Second Sleep Study Kinda in Denial

[writergirl2002]

They've checked my heart actually...but thanks for suggesting something that would keep me calm.

One: http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/

for the person who said they have anxiety attacks.. might be a true cardiac problem, not a mental problem. If you have good insurance, see a Cardiologist would seem like a good idea.

[writergirl2002]

Why would you tell a person who is already scared "You're going to die." WTH is wrong with some of you? Do you have your internal switches turned to off? Holy crap...this is why my family told me to get the hell out of these groups. Yes, they can be helpful for equipment, but damn they can also leave you crying and hyperventilating. Think before you type. And don't tell someone losing weight and other things won't help them. You have no idea what that person's situation is. Maybe it won't help your situation but it could certainly help theirs. Seriously....

I just had my second sleep study where they try the cpap machine and different masks. My first study had an AHI of 105 and a minimum oxygen level of 75%. I just keep having this feeling that it has to be a mistake.

With 105 and 75%, you must do this or you're going to die. Unless they switched your results with someone else or deliberately falsified the test, there's no mistake. If they really screwed up, you might have AHI of 50 and O2 of 80, and you're going to die a little slower.

Check the vitamin D, lose weight, sleep on your side, or whatever, but it won't improve you enough to keep you alive. You need CPAP.

Read the links in my signature line to get some advice on which CPAP machine to get. There's a real good chance your DME (CPAP salesman) will try to screw you and give you a less capable CPAP machine that won't monitor your apnea. Read the links and find out which machines are good, how to make the DME give you the right one, and how to check your own therapy once you start it.

A good machine that will monitor your apnea is the biggest key to success.

Warning: Many DMEs will lie to you and say the machine is fully data capable, but it will only record when the machine is turned on, not your AHI.

Once you get started, post any problems you have here. CPAP is not really that hard, and someone here has probably been through whatever problem you have and have some solutions to try.

[Jade]

(standing ovation)

[chunkyfrog]

Losing weight helps EVERYONE (at least those who need to lose some)
It is worth the effort; even if it commonly does not cure apnea.
It takes a load off your joints, heart, kidneys, and pretty much everything else.
Treating apnea helped me get the stamina I needed to lose weight.
No change in the apnea, but the rest was WONDERFUL. --well worth it!

[bluetowelboy]

Thanks for the info on checking out what cpap machine to get. It took me a little bit but I have come to grips with the fact that my test isn't a mistake and I really do need this to live. I have tested all the hormones, vitamin d etc and I have low testosterone but everything else is pretty much normal. I have read that sleep apnea can lower your testosterone and that testosterone therapy can make it worse. I'm now wondering if I should check with my doctor about stopping my testosterone shots once I start with my machine to see if it would make a difference. Thanks for all the support. I'll report back when I get my machine. Trying to be positive.

[RandyJ]

Thanks for the info on checking out what cpap machine to get. It took me a little bit but I have come to grips with the fact that my test isn't a mistake and I really do need this to live. I have tested all the hormones, vitamin d etc and I have low testosterone but everything else is pretty much normal. I have read that sleep apnea can lower your testosterone and that testosterone therapy can make it worse. I'm now wondering if I should check with my doctor about stopping my testosterone shots once I start with my machine to see if it would make a difference. Thanks for all the support. I'll report back when I get my machine. Trying to be positive.

The thing about testosterone replacement is that once you start, your body shuts down its own production completely and doesn't restart until sometime after the replacement is discontinued, and during that time that you are at zero you can feel like crap. If you stop, you should get blood tests at 3 and 6 months to see if you come back up.

At least you have your original test from before you started shots so you know what your pre-cpap baseline was.

[kohrmy]

I thought that the CPAP machine would be really loud too, but my wife said she would support me, after all, it couldn't be any more disruptive than my snoring.

One night (pre-CPAP) she woke up from a dream where she was being chased by zombies only to hear the raspy wheezing continuing as our bedroom came into dim focus. I'm lucky I didn't get an ax to the head that night.

Turns out, the CPAP machine is too quiet. She can barely hear it across the bed. Throw on top of that the lack of snoring, frequent waking, rolling over, getting up to go to the bathroom, etc., and I'm back to sleeping like a log. The silence un-nerves my wife more than the snoring did. Her solution? A sound machine. The gentle rain or waterfall from her side of the bed almost covers up the sound of the EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief) in my ears, and she can't hear me at all. When we visited family last month, she missed the sound machine enough that I had to download a smartphone app to replace it temporarily.

The one (new) marital communication problem I've noticed is that my Full Face Mask muffles my voice significantly if I'm responding to a question as I'm falling to sleep or in the middle of the night. I've been a mouth-breather for my entire life, so I'll just have to deal with turning off the CPAP and cracking the seal on my mask. I'm looking to trade in my "I already fell asleep" ruse for a simple "My machine is on" shoulder shrug...we'll see how that goes.

If you've got a little time, take a look at the stickied post, "Especially for newly diagnosed - Dealing with Change"...I read through it when I was first starting CPAP with a little scoff and proud chuckle, but it's very accurate. Going on CPAP is a commitment, something that will change every night going forward, and change can be hard. I was personally looking forward to my machine, and the miracle that would allow me to awaken refreshed the very first day. It didn't happen, and I'm dealing with that let down, but I'm also getting better, slowly. My daughter has commented that I'm less grumpy, and that's a start.

You're already on the right track, you've had your test(s) and you've found this community. They will help as much as you ask. You're not alone in this struggle, and that's something.

[mgaggie]

Why would you tell a person who is already scared "You're going to die." WTH is wrong with some of you? Do you have your internal switches turned to off? Holy crap...this is why my family told me to get the hell out of these groups. Yes, they can be helpful for equipment, but damn they can also leave you crying and hyperventilating. Think before you type. And don't tell someone losing weight and other things won't help them. You have no idea what that person's situation is. Maybe it won't help your situation but it could certainly help thiers. Seriously.....

Likewise you have no idea what each and everyone's story here is either. Since I joined this site it is at least every second day there is a post about someone 'crying' about being prescribed xpap therapy. So they have heard it all before, many times over. The seasoned members know how to get through to people, and I have found that iyou have to brutal to make someone realise how serious thier situation is.

When I was told I had apnea I was relieved, finally there was a medical reason as to why I felt so bloody tired all the time. I was so excited to get my machine. The first two nights I kept the machine on for 4hours each night. Then I hit the wall, "how in hell can I keep this mask on all night?", "I can't possibly do this for the rest of my life!". But I've kept going because I know my health will improve, and thanks to the members who have encouraged me to keep plodding along. I have had my ups and downs, I've suffered from severe to moderate depression since 1996, but I'll keep trying.

[Super Newbie]

I am very new to OSA, in fact I haven't even had my overnight sleep study yet! When I returned for the results of my apnea/hypoxia study I was floored! Someone had even double checked the box for severe! I didn't go into denial, I almost cried with relief that there was some tangible proof of why I always feel HORRIBLE. I was sent home with a S9 auto pap machine for further testing for 6 nights. I did not want to give the machine back, for the first time in years I didn't wake up either wishing I hadn't or feeling like a Mack truck had parked on my head. My son and a neighbor both said I seemed chipper! Who knew or remembered that person. Well of course I had a bad night and I was the picture of "GRUMPY CAT". But once my Sleep Doctor saw the result with the S9, he kindly sent me home with an IVAP machine. The IVAP goes back tomorrow and I am scared about having to sleep again without the assistance of a machine. So to any newbies out there, if you need it you will adapt to it. I can't wait to have a machine of my own so I don't have to go back to the life I had before my diagnosis. BTW Thanks to all the great posters here. As soon as my Internist suggested a sleep study, I found this site and read everything I could. It really helped me to know what to expect ( in the opinion of real patients) and I have taken all advice to heart. There is nothing I won't try to make this work!

[writergirl2002]

You have found wrong then. It's out of line and it's making me leave the group. So good luck with all of you.

Why would you tell a person who is already scared "You're going to die." WTH is wrong with some of you? Do you have your internal switches turned to off? Holy crap...this is why my family told me to get the hell out of these groups. Yes, they can be helpful for equipment, but damn they can also leave you crying and hyperventilating. Think before you type. And don't tell someone losing weight and other things won't help them. You have no idea what that person's situation is. Maybe it won't help your situation but it could certainly help thiers. Seriously.....

Likewise you have no idea what each and everyone's story here is either. Since I joined this site it is at least every second day there is a post about someone 'crying' about being prescribed xpap therapy. So they have heard it all before, many times over. The seasoned members know how to get through to people, and I have found that iyou have to brutal to make someone realise how serious thier situation is.

When I was told I had apnea I was relieved, finally there was a medical reason as to why I felt so bloody tired all the time. I was so excited to get my machine. The first two nights I kept the machine on for 4hours each night. Then I hit the wall, "how in hell can I keep this mask on all night?", "I can't possibly do this for the rest of my life!". But I've kept going because I know my health will improve, and thanks to the members who have encouraged me to keep plodding along. I have had my ups and downs, I've suffered from severe to moderate depression since 1996, but I'll keep trying.

[BlackSpinner]

You have found wrong then. It's out of line and it's making me leave the group. So good luck with all of you.

Right. And you have been here how long?

Have you never been on an unmoderated forum before?

People on this forum are allowed to have opinions. If you don't like them then put them on ignore.

[chunkyfrog]

It is the "foe" button; for all the good it does me.
I see the blocked message, and curiosity makes me click to read it anyhow.
Even the people I most disagree with can make sense some of the time.
If I shut it all out, I would limit myself too much--I want it ALL!

[caffeinatedcfo]

writergirl,

I'm hoping you do not leave there is much more good than the occasional offensive post here. I can only try to imagine the state your in and can empathize with how that post must come across to you. I have found this board to be extremely supportive and helpful in my treatment. When I started a short time ago, I had no one in real life to discuss this with other than my wife who knew next to nothing about sleep apnea or CPAP. I was able to gain a significant understanding of my options, obstacles, and expected results from this board before even getting my machine. Their collective advise also prepared me to meet with my sleep doc and DME, thus reducing my stress and improving my results. I guarantee that without their help I would still be struggling.

[bluetowelboy]

Actually the post that said I could die if I don't get on a machine didn't upset me at all. It was kinda the hard truth I needed to hear.

Thanks
bluetowelboy

[archangle]

Why would you tell a person who is already scared "You're going to die." WTH is wrong with some of you? Do you have your internal switches turned to off? Holy crap...this is why my family told me to get the hell out of these groups. Yes, they can be helpful for equipment, but damn they can also leave you crying and hyperventilating. Think before you type. And don't tell someone losing weight and other things won't help them. You have no idea what that person's situation is. Maybe it won't help your situation but it could certainly help theirs. Seriously....

Sorry you feel that way. I'll consider your opinion in future posts.

However, untreated apnea is every bit as dangerous as drunk driving or diabetes. I'd tell a drunk driver or untreated diabetic the same thing.

I also felt it was important to stress that bluetowelboy's test results were in the "drop dead" range, not in the moderately unhealthy range. (I should probably qualify that it's the "drop dead within the next few years" range, not the "drop dead tonight" range.)