My Experience

[EbonyEyes]

well like i said i am 33 and i was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea 14 years ago

although i was diagnosed i took it for granted meaning i tried to live my life like nothing was wrong with me i choose to hang out with my friends and party instead of using my cpap and following doctors orders

my mom and step dad BEGGED me to change but did i listen NO!!!! and the results got worse

i got sick at 22 with pnuemonia and found out that my oxygen level was low and that i was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure and Gastroesphagal Reflux

i use a Remstar Plus CPAP with my settings on hi(11) with a Humidifier with a large nose mask

i am on oxygen 24 hrs a day and i use it with my CPAP at night too

my medicines i take are

Furosemide/Lassix(80mg)
Potassium(20mg)
Nexium
Welbrutrin
Altrovent
Albuterol

i get pnuemonia at least once a year and last year i was in respiratory failure and almost had to be intubated but they put me on a BIPAP cause i had pnuemonia and my carbon minoxide levels was triple the normal rate

i get bronchitis alot and have to use a nebulizer each time

i suffer with chronic sinusitis

with all this i try to live a normal life its hard but i try i try to let no one or nothing get in my way but when people dont understand what you are going through it makes it hard

well thats my life story if any one has any questions please feel free to ask i dont mind

[Lana]

Ebony,
It breaks my heart to hear about young person having serious health problems, but it looks like you have finally decided to take care of your body. CHF is serious condition, it requires discipline and patients not to "slip". Approprite diet, regularly taking your meds and knowing s/sx of CHF will greatly help you prevent future exacerbations. You can learn a lot from the internet on WebMD Health. Make sure you follow PHD (prudent heart diet) with low cholesterol/fat/salt, check your weight regularly and report WT increase of 2-4lbs within 24 hours to your MD. Also, any respiratory changes, you already had Pneumonia, like increased moist caugh, shortness of breath and periferal swelling of your feet/ankles.
I wish you all the best.