Topic: Sleep Apnea

[Alf]

Hiya

I was wondering if anybody on Rawk has this condition or knows somebody with this and can share some experiences with me. Someone I train with at the gym, has started exercising regularly and stopped eating crap, smoking & drinking and has improved their condition. I know 2 other people Sleep Apnea, both big lads who smoke heavily but I get conflicting views from them on this. One saying it makes them tired but doesn't stop them living a normal life, the other becoming completely unreliable and living like a hermit for the past year.

Could obviously be different extents of the condition but I'm more interested in getting people's personal experiences of Sleep Apnea.

Thanks
Alf

[sminp]

My dad has it. Hasn't stopped him doing anything, he's got more energy than me despite not being athletically built.

[red_lfc_costello]

My wife thinks I have it as she's noticed me stop breathing for a few seconds during the night and I've had a few dreams where I don't / cant breath then I wake up taking a massive gasp of breath. I'm always tired (but we do have a 2 year old!!)

Keep meaning to get it check out, but not really sure what can be done?

[rowan_d]

My wife thinks I have it as she's noticed me stop breathing for a few seconds during the night and I've had a few dreams where I don't / cant breath then I wake up taking a massive gasp of breath. I'm always tired (but we do have a 2 year old!!)

Keep meaning to get it check out, but not really sure what can be done?

My uncle has a mask thing that regulates his breathing when he's asleep

Ryan Davis (prominent figure in the videogames media circle) died a few years ago, apparently by leaving his sleep apnea unchecked.

[BarryCrocker]

Interesting story on the TV down here last month. Don't know how effective.

My uncle is so bad he has to travel with his machine.

https://www.specialistaustralia.com.au/channel-7-news-snoring-apnoea-treatment/

[red vinyl]

I have just been tested for this ie slept in the hospital all wired up like a christmas tree. The sleep was okay as they gave me a sleeping tablet as i usualy work until late in the evening and you had to be asleep for 11pm.
I go back for the results and talk with the doctor in 2 weeks.
Im just really tired all the time and its getting me down.

[mrchimps]

I have Sleep Apnea.

I was diagnosed about 3 years ago now. I had always had very vivid colourful dreams since a child, but as I got older (and a bit rounder) I started experiencing sleep paralysis, choking and gasping for breath like I was choking. When the paralysis & choking started happening at the same time i decided to go and see the doc, who referred me to sleep clinic. I was tested and had 127 apneas in a 1 1/2 hour period and was told I had a tiny mouth and when sleeping it was contracting.

Got setup with a Fisher Paykel machine, which did the biz for about a year or so but over time I got used to the pressures and had to be moved onto bi-pap & been on that for about 2 years.

At first the mask and hose etc is a bit of a pain and the noise can take a while to get used to it. I still dream but don't have choking any more.

Sometimes I sleep without it maybe 1-2 a month, but feel like crap the day after, so it must be doing something.

[Alf]

Interesting about the SleepTight treatment, I wonder if will make it's way over here. i didn't know it affected people so much.

[AndyInVA]

Never had a problem sleeping until a few years ago (age 47 now). I'm single and several sleeping partners have told me that I can just stop breathing for about 15 seconds.

I went to a doc about two years ago and he just quickly decided to take out my tonsils without a sleep study. As this is the States and healthcare is not free, the surgeon would have made lots of money and I would have had to take at least two weeks off work with no guarantee it actually works and be several thousand dollars worse off. I didn't do it and have yet to find someone else for a proper sleep study.

My local GP says it is very hard to effectively diagnose as there can be any numbers of causes in the air breathing passageway, sleep position, construction somewhere etc.

There is something called a CPAP machine here that pushes air into you as you sleep with a mask on. They are more common here than I would have imagined. I know at least two people who use them.

I'm told sleep apnea basically puts stress on the heart when you stop breathing. If your fit and healthy then this is really no problem. As we get older and if you allow your body to get weaker then the risk of sleep apnea induced heart attack is much higher.

I plan to do a sleep study before too long but I'm afraid the prognosis will be to wear a mask for sleep.

[redbyrdz]

Before thinking about going on a CPAP machine, you could try sleeping on the side or with your upper body lifted up. And film yourself while you're sleeping to see if it helps.

[McrRed]

I have mild sleep apnoea (if there is such a thing) linked to bad snoring.

Doctor supported me in a treatment plan and investigative work. Suggested I try to lose some weight which was just insulting.

Lost some weight. Problem went away.

Used.to take the lads to Cherbourg for an annual basketball tournament. Shared a room with a guy with a machine. Fuckin hell, it was like sleeping next to an airport. He was a fat bastard too.

Genuine Question: is anyone here suffering that has a bmi of less than 26?

[sminp]

I have mild sleep apnoea (if there is such a thing) linked to bad snoring.

Doctor supported me in a treatment plan and investigative work. Suggested I try to lose some weight which was just insulting.

Lost some weight. Problem went away.

Used.to take the lads to Cherbourg for an annual basketball tournament. Shared a room with a guy with a machine. Fuckin hell, it was like sleeping next to an airport. He was a fat bastard too.

Genuine Question: is anyone here suffering that has a bmi of less than 26?

There's a strong link with weight issues, or at least that's what my dad was told too.

[redbyrdz]

There's a strong link with weight issues, or at least that's what my dad was told too.

There's two types of it, the more common type, the throat basically collapses, and obviously weight has something to do with that. As does sleep position and general fitness - I've read strengthening your throat muscles for example by singing helps. The other type - the brain just forgets to breath, that has nothing to do with weight.





*I don't have any issues, I just find sleep and its problems fascinating.

[AndyInVA]

There's two types of it, the more common type, the throat basically collapses, and obviously weight has something to do with that. As does sleep position and general fitness - I've read strengthening your throat muscles for example by singing helps. The other type - the brain just forgets to breath, that has nothing to do with weight.





*I don't have any issues, I just find sleep and its problems fascinating.

I used to be much heavier and drink like a fish and dont think I had the apnea issues of just stopping breathing. I somehow developed it after I quit booze and lost about 30 pounds

[AndyInVA]

Five years after I posted about having sleep apnea I finally got a cpap machine last week. I used a cheap sleep study where they mail the sleep analysis devices in the mail and then have an online consultation with a sleep doctor. A private sleep study in the states can cost up to $6,000 so I was happy that this one basically did the same thing and only cost about $600.

Doctor said I had severe sleep apnea and had 42 low oxygen events per hour as my body started to wake me up to breathe as my throat muscle started to collapse and I wasn't getting oxygen. I have gradually felt worse and worse over the last 12 months, especially as I have put on weight being older at 52 now.

The CPAP machine drives air into my throat now when I breathe in. It knows when I breathe in, then pushes air into my mouth and the positive pressure gets the air to my lungs. On the first night it made a bit of difference, on the second night I pretty much slept all the way thru for the first time in years and didn't wake up to roll over at all.

My wife's mother uses one so thankfully my wife was OK with me wearing a TIE fighter mask at night time over my nose and mouth.

I'm really happy with it so far. Wife is thankful I don't snore anymore and I am happy that I seem to be getting quality sleep at last.

[CHOPPER]

All's well, that ends well.






SLN