How old were you when you got diagnosed?

[teresamichele]

I'm curious because on the few boards I've visited, I seem to be sort of a baby compared to others. I'll be 28 next month, and so many folks seem to be talking about grandkids!

So I'm wondering - how old were you when you were diagnosed? Did you have any idea beforehand?

[spacetoast]

I'm currently 37. My wife has been after me to go to the doctor since we've been together, though because of snoring and holding my breath in my sleep. That was nearly 6 years ago so I probably had it when I was 31. I know that I was snoring loudly at least since I was in my late 20's. I may have had apnea then too. It does run in my family, apparently.

[sleepybug]

Hi Theresa,

I'm 33 years old and a mother of 2. My son is 5 and daughter is 1. I was just diagnosed last week and waiting to start my treatment.
I too have felt "young", but sometimes older is wiser (IMO). Or rather it's the experiences that others are willing to share with us.

Good Luck!

Cory
Marysville, WA

P.S. The other day I could not remember how old I was. This is how bad it's gotten for me. Even doing the math, I didn't believe it. I think on all my doctor's paperwork I wrote 32. They must think I really need help.

[Jason S.]

We've had this survey before. If the survey is large enough, you will get almost a perfect bell curve with the mode at 46-55 years of age.

Or maybe the previous survey was "How old are CPAP users?" And the mean response was 50 years because the categories of 40-50 and 50-60 were tied with the most responses. So in this case the mean could be shifted to a slightly younger age because the question is "How old were you when you got diagnosed?".

[drubin007]

im 40. Diagnosed a few months back.

Snored for as far back as I can remember, and come from a long family of em.

I am the first one to actually get it looked at though.

not overweight, in shape and a non smoker (as of a few months before starting treatment). Heck, im also a vegeterian.
Can't get much more off the wall then me

[bearded_two]

I should have been diagnosed when I was about 12 years old, but doctors didn't know about CPAP at the time. I had classic sleep apnea symptoms when I was pre-teen and my mom had taken me to many doctors trying to find out why I stopped breathing while I was sleeping.

[Maryland_Mike]

I'm 44 and was just diagnosed last week. Be glad that you've figured this out before losing too many years of your life to zombie-dom. If I could only turn back the clock and clue myself in...

[Froro]

39 for me. Have always snored, as has mom, grandma etc. Thinking of actually getting my 14 year old tested if you can believe that. I just need to be awake long enough at night to hear him for sure before I go to the doc.

[lovecollies]

I was 45 when I was diagnosed, but I'm sure that I actually have had OSA for the past 20 years. Be glad that you have not had to waste 20 years of dealing with this before being diagnosed. If people were actually diagnosed when when OSA started, the curve would be much younger. Great survey!

[drj130]

I am 38 right now and that is the age I was diagnosed. Knowing my luck, I've been this way for a very long time. For me though, it might be linked to my Cleft palate and lip that was repaired when I was 5 days old.

[GumbyCT]

I think the sleep business is fairly new and the reason people are now being dx'd at a younger age. Awareness is increasing daily too.

I could be wrong but as in heart attacks and strokes - I don't think there is an age requirement for OSA either. I think I was wrong once before I know OSA affects my memory, not to mention other things.

[JayC]

Treatment started 2008 at age 47

Issues go back at least to age 14 or so......sleep disordered breathing, but no breathing issues when awake....

"Almost diagnosed" in 2003, but desats might not have been measured, and without desat measurement my events were "borderline" for treatment even though daytime functioning was compromised despite various treatments which should have addressed the issues if they were soley other than sleep related.

I'm happy to say that with this last year of treatment, I am slowly but consistently paying pack 30+ years of sleep debt, and bit by bit building the life I was meant to have.....

J

[Dixie62]

I was diagnosed 10 years ago at the age of 52, though I am sure I had sleep apnea for at least 10-15 years before it was discovered.

[midnightdweary]

Well, I was 65, and had been on an Emmaus Walk for 3 days the year before, so I knew I snored very loud. Everyone in the cottage told me that. They put me in a corner and piled up old mattresses in front of me to try to stifle the noise.
So that was not a good way to win friends on a spiritual journey. (snorers aren't forgiven)

A few months later, I got a cpap.

[Treehorn]

My sleep Dr. was amazed to see in the file when I pointed it out to him that my first visit to his lab was 20 years ago when I was 15-years old. At that time my snoring was so bad that my friends would not go camping with me. But at that time they did not feel I had Apnea.

Its amazing how 20-years and 40 lbs changes things.

I went two years ago and they diagnosed me with Apnea but I decided to treat with a dental device. I was still feeling like crap so I went back a few months ago and the apnea was severe so they put a rush on the machine (because this time I was willing).

I am happy I did. Im feeling better. this forum has helped so much and I am getting AHI's <1 on a regular basis. I am responding well.