This may work for you

Let me start by telling you that I couldn't figure out why I was so tired all the time. I knew that periodically I would awaken from what I thought was a sound sleep.....jolt up in bed unable to breathe and gasping for breath. I assumed it was allergies (and it probably is to a degree), but never knew that I stopped breathing during sleep until my boyfriend told me. Did the sleep study and they gave me the CPAP. I HATE IT! Dries out my nasal pasages and mouth, even though I use a lubricant specially designed for use with the machine. I couldn't use the nasal tube because it gave me the symptoms of a bad cold......I woke up stopped up with a horribly runny nose and congestion just like I had a bad cold. Then they prescribed the full face mask. Initially, because I have oily skin, it broke me out on my forehead, which is where part of the plastic touched. I remedied that by putting a folded tissue underneath, and it helped. But because I go to the bathroom so many times a night, it was making me crazy to unplug the machine, go to the bathroom and plug it back in, all the while trying not to become so awakened that I couldn't fall asleep again. I stopped using the machine, even though I know I need it, because it was keeping me so clogged up and was so cumbersome to use.

I am a side sleeper, and I tend to curl in the fetal position. On several occasions I realized that when my neck was curled down, my breathing was obstructed. I am not particularly overweight (maybe 10 pounds) so I couldn't figure out why I was having so many problems (although I know that sleep apnea occurs even when weight isn't a problem). Anyway, I had this epiphany!! If I could keep my head from curling down while I slept, then maybe it could be something that might help me sleep and hopefully, not obstruct my breathing. I went to the local CVS pharmacy and got a foam collar by Futuro (less expensive ones can be purchased from Amazon) and have worn it for three nights and feel better. I haven't 'jolted' out of the bed since I have worn it. I haven't had anyone stay over since I have purchased the collar to tell me if I still snore (I snore horribly) but I am hoping that that is alleviated too. Just a thought. This may not be for everyone, but it may help someone.

Thanks for the info. Apparently, this is the nature of the beast and a CPAP is first in line of non- invasive choices.

gdbarks101 wrote:But because I go to the bathroom so many times a night, it was making me crazy to unplug the machine, go to the bathroom and plug it back in, all the while trying not to become so awakened that I couldn't fall asleep again.

Hi,

Are you still getting up to go to the bathroom often? If so, you may still need CPAP. The reason is that when your blood oxygen levels drop, your body get concerned and attempts to wake you up so you will get up and breathe. It does that by sending a chemical signal. That chemical signal is the same chemical that tells you that you have to go to the bathroom. In fact, this frequent bathroom thing is perhaps the biggest indicator there is that someone has really severe OSA.

You really need to get retested. Just because you don't bolt out of bed doesn't mean that you don't have a severe breathing problem. Any oxygen desats can cause heart damage, brain damage, trigger a stroke, and all the bathroom stuff can burn out your kidneys. If you think CPAP is a pain, just think how much bigger of a pain it would be to have to go to dialysis two or three times a week. Get this treated before you cause even more severe damage to your body.

-john-

If you turn down your humidifier, you might not be so congested... makes a big difference.