Sleep Apnea the silent killer...

[Jayman01]

Wow, this whole day I have been meeting people who have or know people who have sleep apnea. So, rather than hijack other threads I though I would create one just for us to put on our Darth Vader masks and chit chat about sleep apnea until it is time to get up. LOL

 

[cumrag27]

Sleepy heads unite

Wow, this whole day I have been meeting people who have or know people who have sleep apnea. So, rather than hijack other threads I though I would create one just for us to put on our Darth Vader masks and chit chat about sleep apnea until it is time to get up. LIL :thumb up:

I know of what your speak! I have had my CAP machine for some 6 years and most of that was unsatisfactory. A little over a year ago, I received a new CAP that is able to adjust the air flow according to what your body demands. It along with a great fitting mask makes my CAP for the first time approximate the benefits of such a product.

Because I am retired, I have the luxury of going to bed at any time, typically 3 to 4 AM (my CAP doctor cannot understand this in me). Then I usually awake 3 to 4 hours later, fully awake and not feeling like returning to my bed for the missing sleep. Last night I watched my own DVDs of Broke Straight Boys scenes and masturbated and/or was in that mode at least for over an hour. Throw in a real healthy sized Dildo with porn star dimensions and all I could say wow, wow, whoopee! After having a mind-blowing orgasm, I tried to go to sleep around 3AM and was tossing around in bed thinking I am not sleepy. I awoke this morning at 7AM. I am fortunate to have a very overactive and strong sex drive and I keep myself entertained while feeling slightly unfulfilled. I would so love some real live human attention and affection.

With that said, much is mentioned that there are specific groups on the Broke Straight Boys forum and I would love that the profoundly sleep disturbed unite and give each other some warn fuzzies on line.

 

[mrboop]

Originally Posted by Jayman01
Wow, this whole day I have been meeting people who have or know people who have sleep apnea. So, rather than hijack other threads I though I would create one just for us to put on our Darth Vader masks and chit chat about sleep apnea until it is time to get up. LIL :thumb up:

Hi,

Well i to have severe sleep apnea and have been using a cpap machine for 18 years.Before using this marvelous machine i was a walking zombie,i could not stay awake and would fall asleep at a red light,dinner table,toilet bowl and wake up exhausted every morning. I can not imagine not having this machine as it saved my life...

Anthony

Patchogue NY

 

[jwglass]

Originally Posted by Jayman01
Wow, this whole day I have been meeting people who have or know people who have sleep apnea. So, rather than hijack other threads I though I would create one just for us to put on our Darth Vader masks and chit chat about sleep apnea until it is time to get up. LIL :thumb up:

Hi,

Well i to have severe sleep apnea and have been using a cpap machine for 18 years.Before using this marvelous machine i was a walking zombie,i could not stay awake and would fall asleep at a red light,dinner table,toilet bowl and wake up exhausted every morning. I can not imagine not having this machine as it saved my life...

Anthony

Patchogue NY

i had the same issue with falling asleep everywhere, as well as constant migranes. during a one hour drive from school to home, i would often fall asleep on the high way. it came to the point where i thought i was narcoleptic. i never got through a movie, i would always fall asleep in class, often snoring, and it got to the point where i would always stop at a rest stop on the way home and take a nap just so i wouldnt fall asleep on the road. it was scary driving long distances, because it seemed that any time i sat too long, i would risk falling asleep.

 

[mrboop]

Hi,

Driving for me was the worst,i never knew how i got from point A to point B. I even got rid of my car at the time as i thought it had gas fumes leaking in the car.


Anthony

 

[cumrag27]

Where have I heard this before?

Originally Posted by Jayman01
Wow, this whole day I have been meeting people who have or know people who have sleep apnea. So, rather than hijack other threads I though I would create one just for us to put on our Darth Vader masks and chit chat about sleep apnea until it is time to get up. LIL :thumb up:

Hi,

Well i to have severe sleep apnea and have been using a cpap machine for 18 years.Before using this marvelous machine i was a walking zombie,i could not stay awake and would fall asleep at a red light,dinner table,toilet bowl and wake up exhausted every morning. I can not imagine not having this machine as it saved my life...

Anthony

Patchogue NY

Long before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I had a problem driving anywhere on the interstate between 4 - 5:30 PM. I would repeatedly fall asleep at the wheel only to be awaken by my left front tire hitting the night reflectors seperating the lanes and creating a vibration in my steering wheel and the noise of my tire hitting these reflectors. I can't tell you how many thousands of times this happened. It got so bad that I would set aside time to take a 20-30 minute napp if I had to travel during these hours. If I had to get up early to travel, I would place ice cubes in a Ziplock bag along with moist wash cloth to help stay alert. My dosing off was so frequent I could not begin to tell you the frequency this happened. This went on for decades never having an accident. I have driven 1.5 million miles during this time accident free, but alway traveling alone.

One day leaving work at 4PM, I just got on the interstate, then got on a long curved ramp, and on to another interstate when I immediately fell asleep. Being in the left lane, my car veered off the interstate onto the median when loose gravel flew everywhere creating alot of noise. My car was in a skid at 60 mph and I woke up enough to safely steer my car out of the skid; getting it under control; and back onto the interstate without hitting anything. I got off at the next exit and continued my treck home when I fell asleep at a stoplight. This was the moment I decided to get a sleep study done. Your observation about sleeping at the red light caught my attention.

Anyway, for the 30+ years this was happening to me, never did I even consider I was a risk to other drivers because my sleep was limited to a momentary nod of the head usually and I would awaken immediately. I did recognize that my traveling from Point A to Point B was something of a "miracle" and that my "Guardian Angel" must have been working overtime for me. I only had one other incident while driving on a two lane highway where I was dreaming I needed to turn left and I caught myself before attempting this turn.

I do not have these falling-asleep issues at the wheel anymore once receiving my CPAP machine. Furthermore, my taking the time to take a 20-minute nap worked miracles in preventing this dosing off at the wheel. I began using this technique the last decade before getting a CPAP.

I figure God has not called me back because he really wants me to suffer alot more than I already have in my life.

 

[rapper]

I have a friend . . .

My friend is a big guy (over six feet), and had the sleep problems for years. He was like a zombie and assumed that some guys aren't very sharp. He developed a heart problem and docs suggested a sleep study. He has been on a CPAP for nine years now and is a completely changed man.

 

[JLipps4u]

Welcome back Jayman,

Missed your posts. Sleep Apnea eh>? I have treated patients with Sleep Apnea for 25 years now! I know what a wicked and debilitating disease it is. And, you are right. For many patients with OSA, weight loss can be a significant factor in getting off the machine and in improving your health.
I too had
OSA, back when I first started taking the machines into patient's home and fitting and adjusting the machines for them. I only realized it one day, when cars started honking at me as I had fallen asleep at a red light! I was overwhelmed by the realization. I immediately went on a diet, and along with minimal exercise, I lost 30 pounds within 3 months and the OSA cleared up.
Some people require surgical procedures to clear fatty tissues in their airways,and then the OSA clears up.
Some folks, those over like 400 pounds, require one of the new surgical procedures, like the stomach stapling, or some other type of stomach reduction.
Should you or anyone else reading this had any questions, send me a message and I will try to give you whatever info you require.

Take care, and again, welcome back.
J

 

[whitewhale2]

My sleep apnea comes from being very overweight but I'm lousy at losing it. When I first developed the symptoms, it was a bit of a joke because of the heavy snoring. This was before it was readily known of as an affliction. I wasn't super aware because I live alone, but when I went visiting I would be told of the loud snoring then nothing, not even breathing sounds. Then the engine would start again. I started seeing some articles about sleep apnea and told my doctor. He had me tested at the local hospital, and when finished I asked the technician if he thought I had it. He said that it wasn't his place to interpret as the doctor had to make the call, but he said "yes". The doctor said "no", so I struggled with it for ten years, as it became harder and harder to stay awake in class while my students were doing written work. I finally saw a different doctor who had me do the oxygenation test which shows how much oxygen is in your blood while you sleep. A good results graph should be almost completely flat, but mine was like the Rocky Mountains, not good. That's when I got the cpap machine and things improved a great deal, but never enough to really satisfy my doctor. Actually now that I'm retired I just sleep whenever I want, but often I sleep sitting up, so the airway doesn't collapse.
I never had the problems with driving because I'm also an epileptic and never had a license. I also believe that all the drugs I take for my epilepsy which are depressants interfered with the diagnosis. I am also a diabetic but that's another story.

 

[Jayman01]

I know of what your speak! I have had my CAP machine for some 6 years and most of that was unsatisfactory. A little over a year ago, I received a new CAP that is able to adjust the air flow according to what your body demands. It along with a great fitting mask makes my CAP for the first time approximate the benefits of such a product.

Because I am retired, I have the luxury of going to bed at any time, typically 3 to 4 AM (my CAP doctor cannot understand this in me). Then I usually awake 3 to 4 hours later, fully awake and not feeling like returning to my bed for the missing sleep. Last night I watched my own DVDs of Broke Straight Boys scenes and masturbated and/or was in that mode at least for over an hour. Throw in a real healthy sized Dildo with porn star dimensions and all I could say wow, wow, whoopee! After having a mind-blowing orgasm, I tried to go to sleep around 3AM and was tossing around in bed thinking I am not sleepy. I awoke this morning at 7AM. I am fortunate to have a very overactive and strong sex drive and I keep myself entertained while feeling slightly unfulfilled. I would so love some real live human attention and affection.

With that said, much is mentioned that there are specific groups on the Broke Straight Boys forum and I would love that the profoundly sleep disturbed unite and give each other some warn fuzzies on line.

Hey, I just got the same model machine. LOL And like you I go to sleep at all hours. I work 30-35 hrs. part-time and I am also self employed. I had started a full-time job the week before going into the hospital to make some extra money. The whole sleep apnea thing did that in. LOL They want me to try back in a few months when everything is better. They let me go because I was still in the probationary period. Oh, well there loss.

Thank you for sharing. Bless your heart...

Nameste

 

[joninliverton]

From the posts so far it seems to associated with being overweight, which is something most all of us can do something about.

 

[Jayman01]

Thanks everyone for sharing. Wow, I guess I was lucky. I would only fall asleep at red lights. LOL Yeah, right... I don't remember falling asleep while driving. But I don't remember falling asleep while taking calls as an operator either. But my voice logger recorded everything... Who knows? Maybe I did fall asleep driving more than I thought. Usually I felt the light headedness coming on and I pulled off and stretched or ate something thinking my blood sugar may be low or something. I can relate with everything everyone here has said though. I would love to look up the statistics of the number of accidents that can be attributed to undiagnosed sleep apnea. I also think I might write an article on this for some magazines I subscribe to.

So, it is nice to know there are others in the apnea club too who are managing very well.

I used to feel bad sometimes because I could not remember things like I used too. I thought maybe I was developing alzheimers or something. In the last few days my cognitive short term memory has really improved. It is nice to know why I am at the grocery store without needing notes again. LOL It is amazing how much weight is coming off now too. I can only seem to tolerate the machine for periods of 4-5 hours. My Dr. said that is good 6-8 would be better but I never slept that long since middle school. So, I guess that i pretty normal for me???

Now I know why I always feel sleepy when talking on the phone or fall asleep while talking to friends and family.

Anyway problem resolved for the time being... And again thanks for the stories of positive affirmation and support.

 

[Jayman01]

From the posts so far it seems to associated with being overweight, which is something most all of us can do something about.

Actually, that is true to a certain degree. However; my apnea oxygen levels drop so low my lungs begin to produce fluid. I used to think it was acid reflux. I was aspirating in my sleep many nights. And my body was retaining fluid. My Dr. told me that with the amount of fluid I was producing while sleeping I was never going to loose weight. They had to put me on lasics ( I am not sure that is spelled correctly). I lost 15 lbs. of fluid weight in 3 days. I am still on the lasics and only allowed 6.5 cups of fluid a day until they get all of the excess fluid off. The apnea machine is preventing me from producing more fluid. The other thing is that some people like me are so bad that our sleep metabolism shuts down because there is no oxygen to burn the calories and therefore the body stores them as fat.

Between November of 2007 and December of 2008. I had the mother of all sinus infections. (caused by an abscessed tooth. LOL) I was on so many meds my liver was nearly pickled. I went from 15% body fat. and weighting 255 lbs. to 35% body fat and maxing out weighing 380. I am now told that the sudden weight gain was due to fatty liver caused by the excessive medications I was on in combination with the apnea causing fluid retention. I was freaking out. I have been a personal fitness trainer for over 15 years. Nothing I did seemed to have any real affect on weight loss in almost 2 years. I exercised watched my diet. My General Practitioner thought I was fudging my food logs and I had two friends who were trainers quit working with me because they thought I was binging and not telling them. Since, last Saturday I lost 25lbs. granted 80% of that was probably fluid weight. They tell me I still have about 15 lbs of excess fluid to loose in the next month and that from there I should be almost back to my normal self. I taught aerobics, kick boxing, power flex, spinning, and piloga at the YMCA for 12 years before all of this. So, I may go back to that once everything is back in order. One thing at a time. Oxygen first, then the fatty liver, and we should be home free... Too bad my I cannot file suit against my general practitioner. The VA kind of frowns on that. However; the ER doctors at the VA recommended him for a panel of inquiry regarding my case. Seems he should have been on this two years ago when it all started... I tell you what, I will never think badly of an overweight person again. I mean not that I really ever did I just have a whole new respect for them. I also, now realize that some have underlying causes for their obesity that may not be able to be treated by normal means without medical intervention....

 

[joninliverton]

Yes there are some cases when obesity is medical, that is why I was careful to choose the words "most of us can do something about".

Hope you're better now Jay x

 

[jwglass]

From the posts so far it seems to associated with being overweight, which is something most all of us can do something about.

you have obviously never been overweight your you wouldnt have made that comment. when you are morbidly obese, like i am, it is almost ten times harder to get yourself in a gym. you have a lot of emotional stresses about what is going on inside of you than you could imagine. i never had a very good metabolism, and the sleep apnea made it worse. since i have had my machine i have been losing weight, slowly, in combination with eating better and more activity. my scale at home has a weight limit of 330lbs, and i am almost 380-400, but i cant be sure of that until i can get on a scale. last time i was weighed at the doctor i was 426lbs, my heaviest weight. i know i can go to a doctor to get a proper read on my weight, however most doctors are very biased against overweight people because of the same reason you just stated in your comment. well the truth is that is not always the case. remember the comment kodaaa left on my wall? telling me to go back to mastrubating and eating cake? well its that exact emotional stress that i believe keeps us from being able to lose weight. i am by no means saying that you should coddle overweight individuals, but maybe the skinny members of society should stop being such assholes about being overweight as they most likely have never had to deal with it themselves, or else they would be more understanding to our feelings.

and sleep apnea is not just in overweight people, it can affect anyone at any time, it just has to do with the fat composition of your throat, and whether or not it inhibits your airways while you sleep.

i also found it was easier to sleep sitting up, and my roomate would often tell me that during the night, i would often sit up, against the wall and go back to sleep. it wasnt comfortable but at least i could breathe.

if my words seem strong about this topic, its because obesity and sleep apnea are something i am very passionate about. i have said it once, and i will say it again, we as a whole society need to be more understanding of the people we come into contact with. sometimes there are underlying issues that are absolutely none of our business, and sometimes we are the cause of those underlying issues. empathy people, empathy.

 

[Jayman01]

Yes there are some cases when obesity is medical, that is why I was careful to choose the words "most of us can do something about".

Hope you're better now Jay x

Jon buddy. I did not take it personal, you are too good of a friend for that. I totally understood where you were coming from. I just wanted to let other people know that loosing the weight is sometimes not as easy as it sounds when it comes to these issues. I agree that weight loss is the secret to success with sleep apnea in most cases. However; slender people get sleep apnea too. I have not done all of the research just yet... Sometimes, doctors just blame people for shoving food in their face rather than try to find the under lying cause.

I guess that is what managed care has done for us in America. The insurance companies will not allow the doctors to do the job they really want to do without a fight.

TG. I went to the VA hospital and they were board for a few days. They just did one test after another. I was like, wow... all this for fluid retention and sleepiness. I thought I would be gaffed off again give lasics and some sleeping pills and told have a nice life. They sure fooled me when they admitted me for a week. The contrast study was the worst. They needed to get an 18 gauge needle in me for an anicubital stick for a CAT scan contrast study after being on lasics for two days. Yikes... It was more like target practice with my veins. It took 20 tries before someone got it. I would have normally stopped people at 2 tries but hey I really wanted some answers. Anyway I know what is going on now and I have a plan of attack to bring my health back to optimal levels... So, I am very exited...

 

[joninliverton]

Jon buddy. I did not take it personal, you are too good of a friend for that. I totally understood where you were coming from. I just wanted to let other people know that loosing the weight is sometimes not as easy as it sounds when it comes to these issues. I agree that weight loss is the secret to success with sleep apnea in most cases. However; slender people get sleep apnea too. I have not done all of the research just yet... Sometimes, doctors just blame people for shoving food in their face rather than try to find the under lying cause.

I guess that is what managed care has done for us in America. The insurance companies will not allow the doctors to do the job they really want to do without a fight.

TG. I went to the VA hospital and they were board for a few days. They just did one test after another. I was like, wow... all this for fluid retention and sleepiness. I thought I would be gaffed off again give lasics and some sleeping pills and told have a nice life. They sure fooled me when they admitted me for a week. The contrast study was the worst. They needed to get an 18 gauge needle in me for an anicubital stick for a CAT scan contrast study after being on lasics for two days. Yikes... It was more like target practice with my veins. It took 20 tries before someone got it. I would have normally stopped people at 2 tries but hey I really wanted some answers. Anyway I know what is going on now and I have a plan of attack to bring my health back to optimal levels... So, I am very exited...

Glad you took it that way Jay but I know you would anyway. If other's thought I was being unkind I was not, just being honest. There are lots of obese people in the Western world today who CAN do things about it but i DO appreciate that are are some who have a medical condition.

End of.

 

[jwglass]

Glad you took it that way Jay but I know you would anyway. If other's thought I was being unkind I was not, just being honest. There are lots of obese people in the Western world today who CAN do things about it but i DO appreciate that are are some who have a medical condition.

End of.

hey, i didnt mean to come across so strong, i guess its just something that really gets to me. i was a premature baby, so my health problems were pretty astounding from a young age asthma and poor metablism were just the tip of the iceberg. i never could understand why i wasnt losting weight when i wasnt eating anything bad, or sometimes nothing at all (which i know now is not the answer to obesity). sleep apnea must have been a huge part of it, because now that my metabolism is leveling out, i have been able to lose some of the weight i put on.

again, sorry jon that i came across so strongly, ive acutually been enjoying the fact we've been getting along for the time being as we have had a rocky past!

 

[JLipps4u]

Jay, you are correct, you don't have to be obese and get OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). I was overweight when I had it, but never really obese. I am very short however, and people who are short and not necessarily obese, have short necks. Those with short necks are more prone to develop OSA. I don't exactly understand why, but that may have been my case.
BTW, Lasix, is the medication you are taking for the fluid.
For those struggling with the CPAP machine, I fully understand how difficult itis to get used to it. You just have to suck it up and do your best. the companies who make these machines are constantly trying to make them more sensitive so that people who need them will be more compliant with the therapy. It does help if you get a Dr. who understands what you are going through and you luck out and are able to get the latest technology.
For those who don't understand. Putting a mask on with pressure blowing in your face, is like driving 100mph and sticking your face out the car window. You can only take so much!
If you use a machine quite a bit, make sure that it has a humidifier so that your airways don't dry out so much while you use the CPAP machine. Also, don't try to fit the mask so tight that there is no leak! There should always be a small leak when wearing the mask. No leak means the mask is too tight. Also, if the bridge of your nose becomes sore, again, the mask is too tight. Ask your DME if they have the nasal pillows, those work better for some folks.
Hope this helps someone. Take care guys!

 

[jwglass]

Jay, you are correct, you don't have to be obese and get OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). I was overweight when I had it, but never really obese. I am very short however, and people who are short and not necessarily obese, have short necks. Those with short necks are more prone to develop OSA. I don't exactly understand why, but that may have been my case.
BTW, Lasix, is the medication you are taking for the fluid.
For those struggling with the CPAP machine, I fully understand how difficult itis to get used to it. You just have to suck it up and do your best. the companies who make these machines are constantly trying to make them more sensitive so that people who need them will be more compliant with the therapy. It does help if you get a Dr. who understands what you are going through and you luck out and are able to get the latest technology.
For those who don't understand. Putting a mask on with pressure blowing in your face, is like driving 100mph and sticking your face out the car window. You can only take so much!
If you use a machine quite a bit, make sure that it has a humidifier so that your airways don't dry out so much while you use the CPAP machine. Also, don't try to fit the mask so tight that there is no leak! There should always be a small leak when wearing the mask. No leak means the mask is too tight. Also, if the bridge of your nose becomes sore, again, the mask is too tight. Ask your DME if they have the nasal pillows, those work better for some folks.
Hope this helps someone. Take care guys!

i have the nasal pillows and i have one complaint about them. they rub my nostrils red and raw. when i switched to a smaller size, it didnt help. so one thing i tried was putting a little bit of vaseline on the rim of my nostrils and it seems to help a little bit, but not much. this is one thing to keep in mind with the nasal pillows, if you have sensative skin dont do it! but i totally agree with the whole, just keep with it theory. this machine will quite honestly change your life if you just let it!