Natural cures first?

[ExhaustedLady]

Dear friends

I have OSA badly, my breathing stops about 100 times a night.

I cannot bear the thought of having a breathing machine attached to me and consider it to be the last restort.

Can anyone tell me please what natural cures might I try first?

I looked at the Butyeko method that involves practising shallow breathing; but elsewhere people suggest deep breathing. Which is right?

Is there any way I can adjust my sleep position or pillows or anything at all that might help before I give in and get a machine?

I've read on the Net today that this condition can kill you and I am sitting here crying and terrified that it might.

ExhaustedLady.

[OutaSync]

When I went in for my sleep test, I had no idea that the only treatment for sleep apnea would be to be hooked up to a hose every night for the rest of my life.

But when I imagined what it would be like for my darling grandchildren to be looking down at me as I lay in my casket, I determined that I was not going to let this thing take me. So I strap a mask on, turn on my machine, and know that I am finally getting the oxygen that I need to keep my heart and brain going.

Nobody can make that decision for you. It's something that you have to do yourself, for yourself and for those who love you.

I had a friend/co-worker who did not want to be tested because she knew that she had sleep apnea and she did not want to be bothered with wearing a mask every night. We buried her last December, and although she did not have her own children, I saw the fear and sadness in the eyes of her beloved grand-nephew who is the same age as my grandson. I will do everything in my power not to let that happen to him.

You can do it, and we will help you. I'm so glad that you found us.

Bev

[GumbyCT]

Can anyone tell me please what natural cures might I try first?

Kinda like cancer cures smoking, death will naturally cure apnea.

Sleeping position can certainly make a difference tho it's not a cure.

While learning to sleep with a machine can be a challenge it has been accomplished by millions, you can too.
Denial is your first hurdle.

Just how long can you hold your breath?

[carbonman]

I cannot bear the thought of having a breathing machine attached to me and consider it to be the last restort.

this condition can kill you and I am sitting here crying and terrified that it might.

ExhaustedLady.

ExL, we have all been where you are at.

I would ask you to consider this:
is cpap therapy more terrifing than death??

I can only speak from my experience....
it is not.

We can help you....but you have to want to help yourself first.

[BeanMeScot]

I am not sure where you are getting the idea that there is some "natural" cure for OSA. Read on this board a little. If SURGERY can't cure it, why would a breathing method fix it?

[Hawthorne]

First of all, in my opinion, "cures" for sleep apnea don't really exist. Only "treatment" for sleep apnea exists.

In my opinion cpap therapy is a "natural" treatment. Is does not involve taking drugs or surgery ( although some people need surgery to get full benefit from cpap). It is non-invasive.

To me, you can't get much more "natural" when you have sleep apnea, than blowing air in to keep you airway open.

[carbonman]

In my opinion cpap therapy is a "natural" treatment. Is does not involve taking drugs or surgery ( although some people need surgery to get full benefit from cpap). It is non-invasive.

To me, you can't get much more "natural" when you have sleep apnea, than blowing air in to keep you airway open.

...well, there it is.

Good call!!

[Bluebonnet_Gal]

First of all, in my opinion, "cures" for sleep apnea don't really exist. Only "treatment" for sleep apnea exists.

In my opinion cpap therapy is a "natural" treatment. Is does not involve taking drugs or surgery ( although some people need surgery to get full benefit from cpap). It is non-invasive.

To me, you can't get much more "natural" when you have sleep apnea, than blowing air in to keep you airway open.

I was thinking the exact same thing!

[imsleepynomore]

When I went in for my sleep test I had read several articles about CPAP I was not sure if I would be able to tolerate a mask or the air rushing in . Boy was I wrong CPAP experience was the sweetist experence I had felt in many years. I felt this cool fresh air and ease of breathing I can,t describe. I had a hunger to experence this every night after my study, I was very anxious to start CPAp and feel this great every night. I have been a happy Cpaper since August last year and have put up with mask adjustments and tritrations until I feel I,ve reached a great sleep combo,of pressure.I hope you decide to have a sleep study if not already done so , if not I pray you get a good sleep tech . Thats makes all the differance for your sleep experance.

[Wulfman]

Dear friends

I have OSA badly, my breathing stops about 100 times a night.

I cannot bear the thought of having a breathing machine attached to me and consider it to be the last restort.

Can anyone tell me please what natural cures might I try first?

I looked at the Butyeko method that involves practising shallow breathing; but elsewhere people suggest deep breathing. Which is right?

Is there any way I can adjust my sleep position or pillows or anything at all that might help before I give in and get a machine?

I've read on the Net today that this condition can kill you and I am sitting here crying and terrified that it might.

ExhaustedLady.

When I found out just WHAT I had been suffering from, and went out on the Internet to investigate what was involved in this therapy......I couldn't wait to get started......sleeping better, feeling better, being more productive again.
It's beyond me why some people think this therapy is so horrible and would be the "LAST resort".
If anybody tells you that this condition will go away by losing weight, it ain't true. It's probably the OSA that puts weight on a person because it screws up your metabolism.

Yep.....it can kill us.....S L O W L Y (but surely).

This therapy is not as bad as people think.

Den

[Goofproof]

Swim for the bank, while you can. Your De-Nile is too deep. The "Natural Cure" is XPAP treatment every hour that you sleep with a data recording XPAP and Software. You could have Cancer or so other disease that doesn't always have a solution. Air under pressure is almost painless. You can flail in DeNile, or make up your mind that a little air can save your life. No-one can make you, you have to decide what your life is worth for yourself. I chose long ago to swim for the bank, see me over there, I'm the good looking one on the beach towel. (NOT) Jim

[Debjax]

Dear friends

I cannot bear the thought of having a breathing machine attached to me and consider it to be the last restort.

Other than surgery, IF you are a candidate, CPAP is it. HOWEVER....I am someone who cannot stand to have anything binding me, attached to me, or tangling me when I sleep; I mean I can't even wear jammies and get any rest. I was positive that I would NEVER be able to adapt to CPAP, the mere thought of being leashed by a mask and hose..<shudder>

Ok, the first night, the hose drove me nuts. The next day, hubby built me a hose hanger out of a plant hook and some flexible plumbing. The second night, I slept like I have not slept in years. Within a week, I was waking up ALERT AND CHATTY and my husband was wondering where his *real* wife was. While I am still trying to find the best mask for me to use, I have found that the mask does not bother me at all....however, I still cannot wear jammies....

[Goofproof]

Within a week, I was waking up ALERT AND CHATTY and my husband was wondering where his *real* wife was.

My advice would be to check nightly to see that your hose isn't plugged, sometimes us husbands can only take so much, ALERT AND CHATTY Jim

[rippersmom]

Dear friends

I have OSA badly, my breathing stops about 100 times a night.

I cannot bear the thought of having a breathing machine attached to me and consider it to be the last restort.

Can anyone tell me please what natural cures might I try first?

I looked at the Butyeko method that involves practising shallow breathing; but elsewhere people suggest deep breathing. Which is right?

Is there any way I can adjust my sleep position or pillows or anything at all that might help before I give in and get a machine?

I've read on the Net today that this condition can kill you and I am sitting here crying and terrified that it might.

ExhaustedLady.

Hi, I'm a newbie, only been on CPAP for a month and 9 days. Yep I counted them. Best sleep/rest I have had in YEARS. Honestly, no lies, no BS.....I LOVE my CPAP machine and am pleased to join the "hoseheads" on this forum.

"The machine" is NOT a ventilator, or an iron lung or anything invasive at all, ExhaustedLady, it just blows a steady volume of room air into your nose/mouth to keep your airway from collapsing. No big deal as far as wearing a funny mask hooked to a fat hose. A VERY BIG deal to know that wearing that funny mask is saving my life and hopefully helping my body repair some of the damage that years of OSA and hypoxia have done to it.

No special breathing exercises will fix you, no special sleeping position will fix you, surgery might help (no guarantees) might not.

When I had my sleep study in November, I slept without CPAP the first part of the night and then with CPAP for the last half. I wanted to steal their machine and take it home with me.....I could tell right away that was what I desperately needed, CPAP therapy.

I have not experienced an immediate miraculous fountain of energy while on CPAP. For me, it has been a steady increase in my energy level, alertness, less anxiety over nothing, no more of those awful morning headaches that last for hours. (hated those) My color is better, my mood is better, I AM BETTER. I can watch a tv show or read the paper without falling asleep half-way through. Life is gettin' better all the time. I don't snore, hubby is happy. I breathe, hubby is still happy.

Please, please get yourself set up with a machine, mask, etc. These wonderful, smart folks here at cpaptalk will help you from the first day and will stick with you til you get settled in with your equipment.

Nancy in AZ

[roster]

Dear friends

I have OSA badly, my breathing stops about 100 times a night.

...........

I've read on the Net today that this condition can kill you and I am sitting here crying and terrified that it might.

ExhaustedLady.

Ex,

You are probably like many of us were in that you went way too long undiagnosed. When we finally are desperate and get diagnosed, our mental and physical health is horrible - totally fatigued, sleep deprived, high anxiety, depression. When you are in this condition, adapting to a new way of sleeping can certainly seem impossible.

But it is possible and many of us are living testaments to that. You need to take one step at a time and move straight in the direction of getting a CPAP therapy going. Once you have some success with CPAP therapy you will start feeling better and be better able to handle life and its challenges.

There are many good members here who will help you at every step. So take that first step today. Insist on a fully data capable machine so you can monitor your therapy.

I hope to see you back with questions about machines, masks and challenges!