Sleep Apnea Support/Questions Thread

[Smokin Gator]

Does anyone else run their CPAP dry. I have from the very beginning. I keep a glass of water by the bed and most nights I will wake up around 3:00 and get a sip of water.

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by Smokin Gator

Does anyone else run their CPAP dry. I have from the very beginning. I keep a glass of water by the bed and most nights I will wake up around 3:00 and get a sip of water.

I have used it dry for a period of time and did fine with it, but decided I liked it a little better with water. The nasal pillows I use stay a little more moist with the water and don't irritate my nose as much. I had some irritation when it was just dry air.

Originally Posted by Smokin Gator

Does anyone else run their CPAP dry. I have from the very beginning. I keep a glass of water by the bed and most nights I will wake up around 3:00 and get a sip of water.

I have a humidification device on mine. Can't imagine not having it.

[Smokin Gator]

Originally Posted by ahc4353

I have a humidification device on mine. Can't imagine not having it.

Mine has the humidification chamber... I just don't put any water in it.

The guy who did my sleep study has been doing them for a long time. He told me to try it right from the start without water. He said if I didn't mind it that way it was good. He said there are more problems with cleaning and lung infections when you used humidity.

Maybe it is easier in Florida since our humidity is high most of the time anyway.

Originally Posted by Smokin Gator

Mine has the humidification chamber... I just don't put any water in it.

The guy who did my sleep study has been doing them for a long time. He told me to try it right from the start without water. He said if I didn't mind it that way it was good. He said there are more problems with cleaning and lung infections when you used humidity.

Maybe it is easier in Florida since our humidity is high most of the time anyway.

I started out that way but moved to the humi as I got very dried out.

[azherfer]

One other thing I like to mention to people is another angle that may actually be the cause of sleep apnea in men, and that is low testosterone levels. I had my checked just prior to my bypass surgery and I didn't even register on the chart. The side affects of low testosterone and sleep apnea are eerily similar. My PC physician warned me years ago that it was low and stupidly I ignored him and my sleep apnea, weight gain, and other issues may have come from that.

I now take testosterone injections weekly and my physical being has changed completely. I sleep well, I have boundless energy, my metabolism is perfect, and my sex life has improved dramatically.

I would offer to anyone the suggestion that at your next appointment, have the doctor order a T-panel and see what your level is. After the age of 30, your T-count starts dropping rapidly as the body starts producing less.

[PeteSB75]

Originally Posted by azherfer

One other thing I like to mention to people is another angle that may actually be the cause of sleep apnea in men, and that is low testosterone levels. I had my checked just prior to my bypass surgery and I didn't even register on the chart. The side affects of low testosterone and sleep apnea are eerily similar. My PC physician warned me years ago that it was low and stupidly I ignored him and my sleep apnea, weight gain, and other issues may have come from that.

I now take testosterone injections weekly and my physical being has changed completely. I sleep well, I have boundless energy, my metabolism is perfect, and my sex life has improved dramatically.

I would offer to anyone the suggestion that at your next appointment, have the doctor order a T-panel and see what your level is. After the age of 30, your T-count starts dropping rapidly as the body starts producing less.

I didn't have my testosterone tested, but I will say without any hesitation that my sex drive is monumentally higher than it was before I started on the CPAP. It wasn't quite driven home to me until I woke up one morning after starting the CPAP and was surprised when I realized how long it had been since my last morning wood. That was before I started exercising and lost the weight, leading me to attribute it to the treatment rather than anything else.

[Smokin Gator]

Originally Posted by PeteSB75

I didn't have my testosterone tested, but I will say without any hesitation that my sex drive is monumentally higher than it was before I started on the CPAP.

I'll second that

[BigCat]

I have sleep apnea. I'm 27 and probably need to drop 30 pounds, but noting too major. My wife bugged me to get tested not long after we got married. I have been using it for almost two years now and it is going very well. The mask is not attractive, but I definitely feel better and once I got used to it, it became almost pavlovian for me - I put it on and I go out quickly. I use a hybrid mask that has nasal pillows and covers my mouth. I tend to be claustrophobic, but this doesn't give me any trouble. Also, if I position my pillow just right, I can actually sleep on my stomach with this mask, which is how I always preferred to sleep pre-apnea. This is a relatively recent discovery for me and I love it. I was doing ok sleeping on my sides, but my shoulders started to hurt.

I HIGHLY recommend that anyone who has symptoms and has not been tested to get tested, and those that have been diagnosed to find a way to make the CPAP work for you. It is an extremely serious disorder that is relatively easy to manage once you get past those couple weeks of discomfort with the mask. I bet you will even sleep better during those few weeks than you do on any night when you don't wear the mask.

[Emjaysmash]

Hi, I'm MJ and I probably have/will have apnea.
My father has it, both my Grandpa and Grandma have/had it, as I'm sure a few other in my family I may not know about. I'm 19, and I dont really know about what the usual age it is for having sleep apnea...I'm thinking about getting tested in the summer.

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by Emjaysmash

Hi, I'm MJ and I probably have/will have apnea.
My father has it, both my Grandpa and Grandma have/had it, as I'm sure a few other in my family I may not know about. I'm 19, and I dont really know about what the usual age it is for having sleep apnea...I'm thinking about getting tested in the summer.

Don't just think about it and don't wait till summer.

[ade06]

Thanks for all the info, I didn't realize this was so common. When did you all start noticing there was a problem? Any ideas what caused it or it's preventable?

[RGD.]

Originally Posted by ade06

. . . When did you all start noticing there was a problem?

I actually thought that I had insomnia. After several years I finally asked the Doc for some sleeping pills - which he gave me - which didn't work of course. So when I went back and told him they were worthless - he sent me to the Ear, Eyes and Nose people who figured it out rather quickly.


Ron

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by ade06

Thanks for all the info, I didn't realize this was so common. When did you all start noticing there was a problem? Any ideas what caused it or it's preventable?

my (now ex)girlfriend noticed it and told me to get tested.

I have a mild form of sleep apnea. I use a cpap. Doc says I'd probably be fine if I dropped some serious weight. Working on it, but the cpap helps in the meantime.

I'm so glad everyone has stepped in and told their stories and offered encouragement. To all that have not had a sleep study please do so and soon. Keep us all updated on your progress. This is such a simple thing to improve the quality of life for your and those that love you.

Anyone scheduled their test yet?

Any updates? Who has scheduled their test? Come on boys lets get this done.

[kelmac07]

Hey guys, Mike here and I have sleep apnea...I was diagnosed about 9 months ago as a result of my beautiful wife of 20 years kicking me and sick of sleeping with her Ipod on. I use my CPAP faithfully...but I feel no different waking up than I did before the CPAP. I always felt rested, just thought I snored (like a bear as the wife says).

Welcome Mike.

No difference? WOW. First person I have ever heard say that.