I'm having a hard time sleeping with the CPAP masks

postitnote wrote:Sonnyboy, my cell phone is showing you asked me a question under user ID sonnyboy1. I can't find it now but I did find the quote you asked about. To answer you, this is my quote:

One last thing tonight. Which one of you people sent Enchanter a couple of Ambiens? Now that was illegal. Giving him sleeping pills could have killed him! None of you know him so what would have happened if he had a reaction to them? What is unbeknown to any of us he liked to down a 6 pack of beer every night? Booze and pills don't mix! How many of you told him to "just take the pill". I admit I told him to hide the damn thing in a candy bar but I didn't send it to him. That would be illegal wouldn't it. Hmm...someone on this forum was playing unlicensed doctor and giving E sleeping pills. Who was again?

I see where you may have been confused! Looks like I missed putting a word in there. It should have been unbeknown(?) to any of us IF he liked to drink a 6 pack... Key missing word was IF. We don't know. No one ever asked him that I know of. A weird memory of mine from long long ago is a girl named Karen Quinlan. She took a Valium and drank a beer. She was 21 and remained in a vegetative state till she was 31. Pills scare the crap out of me because of that. On the rare occasion I ever had to take a Valium for panic attacks I wouldn't even use mouthwash or take wine at communion! That is why I said we didn't know about E. What if he did like to drink but we didn't know? Funny because someone else said they would never take a pill a stranger sent them. I never even thought about that! The pot that I said might work for E would have to be from a cannabis club that is regulated under his state laws. It would be clean.

I'm not trying to fight with you! I understand what you have been saying. I agree with the pill thing. I would not have given him one.

Sonnyboy wrote:There are people in this world who think drinking 6 cans of beer a night is ok.

Sonnyboy wrote:
Really I just wanted to clarify the alcohol issue which you have done. Thank you. Believe it or not I was worried about him. There are people in this world who think drinking 6 cans of beer a night is ok.

DeadlySleep wrote:

Sonnyboy wrote:There are people in this world who think drinking 6 cans of beer a night is ok.

Good point. Nothing but bottles or kegs.

Unless I am in a pinch.

Enchanter wrote:The doctor still doesn't have the test. I called the manager of the lab 4 times today, left a message, but still have not heard back from him.

last night I didn't sleep with the mask. I was able to sleep very fast without the mask. But of course I had a headache all day. The reason was because I haven't been able the sleep with the mask period and even when I do, I wake up after a couple of hours. So it's a double edged sword, and don't know how I am going to go on.

Cardsfan wrote:Enchanter- I do have some info. for you, something you asked about before. I saw a sleep specialist today. He told me once a person begins to use CPAP, it takes 6 months for your brain to fully recover from the lack of sleep that sleep apnea causes.

Julie wrote:For crying out loud! You'll find a mask that fits you, just like the rest of us have, and you'll have a little adjustment to it, and maybe get another mask, but in the end you'll manage just fine! Stop projecting trouble, just stop it!

Julie wrote:The same damn way we all do. C'mon, stop 'awfulizing' as a friend of mine used to say.

Effects of Sleep Apnea on Heart and Circulation

Sleep-disordered breathing is very common among patients with heart problems such as high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, heart attack, and atrial fibrillation. This link may be because both cardiovascular conditions and sleep apnea share a common risk factor of obesity. However, increasing evidence suggests that severe OSA is an independent risk factor that may cause or worsen a number of heart-related conditions.

High Blood Pressure. Moderate-to-severe sleep apnea definitely increases the risk for high blood pressure (hypertension) even when obesity is not a factor. Doctors are not certain whether treating OSA with CPAP reduces the risk for high blood pressure, but studies indicate that CPAP may help prevent or decrease high blood pressure.

Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Attack. Sleep apnea appears to be associated with heart disease regardless of the presence of high blood pressure or other heart risk factors. Studies suggest that patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea have a higher risk for heart attack.

Stroke. Sleep apnea may increase the risk of death in patients who have previously had a stroke.

Heart Failure. Up to a third of patients with heart failure also have sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea often results from heart failure. Obstructive sleep apnea can cause heart damage that worsens heart failure and increases the risk for death.

Atrial Fibrillation. Sleep apnea may be a cause of atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat).
Other Adverse Effects on Health

Sleep apnea is associated with a higher incidence of many medical conditions, besides heart and circulation. The links between apneas and these conditions are unclear.

Diabetes. Severe obstructive sleep apnea is associated with type 2 diabetes.
Obesity. When it comes to sleep apnea and obesity, it is not always clear which condition is responsible for the other. For example, obesity is often a risk factor and possibly a cause of sleep apnea, but it is also likely that sleep apnea increases the risk for weight gain.
Pulmonary hypertension (high pressure in the arteries of the lungs).
Asthma. Sleep apnea may worsen asthma symptoms and interfere with the effectiveness of asthma medications. Treating the apnea may help asthma control.
Seizures, epilepsy, and other nerve disorders. There may be an association between seizures and obstructive sleep apnea, especially in older adults. Some studies have shown treatment of obstructive sleep apnea may help in the control of refractory seizures.
Headaches. Sleep disorders, including apnea, may be the underlying causes of some chronic headaches. In some patients with both chronic headaches and apnea, treating the sleep disorder may cure the headache.
High-risk pregnancies. Sleep apnea may increase the risk of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.
Eye disorders, including glaucoma, floppy eyelid syndrome, optic neuropathy conjunctivitis, dry eye, and various other infections and irritations. Some of these latter symptoms may be associated with CPAP treatments for sleep apnea.

Psychological Effects

Studies report an association between severe apnea and psychological problems. The risk for depression rises with increasing severity of sleep apnea. Sleep-related breathing disorders can also worsen nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder.