Sleep Apnea...

[penguinz]

Doing an at home sleep apnea test later this week.

I am sure there are others here that have done this.

How annoying is the test and how long did it take you to get used to a CPAP if one was prescribed?

I also like to travel and dispersed camp. Any suggestions for battery packs or other accessories once?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by rfaulk34

My wife and son keep telling me i do this. I know my Dad did it cause i heard it a lot growing up. That silence followed by a gasp of air. So now my son is trying to guilt me into doing something about it. I'm probably not educated enough on it since i figured, since i'm almost 58, don't take any scrips, have perfect blood pressure and low resting heart rate and never feel fatigued and i work out regularly, it's not really a big deal.

Have you ever done an echo or anything that measures the effectiveness of your heart at pumping blood?

I ask because that was my dad’s issue from untreated sleep apnea. His heart was pumping at about 30 percent efficiency at age 64. Now, most hearts don’t pump at higher than 75 from what I was told then. But normally at his age you’d expect about 60 percent even with him being overweight.

It was a significant contributing factor in his death (heart attack) during chemo treatment for colon cancer.

Talk to your doc about it.

[rfaulk34]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Have you ever done an echo or anything that measures the effectiveness of your heart at pumping blood?

I ask because that was my dad’s issue from untreated sleep apnea. His heart was pumping at about 30 percent efficiency at age 64. Now, most hearts don’t pump at higher than 75 from what I was told then. But normally at his age you’d expect about 60 percent even with him being overweight.

It was a significant contributing factor in his death (heart attack) during chemo treatment for colon cancer.

Talk to your doc about it.

I haven't but i'm due for my annual checkup. It's not something that i've ever discussed before but i'll be bringing it up. Sorry for your loss, man.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by penguinz

Unfortunately I have polyps in my sinuses that cause issues breathing through nose at times and have to breath like a neanderthal.

I had a deviated septum. Probably some punch to the nose 35 years ago but no matter its origin, I couldn’t wear the CPAP for 6 weeks.

I felt like shit not getting into REMIII sleep. It’ll take you a while to get use to it but the first time you can tolerate it and sleep for just 4 hours…… man you’ll feel the best you have in years.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by rfaulk34

I haven't but i'm due for my annual checkup. It's not something that i've ever discussed before but i'll be bringing it up. Sorry for your loss, man.

Tell them how often you quit breathing. How much and how long you snore. That’ll get you an insured sleep study. Then you will know for sure.

[Holladay]

I use the nasal pillow mask though so it's far less bulky and restrictive than the full Bane mask.

I tried the other full type mask and it was too restrictive. The Halo was the best fit for me.

DreamWear Silicone Nasal Pillow CPAP/BiPAP Mask FitPack with Headgear



Since the hose attaches at the top of your head, you can do log rolls at night and doesn't bind.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by Holladay

I tried the other full type mask and it was too restrictive. The Halo was the best fit for me.

DreamWear Silicone Nasal Pillow CPAP/BiPAP Mask FitPack with Headgear



Since the hose attaches at the top of your head, you can do log rolls at night and doesn't bind.

I use this as well. Works great.

[Kman34]

Airfit F30



This is what I use.. I usually go to sleep with my mouth open then later I’ll switch to nose breathing… I know that sounds weird but that’s what I do.. This mask covers both bases..
I also wear a skull cap to help with the strap lines…

[Wallymo]

I've used a CPAP for over a decade (most of which I weighed 275+) and it made all the difference in the world in how I slept and how I felt the next day.

After ballooning to 308 during covid (I'm 5'10") I lost 100 pounds over two years. Due to the weight loss, my doctor suggested I try to go without the machine for a week. It was the worst week I've had in recent memory. Even if I can do "better" without a CPAP now than when I was heavier, the difference when not wearing one is still stark.

Do I want to have a somewhat "normal" sleep or keep getting perfect sleep with a machine? The answer for me was easy and I will likely wear the mask until I die.

An added bonus is the impact on my insomnia. I get in bed and turn the machine on about an hour before I want to sleep. The white noise combined with reading an hour has trained my mind that it is time to sleep. Indeed, when I travel my wife misses the white noise, which has subconciously became part of her pre-sleep ritual as well!

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Holladay

I tried the other full type mask and it was too restrictive. The Halo was the best fit for me.

DreamWear Silicone Nasal Pillow CPAP/BiPAP Mask FitPack with Headgear



Since the hose attaches at the top of your head, you can do log rolls at night and doesn't bind.

Originally Posted by Hoover

I use this as well. Works great.

I use a variation of these but its the basic same. Like others the ability to turn over in your sleep and not get woke up....

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Holladay

I tried the other full type mask and it was too restrictive. The Halo was the best fit for me.

DreamWear Silicone Nasal Pillow CPAP/BiPAP Mask FitPack with Headgear



Since the hose attaches at the top of your head, you can do log rolls at night and doesn't bind.

This is my exact rig. My supplier keeps trying to give me the nasal pillows that just rest under your nostrils instead of the ones that actually plug into them like this picture. It's no, no bueno.

[O.city]

Have any of you with apnea ever talked to a dentist that does much sleep stuff?

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by O.city

Have any of you with apnea ever talked to a dentist that does much sleep stuff?

I used a mouthpiece for several years but it lost its effectiveness.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

Have any of you with apnea ever talked to a dentist that does much sleep stuff?

people do have the dentists make them but…. They don’t work long term. Maybe for some in that 20% that have obstructive sleep apnea. But, they don’t stay with it and move on to the masks or nasal pillows.

[scho63]

It seems like everyone is pointing to the newer smaller models as best fit, comfort and function.

Do all these machine "push" oxygen during any stopping of breathing?

I am awaiting my results but I'm 98% sure I got apnea.

[SAGA45]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

This is my exact rig. My supplier keeps trying to give me the nasal pillows that just rest under your nostrils instead of the ones that actually plug into them like this picture. It's no, no bueno.

I have the single-band nasal pillow that has the nostril plugs. It's so comfortable and effective that when I wake up it doesn't even seem like I have the mask on.