Sleep apnea??

[mistercrash]

I went for consultation about my snoring a few years ago because my wife couldn't take it anymore. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea also and ended up with a CPAP machine. It is set at 10. I weighed 265 pounds at the time. It took me 5 or 6 months to get used to having this mask on my face. The most frustrating thing I found in using the equipment was when I moved a little and the mask would shift and some air would exhaust from the side of the mask and make an annoying ''ssssssssss'' sound. Sometimes that leak would shoot air in my eye. Anyway, I tried everything I could think of to make the mask stay in place. Then I went on a diet and lost 65 pounds. The more weight I lost, the harder it was to use the CPAP machine. One day I just gave up on it after using it every night for two years. My wife said I still snored but it was much less noisy and she didn't notice me stopping breathing anymore. So I haven't used it in a couple years now but I let myself go and gained back 25 pounds. I am now 225 and I think I will have to either use the machine again or loose that weight to go back to 200 pounds like before. My problem seems to be excess weight. But loosing the fat doesn't make the snoring disappear completely, it just makes it bareable for the wife

The dentist I go to has this thing he makes, I think he's got a patent on it I'd have to check about that. It's some kind of thing that goes in your upper pallet and gently clips on your teeth and it goes to the back of the mouth to keep the tongue and soft pallet from collapsing keeping the air way open thus preventing snoring. I would have to ask for a consultation to have more details about it to find out if it controls sleep apnea also. The thing is that it's not covered by my insurance and it's 1500 bucks. In my case, it's cheaper to just loose the weight.

On a side note, has anyone ever tried to speak with the frikkin' mask on your face and the machine on? I can't do it.

Once you get used to it and you get in a routine that works, the CPAP machine is a life saver. You will be amazed at what getting a good night sleep every night does to your life. I started using the CPAP when I was around 40 years old. I would wake up in the morning after a good night sleep feeling like I was 20 again, not 200.

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by George16

The best thing about this is knowing what I have and preventing it from killing me in my sleep. .................In fact, since I'm diagnosed with it and acquired it while in the Navy, I will be entitled to 50% VA disability after I retire. Teel you what though, I'd rather have a healthy life instead of receiving disability benefits.
.

My understanding is that sleep apnea rarely is at fault for deaths - it can lead to other disorders such as high BP (which I have) and other issues.

On the disability....no offense meant to you, but ya gotta be figgin kidding me. Guys that have real trauma from combat action cant get benefits, but they'll cover this??? There is nothing "Disabling" about sleep apnea, even when not treated. Yeah, you dont feel great, but jeezzzz....

Originally Posted by pinkpanda3310

The general trend I see here is it is increasingly affecting either the whole population or active people. Interesting.

Do you think that increase is partially do to people's education (they know about it now), so are aware of the sign's and get it checked?

Most likely the technology has changed. Same reason cancer rates are up. People just used to die....!

Originally Posted by mistercrash

On a side note, has anyone ever tried to speak with the frikkin' mask on your face and the machine on? I can't do it.
.

Yeah, that's pretty wild. Took me a week before I was comfortable yawning! Can't wait till I get a cold and try this thing.....

[JERRY2KONE]

The dentist I go to has this thing he makes, I think he's got a patent on it I'd have to check about that. It's some kind of thing that goes in your upper pallet and gently clips on your teeth and it goes to the back of the mouth to keep the tongue and soft pallet from collapsing keeping the air way open thus preventing snoring. I would have to ask for a consultation to have more details about it to find out if it controls sleep apnea also. The thing is that it's not covered by my insurance and it's 1500 bucks. In my case, it's cheaper to just loose the weight.

On a side note, has anyone ever tried to speak with the frikkin' mask on your face and the machine on? I can't do it.

Once you get used to it and you get in a routine that works, the CPAP machine is a life saver. You will be amazed at what getting a good night sleep every night does to your life. I started using the CPAP when I was around 40 years old. I would wake up in the morning after a good night sleep feeling like I was 20 again, not 200.[/QUOTE]

I don't think you are menat to speak once you place this mask on your face. It is so you can sleep. Anyway that gadgit you were talking about sounds like a winner. I had the doctor describe surgery proceedures and what they want to do in order to releave some of this is sear areas of your soft pallet which in turn tightens up your tongue and throat so it will not relax as much while you sleep creating the same sort of effect that you are describing. Personally I do not like the idea of surgery, because there are side effects and risks that sound pretty awful. Weight does play a roll in this to, but I am only about 190lbs and not really over wieght for 6' tall. I could always stand to lose a few lbs but it really woudn't do much for me anyway. We eat fairly well and healthy foods, we get our annual check ups, and now we will try this machine out for a while and see how that works. I do know that after the second test phase of using the CPAP machine when I awoke I felt great. I woke right up without any tiredness and was ready for the day. I think that is a good sign.

[George16]

Originally Posted by JThiessen

On the disability....no offense meant to you, but ya gotta be figgin kidding me. Guys that have real trauma from combat action cant get benefits, but they'll cover this??? There is nothing "Disabling" about sleep apnea, even when not treated. Yeah, you dont feel great, but jeezzzz....

I don't know where you got your information about trauma victims from combat action not receiving benefits but if you go to VA, you'll find out that they have a separate VA benefits book for injured/maimed/PTSD/TBI(traumatic brain injury) military personnel. They are covered and get disability benefits. Depending on their injuries, they can also be medically retired. Once they are medically retired, they get their full benefits every month. I have personally seen/known guys/friends from the war who are getting 100% disability benefits and had been medically retired from the service.

Like I said earlier, I'd rather be healthy and not get anything instead of getting something for something like this.