Sleep Apnea Support/Questions Thread

04-27-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

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 · 04-27-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

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.

04-27-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

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 · 04-27-2009, 02:48 PM

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 · 04-27-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

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 · 04-27-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

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

RGD. · 04-27-2009, 03:44 PM

Hi! My name is Ron and I've gone 10 years now without a drink . . . ummm, sorry - I mean without sleep apnea.

I had it so bad that I preferred to just stay awake for days at a time because I hated to go to sleep. If I looked hard enough I could probably find the test results with the amount of time I quit breathing, how long for, etc etc. It was very scary. The doc said I could move to the Pacific and dive for pearls with no problems.

Anyway - I had the surgery. I now sleep all through the night - and day if allowed - LOL. A freight train would not wake me up. After the surgery my wife use to do a breath test on me because she said she could not tell if I was still breathing - that's how quiet and in a deep sleep I was.

So for me - the roto-rooter surgery worked out excellent.

As for front, back or side sleeping - I had to sleep on my back for so long - I still can't/don't know how to sleep on my stomach. Either the side or back.

Ron

skullnrose · 04-27-2009, 04:02 PM

Damn this threads filling fast you sure their is no connection between cigar smoking and sleep apnea

On a more serious note my sleep apnea subsided do to my recent weight loss. DR still wants me to have the tests done but for now I'm putting it off. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge on this medical condition.

04-27-2009, 06:07 PM

I'm Richard and I'm your future pulmonologist!

Quote:

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.

You can have it at 19. Most of the guys above aren't too much older than you; and I've seen a couple patients that were younger or just a tad older. So if you think it's a problem, definitely check up on it.

BigCat · 04-27-2009, 03:35 PM

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.

04-27-2009, 02:48 PM	#4
azherfer Proud Ranger Dad Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: David Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 19 Trading: (1)	Re: Sleep Apnea Support/Questions Thread 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.

04-27-2009, 03:44 PM	#7
RGD. God Like Status Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ron Location: Alexandria, Virginia Posts: 971 Trading: (1)	Re: Sleep Apnea Support/Questions Thread Hi! My name is Ron and I've gone 10 years now without a drink . . . ummm, sorry - I mean without sleep apnea. I had it so bad that I preferred to just stay awake for days at a time because I hated to go to sleep. If I looked hard enough I could probably find the test results with the amount of time I quit breathing, how long for, etc etc. It was very scary. The doc said I could move to the Pacific and dive for pearls with no problems. Anyway - I had the surgery. I now sleep all through the night - and day if allowed - LOL. A freight train would not wake me up. After the surgery my wife use to do a breath test on me because she said she could not tell if I was still breathing - that's how quiet and in a deep sleep I was. So for me - the roto-rooter surgery worked out excellent. As for front, back or side sleeping - I had to sleep on my back for so long - I still can't/don't know how to sleep on my stomach. Either the side or back. Ron

04-27-2009, 04:02 PM	#8
skullnrose Ashes,ashes,all fall down Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Scott Posts: 799 Trading: (16)	Re: Sleep Apnea Support/Questions Thread Damn this threads filling fast you sure their is no connection between cigar smoking and sleep apnea On a more serious note my sleep apnea subsided do to my recent weight loss. DR still wants me to have the tests done but for now I'm putting it off. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge on this medical condition.

04-27-2009, 03:35 PM	#10
BigCat My back is now unwatched. Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Colin Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 723 Trading: (5)	Re: Sleep Apnea Support/Questions Thread 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.