Poll: How Old Are CPAP Users?

[ClarkK]

As a 50 yr old digital marketer -- just wanted to mention the survey is skewed as much by patterns of who uses forums for information vs. users more apt to go to health/medical or manufacture sites for information. I have to believe there are also a high percentage of CPAP users that don't gravitate to the Internet for more information on their therapy -- although they might be frequent users of other aspects of the Internet. I know the Facebook CPAP group I post in seems to have a different user set than I see here or in other forums I participate in.

Regardless of all that, expected the median to be higher here! Have to throw out the extremes highs and lows though -- until someone proves they really are 100+, LOL

As for surveys in general -- they may be skewed -- some may be silly -- but I personally enjoy comparing myself to other users

[ohdanny]

Was just recently diagnosed and I'm 28. If I had to make a guess, I'd say that I might have gotten a diagnosis when I was 22. The last few years have been really hard. I didn't understand what was happening to me and no doctor would take me seriously; just kept getting told I must be experiencing depression or anxiety. The first sleep doctor I saw about three years ago wouldn't even do a sleep study because I'm, as he said, "young and thin." After seeing a therapist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, two neurologists, an immunologist, a rheumatologist, and an endocrinologist, I was advised to see another sleep doctor. The new sleep doctor wanted to do a sleep study, but even he didn't think we'd find anything because he "sees a lot of people my age for the same complaints and usually nothing is wrong." A month later I had a sleep study and I'm told I have moderate OSA.

I'm sure my experience isn't unique, but I've never felt as powerless as I have in the last few years. It makes me so sad and angry to think that if that first sleep doctor had not generalized me, I wouldn't have lost so much. I had to withdraw from graduate school and my assistantship (which paid 100% for my tuition); I lost a lot of friends and a three year relationship because I was too tired to leave the house; and most of all, I lost my dignity. The entire process of finding a diagnosis has been completely humiliating. I wasn't depressed when my sleep problems began, but I can sure as hell say that I feel like I'm getting there after being told I was for years.

If anyone ever stumbles on my post and you're going through a similar situation, do not give up! You know yourself better than anyone else. Trust your gut. If you're having sleep problems and your doctor won't order a sleep test, find one that will.

Sorry for the rant . I don't know anyone in real life with sleep apnea, so it's hard to find anyone that can relate.

[La Zona]

I am 40, but honestly I could have used a CPAP since I was 25. I just never got fully diagnosed with sleep apnea since recently.

[tinkerbell72]

I'm 42, should have been on one years ago

[chunkyfrog]

Any poll only reflects the input of those who chose to vote.
It might be more revealing to check the ages on the birthday list at the bottom of the main page.
Lots of variation there!

[Goofproof]

Six years older than when this thread was hatched.

[Pod911]

If there are any young people there that are in there 20 to 30 age bracket for real my be we need a group on are sleep apnea stories

[antdroid]

Was just recently diagnosed and I'm 28. If I had to make a guess, I'd say that I might have gotten a diagnosis when I was 22. The last few years have been really hard. I didn't understand what was happening to me and no doctor would take me seriously; just kept getting told I must be experiencing depression or anxiety. The first sleep doctor I saw about three years ago wouldn't even do a sleep study because I'm, as he said, "young and thin." After seeing a therapist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, two neurologists, an immunologist, a rheumatologist, and an endocrinologist, I was advised to see another sleep doctor. The new sleep doctor wanted to do a sleep study, but even he didn't think we'd find anything because he "sees a lot of people my age for the same complaints and usually nothing is wrong." A month later I had a sleep study and I'm told I have moderate OSA.

I'm sure my experience isn't unique, but I've never felt as powerless as I have in the last few years. It makes me so sad and angry to think that if that first sleep doctor had not generalized me, I wouldn't have lost so much. I had to withdraw from graduate school and my assistantship (which paid 100% for my tuition); I lost a lot of friends and a three year relationship because I was too tired to leave the house; and most of all, I lost my dignity. The entire process of finding a diagnosis has been completely humiliating. I wasn't depressed when my sleep problems began, but I can sure as hell say that I feel like I'm getting there after being told I was for years.

If anyone ever stumbles on my post and you're going through a similar situation, do not give up! You know yourself better than anyone else. Trust your gut. If you're having sleep problems and your doctor won't order a sleep test, find one that will.

Sorry for the rant . I don't know anyone in real life with sleep apnea, so it's hard to find anyone that can relate.

I'm glad you found the sleep study useful. I've probably had some mild OSA since I was in my early 20s but never had the urge to go see a sleep doctor til my new gf insisted I not snore. It worked. I am finally starting to feel the effects of the treatment after a month now. I think you may be surprised that others are in the same situation and may not know it. I typed CPAP into facebook search and discovered some other friends that were using it since their late 20s as well. I wish I knew about it then, but I'm still young and active.

I think I understand you totally though. People ask me a lot of questions that I've told since they relate CPAP with old and/or unfit people, but I'm slim, active and young. so ya.

[SleepyBear83]

Was just recently diagnosed and I'm 28. If I had to make a guess, I'd say that I might have gotten a diagnosis when I was 22. The last few years have been really hard. I didn't understand what was happening to me and no doctor would take me seriously; just kept getting told I must be experiencing depression or anxiety. The first sleep doctor I saw about three years ago wouldn't even do a sleep study because I'm, as he said, "young and thin." After seeing a therapist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, two neurologists, an immunologist, a rheumatologist, and an endocrinologist, I was advised to see another sleep doctor. The new sleep doctor wanted to do a sleep study, but even he didn't think we'd find anything because he "sees a lot of people my age for the same complaints and usually nothing is wrong." A month later I had a sleep study and I'm told I have moderate OSA.

I'm sure my experience isn't unique, but I've never felt as powerless as I have in the last few years. It makes me so sad and angry to think that if that first sleep doctor had not generalized me, I wouldn't have lost so much. I had to withdraw from graduate school and my assistantship (which paid 100% for my tuition); I lost a lot of friends and a three year relationship because I was too tired to leave the house; and most of all, I lost my dignity. The entire process of finding a diagnosis has been completely humiliating. I wasn't depressed when my sleep problems began, but I can sure as hell say that I feel like I'm getting there after being told I was for years.

If anyone ever stumbles on my post and you're going through a similar situation, do not give up! You know yourself better than anyone else. Trust your gut. If you're having sleep problems and your doctor won't order a sleep test, find one that will.

Sorry for the rant . I don't know anyone in real life with sleep apnea, so it's hard to find anyone that can relate.

I totally understand your frustrations. I was the primary caregiver for my Mom and now for my brother both of which struggled to find competent medical specialist that would actually listen. Now with my own health issues I am facing the same thing. Good for you for pursuing it until you got an answer. No one knows our bodies like us. I don't care if it takes a 2nd or a 52nd opinion we should all listen to our bodies!

[SleepyBear83]

32 here and hoping to make it to 102!

[RogerSC]

Well, according to what I see, there are 6 people here whose age is 100+. Impressive. Reminds me of several years ago when "MySpace" was the rage, and my daughters were young enough that I wanted to make sure I saw what they posted. So I got my own page and entered my age as "99". Some admin from MySpace actually called me on it, I told him to mind his own business, and never heard from them again *smile*.

[chunkyfrog]

Ninety-nine probably falls out of most of their spam advertising.

[RogerSC]

Ninety-nine probably falls out of most of their spam advertising. :twisted:

Well, you know, by the time one reaches that age, one just doesn't give a fig about that sort of thing *smile*.

[Goofproof]

Ninety-nine probably falls out of most of their spam advertising.

At 100, they must swich over to Pony Express Spam delivery.

BTW: i am 10 years older than dirt. When dirt was found, my mom made me go out and plant a garden in it. Jim

[SleepyBear83]

Ninety-nine probably falls out of most of their spam advertising.

At 100, they must swich over to Pony Express Spam delivery.

BTW: i am 10 years older than dirt. When dirt was found, my mom made me go out and plant a garden in it. Jim

ROTFLMAO. I used to tell my mom she was older than dirt and that my dad who was two years younger was older than grass! Aw the minds of children.