excess fatigue

Mikerich10 · Post by **Mikerich10** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 5:10 pm

Linda,

It's funny that you ask because in my sleep study they did discover that in me, there was a difference in sleep position. I would imagine it may be different for everyone, but in me I sleep horrible on my right side. The results all showed dramatically less quality sleep on that side. After they told me this I remembered my wife waking me and telling me to roll over (off my right side) on a few occaisions telling me "Turn over, you are 'breathing funny' ". I know most people who snore do so on their backs more than any other position. I have found in the past two nights with the CPAP, that I toss and turn much less and normally stay on my back but slightly tilted to my left side. I have heard that a pillow lightly tucked under one side of your back helps in maintaining this. As for pillows, I also have heard it hels to also place a thin (but full size) pillow between your legs to keep your spine in alignment.
Like I was saying in the last email, they're seems to be many pieces to the sleep puzzle, and each person has to find theirs. While there are many common pieces, some are unique to each person. Are you a caffiene or sugar user? Most of us are by default. I used caffiene heavily for years for what seemed a "have to" case. I was so sleepy from the time I got up until I went to bed, how could I possibly make it without tons of coffee?" believe it or not, I was sealing my own doom. Our bodies row immune to the effects after time and we begin fighting a losing battle. Coffee and sugar aren't the only culprits either. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy too. Ever get up in the morning and think , "Man, I am going straight to bed when I get off work this evening, I am sooooo tired." Then you get off work, get home get interested in some tv, fight to stay awake and then the next thing you know Leno is going off and you are still sleepily flipping threw the channels trying to find anything you can just for the sake of doing it. Then the next morning comes, and you SWEAR, " "Man, I am going straight to bed when I get off work this evening, I am sooooo tired." lol Sounds funny but it is true. Just one more of the many lifestyle changes we must make if we want to beat this thing, get healthy and feel great.

Hang in there, it is a long road but one worth traveling,

Mike

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 5:14 pm

Mike,

Glad to hear your 1st two night went well. I'm very encouarged to hear your taking a confident approach to tackling your apnea this time around. Armed with the right equipment and support you can succeed. Keep at it!

Linda,

As you are beginning to see you are not alone in this. This forum has many knowedgable and supportive people on it that are willing to help and give encouragement.

I have been truely inspired by the help and encouragement I've received from this forum and the cpap website that sponsors it.

Feel free to post any problems or quetions you have. There are many fellow hoseheads that are ready and willing to help.

Good Luck!

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 5:30 pm

Ha! I didn't know I've joined a club known as hoseheads. Hmmm.

Yes, you two are quite encouraging.

When I went to the pulminary doctor, he put that paper clip thing on my finger and announced I was low on oxygen. The technician of the sleep study also said I was low on oxygen (and she said it concerned-like). It got me thinking, though. Like you, Mike, I thought the cure to all my problems was just sleeping longer hours. Now I see how that was also wrong. If I was losing out on oxygen for the five or six hours I was lying down, then another couple of hours just made it all worse. I found I was quite good at sleeping sitting up -- at least then I was likely breathing. Who knew?

Caffeine? Yep. I've fallen asleep at work, and the coffee there is free, so I sip a large double cupper usually in the morning. And I am addicted to colas and sugar drinks. All bad. Hopefully I can cut back. Funny, but on the day of the sleep test, I went out to dinner earlier in the day. Avoiding the caffeine, I was struck how much I rely on those colas. Bad, bad, bad. But I want one now. (sigh!)

Does your wife make jokes about the mask?

Thanks again.

Linda

Mikerich10 · Post by **Mikerich10** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 5:49 pm

Hi Linda,

Actually my wife is very supportive of the CPAP. To be honest though, I was very worried about it beforehand. She and I had normally gone to sleep when we were completely exhausted and actually "passed out in bed". She has never been one to make love at night, when she goes to bed it is to sleep. To her sex, is not for when you are sleepy and exhausted. Of course if I believed that way we would never have it, haha. As I am always sleepy and exhausted. I believe it would be an issue if I were single and was on the machine when she met me. But we have been married almost 4 years and she has seen my troubles first hand and welcomes the CPAP and the hopeful positive changes it represents.

(Hope that wasn't too much information, lol)

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 5:56 pm

Linda,

My wife doesn't kid me about my mask but she did about my snoring. My kids even mocked me about that.

If your concerned that going to bed looking like an astronaut will affect your love life remmember that falling asleep in the middle of diner doesn't do much for it either.

You'll find it easier to be good person when you get a GOOD nights sleep.

In my opinion, that goes alot further than what you wear to bed.

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 5:58 pm

Mike,

No, it's all so interesting. It's great you have quite a supportive wife. Perhaps you could write a light-hearted yet informative book on sleep apnea and make a million Oprah bucks.
How do you like being referred to as a "hosehead"?

And "Wade..." Your comments are funny too. Write that book. You're right. I've got more to worry about than some sexy-looking mask. I had joked with the lady sleep technician as she fitted my mask. I joked saying what was I to do if the man of my dreams wants to spend the night? She said "Well, then, you wouldn't have time for the mask, would you?" Ha!

Thanks for making me laugh and feel better.

Linda

Mikerich10 · Post by **Mikerich10** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 6:01 pm

I can certainly second that Steve. I think the absolute worst symptom of this disorder has been my irritibility. When you struggling just to stay awake it is very hard to keep a smile on your face and have everything sound just right when you say it. It is the worst, so I can't agree more. The mask is the least of our marital worries.

Mikerich10 · Post by **Mikerich10** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 6:08 pm

Linda,

Actually I am one of the lucky ones. While I am definitely a hosehead, I feel fortunate that I do wear a ful face mask and the hose just dangles from a swival off the front of my mask, right in front of my mouth. On most of the nasal mask (no offense guys), it goes up from your nose over the top of your head, hence the nickname hosehead. lol As for the book, I could definitely use the million Oprah bucks, but unfortuantely I am just a beginner at this thing. Guys like Steve (Wading thru the muck) and Ted, (The Tiltrator) are old pros and have probably forgotten more than I know at this point. I do wish more people would write books and raise awareness to this disorder though. Wouldn't that be awesome? Maybe we all could collectively write the book and split the million Oprah's between us? How's that sound???

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:34 pm

Hi Mike & Linda,

We're all cracking each other up tonight. I remeber those days when I first met my wife and sleep wasn't part of our nights together. Five kids later and Mike, you and I are on the same wave length.

As far as being and old pro, that I'm not. Next Tuesday will be the start of my third week on cpap. Ted is the cpap pro although I think I've got him beat on the "old" part.

I've just spent alot of time learning about cpap and it's been very theraputic for me.

As far as the million Oprah bucks maybe she'll create a new reality series with a house full of "Beautiful" people on cpap and the winner gets the million - whatever you would have to do to win?

Mikerich10 · Post by **Mikerich10** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 8:14 pm

Actually, the funny thing is they woudn't have to change the rules at all. It would always be the tired, irritable, cranky, self centered ones that get voted off first. And it would be the ones who practiced good sleep habits that were well rested, energetic, clear thinking, thoughtful and kind ones who would last till the final round. Isn't that so true ?????? hahahahahaha

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 9:34 pm

where do I sign up?

Mikerich10 · Post by **Mikerich10** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 7:00 am

Linda,

Can you get us in? I believe Oprah may listen to you before she does us?

lol

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:48 pm

Mike,

Happy new day!
I'll think about that Oprah idea.

I go back Wednesday to the doctor for the results of my test and the next steps. I know he'll answer my questions, but it helps having this forum -- it equips me with additional questions.

Question..... Is the cpap thing just to force ordinary air, or do they all add pure oxygen to the mix? The technician started testing me with a mask with regular air being forced thru the mask. Then she added oxygen for the rest of the test. .... Should I be expecting oxygen also? I didn't really understand the mask test, only that it was to see how my sleeping is affected by the cpap treatment. Could I be expected to use oxygen? And why? Why wouldn't just forced air be enough? (Is this a dumb question?)

Linda

Mikerich10 · Post by **Mikerich10** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 6:06 pm

Linda,

It certainly is NOT a dumb question. While it is my understanding that filtered air is normally used as a invisable, non solid wedge to open and hold open your air way to keep it from relaxing and cutting of air. To do that, technically any gas would work to hold the air way open. Of course it has to be safely breathable to humans. Remember that I am new to this too, even though I do work in the medical profession, but I could see where oxygen could be applied especially when you oxygen levels tested so low. I am certain your Dr will go over everything with you on Wednesday. He could prescribe oxygen use and if he did so, it would be to insure proper blood oxygen levels, thus keeping you at safe levels to keep you healthy. Every single cell in your body needs oxygen, AND WATER BY THE WAY, to live and prosper. Please keep us up to date okay?
I still think it would be awesome to collectively write a book on this subject and maybe donate all the proceeds to sleep research, etc. I think what we need is a good organizer who has time to implement such an undertaking. Any volunteers???

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 6:27 pm

Mike,
Thanks for the info.

The easy way (probably a cheat somehow) to do such a book would be to go through all the discussions still on line and gleam a variety of the talk.
A kind of discussion book, to replicate the discussion (without the names, naturally). Then, we could fill in with some interviews with one another which would help fill in the gaps.

For instance, what made you first start this discussion forum? How long have you been at this and why? Then there are questions (probably already recorded on this forum) such as: when and how did you first know you might have this sleep apnea thing? Did you, like me, think it was some behvioral condition, not a medical one? Was it your wife elbo-ing you in the middle of the night? If you think you had it a long time, how do you know that? Those sorts of things.

Of course, this question wouldn't count, but ..... What's this "London Ontario Canada" location? You're from Ontario? I've heard jokes here in the U.S. from fellow liberals following the Presidential election, that we'd all like to move to Canada. (Don't hate me because I'm liberal!)

Linda