Well I went to a sleep specialist today for the first time, and they think I might have the APNEA...

smurfco

smurfco

Meatus McPrepuce
They want me to come back to do a "sleep study" where I am there overnight with wires on my dick or something. To see if I have APNEA.

Maybe this is why I feel like shit all of the time? I mean literally all of the time I feel like a bag of wet diapers.
 
Sometimes I wonder if I do. My brother (7 years younger than I) got diagnosed a couple years ago and wears the c-pap. I don’t really want to deal with it, but at some time, I should probably get checked out, based on how I sleep sometimes.
 
sunvalleylaw said:
Sometimes I wonder if I do. My brother (7 years younger than I) got diagnosed a couple years ago and wears the c-pap. I don’t really want to deal with it, but at some time, I should probably get checked out, based on how I sleep sometimes.
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I have been told that my snoring sounds like the apocalypse is happening in the back of my throat. Like I'm choking to death. I probably will need a PAP smear machine as well. What a pain in the ass.
 
I go in for my sleep study tonight. Not looking forward to the results at all. I mean, I have to do something because my wife is ready to slit my throat for snoring 'like a freight train'.

I'm not sure if I will be able to deal with a mask/CPAP machine. I am kinda claustrophobic anyway, and just the thought of a mask makes my skin crawl. On the plus side, I won't likely have to use the nose strips and mouth guard any more, but I'm not sure it's a trade off I will enjoy. Wish me luck.
 
I do have snoring issues, but I wear an anti-snoring mouthpiece that works quite well for that. I also have serious issues at times falling asleep, but that is not an apnea thing.

If you do have apnea, it's better to bite the bullet and get the cpap and get used to it.

And for reference - this is what I use to tame my snoring. It works quite well.

https://goodmorningsnoresolution.com/
 
I only snore if I sleep on my back. My brothers freind snored so bad, they operated on his lower jaw. They extended it.
 
Guitar Heel said:
I wonder how often dudes gizz themselves during sleep studies.

The specialist be like, hey man, see that spike right there? That's gizz all the way.
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It does seem like an invasion of privacy, even if the gizz doesn't happen. One of the reasons I don't want to submit.
 
My dad is convinced that everyone 'has' sleep apnea. Everyone he knows who has had a sleep study gets diagnosed with it. I was diagnosed with it, used the CPAP for a few months until my insurance company decided I should pay for the machine, so back it went. BTW, all of the symptoms I had are now gone. I don't snore and I'm not tired all the time. Once I got rid of the machine, I did change my diet and started exercising more.

I'm not saying people don't have sleep apnea, they do and it is real, but it's kinda like every kid who is a little hyper has ADHD. It's the lazy diagnosis doctors give instead of really getting to the real issue.
 
Chad said:
My dad is convinced that everyone 'has' sleep apnea. Everyone he knows who has had a sleep study gets diagnosed with it. I was diagnosed with it, used the CPAP for a few months until my insurance company decided I should pay for the machine, so back it went. BTW, all of the symptoms I had are now gone. I don't snore and I'm not tired all the time. Once I got rid of the machine, I did change my diet and started exercising more.

I'm not saying people don't have sleep apnea, they do and it is real, but it's kinda like every kid who is a little hyper has ADHD. It's the lazy diagnosis doctors give instead of really getting to the real issue.
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Yep, I'm pretty sure I'd get diagnosed as well. I won't cross that bridge until it's a legit problem.
 
Chad said:
My dad is convinced that everyone 'has' sleep apnea. Everyone he knows who has had a sleep study gets diagnosed with it. I was diagnosed with it, used the CPAP for a few months until my insurance company decided I should pay for the machine, so back it went. BTW, all of the symptoms I had are now gone. I don't snore and I'm not tired all the time. Once I got rid of the machine, I did change my diet and started exercising more.

I'm not saying people don't have sleep apnea, they do and it is real, but it's kinda like every kid who is a little hyper has ADHD. It's the lazy diagnosis doctors give instead of really getting to the real issue.
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If I do an assessment on a client I am not able to bill for the assessment unless I have a diagnosis code. That is a system that is built to encourage diagnosis regardless of what is really happening. I got around it by setting a reasonable cash payment for assessment; if there was a diagnosis I would then tell the person to keep the cash and I would bill the insurance. I don't think many others do that.
 
I've been a brother of the hose for over 10 years. Like many of you, I knew something was wrong, but I did not want to have to live with a CPAP machine. My advice to you: do it. Do it now. While getting used to a CPAP machine isn't exactly pleasant, it isn't that bad. And if you are like me, you'll feel MUCH better.

Just think of all the people who have medical issues that require far worse things than using a machine to sleep at night.

Here's specific advice:

cpaptalk.com - there is an absolute treasure-trove of CPAP knowledge there. That board knows more about CPAP than every doctor and tech combined.

CPAP machines require a prescription in the US. Get you doctor to WRITE your prescription, and make sure it says it never expires. You will have to ask for this. Insist on it - it will make your life easier down the road.

CPAP masks also require a prescription in the US - BUT - mask parts do not. You can purchase pretty much any mask from Amazon by buying a kit of parts, or individual parts.

Insurance companies will attempt to screw you by making you rent a machine to own over a 10 month or so period. They do this so as to break your sleep study and machine payments into two deductible years. Get your doctor to write you a prescription (make sure it says it never expires) and buy your own machine outright. You'r insurance company will consider it out of network, so you'll have a higher copay, but because you are paying in one lump sum, you'll get it in on the same calendar year as your sleep study. It will also be considerably cheaper. I highly recommend cpap.com.

If you do buy your own machine, you'll have to be your own respiratory tech. That's easy to do. The Internet will show you how to set the minimum and maximum pressure on your machine, and there is excellent open-source software for analyzing your treatment.

Make ABSOLUTELY SURE the model you are buying has exhalation relief. Seriously, this is a make or break point. Using a CPAP machine without exhalation relief is like trying to exhale with a pillow over your face. I can pretty much guarantee you won't stick with CPAP therapy if your machine doesn't have this, and you don't have it turned on. If you buy your machine through a DME, a respiratory tech will program your machine. Some old school techs hate exhalation relief, and may not enable it on your machine. If that is the case, find the secret menus and turn it on. They alo hate auto pressure, but your prescription will likely call for that, so they have to tun it on.

Buy a machine that has auto pressure (automatically adjusts pressure to just enough to keep you breathing). Also make sure the machine you buy can record to an sdcard and is supported by OSCAR https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/ (OSCAR is the successor to SleepyHead - you will likely come across that software in your research). OSCAR will let you analyze the bejezus out of the data your machine collects. Most machines also do bluetooth and have an app for your phone that will show limited information.

The two current top CPAP machines are Philips Respironics Dream Station and Resmed's Airsense 10. I highly recommend you get one of the two (unless you get a good deal on a used older generation - ask me for more information if you want to go the used route). There are multiple models - make sure your machine does exhalation relief, auto pressure, and records to an sdcard. Many people who get the Resmed suggest getting the "for her" model because it has more options.

Masks - masks are highly subjective. All masks work with all machines (that I know of, anyway). There are a few high-level categories of masks:
  • Full face - these cover your nose and mouth. These are used by people who can't adequately breath through their nose, or who can't keep their mouth closed when they sleep. They are probably the hardest to get used to, and not recommended unless you really need them (there are chin straps to keep your mouth closed if that is the issue).
  • Nasal masks - these cover just your nose. These are far and away the most popular. There are a wide variety of models available.
  • Nasal pillows - these use flexible "pillows" that push up against the bottom of your nose. These are probably second most popular. The down side of these (from my experience) is that any lateral pressure from your head pillow against the mask will cause the seal to break. The bottom of your nose WILL get sore at first, but will go away in a few days.
  • Nasal prongs - these are descendants of Nazi torture devices. They use soft prongs that stick up into your nostrils (technically, they are called "nares") forming an air-tight seal. From a technical point of view, they are wonderful. They are small and light, and remain sealed no matter what. Unfortunately, getting used to tubes stretching your nostrils isn't easy to do. And the exhaust port on the model I used (I forget which) was LOUD.
  • Oddballs - there are other oddballs out there like the "nomask" that use a mouthguard to hold pillows against your nose. I've never heard anyone say anything good about them.
I HIGHLY recommend Philips Respironics Dreamwear nasal pillow mask. I've used a dozen different masks over the years, and the Dreamwear blows them away (no pun intended). It is small, light, and un-intrusive. When I first got mine, I had trouble falling asleep because just as I was dozing off, I'd think that I was so comfortable that I must have forgotten to put my mask on.

Distilled water. All American CPAP machines will tell you to use distilled water in the humidifier. This is not only expensive, it gets quite inconvenient when you travel. Fortunately, you don't need to do this. Regular old tap water works just fine. Once a month or so, fill the humidifier tank with vinegar, let it set for an hour or two, then use q-tips to clean the mineral buildup off. Do try to not let the tank run dry. This makes mineral build up worse.

You should expect to replace your machine in five to seven years.

CPAP pressure is measured in centimeters of water. A typical auto pressure setting would be minimum 6 cmH2O, max 12 or 14 cmH2O. Pressures above 15 cmH2O tend to cause masks to lose their seal against your skin and "blow out" which renders treatment ineffective.

Ultraviolet CPAP mask cleaners are a scam. They don't work, and you don't need one.

DISCLOSURE: I have a slight financial relationship with Philips Respironics. But trust me, I'd use the Dreamwear mask no matter what.
 
My wife did a study and she took the machine home and turned it in 3 days later. What antiquated ass doctor are you going to @smurfco ?
Her results were negative but I am 100% sure I have Apnea and I refuse to use a CPAP. I don't want to clean it, wear it, fill it, empty it, none of it. Annoying.
Good luck though!
 
I sleep pretty well every night and always remember my dreams (which I guess is unusual from some people I talk to).


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I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 2 years ago after I kept nodding off at work ( I worked in an office at the time).
I was given a CPAP machine, and I tried using it for a while. I gave up after a few months as the face mask kept bothering me and the buzzing of the machine kept me awake.

I lost a ton of weight since and haven’t really been suffering from sleep deprivation since. If it comes back I will look for an alternative to a CPAP machine
 
I use a CPAP. I was the second worst they tested and showed me on the video and computer what was happening. Literally, the morning after the test I felt absolutely rejuvenated. I usually woke up feeling as tired as I did when I went to bed. Could fall asleep anywhere at any time in any position. Since being on the CPAP I haven't napped during the day since and that's been about 7 years.

WARNING: 5 years before I got diagnosed I did a sleep test and they said I didn't have a problem. This was a very well known hospital I was referred to. Later my wife continued to be concerned because she knew I stopped breathing in my sleep for long periods and she began to freak so she insisted I be tested again and not in the same place.

If they put you on the machine it's going have a water tank etc., etc. I thought the heated water thing was nasty and hated the way it felt so I stopped putting water in the tank and turned the heater off and that's the way I've rolled for 5 years.
 
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