Ever Too Late?

BrandyMB · Post by **BrandyMB** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:10 pm

Have had OSA for many years I would recollect. I have tried PAP over the years but never stick with it. Now I got all sorts of medical issues and Im realizing OSA is the cause. I feel like a zombie and can't sleep worth a damn, remember anything, short of breath, zero energy heart condition.. Im finally getting serious about dealing with it but am worried it may be too late for me to turn it around (I'm 66). I had a sleep study which showed my AHI of 36 and O2 desats to 84%. It really wasnt a good study cuz I was on CPAP there for a total of 22 minuted before they booted me out. Got a script for a machine and a DME messed around with me till I blew them off and went to another and got the machine I have now. Ive been on it for three days, first day was 4 hours use, second day couldnt fall asleep. I did fall asleep with the thing last nite but slept exactly like I did without it, waking every two hours and feeling like crap in the AM. My AHI was 5.71, but that included a few hours wearing it while watching TV so I could get used to it so it's an inacurate reading. I feel like im on death's door. Is there any hope for me? Thanks all.

Dingdongdiddlydoo · Post by **Dingdongdiddlydoo** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:25 pm

Oh I want to hug you! we are doing this because of hope..I'm 56 and have some similar issues.and concerns.

BrandyMB · Post by **BrandyMB** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:34 pm

Dingdongdiddlydoo wrote:Oh I want to hug you! we are doing this because of hope..I'm 56 and have some similar issues.and concerns.

Im 66. I hope so too.

HoseCrusher · Post by **HoseCrusher** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:39 pm

My best guess is that it is not quite your time... yet.

This is not rocket science. It takes some adjustment and fiddling but have hope. Eventually you will figure it out and wake up refreshed and ready to meet the day.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:41 pm

I started at 62.
I was ready for a change, and grateful to have it.
Cpap has probably saved my life; but also made it worth saving as well.

Bill44133 · Post by **Bill44133** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:42 pm

probably never to late.. Sorry, you made some bad choices, but if you start using the machine you will make the chances of survival greater.(not to mention quality of life).

Its a wonderful thing when you can sleep and breath at the same time. The body gets a chance to heal.

I wish you well...

grayghost4 · Post by **grayghost4** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:53 pm

I was 75 when I got my cpap machine ... my wife was 70 when she was tested and got hers ... after two strokes ... pacemaker .. and several other problems
It is never too late to start cpap

BrandyMB · Post by **BrandyMB** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:56 pm

grayghost4 wrote:I was 75 when I got my cpap machine ... my wife was 70 when she was tested and got hers ... after two strokes ... pacemaker .. and several other problems
It is never too late to start cpap

You,n sir, are the most encouraging person who has replied sofar! 75 and recovering. God Bless you two (and everyone else here too!)!

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Dec 13, 2015 12:19 am

I don't know if you could call it recovering, more like making the best of what you have left. The sooner you get your treatment, the more of your life you haven't wasted. It's up to you to decide if you want to keep going.

No one can make you, you must decide to make it work. You always have the option to make tomorrow better, after you get done lying to yourself. Jim

mystydragonfly · Post by **mystydragonfly** » Sun Dec 13, 2015 1:28 am

From personal experience, I can tell you it's never too late to keep trying. I got back on Cpap this past year and have had significant improvement, and I am now averaging about 8 1/2 hours per night with an average AHI of 2 I started Cpap about 5 years ago with a full face mask which I just couldn't make work. I was just about ready to give up, but decided to go back to the sleep doctor one more time. He gave me a nasal mask which changed the whole experience. Now when I get up in the morning I feel refreshed and normal. I stay up all day and actually get things done, instead of taking a nap in the afternoon. I go outside and clip hedges and pull weeds. I even scubbed the front porch and stairs and then painted them and still felt pretty energetic after that. Just keep plugging away at it and you will feel so much better. I've had OA for over 25 years. I just saw
my sleep doctor in November and asked him if I would have any repercussions from not having used it for so long, and he said no, as long as I continue to use it, I shouldn't have any long term health effects. I am 60, so we are pretty close in age. So I believe that there is hope! Determination is key. Keep telling yourself that you are going to make this happen. When I go to sleep now I actually like the rush of the cool air up my nose. It doesn't clog it all up and I sleep soundly and peacefully through the night. I now look forward to going to sleep instead of dreading it. I hope and pray that you will to.

S

herefishy · Post by **herefishy** » Sun Dec 13, 2015 7:59 am

What kind of machine do you have - it's not showing in your profile. It really doesn't take too long to get used to machine and start getting some good out of it, and you are on the right track, wearing it while watching tv. Pretty soon your body will accept it and start benefitting.

Cardsfan · Post by **Cardsfan** » Sun Dec 13, 2015 9:59 am

I started therapy a yr ago, when I was 58. I can tell you, the difference I feel is a huge improvement in my day to day life.
I was having the same problems that are typical of untreated sleep apnea. And I was very aware of the decline in my ability to enjoy day to day life with my friends. Fast forward I year, and I feel so much better. It was not an overnight success, I'd say it took 6 months for me to get back to my old self.
It is never too late to start therapy.

BrandyMB · Post by **BrandyMB** » Sun Dec 13, 2015 6:26 pm

herefishy wrote:What kind of machine do you have - it's not showing in your profile. It really doesn't take too long to get used to machine and start getting some good out of it, and you are on the right track, wearing it while watching tv. Pretty soon your body will accept it and start benefitting.

Theres something up with my browser. I have it in my profile but it doesnt show. I have a PR System One APAP machine.

mystydragonfly wrote:From personal experience, I can tell you it's never too late to keep trying. I got back on Cpap this past year and have had significant improvement, and I am now averaging about 8 1/2 hours per night with an average AHI of 2 I started Cpap about 5 years ago with a full face mask which I just couldn't make work. I was just about ready to give up, but decided to go back to the sleep doctor one more time. He gave me a nasal mask which changed the whole experience. Now when I get up in the morning I feel refreshed and normal. I stay up all day and actually get things done, instead of taking a nap in the afternoon. I go outside and clip hedges and pull weeds. I even scubbed the front porch and stairs and then painted them and still felt pretty energetic after that. Just keep plugging away at it and you will feel so much better. I've had OA for over 25 years. I just saw
my sleep doctor in November and asked him if I would have any repercussions from not having used it for so long, and he said no, as long as I continue to use it, I shouldn't have any long term health effects. I am 60, so we are pretty close in age. So I believe that there is hope! Determination is key. Keep telling yourself that you are going to make this happen. When I go to sleep now I actually like the rush of the cool air up my nose. It doesn't clog it all up and I sleep soundly and peacefully through the night. I now look forward to going to sleep instead of dreading it. I hope and pray that you will to.

Stupid me, I've had OSA for a good 20 years myself but I already have health issue. I have a heart condition, Insulin Intolerance, unable to lose weight, mild fatty liver. I have hypopneas when trying to go to sleep where my SPo2 drops off and my heart rate drops, I catch my breath and come back. Scares the daylights out of me. I never really correlated all of this to OSA. I thought I was just getting old. I was a fool, I admit it. I feel like Im unsalvageable at this point.

Mark

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Dec 13, 2015 11:41 pm

Please don't give up. I am pre-diabetic and this is probably related to sleep apnea. It also runs in my family. However, since I have been getting a good night's sleep and doing yard and housework I have lost 20 pounds without dieting. I have read where there is a connection between diabetes and sleep apnea. Using your cap will no doubt help with you current health issues. Please keep trying.
Try not to think of yourself being stupid for not using it. Today is a new day, so start again. Hope this helps!

DD · Post by DD » Mon Dec 14, 2015 12:03 am

I'm in my 60's too and started the CPAP about 7 years ago and it's been MISERABLE wearing it but I didn't want to ASK for trouble by not wearing it. SOMETIMES I struggle with the gear in my sleep. Last night I woke up without wanting to, to check to see if my mouth was too dry (it's been a problem for me). ALSO, I started to wear a chin strap to make sure I'm not opening my mouth to cause it, but the strap is awful (slides off my head while sleeping). My DME said they don't carry anyone with TWO straps on top. Frustrating!

My other problem is that I'm new on this website. I don't know how to get back to the messages I've been exchanging with some others about SleepyHead. Is there a way to get notifications on posts? (a simple yes or no answer will do).
Also, when log in, is there a way to go straight to the forum where I left messages?

Thanks. By the way, I made a makeshift chinstrap out of some stretchable material. I hope my homemade chinstrap works. I can't stand it when I lose sleep *because* of the CPAP. It wouldn't surprise me if this becomes a lifelong difficulty. Parenthetically, there's an article on this site saying they're trying to make a pill for people with sleep apnea. I WANT TO BE FIRST IN LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

Thanks for listening.

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