How old are you?

[FreightTrain]

I'm now 29 and recently diagnosed but now that I look back I have always been chronically tired. I always attributed it to staying up to late or studying in high school or working long hours in the military. I have gained weight since leaving the military but I always had problems oversleeping when I was in my teens and early 20's. After the first night on my treatment I feel great. My whole family are snorers so I guess probably all of them have it in some form or another, they just don't get tested. Hopefully now that I have gotten it done they will listen to my success story.
Eveyone on here has been great and very informative. Thank you all. If there is anyone in the middle Georgia Area I can reccomend a great DME.

[sybert1ger]

I'm 26 and was diagnosed a few months ago. I've probably had it for at least 8 years.

In college I just chalked up the fatigue to not enough sleep and being too busy but it hasn't gotten any better since I graduated.

It took a year or so before I could convince my GP that I needed testing for apnea. I don't snore and that was a deal breaker for him.

[queenwizard]

Hrrumpft. I received my Medicare Card in the mail today! That means . . .

And I've have had uneventful severe sleep apnea for ten years. I blame it all on menopause!

[linrey]

Diagnosed 5 months ago just after my 60th birthday. In the initial exam and interview, the sleep doc said I've probably had it since I was a child. I have an overbite, small jaw, and large tongue. Used to have this particular dream frequently as a child; I was swimming underwater, holding my breath, then I'd just breathe, and would be delighted to learn I could breathe the water. Bet you can all guess what that was all about...

Lately I knew I was suffering and struggling during the night, and this was growing worse. During the morning and throughout the work day, I'd get so sleepy I'd drop my chin to my chest, close my eyes, and try for a tiny nap, I was THAT tired. My primary care physician brought the subject up - duh - I don't know why it wasn't the FIRST thing on my list when I saw her! She sent me for a test, and I've felt a whole lot better starting after the 3rd night on the machine.

[Xian]

Did not have time to read all the answers, but the few that I read did not try to "answer" your question... ("why do I have sleep apnea?")

I will not be so bold as to think that there is an answer that fits everyone, but one theory is that the geometry of one's upper airways might have to do with the likelihood of developing sleep apnea (enlarged tongue, small throat, narrow jaws, large neck etc...). That would have nothing to do with being overweight, smoking or drinking (none of this help, but I think it is clear that these characteristics alone do not explain apnea...)

Oh, and I am 41, not a smoker, slightly overweight and, most likely, I've had apnea all my life (snored as a child, could not sleep too much otherwise would wake up with a headache, could not nap without feeling worse, etc...) Good for you to find out so "young"!

[cheeks]

HI,

I am 32 about 30lbs overweight ( my weight gain and inability to lose it was one of the reasons my doc sent me to a sleep study). But I believe after reading about Apneas that I have had this all my life. My mom said I snored as an infant and I suffered many of the other symptoms listed for children.

[RosemaryB]

It's so interesting to read everyone's story, most people saying that they've had this all their lives. I was thinking exactly that tonight before I read this thread. I was remembering when, in my 40's I'd come home from work and fall asleep in the chair watching news, every night. I'd awake at 1 a.m. with the tv blaring and would make my way to bed.

For years after the birth of my son, in my twenties, I felt I'd die from tiredness. When my daughter was born, that got even worse. I very much loved (and love) my kids, but I just was not there for them in many ways. They always knew I loved them, but I was always resting, exhausted. I took good care of them, but never had much fun with them or felt joy with them. I feel as though I was a vague parent. This is a huge regret!

Now I have grandkids who live across 3 time zones. When I visit them, I'm always exhausted, just like with my kids. Jet lag plus sleep apnea. It's been so discouraging.

At age 61, I was recently diagnosed and have been on the CPAP all of three nights. Tonight my son called and when I answered, he said "Mom, you sound so peppy." Indeed I felt pretty peppy, even after working a 12 hour day.

Tonight as I write this I'm feeling optimistic about the future, but sad about the past.

Except for a period of about 10 years, when I was just flirting with being classified as overweight, I've been pretty slim. I don't snore. It seems that I've had this at least since young adulthood, and probably before that. Boy, do I wish I'd been diagnosed early on.

[DrowzyDave]

It took a year or so before I could convince my GP that I needed testing for apnea. I don't snore and that was a deal breaker for him.

Not only do many of us have to be our own RTs but do we have to be our own GPs as well?!!! That is scary!

What was the GP's reaction, "Oops, my bad. I guess you were right. That will be $170.00 please."

Dave

[DrowzyDave]

I am 43 and was diagnosed in October 2006. As early as 1986, I can remember sleeping and taking naps most of the day on my days off and still being able to go to sleep at night. Attributed it to at the time working weird shifts -- swing, graveyard etc. Have always snored since my twenties. Have always been about 30 - 50 pounds overweight but even when I was at 195 (I am 5' 8") I still snored and was tired. Recently chalked it up to my schedule, I work from 5:30 am to 2pm and have two wonderful children ages 8 and 6 that keep me very busy. When I was tested my AHI was 76.2 with almost all of the apneas being central with some obstructive hypopneas. I don't fit the description of the central apnea patient that I have read about on the Web. I have never had a brain injury, nerve damage, encephalitis, etc. I am of German decent and my first RT told me the story of Ondine's Curse and his observation that CA shows up more in people of German descent. Makes for an interesting story but I am not sure there is much medical evidence to back it up.

Wish I had been diagnosed in my twenties, but am happy to know about it now.

[laurabel]

Diagnosed in 2001 at age 67, after 20 years of poor sleeping!!

[johnb2]

I turn 64 in June and I weigh 340 pounds.(I lost 35 pounds recently and stopped snoring) In the course of my day I climb ladders onto restaurant flat and pitched rooftops. I amaze myself daily!

[Marie]

Hi, y'all

62, and diagnosed in 2004. I don't think I had OSA all of my life. Probably about 2-3 years before I was tested. I have never been energetic, but never had trouble staying awake as I had before I was tested.
I am overweight. I think that is the key for me. I'm working on it, but, boy it's tough to take the weight off.

[mild6]

I’m 38, going to be 39 real soon. I was diagnosed at 36, got myself hooked up to APAP at 37. My weight is about 135 lbs and my height is 5’ 6”. I play soccer once a week. I think I have had OSA almost all of my life. I’ve been snoring loud and feeling tired since I was a teenager. I got myself tested because about two years ago, I started encountering wakening up gasping for air, which was really scary. These were episodes where I would be suffocated but couldn’t wake up due to deeply in sleep.

Soon after I was compliant, my daytime sleepiness has been substantially reduced and my energy level has been improving. So, last year, I got myself enrolled in an MBA class which I had always wanted to do but didn't due to chronic fatigue, and now I’m close to finishing the program. I wished I had been diagnosed earlier, too. I could have achieved a lot more with normal needs for sleep time and decent level of energy. I still remember refusing to hang out with my friends in my twenties after office hours due to my tiredness.

Besides OSA, I also suffer from sleep paralysis all my life.

[hhopper]

I'm 62 and was diagnosed last November. Probably had it most of my life but it got really bad the last couple of years. I'm fine now with apap.

[Born Tired]

I'm 51. Was diagnosed at 49, not overweight, not a snorer but probably had it most of my adult life or longer--never really remember feeling "rested" in the AM (notice the name--Born Tired). OSA runs in my family. Took 1 1/2 years of being on PAP to finally say "I can now tell a difference." The biggest part was finding the right mask and machine.
Esther
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