Struggling

AReasor

I just had a preliminary diagnosis of sleep apnea. Now I waiting to get the ball rolling, go in the sleep study etc. It's really affecting my daily life, I'm so tired ALL the time. I am currently doing Stronglifts 5x5 with my hubby, but thats all I can do. Even having trouble driving.

I am really happy to have found this group. Really struggling to hold it all together right now. :flowerforyou:

aluvsj

I know exactly how you feel. I was just recently diagnosed and it seemed like the process to get my CPAP machine took forever.

I was nervous about the sleep study itself, I had to have 2, if you have enough "episodes" in the first few hours, they will put a CPAP machine on you. I didn't have enough "episodes" so it took the whole first night to find out if I truly had sleep apnea. I then had to go back and have a second one, called a Titration Study, with the CPAP for the whole night, to find out what the air pressure needs to be set at to force air into your airway. It was difficult to sleep with about 40 wires all over you, gooey stuff in your hair, etc.

I can't say that I am now jumping up out of bed in the morning, but I do feel so much better. I do still have my moments where I feel drowsy but I am now making it through the day without a nap. The machine will take some getting used to. The first few nights were horrible, didn't get very much sleep because I would take the mask off my face and then the airflow was so loud it would wake me up. Then I was waking up because I worried that I had taken it off or turned the machine off in my sleep. It will get better.

One of the things I learned that I was excited about is that sleep apnea can cause you to have a lot of trouble losing weight. Lack of adequate sleep will stop your hormones from working and in turn you will struggle with weight loss. Since I have had my CPAP I feel like my weight has gone down quicker than it was. I feel like my energy levels during my workouts is through the roof now too. Sleep Apnea can also cause high blood pressure and chronic headaches, both of which I have. I am hoping to be able to come off of the blood pressure medicine soon. I am only 30 years old and don't feel that I should have the health issues I have. I am overweight but only by 40 or 50lbs.

Another thing about all of this is that I had been seeing a neurologist for the chronic headaches, he is also the one that diagnosed em with high blood pressure. He also runs a sleep clinic in his office and never once did he mention the possibility that I may have sleep apnea. Three years later, I go to my dentist for a routine cleaning and my dentist brought it up that he is 99% positive that I have sleep apnea.

Anyway, I hope that this process goes smoothly for you and if you have any questions just ask. Hang in there, better sleep is just around the corner.

AReasor

Thank you, thank you, thank you for responding!

I finally got a first appt set up to talk to the Specialist at the Sleep Center. I'm at least happy that my preliminary diagnosis happened pretty fast. My Mom has sleep apnea and uses a CPAP machine. She had to go through years of pills for anxiety, stress, and depression before she finally got a proper diagnosis.

Hopefully my Sept 5th appt will get the ball rolling.

MaryIM

I've had my CPAP about 5 years, and I use it every night. It has made an enormously wonderful impact in the quality of my sleep. I sleep through the night every night and am rested when I awake in the morning. Before I had the CPAP my sleep was not restful and I awoke numerous times during the night.

If you're just getting started, my best advice is to carefully select your mask. The medical supply company should offer you various options/selections. The mask I use is lightweight and unobtrusive, with nasal pillows (that come in sizes of small, medium, and large). Give yourself a few days to get used to a mask. If it's uncomfortable, ask for a different mask.