Sallie,

I was not able to get used to it until they changed my mask.

Get one with nasal pillow, like that one or similar. It makes the whole difference.

http://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed-mirage-swift-II-nasal-pillow-cpap-mask-system-with-headgear.html?src=atg

Yes there is a surgical remedy. I can't spell it coz it has 3000 letters. But sleep apnea cause my first heart attack and it was my girlfriend who recommended intervention.

Surgery if successfull 99% of the time is a lasting cure and you can romantically go to sleep with other than "Darth Vader" Rrare complications occur which can be disabiling. I am proof positive of that. But I own partial responsibility and wanted all the surgeries done at once as to not to interfere with my buisness. It did, so I recommend it in stages and recovery from each stage monitored.

But can it cause addtional heart atacks? Absolutely. You are depriving your heart of oxygen for > 2 minutes at times which in most cases is fatal. Check the data.

Ifm you and your significant other can tolerate the mask then by all means go for the non invasive. If not choose surgery at a methodical rate. Just my advice. Hard learned advice here.

Love you,

Just Joe

I've written about this in other threads, but I guess it's worth repeating here.

My husband started getting sleep apnea around 7 years ago, bolting awake in the middle of the night gasping for air. At some point I mentioned to him that weight gain seems to play a role in apnea, and he seemed to be offended by this. But a few months later, he decided that maybe he should try to lose weight, and we adopted a low carb diet so that he could lose weight. Well, it worked. Once he went below a certain weight, he apnea symptoms completely disappeared.

Now since that time, two or three times he's gone back over that crucial weight number. As soon as he does, his apnea symptoms re-appear. Then he loses weight, and the symptoms subside. It's like clockwork. And obviously, given the gasping for breath, the symptoms are pretty dangerous, and we know that increases heart risk.

Anyway, I know your husband can't instantly lose weight. But it's possible, that if he can be successful in doing so, his need for the machine will end.

One more thing- while our low carb diet was useful in weight loss, I believe it was one of the many factors contributing to my heart attack. We ate a hell of a lot of cheese, butter, cream and the like, and I'm sure that helped goop up my arteries. Obviously, in retrospect, if we were going to do a low carb diet, I'd totally do it in more of a "South Beach" low-fat way.

I hope your husband gets some relief soon. Sue

Sallie,

I can only offer moral support and empathy...my DH's HA was Nov 8 and he has also been tested for sleep apnea. The respiratory therapist said he was borderline and agreed to let him try wearing his snore guard dental appliance and then get retested for apnea in a few months. After seeing the apnea mask in the RT's office, DH said "no way" was he ever going to wear that thing!

Of course, he knows he might not have a choice, and this may only be a temporary repreive, so I am learning from the replies to your post. I am saving the the nasal pillow link from jrueda, although I'm betting our insurance will only want to pay for the full facial mask type.

Sallie, I can see that you are working diligently to help your husband in his recovery. I wish you both the best and will be messaging you within the next few days.

Hugs,
Carla

This is a good research excsersize and study on adult sleep apnea even when not in an obese conditional state. In my reading (general medical concensus suggests)

In adults, the most typical individual with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)syndrome suffers from obesity, with particular heaviness at the face and neck. Obesity is not always present with OSA; in fact, a significant number of adults with normal body mass indices (BMIs) have decrease in muscle tone causing airway collapse and sleep apnea. The cause of this decreased tone is not presently understood as it does not occur in all situations. The hallmark symptom of OSA syndrome in adults is excessive daytime sleepiness.Nocturnal gasping for air and restlessness Typically, an adult or adolescent with severe long-standing OSA will fall asleep for very brief periods in the course of usual daytime activities if given any opportunity to sit or rest. This behavior may be quite dramatic, sometimes occurring during conversations with others at social gatherings. Sometimes mimicing narcolepsy.

The hypoxia (absence of oxygen supply)which while sometimes minor can and is often an extreme episode that can last up to two minutes per episode. As related to OSA many cases may cause changes in the neurons of the hippocampus and the right frontal cortex of the brain hamppering cognitive function. Research using neuro-imaging revealed evidence of hippocampal atrophy in people suffering from OSA. They found that some sufferers have problems in mentally manipulating non-verbal information and in executive function. Hypoxia, a main cause just doesn't effect the brain, it effects all organs. Aging degrades our organs and oxygen becomes vital to our overall health. Cardiac oxygen is critical, especially to a patient bordering on CAD. Sue is correct Obesity can cause severe episodes which can be rectified by weight control. That Dave and her are partnering in a low carb-type diet is exeptional for both of them. Easier when two can support each other in this real health hazard.

I was an unfortunate one whose surgery went arwy and left me incapacitated for a very long time. I have sprung back but am medication dependent, which in itself causes secondary conditions that need to be monitored.

I also on the other hand was not obese but was born with an extremely large tonsils and othe multi lettered tissues in the larynx. Surgery was my only prudent opiton given my health risks, genes and work load and drive as a Type 'A' achiever.

Move on this now folks and study up on all available avenues and make informed decisions as to how to proceed.Obtain multiple opinions from non connected doctoral collegues. Obesity is a key component and is readily in our control. Do Like Our Sue. JUST DO IT.

LOve you,

Just Joe

Great info, Joe.

By the way, I don't do the low carb eating anymore. I eat plenty of carbs now, including lots of fruit (especially in my morning smoothies!), whole grain pastas and breads, low fat granola, brown or wild rice, oats, etc.

Oh yeah, and then there's the healthy-ish cookies I have with my tea, like Kashi brand oatmeal cookies with dark chocolate chips or "Fig Newmans". Yummy! Oh yeah, and the organic brand blue corn chips I eat with fresh guacamole.

Good thing I just ate dinner and am not hungry, or I could go on and on about food!!! Haha!!!

Sue, back on carbs? That is completely understood given your 19 year old figure. The point I was stressing which you clearly and cleverly metioned was the noticing of David's condition and the partnership which you two developed to control his situatuion was key to his controling his situation. Two heads are better than one. And in your case knowing pretty damn well your suggestions are not only prudent but difficult not to comply with Ha! Ha!

Key here is the person afflicted with this life threatening situation, does not know he is suffering from sever OSA. Because obviously "He or She" is asleep for gosh sakes. It is the bed partner who is aroused by the interupped sleep patterns and the din that usually accompannies the OSA symptoms. Some who exhibit chonic these life threatening conditions tend to drive their partners to sleep in other bedding areas so their partners sleep is not disturbed by the afflicted chronic modality of the condition. This exasperates the issues and often hides results of advanced symptomatic conditions and increases denial of said modality which could laed to sudden death in the victims sleep.

We must also take into account that a person experiences an extreme stress state between 3:00am and 6:00am in the morning when asleep and, because asleep, are not aware that our hearts are under this stressed state. Couple that with any degree of hypoxia as a result of the OSA, and we could be looking at a sudden HA/MI death event.

I would be interested to look into the statistical analysis of victims of HA/MI's as a direct result of this condition as far as modality and mortality are concerned and what the effacacious effects of the surgery or the CPAP devices play in decreasing these data points outside the bell curve.

I am one of the lucky ones who didn't succumb to sudden death from this condition. But I was, as stated before hospitalized for cardiac related symptoms as a result of my OSA. My subsequesnt surgery was unfortunately disabling, which although rare, has been life altering. But at the time I had no faith base in Jesus and did not concole his will when making the decision for surgery. My decsision was purely professionally based, with a romantic component thrown in.

Great Topic Ya'll,

LOve you all,

Just Joe

I have sleep apnea....I don't use my machine any more....I know I get letsure from doctors all the time.
I have the nasal pillows....yet it still boughers me....someday i will grow up and do it.

I hope you get your mask changed....and they should let you try them on....they do that here?

best of luck
I hope you dont' do what I do.

ruthie

Thanks, everyone, for the answers. My husband is doing much better with his machine. Dr. gave him some relaxant pills and they helped but left him feeling very groggy all day long. He took them for about three nights and they did help him adjust. He is using the machine now and it is going pretty well.

Thanks, again, for all the info.

Blessings, Sallie