I need a CPAP

[just a scout]

Well, after putting it off for years, I finally went and had a sleep study done (which, btw, is a complete PITA). But, long story short, I have sleep apnea and I get a CPAP next, courtesy of the VA. The hour of sleep I got once I had it on and she tuned it in, was more restful than anything I've gotten in years.

Moral of the story: Don't be a stubborn dickhead and live in denial. If you think you might need it or snore bad, go get a study done. The RN was showing me on the chart where I was stopping 20-30 times with my sats getting as low as 89%. No wonder I'm always tired. I guarantee this is a root cause of my health problems and weight gain over the years that I've been unable to fight no matter what I've tried.

GO SEE YOUR DOC IF YOU NEED TO! Please.

[Hmac]

May be that your weight gain contributes to or is wholly responsible for your sleep apnea. Now's a good time for an intense weight reduction effort.

[gin828]

I have a CPAP. Once you get use to it and it takes a couple weeks. You wont want to go to sleep with out it. Dont ever use tap water!!! Trust me on this one you wont like the results!!!

You will lose weight over time but if you diet/excerise you lose it faster than before w/ cpap. If you lose alot of wieght you might not have sleep apnea anymore but you will have to be re-tested to make sure. Your body's metabolism will be changing with the more quality sleep your getting. Nows the best time to make sure your eating as healthy as you can. Good Luck.

[Texas42]

I don't think I've ever met anyone who liked their CPAP. . . or anyone who I believed was wearing it 100% of the time. You are going to hate it. You are going to feel like it is suffacating you.


Hmac is right, loose the weight. It is better for your. Remember a CPAP won't help you if you don't wear it.

[Iraqgunz]

I also suffer from severe sleep apnea and recently did a sleep test as well. One thing I discovered in consultation is that it isn't entirely about weight and loosing weight doesn't always hell. Also because of the tired feeling and lack of sleep it is hard to properly exercise. In addition people eat more because they need fuel to help keep them going. It is a vicious cycle. I can tell that I feel much better now that I am using my CPAP and without it life sucks.

May be that your weight gain contributes to or is wholly responsible for your sleep apnea. Now's a good time for an intense weight reduction effort.

[Iraqgunz]

The model I have covers the nose only. Yes it takes getting used to. But the benefits outweigh the discomfort. Sleep apnea cause your heart to work harder and that isn't good.

I don't think I've ever met anyone who liked their CPAP. . . or anyone who I believed was wearing it 100% of the time. You are going to hate it. You are going to feel like it is suffacating you.


Hmac is right, loose the weight. It is better for your. Remember a CPAP won't help you if you don't wear it.

[Hmac]

I also suffer from severe sleep apnea and recently did a sleep test as well. One thing I discovered in consultation is that it isn't entirely about weight and loosing weight doesn't always hell. Also because of the tired feeling and lack of sleep it is hard to properly exercise. In addition people eat more because they need fuel to help keep them going. It is a vicious cycle. I can tell that I feel much better now that I am using my CPAP and without it life sucks.

That's true. There are some non-obese people who have obstructive sleep apnea due largely to facial structure and anatomy of the soft palate and uvula. However the relationship between obesity and OSA is quite clear and obesity is by far the most prevalent risk factor, especially truncal obesity ("apple-shaped", "beer belly", etc) as is common fat deposition in middle-aged men. Hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, Type II diabetes, and OSA go hand in hand with body mass indices greater than 30. Those who develop OSA or see it intensify in middle age need to seriously do a reality check on their weight, especially if they have or are developing a trend toward those other diseases.

[Caduceus]

I don't think I've ever met anyone who liked their CPAP. . . or anyone who I believed was wearing it 100% of the time. You are going to hate it. You are going to feel like it is suffacating you.


Hmac is right, loose the weight. It is better for your. Remember a CPAP won't help you if you don't wear it.

Some day I'll introduce you to my father in law ... he packs it EVERYWHERE.

But, you're right, most people don't tolerate well. And that's fine - it's their life. I just hate hearing them complain about stuff that the CPAP is designed to fix ...

It's pretty well documented that CPAP can help with weight loss, decrease blood pressure, sometimes cause sinus issues, improve energy, and I suspect improve blood glucose tolerance (probably due to weight loss). It's a great thing if you can suck it up, but most people won't.

[glocktogo]

I have sleep apnea and couldn't tolerate the CPAP. I went with a medical dental appliance that I wear just like a night guard. It pulls the lower jaw forward, allowing the airway to remain open. I wear it 100% of the time when I'm sleeping. It's literally a lifesaver.

[sjc3081]

I have been using a CPAP daily since 1997 and it has changed my life.
My quality of life has improved better than I could ever imagine. It may take some time for persons to get used to the mask but for me is was fast.
This is the mask I use and I'm very happy with it.
http://www.cpap.com/productpage/comf...spironics.html
Here's link to a good sleep apnea forum
http://www.apneasupport.org/