I think I might have it. I'm going in for a sleep test sometime soon.

Does the machine make it difficult to share a bed?

2/17/2009 3:12:22 AM

how often are you sharing a bed?

how many times do you wake that person up?

how many times have you died in your sleep?

good job getting tested and actually thinking about getting treatment

lots of people just don't bother

2/17/2009 3:14:12 AM

Depends on my relationship status.

The girl I was with most recently told me that she would have to shake me repeatedly in the middle of the night because it sounded like I stopped breathing. She was the one who first suggested I might have apnea.

I have not yet died in my sleep.

And thanks, I'd rather get real sleep then be tired all day long and have a fucked up sleep schedule.

2/17/2009 3:28:25 AM

search: sleep study in CC. I have a thread about this.

Having a CPAP, if you need one, will suck. It takes a long time to get used to, others in the bed probably won't like it,

I didn't get one because of this and I don't view a CPAP as a solution to sleep apnea, just a lifelong management tool.

Weight loss and exercise are known to cure sleep apnea in many cases.



[Edited on February 17, 2009 at 5:53 AM. Reason : I'll just link it and bttt it ?topic=548829]

2/17/2009 5:50:55 AM

I feel like this is more of a real issue than chit chat banter.

It isn't a weight issue, I've been dealing with sleep problems for a very long time (since before the freshmen 15). It gets worse the more stressed I am, back in 2005 I almost flunked an entire semester because of sleep problems.

I didn't realize I was having breathing problems while sleeping until my girlfriend pointed it out to me, and so I started doing research and found out it can cause heart problems later on. I want to prevent that from happening.

If there is no other solution, then I'm fine with lifelong management (as long as lifelong = long life)

2/17/2009 6:09:15 AM

here's a thread I started a while ago when i was in the same situation as you:

http://www.brentroad.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=496974

i was eventually diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. i use a cpap but i had a hard time getting adjusted to it. even now, after using it for over a year, i don't wear it the whole night. i fall asleep with it on, but it's always off when i wake up. the noise of it really bothered me at first (and my wife) but we turn on a box fan in our room now which creates white noise so I can't hear it....it has helped me fall asleep much better. the only time i bother my wife is when i roll over and put my face near hers...she says i sound like darth vader. the nights i do manage to wear it for a few hours, i can tell a big difference in how i feel that next day. that's why i continue to use it. if you have any questions, let me know and id be happy to answer them.

wdprice3 is correct about the machine. it is not a solution.. you dont wear it and the apnea will go away. there is surgery out there, but it has a pretty low success rate and is generaly not recommened until other options dont work.



[Edited on February 17, 2009 at 8:22 AM. Reason : f]

2/17/2009 8:14:21 AM

yup.

weight loss is the recommended solution. cpap isn't a cure, it's a temporary abatement.

Quote :

"It gets worse the more stressed I am, back in 2005 I almost flunked an entire semester because of sleep problems."

heh, i know how you feel. i DID flunk an entire semester. mine is sorta strange though... the sleep stuff was caused by some shit i have wrong with my brain... which caused the weight gain... which made the sleep stuff even worse

just to stay awake and function during the day, i take 30mg adderall XR + 10mg plain adderall in the morning, and then a 10mg every 5-6 hours

2/17/2009 9:29:20 AM

evan want to sell some of that adderall and sleep a bit more heh. I had sleep apnea and hadnt remembered a dream in about 15 years until 2 years ago i had the surgery and have been sleeping a lot more and a lot better. at the time of the surgery i was 5'10 and 135 so weight was no part of the equation.

2/17/2009 9:54:01 AM

You can see some of my thoughts in the other thread, but i never had a problem adjusting to my cpap. It makes such a difference in the way i feel, I could never imagine a night without it.

My apnea is probably worse than most though, i was having 160+ events an hour on average.

My wife actually finds it harder to sleep when I am away, because she misses the "white noise" of the machine.

2/17/2009 1:12:25 PM

how do you feel in the mornings when you have sleep apnea.

2/17/2009 1:38:09 PM

Like total ass.

Mine was so bad, i fell asleep (passed out) standing up in the shower several times, and hurt myself. A lot of times I would wake up right before i hit the ground and my legs would tense up to try and upright me, and pull a lot of muscles.

I slept 2-3 hours at work upright in my chair every morning.

I fell asleep in the car every chance i got, red lights, on the highway, etc... What made me finally go to the doctor was when I fell asleep in my car as i was exiting the highway, the ramp was a cloverleaf type, and i kept driving in the circle after it straightened out, woke up a couple seconds before I would have died falling off the overpass and was able to stop it from happening. Scared me so bad I decided I should find out why i was so tired.

Sleep deprivation is a bitch. There at the end of it all, i was having fucked up thoughts and was pretty mentally unstable.

Looking back, I've obviously had it for years. Since this is The lounge and not chit chat, ill give a little more insight into some of the things that i should have seen as indicators.

When i would get sick with anything respiratory, it just made my apnea that much worse, which caused me to sleep even less and prevented me from getting better. Because of that, I got pneumonia every single year, and it always took some REALLY strong antibiotics to get me better, and usually multiple cycles of them too. Because the pneumonia/sickness made me sleep worse, I would dread getting sick, because after a few days of it, I usually ended up crying and having some kind of mental breakdown begging for sleep.

The worst part about physical sleep apnea is that sleeping pills, etc... make it worse. I would dose up on ambien thinking that would help me sleep better, and it just made things worse. It turned into a giant snowball.

My body was so used to getting the equivalent of like 30 minutes of sleep through an 8-10 hour night that when i first got my CPAP mask, I could only sleep for like 45 minutes. I would wake up after that amount of time wide awake. It was more rest than my body had gotten in years, and it thought that meant it was time to get up. It took me 4-6 months to adjust to 6-8 hours of actual real sleep a night.

I went camping a few months ago and decided not to take my mask, HUGE mistake. Was one of the worst nights ive ever had.

With my mask now, I wake up in the mornings and actually feel ready to do things. A lot of my mental instability is gone and I dont have some of the messed up thoughts I used to have.

2/17/2009 1:59:59 PM

Its gotten to the point where I'll wake up in the morning, take a shower, get dressed, and then suddenly I'm waking up in my bed 4 hours later not remembering laying back down, and I've missed all my classes.

2/17/2009 6:25:43 PM

I've often wondered if I have a mild case of this. Generally I have a really hard time getting going in the mornings, I'll reset my alarm without ever fully waking up (despite the fact that I have to walk across my room to do so) and be late for work, occasionally I doze off at inopportune times (today I think I blanked for a second at a red light, nearly rolled into the car in front of my b/c my pressure on the brake pedal slackened). I know I'm a pretty bad snorer, though no one has ever said it sounds like I stop breathing.

Then again, if it's weight-related, that could have something to do with it. I'm 5'10", 211 lbs, which going by BMI is about 40 lbs. overweight (which always gives me pause, I haven't seen 170 since the very beginning of freshman year, fall 1998 in my case). Plus I tend to stay up way too late at night (usually don't go to bed until after 1 AM and try to wake up around 7:30) so I'm not getting enough sleep anyway. Those things make me feel like maybe it's nothing at all...but it seems like I shouldn't be tired all the time getting 6+ hours per night. Hmmm.

(Trying to lose weight for a variety of reasons, lost about 10 lbs. so far in 2009, but if it is weight-related I wonder how much more I'd have to take off for it to make a difference.)

2/17/2009 6:50:36 PM

I was convinced, and still am, that my fiance has mild sleep apnea.

- he's overweight
- he'd snores sooooooooooooooooooo terribly
- he's never rested in the morning
- he almost never, ever remembers dreams

But...he went for a sleep study last year, and they told him he was fine. Given that we were on barely speaking terms at that time, I didn't pry for details...I guess I could now. (Or, he'll post-stalk me and go ahead and chime in)

As far as the machine, a friend's husband uses it. She said she didn't have any trouble adjusting to it, and given the choice between the snoring and the machine, she'd take the machine. Also, these are two very old people (seriously, grandparent age. 70s+), and the machine is a recent development.

2/17/2009 7:35:32 PM

It is crazy that this topic is up here when I am setting up a sleep apnea test right now. Thanks everyone, especially Wolfmarsh, for sharing your insight. I slept 16 hours straight Sunday-Monday, took a half day. This is the second time in the past two weeks I have slept 16 hours straight and haven't felt rested. It really effects everything. I have really screwed up dreams, thoughts, etc. Enough to the point where I started taking anti-anxiety medication. I've been sick all winter long and can't seem to get 100% better. I've become too lazy to do a lot of physical activities and have developed GERD (reflux problems) and hypertension. All at 24 years old, and no, I'm not obese by any means. I have some extra weight now, but I have played sports my whole life. I think I've had sleep apnea since my senior year of high school and have never done anything about it. But now, it is really affecting my life.

2/17/2009 7:50:25 PM

ALLEGEDLY anyone with over a 17 1/2 size neck is going to have at least minor sleep apnea

allegedly

2/17/2009 7:57:38 PM

I've never heard an exact size mentioned, but my doctors have told me that anyone with a neck as big as mine will probably have it. (Size 18.5 neck, used to be a 21 when I wrestled)

2/17/2009 10:04:33 PM

You should also check out cpaptalk.com and cpap.com.

cpaptalk.com has a lot of great information, and they are owned by cpap.com, which is by far the cheapest place to get supplies, etc...

Its actually cheaper for me to get my supplies through cpap.com on my own dime than through my insurance and a DME.

They also run some great "contests" all the time. One of thier special ones is called "Product Challenges". They find two like products (two masks, two machines, etc...) and find a group of people that have one of the two products, then give you the second product free to try for a certain time period, as long as you are willing to write an honest review. You get to keep the product you tried after the trial period.

Ive gotten some nice freebies (two masks) by participating.

Cpap.com also has "return insurance" that you can pay for. You can pay a little extra with masks and then if you dont like it, return it and get your money back minus the return insurance. Its a quick way to try a bunch of different masks out and find one you really like. That goes a long way to help you with your compliance.

There are tons of accessories too, and I would be glad to go into some detail if anyone wants to know what I personally use. I've got a setup that is very comfortable to me.

2/17/2009 10:06:21 PM

My GF and brother both think that I suffer from sleep apnea, though I have never been tested.
I snore, loudly, and a lot. It wakes me up sometimes. I have no recollection of the first 10-15 minutes of any morning, and never (rarely) remember dreams.

I was in CA visiting family and my brother and I were supposed to share a room. He only stayed for 30 minutes as he said I would make horrible noises and jerk awake, to immediately go back to sleep and repeat the process. It bothered him too much to stay. He went to sleep on the couch.

How much time does it take, and what does it cost to get tested?

2/17/2009 10:15:11 PM

let me give you a good piece of advice about sleep apnea and sleep studies.

dont go and get the sleep study unless you are really having a lot of problems sleeping. try losing weight, not drinking alcohol and not eating within 4 hours of bed time first. then try losing weight (if necessary).

I thought I might have sleep apnea, went to get the study and they diagnosed me with a "minor" case. I have no idea how they did, as I did not sleep AT ALL the entire night. I have no idea how they got any kind of sample of my sleep.

turns out, that "minor" case of sleep apnea is on my permanent medical record making my health insurance about 60% more expensive, even though I have no problems anymore at all. sleep apnea is a red flag for most companies and one company would not even insure me, which is fucking ridiculous.

the big neck thing is right on too.

2/17/2009 10:33:51 PM

sleep studies are expensive as hell.

the bill for mine was somewhere around $3000 from UNC neurology

luckily i only paid $200 of it, but still...

and yeah, cpap.com is the place to go to get your stuff. i actually bought a second machine from them (friends with authority to write scripts ftw) to keep in my car for EMS/traveling/etc. so it's not such a hassle to take it with me.

if you have sleep apnea and you start using CPAP, you won't ever want to stop using it. i still have a lot of problems sleeping and don't get nearly enough due to my neuro problems, but the CPAP took care of the apnea which was making it worse. i feel better than i have since all this started... of course, that's not saying very much

if any of you have questions/etc, PM me. through my experiences i've become somewhat of an OSA expert

and if any of you with respironics machines with a smart card slot would like to see all your data, let me know - i have the smart card reader and Encore Pro

2/17/2009 10:42:38 PM

Do these sleeps clinics generally require referrals from your docter to be tested?

2/17/2009 10:45:14 PM

usually.

especially if you'd like for your insurance to cover it.

just go in and talk to your pcp, he'll give you a referral, i guarantee.

2/17/2009 10:51:13 PM

^^They told me I had to have a referral, so I'm going to the student health center tomorrow.

Quote :

"try losing weight, not drinking alcohol and not eating within 4 hours of bed time first. then try losing weight (if necessary)."

I've lost a lot of weight recently, but my sleeping and waking energy have both been getting worse. And I haven't been legitimately drunk since September.

2/17/2009 11:06:27 PM

if you get a positive diagnosis for sleep apnea, no matter how minor, be prepared for it to follow you around every time you apply for health insurance and be prepared to negatively impacted by it.

2/18/2009 9:41:00 AM

Is it possible to acquire a CPAP without it ending up on my insurance record?

2/18/2009 10:35:25 AM

im sure you can buy one on the private market. they are a couple of hundred bucks I think.

2/18/2009 10:37:11 AM

you can't get a legend device (cpap, any DME, iv caths, etc.) legally without a prescription, so unless you find one used that someone is selling on craigslist (i'm fairly sure ebay would remove a listing with one in it if they saw it), you're out of luck.

also, unless you know what you're doing, you have no way to determine what an adequate pressure is to keep your airway splinted open. if you're going to go that route, get an autopap machine. if you need help programming it, let me know.

2/18/2009 10:57:43 AM

nevermind what I posted. I thought I remember being told where I could get one if I choose to.

2/18/2009 2:25:32 PM

Well if it fucks up your insurance, then again I think I'll forget the whole idea unless losing more weight doesn't help at all. Right now I actually don't have to pay for my insurance (one of the perks of working for state gov't) but since I will likely have to at some point in my life, I certainly don't want ridiculous premiums unless it's for an extremely good reason...

2/18/2009 2:57:56 PM

Trying to lose weight is a great idea, but if push comes to shove I would go ahead and get it checked out.

2/18/2009 3:41:46 PM

exhaust all the easy options before getting officially diagnosed.

2/18/2009 4:49:44 PM

the insurance thing makes sense, but i really haven't noticed any big rate increases since i was diagnosed.

i think id rather pay more for insurance than risk my health.

2/18/2009 4:54:36 PM

I got my referral today, the health center is also putting me on Lunesta to get my sleep schedule back in check. I told them I've tried sleeping pills before with no result but we'll see how this goes.

2/18/2009 5:45:52 PM

Sabatination, you gunna die.

2/18/2009 6:14:44 PM

Quote :

"the insurance thing makes sense, but i really haven't noticed any big rate increases since i was diagnosed. i think id rather pay more for insurance than risk my health."

wait until you go buy your own.

you are right about being healthy, its just that a lot of people have some form of apnea. most dont need a machine. the other things work for them.

2/18/2009 7:09:54 PM

Thanks for the kind regards, Nick. Die slow- more like it.

2/18/2009 7:14:00 PM

considering you could DIE from sleep apnea I would think it would be worth the extra coinage from your pocket. but thats just me.

2/18/2009 10:16:50 PM

my insurance didnt go up when i got diagnosed. so look into your insurance. mine paid for the sleep study.

2/19/2009 2:32:10 AM

I got tested not too long ago because several girlfriends had told me I stopped breathing during sleep. I was freakin terrified because I didn't want to wear the CPAP. It's a vanity issue I will admit. While I was researching I found this hilarious article . . .

http://everything2.com/e2node/A%2520brief%2520history%2520of%2520sleep%2520apnea%2520and%2520its%2520treatment

Pretty much a must read if you've clicked on this thread. Turns out I stopped breathing maybe 4 times an hour which was no big deal. I was getting plenty of O2 all night long. I wonder how much that bitch got paid to read off that sheet of paper.

2/19/2009 5:13:22 PM

The thing about insurance; it won't normally go up once you are diagnosed, but will be much higher if you ever have to get more insurance, or get insurance again because of your pre-existing condition.

2/19/2009 5:21:57 PM

^^Absolutely amazing.

2/19/2009 11:37:13 PM

Quote :

"The thing about insurance; it won't normally go up once you are diagnosed, but will be much higher if you ever have to get more insurance, or get insurance again because of your pre-existing condition."

just make sure you never have any lapses in coverage and you'll be fine

2/19/2009 11:40:21 PM

Quote :

"I have not yet died in my sleep."

LOL

2/20/2009 12:02:13 AM

I'm scheduled to meet with a "sleep counselor" at WakeMed before I go through with having a sleep test...does anyone know what will happen there?

2/21/2009 1:51:57 AM

All jokes aside I had a close friend die from this.

I'm sorry. My dumb-ass words won't make things better. I'm sorry.............
[Edited on February 21, 2009 at 2:04 AM. Reason : ,]

[Edited on February 21, 2009 at 2:05 AM. Reason : .]

2/21/2009 2:02:36 AM

^????

how did they die

2/21/2009 8:07:42 PM

^^ need more details

2/21/2009 8:40:25 PM

i have sleep flatulance

2/21/2009 9:40:36 PM

Quote :

"^^ need more details"

you stop breathing during the middle of the night

most of the time, the sensors in your carotid sinus pick up on the fact that your blood is becoming more and more hypoxemic and tell you to take a damn breath before you die

sometimes, however, that doesn't happen. your heart doesn't get enough oxygen to create action potentials, the buildup of carbonic acid in your blood is toxic to your vessels and organs, and you eventually have a big ol STEMI (which is what kills you) if you don't go into respiratory arrest first.

it also has been known to cause CAD (for obvious reasons)... and if you have CAD, having sleep apnea puts you at a much higher risk of developing ventricular arrythmias during the night.

not a very pleasant way to die.

only thing that's gonna save you is epi, bicarb, and a defibrillator.

ALSO, when you wake up in the middle of the night to breathe, your sympathetic nervous system (the fight-or-flight one) is what did it. it usually does it by jacking you up with a shit ton of epi, which makes your blood pressure go up, your heart rate go up, etc... all not very good things if you have, say, a plaque that's about to rupture. this happening over and over again multiple times per night is enough to trigger an MI.

2/21/2009 10:36:54 PM