ago, and had taken my treatment seriously, I may have never experienced these other problems. No one can say for sure, but it definitely would not have hurt. So please try with every bit of will that you have, to get compliant. I don't want others to go through what I have been through. Don't ignore your treatment, OSA is a very serious condition that can affect you in so many ways.

Over the last 2.5 months, I have had no swelling in my ankles or feet, and I don't have to get up to use the bathroom at night anymore. I haven't had the numbness or tingling but maybe twice in the last 1.5 months. While I still feel fatigued, there have been a few days that I have gotten up and feel pretty good and no brain fog. The light headed feeling is not as severe as it was and the chest pains have subsided. I still have the pains in my elbows, but probably due to tugging and pulling at work or arthritis. So, in time I'm hopeful that I can start sleeping at least 7 hrs. a night and wake up most mornings feeling rested and without being light headed.

Wood... sorry you had to deal with all that, but glad you're starting to feel better.

It's also another lesson for me to always get a second or even a third opinion. You would have ended up with a pump you didn't need if you didn't search out another opinion.


Also glad to hear that Miss Girl is trying again. It seems as tho I'm always trying again.

If you are successful this time, you will feel so amazingly better it will be worth it. I am positively giddy about the improvements in my daily life. I didn't realize how bad I felt until I felt better. I look better too! I am doing little things to make it easier (Got padacheek, a new pillow for Cpap, Ayr aloe jel, saline spray, neti pot, the list goes on) But really, the adjustment was fairly easy. Be kind to yourself, and keep trying, expect setbacks, and just keep slapping that mask on.

Good luck!

Missgirl50 wrote:Six years ago, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I tried for a while, using different masks and just kept taking the off in the night. After listening to my husband (he has sleep apnea also) complain about my noisy sleep, I decided to try again. I will get my machine next week. There are new types of masks and I am very determined to make it work. Although I hope it will happen overnight , I am just hoping for the best. Wish me luck and I will update with my progress.

Hi Missgirl50,

I am part of the trying again club also:)

After eliminating many factors, I have come to the conclusion that until I am able to get considerable relief from my chronic nasal congestion that I won't have any chance of staying asleep on my machine for any significant amount of time. A natural remedy suggested by a doctor who used to post on this board is greatly helping after I took my first dose this morning so hopefully that is a good start.

Anyway, if you haven't looked at that as an issue, you might want to.

Good luck.

49er

Sometimes it just takes multiple go's to get the job done. I know when I quit smoking it took a couple of years and several false starts before I finally quit for good. Don't focus on the the negatives of the past... just look forward to a new future.

49er wrote: A natural remedy suggested by a doctor who used to post on this board is greatly helping after I took my first dose this morning so hopefully that is a good start. 49er

Care to tell us what that remedy is 49er?

Missgirl50 wrote: Six years ago, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I tried for a while, using different masks and just kept taking the off in the night. After listening to my husband (he has sleep apnea also) complain about my noisy sleep, I decided to try again. I will get my machine next week. There are new types of masks and I am very determined to make it work. Although I hope it will happen overnight , I am just hoping for the best. Wish me luck and I will update with my progress.

As has been said here many times by some of the seasoned 'hose heads', Sleep Apnea is like a death from a 1000 cuts. It can (for most of the untreated), just continue over the years to slowly, insidiously damage our bodies to the point of severe crisis and/or to the point of no return. Our bodies instinctively know this, but it is our brains/minds that have to be convinced of the necessity of XPAP treatment. Our bodies amazing ability to adapt and endure years of damage from lack of sleep/treatment is a blessing and a curse at the same time. We learn to compensate over time to stay alive, even convince ourselves that we are almost functional and have no problem (denile), but it will take its toll, especially for those of us who have many years of ongoing damage and IMO it is even more magnified as we get older.

With a husband that is already using XPAP therapy (he is, isn't he?) you have overcome one of the hurdles that affect us by already by having a fellow 'hose head' right there that understands and can help you through the inevitable learning curve that we all go through. You can do this! Some of the greatest things in our lives require the most work, but when you get there, whether quickly or over time, how sweet it can be. Make this time the last time you try/start again by embracing the opportunity to wake up each day with the best chance of having had healthy and restorative sleep. Remember that no matter what, it is all worth whatever effort is needed to make this work, for you and for all those who love and depend on you!

John

Sir NoddinOff wrote:

49er wrote: A natural remedy suggested by a doctor who used to post on this board is greatly helping after I took my first dose this morning so hopefully that is a good start. 49er

Care to tell us what that remedy is 49er?

Hi SNO,

It is respir-all. Here is the link.

http://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Respir- ... ewpoints=1

Interestingly, I ate some extremely spicy food for lunch and had alot more drainage than I was used to:)

But this is only my first day in taking the remedy so keep that in mind. And as always, everyone's mileage will vary.

49er

Its been a week already...Have woken up the last two mornings with my mask ON...I can do this!!! Thanks for your support!!

Missgirl50 wrote:Its been a week already...Have woken up the last two mornings with my mask ON...I can do this!!! Thanks for your support!!

Good Job!