Hi, you sound like you don't know what to fix first. I am wondering if you would be better with the nasal pillow mask. The two pillows fit into the nostrils and you don't get the claustrophobic feeling and the air seems better. I did have the nasal mask to start with but much preferred the nasal pillows, you hardly know you have a mask at all.

I also have A-Fib, have had it for 20 yrs so I am rather used to it. Getting the medication right is a slow process, and even later there may be changes. Be patient on this one, but explain your symptoms to your doctor, everyone is different. Unless you say something they will assume that all is ok. There are many medications that do not suit me, but suit others.

Not having control over your body is certainly depressing and causes lack of confidence and reduces your activities and lifestyle. However, it is important to keep improving at least one aspect of your medical difficulties. As you have been encouraged to lose weight, perhaps this is something you can concentrate on for now. Joining a group such as 'Weight Watchers' could get you started and give you support and encouragement as well. At least you have some control over that, and the health benefits for sleep apnea and A-Fib will follow.

I have a number of complaints, sleep apnea, A-Fib, Meniere's Disease (going deaf), peripheral neuropathy in my legs, spinal problems and now my white blood cells are dropping. Every now and then I start to panic or get confused about what to do next. At the moment I am having a 3 day rest from activities to boost my immune system as I am forcing myself at the moment and it is interfering with my confidence. I do have a busy schedule and I want to keep it up, so a 'crash rest' is my compulsory decision to help me. There is always an improvement to be made, choose where to start and be disciplined, we all need hope. I have a strong faith in God and I always get answers to my health dilemnas in time. Keep trying, you will get there. Best wishes, Ruth

It's so tough to have so many medical issues and trying to deal with CPAP
Because of new CA laws after 10 successful years on CPAP in PA with outstanding Dr's and DME's finding and getting successful on new bipap and masks has been so hard and then trying to deal with sleep deprivation and stopping smoking!
I've had a brain MRI and showed tumor hasn't changed in size, just dx'd with positional vertigo and have severe balance issues so the exercise i had in place when i lost 40 #'s before my quit............has gone b/c i gained 50 prounds in the 6 months of my quit
i hear that you are struggeling and both of you deserve alot of credit for keeping up the good fight.
Maybe we can support each other
the OSA site doesn't seem to be very active does it?
Judy

forgot to add---------- my dr said that lack of sleep do to poor CPAP adjustment can add to weight gain and of course the metabilism from stopping smoking hasn't helped either.
oye

Ray
your making great progress
i sure hope i can do the same
just so down all i want to do is sleep and i need to be MOVING to get this weight off
congratulations
maybe the smoking issues will resolve soon and my metab will start to kick in
miss the nic kick i got to get me going but will be 6 months i quit next week
now for the weight and CPAP seems to workng better so that's good
agree on pressure too high i got a auto bipap too

I've lost 30 pounds since being on cpap. Of course a lot it is contributed to watching what I eat, but I think also feeling more energetic from sleeping better helped me greatly.

I used to have to take drugs for a temp a-fib problem called SVT (supra-reticular tachycardia). They did an ablation and now my ticker has been beating steady. I know ablations can help for some other a-fibs as well. The doc also told me before the ablation, losing weight would also help.

So please try to keep going with cpap, try different masks. It would be the best step in the right direction.

This weight issue is no fun. I have a grandson who I'm convinced has SA, and is very much overweight. I'm sure if he got his weight under control, a lot of things would improve for him. Of course I'm one to talk! I could take off at least 30 pounds also. Our lifestyle contributes so much to our weight, and it's hard to get the dicipline to change what we do, and get the weight off.

Like Ruth, I started out with the masks, and now use the nose pillows. Can't possibly imagine why everyone isn't started on the pillows rather than those big contraptions!. I've even caught myself feeling for it when I first wake up to see if it is on. It's that comfortable.

Bear, I'm impressed with your improvements! It just shows what we can accomplish with a little dicipline. I'm also a huge believer in proper diet and exercise to bring about great improvements in our health. The only pill I wish they would make is one to help keep us on that goal! I know the words to the song well, but just seem to want to hum it half heartedly.

Using the nose pillows, love them, but the mask does put pressure on my head, the straps that is. I take Xyrem for sleep and am wondering if I can take it on a plane? Have you traveled with your cpap?

I've traveld many times with my cpap in it's carrier.
they put it through a medical scaner and a special tag on it