Do you tell people you have sleep apnoea?

Chikorita · Post by **Chikorita** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:53 am

And that you sleep with a mask?

How do they react?

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:05 am

I don't announce it unnecessarily, except to MD's and/or sig. others, but if it comes up somehow in a serious conversation - maybe someone else has OSA - then if you're comfortable you can share... it's personal choice obviously. I do think the only people who might react oddly at first - and that probably due to nerves when faced with something different from others - would be pretty young and prone to Darth Vader jokes, but even then it doesn't necessarily mean anything terrible, just a lack of understanding. But if you meant do we routinely tell people (besides our MD) about it when it's not relevant... I'm not sure I'd see the point.

greatunclebill · Post by **greatunclebill** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:59 am

it's like saying i have reflux and take nexium. it's no big deal and certainly not a handicap or some sort of disease that everybody must know or not know. if it something that someone has a need to know or it is a natural part of a conversation they might find out. its not some deep dark secret to hide, nor is it something to blurt out to every person within ear shot. in short, its no big deal to most people.

nanwilson · Post by **nanwilson** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:11 am

I agree will uncle bill...its no big deal, nothing to be embarrassed about.

JoeP · Post by **JoeP** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:30 am

I dont walk up to random people on the streets and tell them, but my close friends and family know. Mostly because they watched me struggle through the past 12-18 months in a downward spiral of poor sleep, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, stress and depression.

themonk · Post by **themonk** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:40 am

I have told a few family members and close friends, maybe around 8-10 people total. 100% of the people I have told know someone who has it. Interestingly enough, all of the people they know who have it love their PAP machines!?!

I am interested in telling more people as I get more comfortable with it because I do think, from doctors to Joe Schmo on the street, that there is a stereotype of people who have it. I am far from that stereotype as are many people on this forum. I'd like for people to know that someone young and fit can have it just like someone older and overweight. That myth needs to die before more people do. Just not there yet w/ how I am dealing with it since the diagnosis was very much a shock. One of the days...

Suzjohnson · Post by **Suzjohnson** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:57 am

I have posted references and links to sleep apnea articles and web sites on my Facebook page as well as announcing when I began therapy. I've discussed it with my siblings and children so they can be on the look out for symptoms. Reactions seem to correlate to the level of symptoms the listener experiences. It has been surprising to me how many people I know that came out of the closet, so to speak, and revealed their own struggles after I revealed my own.

Suz

BlackSpinner · Post by **BlackSpinner** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 8:28 am

I was walking my dog first thing one morning and my then neighbour below me blurted out "You use a cpap machine too" after seeing the strap marks on my face. As we were talking the other neighbour came out for a smoke and heard us and said "oh me too". We became good friends.

LoneStar · Post by **LoneStar** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 8:35 am

I'm probably annoying. If anyone mentions snoring, I launch into my sleep apnea lecture. I have no problems letting people know I have OSA and use CPAP to successfully treat it.

Lisa

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 8:56 am

As soon as I hear that someone "gave up on it", I jump on the opportunity to rave about
new, full-data machines, new masks, and cpaptalk.
I let them know how much better I feel with decent sleep, and encourage them to keep trying.
I can be a little pest.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:17 am

I do chat about it if the occasion comes up. Funny how it does come up sometimes though. Can't remember how it came up while having my nails done but when it did I found out that the husband, of the woman who does my nails, happens to have to use the machine and she says she now gets great sleep because she wasn't getting any sleep having to poke him all night to get him to start breathing again.

Wonderbeastlett · Post by **Wonderbeastlett** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:35 am

I'm in my early twenties and ,although my husband is on board with my disorder and treatment, my friends are a bit different. It's hard telling young adults about it because they look at you wierd or zone out! It's like because I'm young I somehow magically have a perfect body with no sickness! They don't really take the time to understand what's going on and why. That's one of the reasons I love this site! You can talk and ask questions and everyone knows and cares!

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:41 am

It doesn't often come up in daily conversations, but, if snoring or sleep disorders are mentioned, I have no problem indicating that I have SA and use a CPAP. I don't see this as being much different than wearing a night brace on your teeth or needing to test your blood several times a day.

greatunclebill · Post by **greatunclebill** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:45 am

Wonderbeastlett wrote:I'm in my early twenties and ,although my husband is on board with my disorder and treatment, my friends are a bit different. It's hard telling young adults about it because they look at you wierd or zone out! It's like because I'm young I somehow magically have a perfect body with no sickness! They don't really take the time to understand what's going on and why. That's one of the reasons I love this site! You can talk and ask questions and everyone knows and cares!

you have the wrong friends. with age you'll learn.

Wonderbeastlett · Post by **Wonderbeastlett** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:55 am

I agree! I will find more involved and mature friends! For now my husband seems to be the only friend who cares! Lol

Do you tell people you have sleep apnoea?

Do you tell people you have sleep apnoea?

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