POLL: Sleep apnea symptoms that CPAP solved for you

[DoriC]

Dream Stalker, you describe exactly the road we were going down when my husband was hospitalized. It would take too long to go into the complete history but after only two Afib tracings in 48hrs, they were all set to start warfarin. I strongly objected and my son had to get involved to stop that. Once he was stabilized on his own cpap machine and some of the heavy duty meds were discontinued, he returned to normal sinus rhythm. Believe it or not, we still had to compromise and allow them to start daily injections of heparin into his belly until he was discharged. We agreed because he wasn't doing much walking and we were afraid of clots. He was horribly bruised for a month or more. Another fight ensued about starting him on Coumidin at home but our Primary intervened on that one and he just continues now on daily aspirin as before. Thanks for that good information.

[BlackSpinner]

On the first night with CPAP, my feet were not freezing cold despite multiple socks,

OMG I never noticed that until you said it!. I am kicking off my bed socks before I fall asleep now and I have not put them back on even during the winter when it was bloody cold in my bedroom in my old place.

[DreamStalker]

Dori, it's so great to see that you are still hanging out on the forum ... I hope Mike is well (I'm sure he is with you by his side).

I had my own run-in with A-fib last year and went through 4 cardiologist who didn't know what they were doing or didn't care. Finally found one I could work with but as I mentioned, even the smart caring ones have their hands tied by the insurance companies. The system is broke, so if you get sick, you need to be able to educate yourself to ask the right questions and make sure they don't mess you up or swindle you for every penny you got. Unfortunately, I lost my insurance last November so I'll never get the albation procedure now. I had eight A-fib attacks last year but I think I have them under control now (none this year so far). I believe my A-fib is associated with the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system and the nerve passes next to the pulmonary vein as it passes through the lung diaphragm with the lower esophagus. I'm still working on what exactly triggers the attacks but since I have not had an A-fib attack all year, I've not had a chance to study myself more. I was studying vagal nerve stimulation a few months ago but got distracted with other things and have not revisited. Anyway, good to see you again.

[chunkyfrog]

I checked everything except the vision problems--(no problems; pre- or post cpap.)
and the dry mouth /sore throat.--
I never had a dry mouth before; but it's an acceptable trade for all the improvements;
including (not on the poll) a dramatic reduction in upper respiratory problems. ('colds', allergies)

[snuginarug]

for most patients who end up here on this forum, the success rate is much higher than for those who never find their way here.

I would have given up long ago without this site. I have been struggling for more than a year and a half to find the right mask. (Finally found it, yay!) If it were not for the very good advice and the encouragement I received here, I'd be back to gasping and choking and suffocating all night long. Back to zombie existence. Back to grey skin, high blood pressure, and higher risks for goodness knows what else. I can't stand my doctor and I still dislike strapping something on my face to sleep. I haven't gotten used to it the way some have. But i wouldn't trade it for my old way of life for any money in the world.

Thank you, to all who have helped me along.

[user from Singapore]

including (not on the poll) a dramatic reduction in upper respiratory problems. ('colds', allergies)

When I created the poll I realized we can have only 10 choices... So I had to merge some of them together and had to keep the ones I found the more relevant (according to different websites about sleep apnea I visited).

[SleepyT]

I checkd off quite a few...but I need to add CPAP corrected my high blood pressure. Now it is back to 120/70.

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

user from Singapore wrote: When I created the poll I realized we can have only 10 choices... So I had to merge some of them together and had to keep the ones I found the more relevant (according to different websites about sleep apnea I visited).

Singapore, I think it is a good Poll! There is no way to make the choices inclusive of everything symptomatic to our use of PAP therapy, especially considering all of the many that are possible due to having OSA and other Sleep disorders and the way our individual bodies react to them (plus you are limited to 10 choices ). If you look over some of the other Polls done over time here, you will find some that have one choice that states something like the proverbial 'none of the above', which to my mind opens the door to post in the Poll thread about what is different or not representative of me, in whatever the Poll is about or the choices available.

John

[user from Singapore]

Yes I also thought about that after I pushed the SUBMIT button... too late

Maybe if I was not using CPAP I would not have been so full of energy and would have time to correct that before positing

[OutaSync]

I fall into the category of CPAP not being beneficial in any way that I can see or feel. In fact, it is just another pain that I've strapped onto my face every night for four and a half years.

[HoseCrusher]

DreamStalker, I did my first chemical cardioversion using magnesium bicarbonate. At the time I was on a Holter monitor and had my cardiologist watch as I played. I went back and forth into and out of afib several times and finally decided that magnesium was important to my health.

I actually prefer magnesium malate.

As I indicated earlier I am developing a history of normal sinus rhythm, so I rarely see afib anymore. Since I am in normal rhythm, chemicals to avoid clotting are not indicated.

In my case their version of chemical cardioversion did not work, and ablation did not work. Electrocardioconversion does work, but so does my own version of magnesium chemical cardioversion.

I am not sure what part xPAP therapy plays in all of this, but it does keep my oxygen saturation up so I stick with it.

[HoseCrusher]

Dori, it is good to hear that you and Mike are doing well.

[Gerald?]

Not to mention getting rid of GERD and pulmonary hypertension.

[chunkyfrog]

Singapore:
very good poll, to include everything possible would have made it way too long, hard to use.
You found a happy medium.

[cherylann]

You need a "nothing" option. My treatment has resolved nothing and it is going on one year.