Are there any other Sleep Apnea Sufferers out there?

justplaintired · January 31, 2011

Great responses and input to my original post! I loved the cartoon, Big Tom!

About three years ago, I had moderate apnea and now it is severe. I have spent most of the past 15 years constantly tired.

I went back to the nasal mask and I'm doing better with it. I dont' mind the noise at all. I like white noise. I hate the straps on my head but the nose mask is better than the nasal pillow thing I was using. So, it is getting better but not perfect.

I am not experiencing any increased energy yet and I've been on this thing for a month. I pray I start feeling less tired. I also hope that I will not need the cpap after I lose weight. I feel embarrassed and very unattractive wearing this thing! :huh:

I have used a Cpap with a nasal mask for about 1 year now. There are products out there that can make it more tolerable. RemZZZ makes a mask liner. And there are strap covers by several companies. And I use an extra long hose with a tube cover and an arm hanger to have the tube come straight down instead of from the side. The arm swivals as I turn. I also use the mask liner and the strap covers. Just do a google search. There are many products out there that could help.

deanswife · February 17, 2011

I was diagnosised with sleep Apnea about 4 and a half years ago and I have slept with one ever since. I tried several different types of masks and finally found that the nasal pillows work best for me. I actually like mine. I sleep so much better with it. I have mixed feelings about possibly not needing mine anymore :unsure:

bigtom1948 · February 17, 2011

I was diagnosised with sleep Apnea about 4 and a half years ago and I have slept with one ever since. I tried several different types of masks and finally found that the nasal pillows work best for me. I actually like mine. I sleep so much better with it. I have mixed feelings about possibly not needing mine anymore

I too have those mixed feelings. I may not need it but it is comforting so I spoke to my PCP and he said it wouldn't be harmful to continue with its use after my hoped for weight loss makes it redundent. He said that its a minor support at that point and I should be able to self ween from it as time goes on only if the sleep therapist gives to OK. So I guess that when I want to drop it another sleep study is in order just to verify that the apnea is gone and its no longer needed. He also stated that I shouldn't fret over it as the weight must be much lower before considering that issue. He was quite impressed with the 45# I have dropped since my last visit and told me that he was proud of my accomplishment and to keep it up. It's always nice to hear encouragement

So I can really relate to the possible loss of sleeping with Darth Vader.

darth-vader+copy+2+copy.jpg

midossey · March 7, 2011

I've had a c-pap for several years. It took me close to a year to get used to the idea of wearing it. I found that cutting my hair and having the mask loose helps. If I have the mask on too tight, I can't sleep with it. I have it just barely tight enough to keep the seal. Now I find it comforting. There are still nights that it will bug me however. Once you get used to it, you will realize how much better you sleep.

oceangirl6 · March 15, 2011

wow tired you told me story!!!

i have both the pillows and the mask too

dont dig either one

had surg on 2/23 and havent used c-pap since but know i need to (per hubby!!)

so i am gonna try it again tonight

i used it for about a month pre op and had the SAME issues as you

good luck to us both!

Am I the one who cannot get used to this miserable CPAP torture device? I have had it for a month now and I'm not doing very well with it. I have the nasal pillow kind now (had the nose mask for a week) and I think this is the smallest mask there is. And yet, I still have a very hard time dealing with it! I feel like I'm suffocatng OR I wake up in the middle of the night with it off and blowing onto my face (or dh's face-LOL). I swear, I am not getting better sleep with this thing than when I was having 50 apneas per hour.

WTH?!