Anyone with Sleep Apnea?

CPAP definitely makes a difference. Obesity or genetics can cause sleep apnea. For example, my cousin was diagnosed when she was thin and it's because of the way her tounge and mouth are shaped. I'm going to be retested in a few months now that I'm close to my goal weight. If they don't get enough hours of sleep on the test, they can still treat it based on the info that is collected. My first study was in an overnight clinic and my sleep was horrible. My retest will be at home, so hopefully it will go better.

Have sleep apnea & use CPAP machine. It does take a little while to get used to the machine. I do sleep a lot better & feel rested. I'm trying to lose weight & maybe not need to use the CPAP. At my last check up the doctor said I don't stop breathing with the CPAP anymore since I've lost weight. I need to lose more & hopefully lose the CPAP, too.

A buddy of mine has a CPAP I remember before he was diagnosed. Poor guy looked like crap, would drift off during conversation. I belive he was an extreme cases as during his study they put him on a machine! He's so much different now looks great wide awake.

I belive I was borderline, heavy snore er. Losing 55 pounds changed all that. I sleep like a kid and well rested.

Also I have a narrow throat. Apnea frequently is due to this and weight gain can be a by product of self medicating to try to stay awake and functioning. Then you can get on a cycle of gain making the apnea worse which leads to less activity and more eating to stay alert and then more gain.


I'll probably never be off the machine or something like it but my weight loss is leading me to needing lower air pressure.

I have it. My AHI was 87, which is turrrrrrble. The CPAP was, probably literally, a lifesaver. It helped me get enough sleep so I started feeling human again. I got it in October and felt better immediately but completely rested took about 8 weeks. Then in Jan was when I started working on diet, then exercise, etc. The machine made a world of difference. My apnea is mild now and I have the machine but only use it when I have a cold/am stuffed up.

Yes, I was sure I had it. I woke up gasping for air and snored big time. My husband left the bedroom to sleep elsewhere one time and I made the appointment to be seen about it.

mhlew wrote: »

What is SP? Unless you meant SA? (sleep apnea?)

Yes, SA

I was never tested, but I would wake up occasionally gasping for air, snored, and my husband observed me stop breathing or appear to be struggling to breathe in my sleep many times. I also had the thing where I would drift off partially and then wake up with the sensation that I had stopped breathing. I didn't pursue it because I knew what the root cause would be and couldn't imagine sleeping with a CPAP.

Again, not tested, but my husband hasn't seen me stop breathing in a long time, and I no longer snore at all since losing weight. I'm of the opinion that I did have it, and it's not an issue anymore. But no medical confirmation.

I guess I have it. Did the test years ago, was lent the CPAP for a month, and the people at the company were so obnoxious that I gave them back the machine and went on without it.

If you get the machine and as a result get to REM sleep for the first time in a while you may experience some very vivid and weird dreams. Your body is just catching up. That part will settle down after a few days or in my case a couple of weeks.

Yes I have sleep apnea

I have sleep apnea, and during my sleep study, they determined I was waking up almost 100 times a night. Not so much snoring, according to my husband, but DEFINITELY stopped breathing. I was falling asleep while talking to people, while at work, and a couple of harrowing times, when I was driving. Next stop, sleep study.

I've had my APAP for about 3 years now (mine adjusts over the course of the night as I need it to), and after ONE night on it, oh my gods... the fog cleared from my brain, I felt 10 years younger, it was AMAZING.

Because I have a deviated septum and can normally only breathe well through one side of my nose, I have the full "jet fighter pilot" mask. I thought at first, "there's no way I'll be able to sleep with this." WRONG. I adjusted in one night. I have a longer hose (allowing me to turn over without worrying I'll yank the thing off my nightstand), I use these light cotton mask liners to keep my masks from sliding everywhere, and I even pair it with aromatherapy. (I have these little communion-wafer-looking things that I put a couple drops of essential oil on, then put that in front of the intake filter.) My brain now associates that scent with sleep, so I put on my mask, turn on the APAP, smell that scent, and bang, I'm out in 15 minutes. I also have a foam wedge pillow that I use to prop my upper body when I sleep.

The pressure on my APAP starts at 14 and goes as high as 20 (the max) to accommodate me not being able to normally breathe through the right side of my nose. (They started me at 10-14 and the data showed I was getting my best sleep at 14, so they kept upping it. Took us about 3-4 weeks to get it right, and been on the 14/20 ever since.) And because I often breathe through my mouth when I sleep (again, joy of deviated septum), I use the humidifier and keep the temperature nice and cold.

FYI, I'm a 42 year old female, and about 110 lbs overweight. I'm sure that as more of the weight comes off, my need for the APAP will decrease, but for now, it is SO, SO worth it. I use mine every night religiously, and even when I nap.

mhlew wrote: »

Today my doctor called me with the results of my sleep study and was told i have moderate sleep apnea. My mind was in a daze with the news and I cant remember if he said I stop breathing during my sleep 25 x per night or 25 x per hour, nonetheless he said I was considered a moderate case of sleep apnea.

He suggested I get a auto CPAP machine that I should be getting in the next couple weeks. Now I have a million questions for him- but hope this helps me out, and maybe help me with my weight loss if I have truly not getting a good nights sleep for years.

Anyone ever diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea and used auto cpap? what can i expect. Now if I can only get a good nights sleep now knowing i stop breathing between now and 2 weeks til i get my CPAP

Yeah, the wait for my cpap was tough. I was convinced I was going to die in my sleep and my daughter would be the one to find me because my husband worked overnight at the time. I slept in a recliner because I knew my mouth would stay open due to gravity so I'd be able to breathe. Probably sounds crazy but I was extremely freaked out. I think I mentioned my AHI was 87, meaning I stopped breathing or breathed shallowly for 10+ seconds 87 times an hour. I can never pass up a math problem and realized that meant I was only breathing normally 45 minutes per hour.