Thought I'd just share my story.

[baboomski]

It was by a fluke that I had to have a sleep study done. Ignored the prescription for the test (fatigue) because I had Low T in the past, and after a blood test still did, so went with that. For the guys, if you have Low T look into Clomid over Androgel, etc. When I went for health insurance they said I had an outstanding test and couldn't get insurance until it was done. So went for the sleep study and it turned out I have Severe Complex Sleep Apnea with Cheynes-Stokes. AHI of 84, oxygen down to the 60's. Probably something I've had all my life, but never knew.
Got the CPAP and of course didn't like it, the pressure was really high (18) and it hurt my lungs. The nose pads and head gear were OK. Was told by the issuing company that the unit was a purchase and not a rental (several times), but months later they said I needed to sign new paperwork because it was a rental. That angered me so I ignored them, they kept pestering, and the machine made an annoying beep when you turned it on or off. So I gave it back.
Months later I started feeling more tired then usual, but thought it was just the sleep apnea. But I had developed insulin resistance. I was 48, 235 and 5' 11'', so overweight, but from the Doctor said it was the sleep apnea that led to it.
So to make the long story shorter. I cut my fasting blood sugar from 240 to 120 by cutting out the carbs and loosing 15 lbs., and got back on the CPAP.

Things I've noticed about the CPAP:
It didn't seem like I had more energy, but others noticed it, and in the past when I drove on the highway in a hour I would be fading, but I've gone 5 hours now and felt normal.
KEEP THE CPAP CLEAN! One night it had a bad smell but I used it anyways and developed pneumonia.
Learn about your machine. I lowered my pressure, the 18 was just too much at first, then slowly brought it up.
On the weekend spend some time during the day with the machine on. Try different positions, etc. I rigged a clamp to the headboard and put the hose through it so it wouldn't drag so much.
***If you don't like the machine, figure out how to make the best of it. And if you have a severe case, don't give up, because worse will happen. It took me months to notice the slightest difference, and probably 6 months before I noticed the driving thing. It's not a magic pill, but the best we have right now.

[johnthomasmacdonald]

Hello, if you have the S9 the humidifier is a unit about the same size as the cpap and is mounted right next to it, side by side, if you have the earlier unit the humidifier is in front of the cpap part.

[jamiswolf]

Hi baboomski,
Thanks for the story. So glad you had your sleep apnea diagnosed. Isn't it amazing what we can ignore? Mine is luckily not so severe yet also went undiagnosed for...I'll bet close to 20 years. Doing much better now.

Hope things continue to improve for you!
Jamis

[icipher]

That's great you got it diagnosed. It sucks having apnea but I am glad i know about it.

[Thewino]

Baboomski,

Hey man. I hope you are feeling better now.

In my case, I fell for the fallacy that thin people don't get sleep apnea. I had the referral to get the sleep apnea test for months and really didn't have any intention of getting it done.

One morning I woke up and my wife told me, "did you know that it looks like you stop breathing for about twenty seconds pretty often in your sleep?" I scheduled my sleep study that day.

The rest is history.

Thank you for sharing your experience!

TheWino

[andy5805]

Baboomski,

Hey man. I hope you are feeling better now.

In my case, I fell for the fallacy that thin people don't get sleep apnea. I had the referral to get the sleep apnea test for months and really didn't have any intention of getting it done.

One morning I woke up and my wife told me, "did you know that it looks like you stop breathing for about twenty seconds pretty often in your sleep?" I scheduled my sleep study that day.

The rest is history.

Thank you for sharing your experience!

TheWino

I'm thin too and very athletic - my running has taken my heart bpm down to sub 60, I fell for the fat myth too

my chin isn't very recessed either, so I'm not fat nor do I have a recessed chin

What I do have is a high very thin breadth mouth arch, ENORMOUS tongue that packs my mouth out worse than 20 fat sterotype OSA sufferers in a lift, and overdeveloped dangly uvula parked right on that tongue. If I could blame anything I'd blame the tongue, if I could say anything was the most annoying I'd say it was the uvula. Neither are external organs, anyone who has these defects or tonsils that are too big can get it. - guess that's what I get for believing stuff I read from magazines for the years previous to diagnosis, which I did myself, then got it confirmed by the doctor. I was very lucky - I woke up and heard the gasping and the memory wasn't lost by the morning, finally I figured it.