Any CPAP Users Out There?

[Hoosier Red]

I'd get tested George. It definitely sounds like sleep apnea. Basically I've heard if you snore you more than likely have sleep apnea.

[Spring~Fields]

Originally Posted by George Anderson

I havent been diagnosed with sleep apnea but alot of the symptoms I have read about like being tired in the morning is something I have had my entire life. However my wife has never noticed me not breathing while I sleep, but I am a horrible snorer.

One major symptom I have anymore is severe cotton mouth through out the night. I read online it is because I breathe thru my mouth at night but I can't find if this is a sleep apnea symptom.

Do I sound like I may potentially have sleep apnea??

In addition to the snoring:
Do you find yourself waking up during the night frequently or having to get up to use the restroom often?

Your the one that wrote about cravings to though. I am no doctor but I would wonder about your blood sugar levels and serotonin levels too.

[George Anderson]

Originally Posted by Spring~Fields

In addition to the snoring:
Do you find yourself waking up during the night frequently or having to get up to use the restroom often?

Your the one that wrote about cravings to though. I am no doctor but I would wonder about your blood sugar levels and serotonin levels too.

Yes to the bathroom..at least once a night if not twice.

Yes on cravings...good memory........i have been diagnosed in past with hypoglaucemia so my blood sugar may be off. I probally eat more calories after 9PM at night than I do the whole day. It's insane how I crave food late night but not so much during the day.

I also read more on apnea...I have a very thick neck and my BMI is over 32 so thats another bad sign for apnea....I do recall a couple times in past month or so where I do wake up somewhat gasping for air but my wife swears she never has heard me stop breathing while asleep, so I have ruled out sleep apnea in the past but maybe not now.

[Hoosier Red]

Originally Posted by George Anderson

Yes to the bathroom..at least once a night if not twice.

Yes on cravings...good memory........i have been diagnosed in past with hypoglaucemia so my blood sugar may be off. I probally eat more calories after 9PM at night than I do the whole day. It's insane how I crave food late night but not so much during the day.

I also read more on apnea...I have a very thick neck and my BMI is over 32 so thats another bad sign for apnea....I do recall a couple times in past month or so where I do wake up somewhat gasping for air but my wife swears she never has heard me stop breathing while asleep, so I have ruled out sleep apnea in the past but maybe not now.

It's generally more subtle than gasping for air. When I stop breathing it's only for a second or two usually if I remember correctly. Than I wake up(even if I don't realize it) and start breathing normally again. There are also two types of sleep apnea. Respiratory Apnea(where your airway is blocked-snoring) and Central Apnea(where your brain actually forgets to breathe.)

[Spring~Fields]

Originally Posted by George Anderson

Yes to the bathroom..at least once a night if not twice.

Yes on cravings...good memory........i have been diagnosed in past with hypoglaucemia so my blood sugar may be off. I probally eat more calories after 9PM at night than I do the whole day. It's insane how I crave food late night but not so much during the day.

I also read more on apnea...I have a very thick neck and my BMI is over 32 so thats another bad sign for apnea....I do recall a couple times in past month or so where I do wake up somewhat gasping for air but my wife swears she never has heard me stop breathing while asleep, so I have ruled out sleep apnea in the past but maybe not now.

I think that if I were you that I would have a sleep study done to confirm or rule out the sleep apnea. Since you wake up gasping for air, I would not mess around waiting to see what turns up. I would have a sleep study done. Surely your primary care doctor would do that or send you to a pulmonary specialist or ear nose and throat doctor who would order a sleep study. I mean that last part in a question form.

I am not implying a link to sleep apnea when I write this below, I am no doctor.

On the other of cravings, I think I would ask your medical people what is behind that and how that can effect your other functions or how your functions are causing that. I can recall the part of cravings because I battle with those also in that time frame and have for years, along with waking up tired regardless of the amount of sleep, and even with the CPAP machine that gives me 6-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

I have been researching the why's of that (excessive cravings for no apparent reason) for the past month or two, sadly I am not trained in medical science so a void in understanding seems to always follow no matter the multiple sources.

One thing I did read was that when we eat to satisfy those cravings that we get a spike in what they called blood sugar levels that give us some sense of satisfaction, calms us, they wrote because it increases the serotonin levels, and they recommended something to keep those levels more stable throughout the day and evening, which leads them to suggesting smaller meals more times a day always keeping a mind awareness on caloric intake. They also recommended chromium, of course that begins to get into where I prefer to have medical pro's tell me what and when to input something for corrections and for how long.

Of course I don't know what is pure fact and that is why I keep asking my PCP what is going on with those cravings and what is behind it besides just mental desire or conditioning. Of course he looks at me like I am nuts, might be, but hey those cravings are like using food for a self medication which push’s up the weight, which can in turn adversely effect sleep apnea which in turn effects restorative sleep, which can effect how we think and feel, well you get the cycle picture. The last sentence or two I have received from my pulmonary specialist.

[MWM]

Well, I slept great at the clinic again. I'm completely confused as to why I can't duplicate it at home. We used my mask even. They actually had the pressure lower last night than I've had it at home, so it's not too little pressure. Funny thing is, at the clinic I have a dozen or more of those round sensors attached all over my face and arm, I have an oximiter on my finer, bands around my stomach and chest and they don't bother me at all. It's like they're not there as I don't move an inch once I fall asleep there. But at home, I find myself changing positions, waking up, etc.... Weird!

[flyer85]

George I would bet you don't just have OSA but that you have a severe case of it. Go get a sleep study ASAP.

[George Anderson]

Originally Posted by flyer85

George I would bet you don't just have OSA but that you have a severe case of it. Go get a sleep study ASAP.

Thanks for the input everyone.

I really was more concerned about my wife because I have caught her not breathing in her sleep for a good 15 seconds.....no I am not exagerating!!! The problem is I have a very stubborn wife who doesn't wanna be bothered with this even though she cannot sleep at night. I have been more concerned about her and didn't for a minute think I may have the same problem till this thread popped up.

I have had alot of good PM's with others about this so I will go get tested and get it checked out

[Spring~Fields]

Originally Posted by George Anderson

Thanks for the input everyone.

I really was more concerned about my wife because I have caught her not breathing in her sleep for a good 15 seconds.....no I am not exagerating!!! The problem is I have a very stubborn wife who doesn't wanna be bothered with this even though she cannot sleep at night. I have been more concerned about her and didn't for a minute think I may have the same problem till this thread popped up.

I have had alot of good PM's with others about this so I will go get tested and get it checked out

You should both have the study done. The study will show how many times a night one stops breathing and for how long. It will tell them if one or both of you need a machine and how much pressure etc if a machine is needed.

When we stop breathing we are awakened, most people are, not all, some never wake up again.

If you have acid reflux you might want to get that under control, because that is something that is not very nice to experience with a CPAP mask on.

MWM gives an excellent outline of what it is like in his description of his last visit.

Funny thing is, at the clinic I have a dozen or more of those round sensors attached all over my face and arm, I have an oximiter on my finer, bands around my stomach and chest and they don't bother me at all.

[Spring~Fields]

Originally Posted by MWM

Well, I slept great at the clinic again. I'm completely confused as to why I can't duplicate it at home. We used my mask even. They actually had the pressure lower last night than I've had it at home, so it's not too little pressure. Funny thing is, at the clinic I have a dozen or more of those round sensors attached all over my face and arm, I have an oximiter on my finer, bands around my stomach and chest and they don't bother me at all. It's like they're not there as I don't move an inch once I fall asleep there. But at home, I find myself changing positions, waking up, etc.... Weird!

That is weird. Completely the opposite of what I or others might anticipate occuring. Something is different. Maybe you could do some self monitoring and see what is different about you at home bedtime vs the sleep study sleep. My first thought is MWM is a bright thinking, analytical individual. Could it be so simple that your thinking on certain things at home and that is keeping your mind over active vs how you are during the sleep studies? I know that may seem rediculous, but, something is different in your experinces and your the only one that might know the differences.

You didn't take any meds for the sleep study did you vs not at home?

Anything different in food or beverage intake at home before bedtime or hours leading up to bedtime at home vs the sleep study?

Lighting any different leading up to sleep ?

Room temperature?

Mental or emotional stimulations difference?

Self talk?
Example 1:
I say to myself, I go to the sleep clinic and I fall right to sleep without ever waking up, and when I do wake up I am fully refreshed. Positive self talk programming

Example 2:
Or I say to myself, when I am at home regardless of the CPAP pressure I end up tossing and turning all night long, I can’t duplicate the sleep I get at the sleep clinic, at home. Negative self talk programming.

Sometimes a mind will do or carry out the instructions we give it with what we say or think to ourselves.

Try duplicating what you did that time leading up to the sleep study, to see if you can then get the same near or identicle sleep response at home.

[TeamCasey]

Originally Posted by George Anderson

I havent been diagnosed with sleep apnea but alot of the symptoms I have read about like being tired in the morning is something I have had my entire life. However my wife has never noticed me not breathing while I sleep, but I am a horrible snorer.

One major symptom I have anymore is severe cotton mouth through out the night. I read online it is because I breathe thru my mouth at night but I can't find if this is a sleep apnea symptom.

Do I sound like I may potentially have sleep apnea??

Your wife will be the only one that can clue you in. Do other people in your family have it (siblings, parent)? If you're a horrible snorer, you should go do a sleep study.

My friends picked on me for years about my snoring. My mom and my brother could take siding off a house. Turns out I have pretty severe apnea.

[George Anderson]

Originally Posted by TeamCasey

Your wife will be the only one that can clue you in. Do other people in your family have it (siblings, parent)? If you're a horrible snorer, you should go do a sleep study.

My friends picked on me for years about my snoring. My mom and my brother could take siding off a house. Turns out I have pretty severe apnea.

As far as my family having sleep apnea the answer is no.

Other than a very loud snorer and being a horrible morning person with lack of energy my wife hasn't noticed any apnea symptoms.

However just this morning in the Indianapolis Star, ironically there is an article about sleep apnea that really has me even more motivated to take the test.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...=2009912030312

Maybe someone from above is sending me a message!!!

[George Anderson]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well guys, I got tested last week and I have severe sleep apnea.

I am going back to have another sleep study done next week for my CPAP and while I am kinda nervous about the CPAP I am also excited because I have read alot about the CPAP and how it has changed so many lives for the better!!!

When I first read this thread it was out of concern for my wife but little did I know it would be me with the problem.

MWM, SpringFields, Team Casey, Hoosier Red and Flyer85, I cannot thank you guys enough for encouraging me to have a sleep test. You guys literally have not only added years to my life but also quality years. If any of you guys are ever in Indy I'd love to take you to a game at Victory Field and have some stimulating CPAP and Reds conversation!!


Thank God I am a Reds fan, if I was a stinkin Cubs fan I would never of been on Reds Zone and found this thread .

[Spring~Fields]

Good luck and good health with that George.

[BoydsOfSummer]

Good to hear you got checked out, George A. You are headed for a great quality of life improvement, my friend.