CPAPtalk.com

Just a quick comment. My father also had undiagnosed sleep apnea which contributed to his shortened life. Don't let that happen to you, take an active role in improving your health and enjoyment of life!

To me, the question that matters is not so much, "Do I actually have sleep apnea?" The important question is, "How much better (and longer) could my life be if I used a PAP machine?" In my opinion, concentrating on a feared diagnosis can be concentrating on the negative; whereas, concentrating on the benefits of good breathing and good sleep can be a much better motivator.

Brushing teeth is a hassle. Taking a shower every day is a hassle. And certainly wearing glasses all day long is a major hassle. I do them though because they make my life better in the long run. By comparison, I find using PAP therapy to be super-easy--after all, it happens at night when I'm asleep anyway! (Not like glasses which must be worn when I'm awake.) Admittedly, it took a while for me to view it that way. But I'm glad I was able to use what I learned at this forum to make sure my therapy was as easy and effective as possible. You may find benefit from doing the same, should you choose to do so. Don't worry about the past. Better late than never.

I am kind of in the same boat.
I really didn't feel like I was having any sleep issues. My wife said I snored once in awhile, usually when I had a headcold or nasal congestion.
Then I was diagnosed with Afib and the cardiologist sent me for a sleep study. My AHI during the study was 26, which they say is Moderate Sleep Apnea. My Blood Oxygen levels fell below normal for over an hour cumulative during that 7 hour study.
I still wasn't convinced. I asked the Sleep Doctor what % of sleep study patients are diagnosed with sleep apnea. He told me that only a few DON'T show sleep apnea issues.
That made me more skeptical.
Then I thought of my father, who we would watch as kids when he would fall asleep in a chair watching tv, and we were so nervous because he stopped breathing for long periods of time. He died of a heart attack at 67.
So I figure I would like to have normal blood oxygen while I sleep. I also would like to live past 67. My cardiologist states that being on Cpap will reduce the likelyhood of an Afib incident. I have only had one afib incident while on Cpap. And it appears most Cardiologists are big proponents of Cpap as a means of improving cardiovascular health. That's good enough for me.
From the first day having my Cpap machine, I have given it 110%. It hasn't been easy as all of you can relate to. But I figure it would be stupid to deny the existence of sleep apnea. Better to attack it head on.
I am on my 3rd mask, hoping to find one that I can be comfortable with. I intend to stick with this as long as I have to. My cardiologist told me if I can get down to 160 pounds he will do another sleep study, as sleep apnea can be aggravated by excess weight. I have been tackling the weight also, and I'm down to 172. 12 pounds to go
Right now I am using the Philips Respironics Nuance Pro mask. Seems to be good so far. Hoping it's the one .
Thanks for listening guys!

Lend27 wrote:I still wasn't convinced. I asked the Sleep Doctor what % of sleep study patients are diagnosed with sleep apnea. He told me that only a few DON'T show sleep apnea issues.
That made me more skeptical.

if you think about it, that's pretty stupid.

they don't send everybody for a sleep test, only those that exhibit the symptoms, so of COURSE a very high percentage are found to have apnea.

same thing for lots of tests, if you go into the doctors all healthy, they aren't going to give you a chest xray just because, but if you go in hacking, having problems breathing, pain while breathing, you'll likely get sent for an xray, and have a fairly good chance of finding you have pneumonia or other problem. so, yeah, a high percentage come back with something showing wrong on the test.

I think you have to embrace it instead of avoid it. It's really hard to do this the first few weeks. It's also not like you turn on the machine put on the mask and it will work for you. You might have to play with the settings and try with different masks. Do research etc to get better AHI. It's not easy and you won't see the result right away. You have to be persistent. Eventually you will feel better after.

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jnk... wrote:To me, the question that matters is not so much, "Do I actually have sleep apnea?" The important question is, "How much better (and longer) could my life be if I used a PAP machine?" In my opinion, concentrating on a feared diagnosis can be concentrating on the negative; whereas, concentrating on the benefits of good breathing and good sleep can be a much better motivator.

I completely agree with this!

Lend27 mentioned Afib and the connection with OSA. Another great reason to treat OSA because of the strong correlation between untreated OSA and Afib.

BTW, Lend27, congratulations on your weight loss. I've read studies indicating that PAP therapy combined with weight loss and exercise significantly reduces inflammation, improves insulin sensitivity, and decreases blood pressure. Aren't we're lucky to live during a time when we can do something to change what would have been a sad and sorry fate for many of us. (My grandfather died in his sleep at 62)

Cpap is pretty cool.
It helps you sleep better and QUIETER, and enhances health all day long.
Nobody sees it unless invited.
You can pretend to be a scuba diver, fire fighter, jet pilot, or astronaut as you are drifting off.
You don't have to wear it during romance--unless you WANT to.

chunkyfrog wrote:Cpap is pretty cool.
It helps you sleep better and QUIETER, and enhances health all day long.
Nobody sees it unless invited.
You can pretend to be a scuba diver, fire fighter, jet pilot, or astronaut as you are drifting off.
You don't have to wear it during romance--unless you WANT to.

Its best NOT to wear in during romance, it restricts air flow that increases during romance. ( Not as much as the Ball Gag ) Unless you cant stay awake long enough after to put the mask on and turn on the machine, my personal record for that is 30 seconds. Jim

palerider wrote:

Lend27 wrote:I still wasn't convinced. I asked the Sleep Doctor what % of sleep study patients are diagnosed with sleep apnea. He told me that only a few DON'T show sleep apnea issues.
That made me more skeptical.

if you think about it, that's pretty stupid.

they don't send everybody for a sleep test, only those that exhibit the symptoms, so of COURSE a very high percentage are found to have apnea.

same thing for lots of tests, if you go into the doctors all healthy, they aren't going to give you a chest xray just because, but if you go in hacking, having problems breathing, pain while breathing, you'll likely get sent for an xray, and have a fairly good chance of finding you have pneumonia or other problem. so, yeah, a high percentage come back with something showing wrong on the test.

Call it what you like. I prefer not to call anyone stupid. But I guess you subscribe to a different theory.

Arlene1963 wrote:

jnk... wrote:To me, the question that matters is not so much, "Do I actually have sleep apnea?" The important question is, "How much better (and longer) could my life be if I used a PAP machine?" In my opinion, concentrating on a feared diagnosis can be concentrating on the negative; whereas, concentrating on the benefits of good breathing and good sleep can be a much better motivator.

I completely agree with this!

Lend27 mentioned Afib and the connection with OSA. Another great reason to treat OSA because of the strong correlation between untreated OSA and Afib.

BTW, Lend27, congratulations on your weight loss. I've read studies indicating that PAP therapy combined with weight loss and exercise significantly reduces inflammation, improves insulin sensitivity, and decreases blood pressure. Aren't we're lucky to live during a time when we can do something to change what would have been a sad and sorry fate for many of us. (My grandfather died in his sleep at 62)

Thanks Arlene! Yes we are lucky!

Last thing I want are unneeded tests, I want tests that confirm I am sick, so I can be treated and get better. Not all tests are healthy, many have downsides, radiation, drugs, dyes just to name a few, also tests drive up our costs. I would want the tests to be positive, while i dont want to be sick, i dont like wasting time and money, if in not sick. You cant be cured until you find the problem. Jim

A negative colonoscopy is usually a good thing, unless it us a FALSE negative.

Lend27 wrote:

palerider wrote:

Lend27 wrote:I still wasn't convinced. I asked the Sleep Doctor what % of sleep study patients are diagnosed with sleep apnea. He told me that only a few DON'T show sleep apnea issues.
That made me more skeptical.

if you think about it, that's pretty stupid.

Call it what you like. I prefer not to call anyone stupid. But I guess you subscribe to a different theory.

well, if you want to expand a stupid thought to encompass your whole self, .... I'd call that kinda stupid too, but, you do whatever you like.

palerider wrote: well, if you want to expand a stupid thought to encompass your whole self, .... I'd call that kinda stupid too, but, you do whatever you like.

I think they prefer you to use "Wilfully Ignorant".

chunkyfrog wrote:A negative colonoscopy is usually a good thing, unless it us a FALSE negative.

If its done with a tool thats improperly cleaned, it can become a bad thing quickly. Jim

Most men over the age of 35 have diverticulitis, pallops (SP)