does anyone have sleep apnea

[pierced one]

Just curious, i have sleep apnea, i have to wear this damn mask connected to a cpap machine inorder to sleep. I used to have a problem maintaining my wieght and couldn't grow for shit. i have got back to normal and it is crazy how much difference sleep makes on your metabolism.

[Kayak Jones]

Co-workers of mine are threatening to put one on me every shift these days. Just about every morning when I wake up, i feel like I was drugged during the night. Just basically feel like shit from being tired all the time. I'm sure my schedule isn't helping much but i believe most of the problem is from lack of quality shut eye.

[Puddles]

I snore badly and now my husband says I stop breathing in my sleep. I never wake up feeling like I've had a good nights sleep, instead I'm worn out at the beginning of the day. How is it diagnosed and what treatments are there for sleep apnea?

Pierced One, what is this mask connected to a cpap machine you use?

[Kayak Jones]

cpap, bi-pap are forced air type devices used for the treatment copd patients (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in laymens terms, the application of cpap/bipap results in a continous flow of positive pressure air and/or supplemental oxygen into the patients airway (nose, mouth, upper airway, etc.) this is a very simplified explanation but suffuce to say that it is one of only a few treatments available for sleep apnea. The others available usually involve a pretyy damn gruesome surgery by either conventional or laser methods to the upper airway, uvula (not vulva) sorry p, whenever I,m talkin to you my mind just goes straight into the gutter. Anyway, the "mask", depending on the application, covers either the mouth/nose, or nose only. It has been used with great success for sleep apnea, whereas the surgical interventions have a far less rosy success rate. The machines plug into your wall outlet by your bed and these days are relatively quiet. Sleep apnea is usually diagnosed with a sleep study either in house (clinic) or by the patient wearing an electronic device that records your respirations, or lack thereof, and heart rate during the night. It can be used outside the clinic, in your own home and the data is sent to the clinic via telemetry, or is downloaded to their computer upon your return.

[Puddles]

LOL Kyak!

Thanks for the info. After I posted in this thread I went to google and did a search and found basically what you said. I should check into it. My husband would be thrilled if the cpap would help alleviate my snoring and I'd be happy to get decent sleep for a change. :sleep:

[IntensityX]

I think I might have it,I need to get it checked out,are these machines covered by insurance?

[Kayak Jones]

Depends on the insurance, but if diagnosed by a sleep disorder physician, and I stress the word physician, and not some non med clinic director, then it has a much better chance of being covered. Also try getting your family or personal doc involved as it will usually help the cause.

[pierced one]

the doc will have you do a sleep study where they hook u up to all these wires and they test for heart rate, brain waves, foot twitches, breathing, and other things i cannot remember. i think there were about eight or nine of them. then they let you go to sleep, and see how well you actually sleep. I slept 8 minutes of quilty sleep out of every hour. that suxs. then they have you do a second one were you are fitted with the mask and they try to set your pressure setting. then 5 grand later you sleep with this little machine making you breath. by far not the most sexy thing in the world. lol

[pierced one]

kj thank you for filling in and awnsering questions.

[IntensityX]

Originally posted by Kayak Jones
Depends on the insurance, but if diagnosed by a sleep disorder physician, and I stress the word physician, and not some non med clinic director, then it has a much better chance of being covered. Also try getting your family or personal doc involved as it will usually help the cause.

Cool,thanks for the info :)

[DOUBLE J]

Originally posted by MrsPuddlesFL
I snore badly and now my husband says I stop breathing in my sleep. I never wake up feeling like I've had a good nights sleep, instead I'm worn out at the beginning of the day. How is it diagnosed and what treatments are there for sleep apnea?

Pierced One, what is this mask connected to a cpap machine you use?

I have the same thing happening. Started snoring badly as I've got bigger. About a year or so ago it was mentioned that I stop breathing. Now sometimes I wake up gasping for air.:(

Can anything OTHER than that machine help?
I hear the machine is a real bummer to sleep with.

[Puddles]

Originally posted by DOUBLE J
I have the same thing happening. Started snoring badly as I've got bigger. About a year or so ago it was mentioned that I stop breathing. Now sometimes I wake up gasping for air.:(

Can anything OTHER than that machine help?
I hear the machine is a real bummer to sleep with.

From what I've read in the pages that come up via google searches, the machine is the best thing as it forces air continuously keeping the airways open. There are some surgeries, but they're not as effective. Also, sleeping on your back worse, sleeping on your side is better.

[The_Jarhead]

Originally posted by MrsPuddlesFL
Also, sleeping on your back worse, sleeping on your side is better.

I can not sleep on my back at all. If I do fall asleep on my back I wake in seconds. I totaly stop breathing and wake up gasping for air. (scares the hell out my wife) On top of that I can only sleep on left side cause I had deviated septem(SP) from having nose broke multiple times and if I lay on my right side my nasel passage gets blocked.

[gearjunky]

Originally posted by MrsPuddlesFL
From what I've read in the pages that come up via google searches, the machine is the best thing as it forces air continuously keeping the airways open. There are some surgeries, but they're not as effective. Also, sleeping on your back worse, sleeping on your side is better.

I cant sleep on my side:( or else i will go numb in like 15mins plus its just not comfrtable. I sleep on my back

[pierced one]

that mask is a real bitch to wear. i get red marks on my face from it. the asshole doc says you need to loosen it, well if you loosen it ,it leaks, air and that wakes me up so it basically suck to wear.

keiser, no sex with the mask on you could get the hose rapped around your neck. might hang yourself with a sudden movement. lol