Thread: Anyone battling sleep apnoea as well?

Originally Posted by xxXX_LR V8_XXxx

BTW, is it necessary to have a mask ? what about those things that go in ya nostril ? not enough air pressure I guess...

Cheers,

Pete

The nose ones are for oxygen supply not pressure. Your lungs are in pretty bad shape when you need that on a regular basis.

The mask goes over your nose and you're supposed to sleep with your mouth shut.

If you sleep with your mouth open you either have to learn to keep it shut (not easy when your asleep) or sleep with an optional chip strap (not a good look and makes it hard to say good night, can I throw the leg over, give me some blanket, etc)

I used to work with a bloke who was a narcoleptic with sleep apnea, he'd fall asleep cough splutter and backfire and wake himself up.

Twas a viscous circle.

As the guys above have mentioned weight loss is a good way to reduce the effects of SA, but not always.
One of the guys I work with has it (ran into him at the clinic the same night I was tested) where as Im about 20kg overweight hes built like a whippet, we both run similar pressures on the CPAP.
It took me about a month to get used to the nostril attachment, just couldnt get used to a mask over the nose, which leaked in the eyes etc.
I now sleep really well, dont wake at 2am for the nightly wee (thought I was haveing a prostrate problem because of that, but just woke up at the same time every night.)
Perserveer with this, see your clinic and try different masks/nasal attachments, the improvement after your sleeping well is worth it.
Loose weight (one should follow ones own advice, youd think) it helps.
CPAP is the least evasive (apart from drastic weight loss)of the current alternatives stick with it.

My FIL got one ealier this year. Took him a while to get used to, but he's now getting a good night's sleep for the first time in probably 20 years ...

Originally Posted by landyfromanuthaland

When I was diagnosed recently my sleep specialist was asking me why I was still alive, he was fullof good news like the rest and said your that critical I am bypassing all the BS and putme straight on a pump, my oxygen sats were dropping to below 50percent and my apnoea event were nasty when I had my sleep asessment, my machine runs fairly generous pressures as my throat literally closes, the problem I have is I can sleep on my back or front and can only sleep on my sides, the face muscles are fairly floppy so when I lie on my side my mask leaks and carrys on and blows air over my eyes which annoys me,
I found that the mask that covers your nose was uncomfortable for me, so I use a Mirage Swift System that sits under your nose.(www.resmed.com) I can sleep on my side or back & I wear it all night.

I put the mask on when I go to bed, usually ditch it onehour later due to dry mouth and a taste of freshly applied deoderant spray in the mouth,

You have a dry mouth because it's open & the air is being pumped in your nose & straight out your mouth. If you wear a chin strap (as I do) the air can only go to your lungs & you will sleep better.

so I sleep without till I awake at 3 for my nightly wee, I then put the mask bck on and can usually keep iton until 5 or 6 in the morning then it goes off again, I havent been able to keep it on for a full night, I have flemmy lungs from smoking and the moisture fromthe dehumidifier on the pump seems to lift the flemm and I have all sorts of coughing dramas, I am due for a another sleep test soon so they can see for themselves, I was hoping my problems were common to vpap users

Stick with it, it will get better.

Larry.