Chinese torture..in the UK from cpap

[Retal]

* Did you have a sleep study? If so, tell us something about your diagnosis: mild, moderate, or severe apnea? Do you know what they said your AHI is (apnea/hypopnea index)? Or did they tell you the main problem is not apnea but low oxygen levels at night?

Hi Emerita, thanks for your post. My sleep study was 28.2 "events" per hour, which I was told was moderate, but 30 events would be severe, so I'm borderline. I don't know anything else.

* A fair number of people find the Dream Station machine gives them the feeling it is rushing their breathing. I was sent home with one for my first week and hated it for that reason. But my "keeper" machine was a ResMed Air Sense 10 Autoset, which followed my breathing patterns instead of trying to guess and lead. Any chance you can get that machine?

I tried it last night and somehow I didn't feel rushed by the machine any more, but my heart rate is frequently racing and I feel rushed by my heart to keep up with it. Needless to say it is impossible to sleep like that. I tried for 2.5 hours, counting every breath until it drove me insane, then I took it off and fell asleep instantly. Of course when I woke up I didn't feel particularly refreshed. I live in the UK so the whole apparatus is free, but I get what I'm given; unlikely I can change the mask, let alone the machine, but I'm getting used to the mask anyway I guess. Unless there's a quieter mask. I tried ear plugs, but ear plugs bring you closer to your inner ear, which actually makes it seem louder than your normal, external ear, so it's actually worse.

I lost 75 pounds, from 300 lbs down to 225 pounds and my apnea went away. [...] For me the apnea went away pretty quickly

How quickly?

You do realise you only need to wear it while you're asleep, right?

You do realize most people don't only see their girlfriends during the day, right? Anyway I don't think there's any point pretending the CPAP is the final nail in the coffin. If I didn't manage to get a girlfriend in 35 years, this is unlikely to have changed history.

Sorry but I have no intention of living like this forever. I'd sooner kill myself.

That would solve the whining issue.

That's pretty neat.

OP needs a CPAP because of bad genetics, (narrow airway) and is likely fat *because* of the sleep apnea, not the other way around.

Nobody in my family ever needed CPAP and I'm fat because I eat too much. There's nothing genetic about it.

Also, there is a really negative sentiment going around here that CPAP is for life. I don't mean to discredit anyone for whom that is actually true, but trying to convince everyone to love the CPAP and that CPAP is for life is not only cultism, it's poison. I will be doing everything I can to get this fixed.

[Julie]

The only 100% guaranteed 'fix' would be a tracheostomy... have you considered living with that - look it up (not the surgery but life afterward)?

And have you considered that the thousands of people now (gratefully) using Cpap have looked into various supposed fixes and decided they'd rather do Cpap'? Why do you think you're the only one who's bothered by the idea of using it?

Cool down, read more here and wherever else you want, try the legitimate (lots of people out there ready to take your money for useless 'fixes', including surgeons) ways we can help make this a much better experience for you than you've decided it has to be and don't be put off by labels. You say your test put you almost in the 'severe' category, but do you realize many people had a 'score' of e.g. over 80? Over 90? More?

If Cpap is the worst thing to ever happen to you, you'll be doing a lot better than most!

And if I was your girlfriend/wife/whatever, I know I'd be happier to wake up to a live boyfriend than a dead one. Lots have also found fun in a whole Darth Vader play acting thing, but only when they leave the lights on of course - you couldn't do much in the dark.

We really can help you get set up for a positive experience in that you'll feel a lot better once it's done - maybe the fatigue, etc. is making you so grouchy and irrational.

[Cardinalphan]

I’ve been using CPAP now for 18 years. I’m 6 ft tall, 190 lbs. prior to my diagnosis, I suffered from severe headaches for years due to lack of deep sleep because of my Apnea. The CPAP machine made a tremendous positive change for me. My energy improved, dark circles under my eyes left and the headaches went away. At that time I had young kids and wanted to do more camping and overnight things that the large CPAP machine prevented. My ENT convinced me he could fix my problem with surgery. He removed my tonsils, part of the back of my tongue and the soft palate at the roof of my mouth. No doubt an incredibly difficult surgery for a 42 year old. I lost about 15 lbs (down to 175 at 6 ft). It did not change my apnea. It actually made some things more difficult such as swallowing at times. I would caution anyone considering such surgery to get multiple opinions and talk to others who have done it. When I first started with the CPAP, I too, had vet difficult time with it. Waking up in the middle of the night from a dream that a snake was biting me on the nose to all kinds of other frustrations. After a few weeks, I began to get used to it. Today, I cant imagine not having it. It helps me fall a sleep now. The machines are quiet compared to the old dream station is excellent. I always have to use the humidifier which makes some of the smaller travel machines less than optimal. That said, today I have the Resmed mini for travel and it works pretty good, a little loud but a good compromise for size. You can now get small batteries to for camping. Once you enter this world you will be amazed at the number of people that use a CPAP. Find a way to get use to it and it will positively change your life for the better. Surgery should be saved for the last option because the results can be worse than the apnea.

[Retal]

Surgery should be saved for the last option because the results can be worse than the apnea.

Thanks for sharing your story.

[roadcycler]

I've been on cpap now for 2 years. To begin with my sleep study showed sever apnea, did NOT want a cpap machine no way no how said I would lose weight first. Lost 35 lbs and had another sleep study done, it showed a decrease in apnea if I stayed sleeeping on my side but the same if I slept on my back. So I relented to try a cpap machine under duress ( wife with a cattle prod ). It took a couple of weeks to slowly get use to it ( main change was I watched a movie with the mask on but unattached ). Over the last 2 years I have gone through 5 different masks even though I had to purchase them on my own coin and have found a mask that works pretty good for me ( N30). Now I can't imagine sleeping without one, no longer constantly exhausted or starting no nod off when driving, have more energy and have toned up.

4 years ago I had a heart attack and a quad bypass which in retrospect probably could have been prevented or minimized if I had been put on a CPAP 30 years ago. So count your blessings that you have been diagnosed when young before permanent health issues happen. Yes the thoughts of how do I get a girlfriend with needing this thing but it was my wife that prodded me to get one, other young people with mild to severe health issues manage to get girlfriends, it may just weed out the ones that aren't the best choice.

Don't give up, it takes time, is a pain in the ass to begin with but worth it in the end.

[Retal]

4 years ago I had a heart attack and a quad bypass

Were there any warning signs? How did you survive?

[Dog Slobber]

4 years ago I had a heart attack and a quad bypass

Were there any warning signs? How did you survive?

He survived by embracing accepted medical treatment. Instead of having a defeatist attitude and attacking those around him who devote a lot of time and effort sharing the knowledge and experience they've gained.

Your'e too much work, but glad you joined. This place needs more people who have been on CPAP for 2 days and already know everything.

[Miss Emerita]

Retal, I'm glad you no longer feel hustled along by the machine. I suspect your heart rate is connected to frustration and anxiety as you lie there trying to sleep. I really do think it will help if you use the machine outside the bedroom for several hours a day. Maybe don't even try to use it at night for a few days. When you do start using it at night, don't worry if you drop off for a bit, then wake up and have trouble getting back to sleep with it. You can take it off at that point, as part of your process of adaptation. If you've slept with it on, you've done well; as time goes by it'll get easier, and before long you'll be sleeping with it all night. Really.

It'd be great to know what kind of mask you have. People might be able to give you some advice about the noise problem. Can you take a picture of it and post it?

And good on you for starting to lose weight and get into better shape! All the best of luck with that.

[jimbud]

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts

“When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor E. Frankl

“Some people don’t like change, but you need to embrace change if the alternative is disaster.” – Elon Musk

“Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.” – Clint Eastwood

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” – Andy Warhol

"Suck it up big guy." - JPB

That should get you started.

[roadcycler]

4 years ago I had a heart attack and a quad bypass

Were there any warning signs? How did you survive?

I was out cycling hills and forgot to premed for my asthma. Had some chest pain and tightness but thought that it was just my asthma acting up and ignored it OCD A+ personality plus overweight. Felt like crap that day and the next day premed myself and went for another cycle. 3 months later my wife went to the doc for some results and asked if I could come along (ambushed), she told the doc what happened and got her to order an ECG. Yup showed up a heart attack, 6 months later still getting some chest tightness had an angiogram and they wouldn't let me leave the hospital.

So yea typical male ignored everything until too late then did everything I was told too because the consequences of not listening were too great. Learned the hard way. Back to this girlfriend thing I had a wife who cared for me and got things rolling and looked after me. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't be here. So find a girlfriend that the caring goes both way and it is a win.

As for the CPAP one day at a time, now I have even bought a travel cpap when we travel that will fit in my camera bag.

[Retal]

It'd be great to know what kind of mask you have. People might be able to give you some advice about the noise problem. Can you take a picture of it and post it?

Thanks again for your post. It is most helpful. I'll see about producing a picture.

I was out cycling hills and forgot to premed for my asthma. Had some chest pain and tightness but thought that it was just my asthma acting up and ignored it OCD A+ personality plus overweight. Felt like crap that day and the next day premed myself and went for another cycle. 3 months later my wife went to the doc for some results and asked if I could come along (ambushed), she told the doc what happened and got her to order an ECG. Yup showed up a heart attack, 6 months later still getting some chest tightness had an angiogram and they wouldn't let me leave the hospital.

Wait... so you'd already had a heart attack... and you didn't even know?

[roadcycler]

Oh as per surviving. Doing as I was told and looking after myself better. Back to cycling, cross country skiing, kayaking, walking 10km/day, just not able to do the same as before but still on this side of the grass. Download Oscar once they finish fiddling with your settings and show it to the people here, they are amazing and full of real life information but you have to be willing to listen, and try what they say ( zonker can be crabby but when he gives advice LISTEN and don't argue ). They do not like whining, having a new person tell them this is how it is or just complaining they get antsy. All of them are volunteers and can answer the same question multiple times a day to different people without going insane.

[roadcycler]

Yup, called a silent heart attack and many (mostly men) just ignore it and don't realize that they have had one. As per no family history, have they been tested for sleep apnea? My father probably had it and wasn't diagnosed and he died of a heart attack. Just so you know I have 30 years on you so keep trying, it may take 2-3 weeks before you can get more than 4 hours of sleep and 3-4 months before you start feeling better, but stick with it and keep us posted.

[palerider]

Nobody can deny reality.

Then you should take your own "advice" and stop denying reality.

Personally, I think you're just a troll that's been banned before, most people don't show the quoting style you have right out of the gate.

[Julie]

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