Misdiagnosed w/apnea! Selling everything cheap!

[mountainlvr]

8/23/09: The machine, the two Flexifit nasal masks, and the Swift LT are all still up for grabs. Just make me an offer!!!


***EDITING TO ADD: I'm having trouble PM'ing back to people. My messages are just sitting in my outbox! So for anyone who hasn't heard back from me, or anyone who is interested in any of this stuff, please email me directly at nancy0@charter.net.

Thanks!!!!!

After 8 months, 4 studies, and one surgery, I finally find out that I DON'T HAVE APNEA AFTER ALL! The persistant fatigue (which is what brought me to the sleep clinic to begin with) was due to the medications I was taking (Lexapro and Ativan). Seems that Ativan causes apneas and Lexapro suppresses REM. So lo and behold, here I am with ALL THIS EQUIPMENT and no need for it.

It's a long story how they finally figured this out, but if anyone wants to hear it I'll tell it. Otherwise I'm here to say thanks to everyone who helped me along the way and.......

I'm selling everything CHEAP!! I have a Remstar M Series w/Cflex and HH and 6 masks, two of which were never even used at all. Have a hose cover and chinstrap too.

If anyone wants all this stuff, email me please!! I'd rather not go through the hassle of trying to auction it if possible.

Thanks again everyone!!!! Good luck to you all, it's not an easy thing to deal with night after night!

[mars]

It's a long story how they finally figured this out, but if anyone wants to hear it I'll tell it. Otherwise I'm here to say thanks to everyone who helped me along the way and.......

Hi mountainlvr

I am very pleased for you, that is great news.

If you have time, I am sure that many of us would like to hear your story of how you worked all this out.

And you have a lovely smile

cheers

Mars

[Muse-Inc]

Which masks?

PS I'm glad you found the cause!

[jnk]

It's a long story how they finally figured this out, but if anyone wants to hear it I'll tell it.

I, too, wouldn't mind hearing the story. After all, mountain story-telling is a lost art!

jeff

[tattooyu]

Wow, I imagine that doesn't happen very often. I take Xanax occasionally (same family of meds), but I try to only take it during the day so it's out of my system by bed time.

What kind of masks do you have?

Oh--I'm sure a lot of us would love to hear the story!

[Maple Leaf]

After 8 months, 4 studies, and one surgery, I finally find out that I DON'T HAVE APNEA AFTER ALL! The persistant fatigue (which is what brought me to the sleep clinic to begin with) was due to the medications I was taking (Lexapro and Ativan). Seems that Ativan causes apneas and Lexapro suppresses REM.

I'm glad you found the root cause of your chronic fatigue. I'm assuming you were taking the meds for depression/anxiety...... (I take meds for that reason) so, do you no longer require medication to treat your symptoms? The reason I'm asking is because pretty much all antidepressants/benzo's will have the same effect on your sleep pattern and the chronic fatigue may resurface. If you do have a need to continue with medication therapy, it might be wise to hold onto your equipment and use it to counter the side effects of the medication. Chronic fatigue in itself can worsen depression/anxiety. But, if you feel you no longer require the meds, then that's great news! I hope you continue to keep well.

Regards, Rick

[2ndGenCPAPgal]

Seems that Ativan causes apneas and Lexapro suppresses REM.

Congrats on figuring out what was going on!

Definitely add me to the list of folks who wants to hear the story. I'm especially interested in the Lexapro issue because I take it seasonally and I haven't been on it since I was diagnosed with OSA. I haven't decided whether or not to chance this fall/winter without it or not yet so I would be interested in hearing/reading more.

Also interested in which masks/sizes?

[mountainlvr]

Wow! I didn't think anyone would want to hear this story, but thanks for all your interest! And for the smile compliment Mars! I wasn't sure if I was allowed to list things for sale on here or not, that's why I didn't go into detail, but if it's okay then I'll try it. If not, I guess I'll get flagged,and sorry for that! The masks I have are:

Liberty hybrid (small)
Mirage Quattro (small)
Flexifit nasal mask 406 (small)
Flexifit nasal mask 407 (medium) Brand new never used
Swift LT for Her nasal pillow mask (small)
Hybrid will all sizes cushions and pillows Brand new never used

All have original paperwork, DVD's, cases, etc. Even though I started this in January, I only used the machine on and off for a total of about 4 months. Everything has been kept extremely clean and is in excellent condition.

Ok, now to the story. I'm long winded but I'll try to sum it up.

For years (and years) I suffered from horrible fatigue, since I was a kid really, and from early on every time I went to a doctor they assumed I must be depressed because I was so tired all the time, so from about my late teens I have been on and off anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, anti-psychotics, etc. And each time I had side effects from one thing, I was given additional meds to counteract those side effects. I'm sure a lot of you will relate to this cycle. So for years and years I was treated by doc after doc for depression. In the years since I had my twins though, the fatigue got much worse and of course they dumped more and more drugs into my lap, Seroquel, Klonopin, Trazadone, Lexapro, Paxil, Ambien, etc...... Each one to counteract side effects of the other, changing meds all the time. Finally, in the last year and a half, while on the latest coctail of Serequel and Klonopin at night and I don't even remember what during the day, I began having frequent and very severe panic attacks. And became suicidal. Wound up in the psych ward for 6 days, and when I got out I saw a Pharmapshycologist who finally suggested a sleep study, since I was STILL complaining that the fatigue was my main symptom. He stopped the meds I was on and put me on Lexapro. And Ativan to sleep.

So began my sleep apnea ride. No one ever told me to stop my meds before having the first study so of course I had apneas and hardly any REM. Got put on CPAP. After several months it wasn't helping the fatigue at all, so had another test at a different facility. Still no one told me to stop the meds for the test. Again, apnea and NO REM that time. Continued the CPAP. I even had Turbinate Reduction and Septoplasty in hopes the CPAP would work better for me if I could breathe better through my nose. It helped my breathing, but....Still complaining of fatigue, I went back to the Nuerologist/Sleep Pathologist and I had now stopped the Ativan at night myself thinking it may be causing residual tiredness during the day (I stopped cold turkey and it was awful for a week or so!!! Don't do that!!!) So the next study....voila!!! NO apneas at all, but also NO REM at all. So she suggested stopping the Lexapro b/c of the REM suppressant quality and did that. Next study... plenty of REM and NO apneas!!!!! And within only a week or two without all the drugs, I feel about 85% better!!!! The fatigue is nearly gone, I'm sleeping on my own through the night and waking refreshed in the morning. (The panic attacks and suicidal thoughts ended when I got off the Seroquel/Klonopin cocktail). The only thing I'm dealing with now is that I seem to have a very short temper. NOT depressed at all, just get grouchy easy. So my nuero suggested Lyrica for the aggitation (why?? Don't know yet, isn't that for pain management??) since it doesn't affect REM sleep. I haven't spoken to my PC about it yet so I havent' started it.

Honestly, now that I'm not on anything at all, I feel better than I have since I was a teenager, before someone decided I was depressed and I wound up on drugs for all these years!! The only time I was off everything was while I was pregnant with my twins, but I was put on bedrest so early that I slept whenever I felt like it anyway. So when the girls came I started taking the meds again, terrified of the fatigue taking over again.

I'm not sure if I even want to take anything for the moodiness or find another outlet for that, as I now see clearly how all these drugs can nearly ruin a persons life. It amazes me that no one thought to tell me to STOP medications altogether during the last 25 years to start over and see how I felt!!! And that the first sleep study ever got done without taking me off the meds, then the second and so on.

I'm sure I'm leaving out a ton of details and confusing a lot of people, but I think I summed it up fairly accurately. The moral of my story is that the drugs that were supposed to be helping me all these years have in fact wreaked havoc on me in a thousand different ways, and now at 41 I feel like I might just have a chance to get my life back!

Hope that all came out right. Thanks again to everyone for their help, support and interest in my story!!! Good luck to all of you who truly need this therapy. It's a hard road to travel!!

[PST]

And you have a lovely smile

Yes indeed. If you really have to leave us, could you lend your photograph to Rebecca R, please?

I'm glad you are writing about your OSA false positive. I have no doubts at all about my own diagnosis, but sometimes things aren't so clear, and it is helpful to be reminded that if treatment for OSA doesn't seem to be working, even after time, effort, and adjustments, it may be necessary to look for alternative or concurrent causes.

[Babette]

My dear, you've helped millions of people by posting your story. I'm sure you're not alone. I too have had anti-depressants thrown at me for the past 25 years. In my case, I truly think the CPAP has helped, and find that I'm just not ready to let go of my Prozac just yet.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, AND FEEL FREE TO COME BACK ANYTIME TO KEEP US POSTED!!! We would truly love to hear how you progress.

Cheers,
Barbara

[junie]

OMG. How horrible So glad you are so much better, I'm on a lot of meds. also. Good luck to you,

[mountainlvr]

Thanks everyone! I just wanted to add something about my Turbinate Resection/Septoplasty....I have had many surgeries in my lifetime and this one was the least painful, easiest recovery I've ever had. And the results were apparent almost immediately. I did not have splints or packing which made it great, and the incisions weren't bad at all. And it DID help with the breathing through the nasal pillows, a lot in fact. It reduced my blowfish syndrome down to almost none at all. And now that I'm not using CPAP anymore I am sleeping with my mouth closed after being a mouth breather my whole life. And I'm not snoring and flopping like a fish either.

Just wanted to add that since so many people are curious about that surgery. I'm glad I did it, I DID NOT get ENS, and it was a very non painful procedure.....Oh, and I'm the biggest baby there is when it comes to pain!! I'm at the emergency room for a splinter!!!

(kidding!!!! Health care is a touchy subject these days!)

[nobody]

How much for the machine?

[Muse-Inc]

Wow, great story! I ditto Babette, I'm sure your story will help many, many folks. Might investigate omega 3 fatty acids (fats like fish oil) as they have pronounced effects on mood (irritability and anger are moods ), they're made ahuge difference for me. The omega 3s are critical for building healthy brain cells and enabling cell-to-cell optimal communication...worth checking out, no side effects compare to meds .
I sent you a PM on items I'm interested in.

[mars]

Hi mountainlvr

That was a great story, and showed a lot of courage and determination.

I suggest you go down the path of cognitive behavioural therapy if you want to stay off medication. A good therapist is the best way, but may be expensive. A lot of people do very well using self-help formats such as books, audiotapes and DVD's. I can help there if you have difficulty getting this stuff.

Author Paul Hauck is the most approachable of the CBT guys (originally known as RET).

Best wishes in your newfound life.

cheers

Mars