So for the last year or two I’ve been doing this thing where I just stop breathing when I’m asleep and wake up chocking and gasping for breath and I didn’t want to tell my doctor because I already knew what it was…demons.
I assumed he’d say it was that I’m too fat, that it’s all in my head or that it’s pre-menopause because those seem like the only answers women get but I knew it wasn’t sleep apnea because I’d already been tested for that before and my diagnosis was “your shit is fucked but there’s no cure,” Or more specifically, not apnea but my brain was awake when my body was asleep which makes you exhausted and is incurable.
But turns out that was a decade ago and they wanted to do a new test because my brain fog is getting worse and apparently testing negative once doesn’t mean that you’re forever negative, which would probably be something that would have occurred to me if I didn’t have this brain fog.
So yesterday I got an at-home test. It was much less invasive than the one I’d taken at an actual overnight hospital because I didn’t have a sleepwalking stranger wander into my room, but I did have the unexpected issue of so many cords and tubes flopping around that I became the most tempting accidental cat toy that my furry children have every had the delight to gleefully attack and attempt to hang themselves with.
Unfortunately the device only worked a few hours before it somehow turned itself off (again, I blame the demons) and when I called the sleep specialist she said to come in and she could see if maybe they were able to get enough info or if I needed to try it again, but when she plugged it in she was like, “Wow. I bet you’re exhausted” and then she called me “pathological” which felt hurtful but turns out she meant that I have a “pathological sleep disorder” and that I stopped breathing 32 times.
“Like a pause…like a cute little pause?” I asked.
No, dear reader. Not like a cute little pause. Like I was being strangled for so long that my oxygen saturation dropped from the necessary 90-98% down to 60% which seems very not good. I also had 2,990 “snoring events” but she said not to even look at that because really she was more concerned with me just not dying. She didn’t say that out loud, but I could totally see it in her eyes. Or possibly I hallucinated it because again, brain fog.
Anyway, long story short she says I don’t have demons in my blood but I do have sleep apnea and I need a CPAP breathing machine and I don’t even know what that is or how in the hell you manage to sleep in one because the pictures look complicated and terrifying.
So this is my little note to encourage you to get your shit checked out if you also feel like shit and keep choking in your sleep, and it’s also an excellent place for you to drop any advice, tips or experience with CPAP stuff in the comments because I don’t know anyone who has one and I’m already anxious about the whole thing.
An ex had sleep apnea, and the machine isn’t very complicated to set up. There’s a tube and face mask, and he kept the actual machine behind his headboard. It was noisy, but that has improved on more recent models. Makes a HUGE difference, it’s not scary, I promise, and I was in no way harmed by sleeping next to him while he used it. <3
My husband has been on a CPAP for 10 years. Changed his life. Was a pain in the butt to get used to, but it is SO worth it!
Hey lets be cpap buddies! I started using one last year and feel so much better, you will get used to it in no time
Definitely apnea. The good news? Not demons and the CPAP machine should take care of it! All my best to you!
Getting a CPAP years ago made a night into day difference in my life. Modern ones are quiet & the headgear’s nonintrusive & comfortable. Ask for nasal pillows vs. a mask. It will make an incredible difference!
I have sleep apnea and at first the mask I had would give me panic attacks (which is obviously no good), but they found one that I like that goes under my nose and no where near my mouth which is much better. I can actually use that one without problem. So don’t be worried to tell them if a mask isn’t a good fit for you. I knew I had problems with the first (it covered my nose and mouth) because I’d yank it off in the middle of the night (while sleeping) and toss it as far as possible from me (well what the hose would allow), but it would keep running just without me. LOL Good luck!
Several of my family members have a CPAP. They tell me that it initially is an adjustment to sleeping in it, but that passes, and the machine does work wonders. Good luck with everything!
My husband says: Try nasal pillows rather than a full face mask, if you can. Give it a full three months to get used to it. Don’t get discouraged! Once you get used to it you’ll never look back. If it’s humid where you live you may not need the humidifier- that thing’s a hassle! And the contraption may not be sexy, but a well-rested spouse IS!😁
I’ve had one for 6 years… Don’t be afraid to try different types of masks if the first one they give you isn’t a good fit!! I sleep SOOOO much better now that I have a machine… And I use it every night without fail… Plus you can decorate it!
I ended up using an oral device which is way easier than CPAP. Did your doc rule that out for some reason?
When you get your machine, make sure they really show you how to wear it. My dad wore his wrong for like the first month and instead of pushing air into his nose like it was supposed to, he had it blowing into his mouth and making his cheeks flap like a dog with its head out the window 😆
From all those I know who have this ( many), it takes a bit to adjust to the machine but it totally helps and is worth it. There are several types of masks you can use with it and it matters a lot which you have– try more than one kind if you think the one they give you isn’t going to work. So glad you got checked out and you will feel sooo much better after breathing while you sleep.
There’s now something being advertised on the TV that’s a n implant (maybe?) connected to your phone, but no mas. My girlfriend tried to get one, but she’s too heavy. You don’t look heavy and should ask about it.
Hi Jenny. Long term CPAP user. It is hard to get used to in the beginning and it can take some time to find the correct mask. Once you get used to it, you will feel better. I know people, who once they use their CPAP, they say they have so much energy and feel so much better. I hope that is how it is for you. You’ve got this!
Ohhhhh you are going to feel so much better!!! I started on a CPAP last fall. Not gonna lie, it felt pretty weird at first, but I stuck with it and now it doesn’t feel weird at all. So just keep at it, the weirdness will eventually go away. Be sure to try different mask types if youre still having trouble a few weeks in.
Now I don’t want to sleep without it because I am now cognizant of just how much I wake up.
Added bonus: I used to get up at least twice a night to pee. Figured it was a post-menopausal old-lady thing. Nope!!! It’s not!!! I sleep through the night again. Amazing.
My husband uses a CPAP, and it changed his life. He was also “pathological”, but the CPAP really helped. There are a lot of different masks and options, so you can find one that works best for you. You’re going to feel like a whole new person! 🙂
I use (or, am supposed to use) a CPAP! I tried losing weight but then the pandemic hit. I tried it for about 6 months, and it helped a lot. Then I did lose some weight and found I didn’t need it anymore. I’ve since gained that weight back, and am now thinking of using it again because I’m definitely doing the death rattle thing again. My spouse also uses one so we look really goofy together.
I have the kind with the hose that comes out of the top of your head and makes you look like a Teletubby of sorts. He has the kind that makes him look like an elephant.
It’s totally weird when you first use it. You have to train yourself to breathe properly. It takes a couple of days but you adjust quickly.
I find the Teletubby style is more helpful because I don’t get tangled up in the hose. (My elephant next to me, on the other hand, is forever ripping his tube out because he gets tangled in it when he sleeps.)
There are also mouth guards you can get instead of the CPAP. I think you talk to your dentist about that.
Good luck! Also, you likely already have, but if not, check out Mike Birbiglia’s story about his rare sleep disorder. It’s wild, and will make you feel better about having apnea 🙂 Good luck!
CPAP machines have improved so much in recent years. When my mom first got one it was almost like she had to be hooked to a ventilator but without the tube down the throat. I have one now and honestly, after about five minutes I forget I’m even wearing the little mask, and the machine is super quiet.
It will take some time for the kitties to get used to it, but they’ll eventually learn to leave the hose alone.
I’m with anonymous nasal pillows person above. Plus don’t pillows sound nicer than a mask? They don’t sweat up your whole face. They just are tiny little cushy streams of air that keep you from being dead. The hard part was keeping my mouth shut (not just while sleeping but especially then) so the air doesn’t come right back out your pie hole. You go this!
Welcome to the sleep apnea team! The sleep you get while wearing the CPAP will amaze you!!! The first night I wore mine my husband told me I was like a whole new person again. He hadn’t seen my energy level that high in years.
It does take some time to adjust to sleeping with the mask but so worth!!!
Reach out if you have questions. There are many of us that stop breathing while sleeping so you are not alone!
I promise, it will change your life! Wearing the mask while sleeping takes a few nights to get used to, especially if you don’t normally sleep on your back. But it doesn’t generally take long, because once your body realizes that its literally saving your life, you’ll sleep like a baby. I used to have so much trouble falling asleep, but nowadays, I put on my CPAP mask and I’m out in minutes. It looks and feels ridiculous, but it does wonders for your overall well-being.
Side note: If the strap for your mask goes over your head, I highly recommend wearing a silk bonnet to protect your hair (otherwise you’ll end up with a lot of breakage where the strap sits)
Don’t be nervous! It’s a huge life improvement; I promise it’s not the torture device it resembles LOL
My husband just had the Inspire surgery to implant the breathing thing bc his was also bad. Check that out if the CPAP is problematic for you.
I LOVE my CPAP. It changed my life from the very first night. It’s very very quiet, and it has an app where I can track my sleep (interesting at first, but it all seems to boil down to whether I got 8 hours or not).
I had the same results from a sleep test, they basically just said that I wasn’t getting enough deep sleep because my brain was awake while my body was asleep. Then they sent me on my way….. 🙁
CPAP machines are the new ‘it’ thing. Everyone has one, or at least those who are asking the right questions 🙂 I’m glad you have a diagnosis and path to follow, so hopefully you’ll get a more restful night of sleep. My machine is not terrible at all, is very quiet, and does help immensely. Give it a try!
Hi! I am so sorry that you have been experiencing such terrible sleep. First off, you will feel SO much better once you adapt to the CPAP. It definitely takes some getting used to but the benefits of real sleep will be amazing. There are different types of masks and they really depend on how you breathe when you sleep. I am more than happy share advice and my experience…just maybe not publicly in the comment section!
You’ll be able to make lots of “Are you my mummy?” jokes, if that helps.
CPAP was a life changer for me (and my dad previously). The noise is pretty much white noise to me at this point. Once I got the right mask for me, it’s been great. Given my dad and my history with sinus/ear crap, I wasn’t at all surprised when I got prescribed one.
My dad used one. Just keep in mind there are different types of masks and you might have to experiment….
Well this is good news! you will feel so much better with one 🙂 They look complicated but they really are pretty easy. I use the water with mine so I do not dry out- it is an un noticeable mist that you can set for more or less mist. You can set how long it takes to ramp from 0 pressure to what you need to keep breathing well. You can use a over the head mask, or a air tube over your head, you can have it cover mouth and nose or just nose- which is what I use. I got used to it by putting it on when I got into bed and then reading for 20-40 min, by the time I was ready to go to sleep I was used to it and had no problems (I did this for months and still do on the regular as part of the ‘please god let me get some sleep tonight!’ routine. Cannot recommend the reading for awhile with it on enough! 🙂 Congrats on the new lease on life 😀
I love love LOVE my cpap machine. It didn’t take me too long to get used to sleeping with it, and I have the full (covering my mouth and nose) mask. It’s just like wearing a covid-mask, so it felt familiar to me. I find it so comforting now and my body knows that I’ll get good sleep at night when I put it on.
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea three years ago and use my machine every night, because I don’t want to die or have another mini stroke from lack of oxygen getting to my brain.
It wasn’t really that hard to get used to and there are lots of mask options available. I sleep with earplugs so the noise of the machine doesn’t bother me( and my husband’s snoring). I don’t snore anymore and I get restorative sleep each night. It has changed my life. The brain fog is gone, I have energy, and I feel a lot happier now. From Alison in Canada
So my dad had horrific sleep apnea, and the CPAP machine was completely life altering for him. He felt so much better, and even said his skin was less dry after he was using a regularly!
7.5 years into using a cpap, welcome to the party. It may take a while to feel better but you’ll get there. Try different masks. Most of all, rejoice in leaving hypoxia behind.
Best PSA for sleep apnea I have ever seen!
My wife used a CPAP machine and it absolutely changed her life for the better. It’s hard to get your head around how much apnea can wreck you – sure you’re getting sleep, but you’re waking up dozens of times a night even if you don’t realise and that takes its toll.
One tip: if you don’t get on with your mask you can buy compatible ones that fit differently. My wife swapped between 3 different designs when her face would start getting sore where the mask sat.
I’ve been using CPAP for a while, and it does help. It might take you a while to get used to it, or it might take one night of not stopping breathing to get used to it. 🙂 One thing I did learn was that a mask that covers both your nose and mouth is more comfortable (for me at least) than just one that goes over your nose. I’d thought I’d be okay with the nose one because I do tend to breathe through my nose when I sleep, but what happened was the pressure of the air made my mouth flop open and I’d wake up with the Sahara for a tongue, and a sore throat from the air blowing over it. Got an Airtouch F20 mask, and it’s been perfect.
My husband has extreme sleep apnea, the equivalent of holding his breath 50 seconds of every minute. He’s been on a cpap machine for over 12 years. The machines have gotten smaller and quieter over the years.
I just spent 5 days in the hospital and graduated from a CPAP to their big brother, BiPAP, which already feels more in line with my inner self.💜
Hoping it works to keep me out of the ICU!
And I hope your CPAP works to leave you rested and healthy and very much alive.
A CPAP does the trick but it ain’t no party! I’ve ripped it off my face and thrown it across the room countless times. When I want to feel sexy I end up looking like a half-naked alien in a bad 60’s era robot costume. I also like to read in bed but the style of CPAP that works best for me doesn’t work with my glasses. But it can save your life and saving YOUR life is good for all of US!
It took me a good three months to get used to my CPAP, and then another couple of months of restful sleep to feel caught up. Totally worth it.
I just took this same test a few weeks ago and was diagnosed with apnea. Anxiously waiting for my cpap to come in so I can start feeling better!
Normally a side/tummy sleeper -maybe because lying on my back choked me?- and the place let me try out three different mask types to see what worked for me. I ended up with a nose-only cover, or you can get a nose and mouth cover (which i have occasionally wished i had when i got a bad sinus cold and couldn’t breathe thru my nose), or a “nose cushion” type one which touches the least of your face but it tickled my nose hairs too much.
When I switch to a new mask (couple times a year bc the silicone gets kinda too stretchy) it is a little dry/rubbing on my skin, but skin oils will get on it and make it more comfy if slightly less hygienic. All that to say – try multiple mask types WHILE LYING DOWN AND ROLLING OVER A FEW TIMES and trust the machine to get more comfy like shoes do with use and wear.
xoxo
I don’t have sleep apnea or use a CPAP machine, but just reading all these comments I kind of wish I did. I hope the comments make you feel better about this, Jenny, and that the machine works wonders for you!
I’ve been using a CPAP since 2009 and I cannot sleep well without it. I use a mask that just goes around my nose. I used to have a mask that went around my mouth and nose but the mask I use now is much better. I feel much better each morning, like I got some really good sleep and didn’t spend the night fighting for breath.
I have had mine for a year and it saved my life!! My at home test determined I would stop breathing 70 times an hour. I walked around like zombie! I was always exhausted and irritated and hungry and miserable. It only took a couple weeks on my cpap to start feeling better again. Now I get excited to go to sleep because I feel so rested and have amazing dreams! I wish you the best of luck!!
I love my CPAP. I love being able to snuggle completely under the covers with my head completely covered. I like Nasel Airr II, not a mask. Good luck. I love, love your books!
I have a CPAP, have been using one for about 10 years now. It did take a little getting used to, but the machine itself is very easy to set up and work and the place I got mine walked me through everything. Also the machine is not half as noisy as they use to be. I would only recommend 2 things – if you can get the nose pillow over the full mask. They had me try the full mask first but I found it to claustrophobic. They switched me to the nose only and it made a world of difference. Second, I don’t know how you sleep – on your side, back, stomach – but there are pillows for people who use CPAPs (you can get them on Amazon) and they make adjusting to using a CPAP even easier. Just stick with it and it will change your life for the better. Good luck!
It can take awhile to get used to the mask. Even if you only make it 5 minutes the first night, don’t quit! Consider it a success and aim for 6 minutes the next night. You’ll get the hang of it eventually, don’t get discouraged. And soon you’ll sleep through the night and wake feeling so much better because oxygen!
Took me at least a full six months to figure out what type of mask, hose and settings were best for me but I didn’t give up because the nights I got through during that period made such a difference. I use nasal pillows, the slimmer hose and an automatic machine (APAP). You are going to learn so many new things! You like learning, I hope.
Welcome to the CPAP club! I just picked up a replacement machine today. Used up the other one, apparently I “exceeded maximum hours.” These machines are SILENT and I found a mask that’s comfortable and easy. I was so relieved to not be stopping breathing during sleep that I took to it right away. Now I don’t even nap without it. It feels wrong to not have it on while sleeping.
First: I’m so sorry you’re going through this, but hopefully you will start getting much better sleep! But also: am I the only one laughing and face-palming over the sleepwalker’s walking into your room at night, because you would think that at a facility designed to diagnose strongly-suspected sleep disorders they might have planned for such a contingency? Did the sleep eater have a room adjacent to the kitchen? Did the guy with night terrors get assigned to bunk with the insomniac? Was the narcoleptic given a long, private bath before bed? DUDE.
Girl I was going to scream at you that you are not dead. My biggest problem is cat. 3am. Oi! I get my shit checked and yes, I’m fat. I started back again doing something about it. I have a very bad relationship with food.
Get the mask where the tube comes out the top instead of the front (like an elephant’s trunk). Way easier to sleep on and move around. Airfit p30i is great.
I had 86 sleep apnea “events” an hour when I took the test. My CPAP machine is the best! I thought it was my husband’s snoring that was keeping me awake. Nope…it was me. I sleep better, feel more rested, and wake up with less pain than I did without it. I use the nasal pillows and was able to get used to them pretty easily. As another comment said, the machine is like white noise. I bet you will get used to it fast. It will change your life!
Think white noise and alive. You will nap less once you sleep better. There’s no rule that prohibits you from using the machine for naps. Get the humidifier ’option’ — without it I get bloody noses a lot. With it, not a problem. They aren’t a problem to use and I’m a twist and turn side sleeper— so no worries. There are a lot of options for the mask — if one doesn’t work, try another. Benefit? Brain fog lifts and you have more daytime energy. Life is so much better with a mask. Just remember to take it off and put it back on if you get up to pee during the night.
Husband and I both have one. I have the full face mask, and my husband has just the nose mask. With the nose mask, you can’t open your mouth or you’ll feel like you can’t breathe. Make sure to clean it frequently and set up automatic orders for replacement parts. It takes a while to get used to it but I don’t notice it anymore. Be patient, it won’t happen overnight. The machine I have is easy to set up and disassemble with a convenient carrying case.
CPAP has come a long way. Masks are much easier to wear/use and much quieter too. I refused 25 years ago – but now? I won’t even take a nap without my mask – been using it 7 years now. I do have advice! Be prepared for it to absolutely suck for the first 3 nights and you’ll be even more tired than you are now. Sorry. After 2 weeks is when I finally settled in to the routine and fell in love with CPAP. Try out different mask styles. I had a mask that worked well, but it forced me to sleep on my back and that wasn’t going to cut it for life – I’m a combo sleeper sleeping back, side, stomach… the Phillips DreamWear mask is the winner. The hose comes out from the top of your head and spins 360 degrees so tossing and turning is still possible. Like I said, the 1st 3 nights were awful, but persistence is key. Same as forming any new routine habit.
My husband had it. The machine is hard to get used to but not dying is worth it. I hear they have improved. If you need on that works over your mouth instead of your nose you can get them. We called it the Darth Vader machine.
My sleep apnea was not as bad, so I was able to wear an oral appliance – it’s like two retainers. If you are worried about adapting, you might ask if that’s a possibility.
I was given a sleep study like six years ago because I was so exhausted and spending like half my time sleeping and was told I had apnea/needed a CPAP. It was easy to set up and sat on my nightstand, and as far as I know, only made audible noise when it slipped off and started blowing forceful air all over the place. I even lugged the thing to Italy with me for a week and a half. BUT, when I went back for the follow up sleep study (they didn’t seem to have the at home ones yet, so be glad you avoided the inpatient experience), I was subsequently told that I DIDN’T have apnea, that the first test was wrong, and that the exhaustion had likely just been because ‘ya know, I have lupus and stuff (stuff being all of the other chronic conditions). I will say though that the people I know who use a CPAP for real apnea, including my mom, have seen a world of difference even in the first weeks of using it.
I have a cpap machine and it is life changing! There are different sizes and styles of masks so it may take a few tries to find what is perfect for you.
I also have four other friends/family members who use them so this is not uncommon. You will LOVE it when you finally sleep!
My advice is actually for Victor (hi Victor) if you sleep in the same bed (I totally do not need to know the answer to this, really I don’t) – shortly after my husband got his CPAP we had an issue in the middle of the night (to put it mildly) where he somehow wrapped the extra tubing around MY neck and thankfully I woke up, but it scared me (because of course dreaming of snakes and waking up to a boa constrictor (oops, I mean someone’s CPAP equipment) strangling you is just somuchfun* (not)). Anyhow – we looped the tubing around part of the headboard in a way that gives free range of movement to him, but there is an almost zero chance of me portraying Indiana Jones in my sleep. Much better for all involved.
Also – distilled water in the chamber if you are using that and change it daily. Buy at least two when you restock. For some reason our megamart seems to run out of distilled water. My grandmother ironed with distilled water, but since nobody really irons bedsheets anymore, I’m guessing it’s from all the cpap machines.
It’ll be ok, and you’ll feel so much better. 🙂
My spouse just started on CPAP, and while it has taken some adjusting to, I think he’s getting used to it. He’s definitely sleeping better, his energy is better, and he’s less likely to pass out on the couch anytime he sits down on it. I definitely don’t miss the snoring, or him yelling in his sleep in the middle of the night.
my dad had sleep apnea and we finally got him a cpap machine. it was very easy to use, and everything improved afterwards. im so sorry you are going through this, but at least there is a painless and non invasive solution. you will feel so much better the day after you start using it. feel good jenny!
My husband sleeps in one every night faithfully, and it helps tremendously, both so he doesn’t gasp and choke so much and stop breathing and for his snoring(so I do not smother him with a pillow from that sound). 🙂 Just be sure to keep lots of distilled water on hand, and wash it regularly, order your supplies well in advance of when you need a new mask, and tubes, etc. And, don’t give up on it, if your saturation levels are that low, do not skip wearing it, that is very scary! Good luck, and oh boy you will feel so much better after you get some true, restful sleep!
Get the CPAP. Watching my boyfriend sleep before he got his was terrifying (literally looks like something out of a horror movie when he stops breathing, and then when he gasps he also thrashes…also when he IS breathing he snores loud enough to wake the dead). We both sleep so much better now that he has a CPAP. And the modern ones are small and quiet so you’ll only look a little like Bane and sound a little like Vader.
Wondering if it’s your meds…
2 of my friends use CPAP’s and they really helped them. You can get one that is small and doesn’t look like Bane’s mask. The only thing is if you are a stomach sleeper that may pose a problem. But other than that you should use one.
I discovered that youtube has all these “white noise” videos that are 8-12 hours in duration. The screen goes black and I am lulled to sleep by thundering rain or chirping crickets. After boyfriend brought home his little sleep apnea gadget, on the nights I can bully him into wearing it, he sleeps much more peacefully and I’ve moved my white noise videos on to trains as they keep his rhythm. I don’t know if he dies during the night, but from the passenger side of the bed, it’s really less obnoxious than his thrashing, gasping and snorting.
So yeah, CPAPs take time to get used to but they make a world of difference in terms of how you feel. If the first mask type doesn’t work for you, try another and another until you get the right fit. Tell them if you typically sleep with your mouth open or closed – that matters for what kind of mask. And keep using it. It will be really fucking weird at first. But it does help, especially with the brain fog.
And hopefully you can get a machine soon. There was a global shortage during the pandemic and I’m not sure how or if they’ve caught up yet. 🤞🏼
I was diagnosed in my 30s. Find a device that works best for you. Don’t settle for a miserable mask and then end up throwing it to the wayside like I did. It CAN make a difference, but it may take some time and equipment adjustments.
For me, the name of the game was trying soooooo many masks until I found the one. My DME let me swap them endlessly, and the one I ended up with was not what anyone expected. There are TONS! I like quiet ones.
After the first paragraph I thought — “that sound like sleep apnea”. When I was diagnosed, the so-called “sleep study” (more like a toss and turn study) entailed multiple wires and a nasal attachment of some sort, but at least they gave me a urinal because when they repeated the study and I didn’t have one they had to disconnect me so I could go to the bathroom and pee. (Next time, if there is one, I’ll just wet the bed.)
Anyway, I’ve been using a CPAP machine with a “mask” that consists of nasal “pillows” and now I have to be concerned with nasal congestion. That’s like 15 years. The “Durable Medical Equipment” supplier is continually after me to get replacement parts so they can bill my insurance. But I sleep soundly, except when I have to get up to pee (of course).
I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP. I was very, very lucky that I had no trouble adjusting to using it at all. (That also makes me pretty useless when it comes to advice, because it just . . . worked.) Not everyone is that lucky, but there are lots of choices out there now, so I’m confident you’ll find something that works for you.
And OMG did I feel SO MUCH BETTER. I probably had apnea for years, and just thought, “Well, that’s me–I can just fall asleep anywhere!” Also, I had a terrible time getting up in the morning and would hit the snooze button for, oh, an hour-and-a-half or so. Naturally, I just blamed myself. The really awesome thing is, a CPAP isn’t like a medication that takes a while to work: getting a good night’s sleep, possibly for the first time in years, made a noticeable difference in my energy level the very first day!
I also had problems with nasal congestion–still do if I lie down without my CPAP–but it takes care of that, too. I love my CPAP and never sleep without it. I hope you are as lucky with it as I am!
Echoing the thought that if the first mask doesn’t work for you, keep trying because I think it was my third or fourth one that finally worked for me and didn’t make me feel like a total freak or give me headaches. I still hate it, but I use it every night because … you know, not dying and having a brain. So … you can figure it out, and use it because it does help and the not snoring helps everyone in your household get their sleep.
I used a CPAP machine for a while and, while it took a bit to get used to it, it was a game changer.
My husband would stop breathing some 60+ times a night but once he got the CPAP he feels substantially better. I also have one but my condition is much milder. Helps both of us with getting a good nights sleep and feeling better so we don’t need so many naps. But you also probably won’t die if you have a nap without the CPAP. You’ve made it this far without one! Note that there’s a couple types of machines. Everyone refers to it as a CPAP but lots have an APAP which adjusts the air pressure as needed and is much preferred to the fixed pressure machine. There’s also a few different types of masks….and different styles depending which brand of machine you get. Once you pick a machine or are recommended one, you may want to be fitted to figure out which mask feels most comfortable for you! My husband prefers the nasal pillows but I prefer the full mask. Give it some time to adapt and soon you’ll feel better.
Totally get it, had the same “cat toy” strapped on, had 101 apnea “occurrences”. And it often does feel like you’re about dead when you wake up after not breathing much. It sucks but take care of it cause it can make you dead for real.
If you don’t like the first mask you choose, get another kind. I have a fabric mask. I tried the nasal pillow, and it was more comfortable but I found myself waking up to really dry mouth. So then I added a chin strap to keep my mouth closed. Didn’t work, went back to fabric mask which makes lines on my face unless I tuck a folded up handkerchief under each strap. I also need to get another sleep study because I’m always waking up to the air blowing too hard, have to hit the Ramp button to slow it down. The machines are super quiet now, much quieter than the snoring.
My husband did the sleep test a month or so ago. He failed with flying colors, averaged 35 times and hour for stopping breathing. He got his CPAP a couple weeks ago. It is LIFE CHANGING for both of us.
My ex-boyfriend snored so bad that I actually considered the rest of my life in prison was worth it for one night’s respite…after much nagging, and some not-so-thinly-veiled threats to ‘solve it with a pillow…’ he agreed to be tested, with the same results you had.. He now has a C-PAP machine, which has helped. However, when he displeases his cat, the C-PAP machine ‘gets it’- the cat knows exactly where to bite the tubing to mess w/the airflow, but be nearly undetectable/fixable. I have a really hard time not laughing my butt off when he tells me of the latest incident- and since he is now down to only 1 cat, the culprit is easy to find.
I also have severe sleep apnea, where my brain forgets to tell me to breathe during the night. I had like 52 episodes an hour, which meant I wasn’t breathing most of the time. With the Rolls-Royce of machines, which they even called an APAP as it basically is a ventilator that will make me breathe both in and out when I stop, I now might stop breathing once or twice a night, and it takes care of it. The Darth Vader mask takes a while to get used to, but I’m a mouth breather so that was the only option. It’s better than dying!
My partner uses a CPAP (nasal pillow style), and it has made a world of difference for him, though it did take him a bit of time to get accustomed to it. It’s quiet and not at all noticeable to me. Hopefully you can find a style that works well for you and get more restful sleep!
I just started using a cpap in November. During my sleep studies (the at home and at the hospital) I slept TERRIBLE because of all the things attached. when they told me I had sleep apnea and restless leg Im like are you sure? because I barely slept! generally I like it-almost no snoring. Dont be afraid to try different masks if your sleep apnea allows. I had one mask that was just below my nose and mouth, hose out of the mouth area. but then switched to a hose on top of the head mask (which helped with the hose in my way sleeping problem). now I have one that just covers my nose because I was having claustrophobia issues.
Dear Jenny,
First, good for the diagnosis, but second, sorry you have to deal with sleep apnea. My husband has it, like apparently many hubs here, and I probably do too, cuz the waking up choking thing is common for me. Because I suck at sleeping so badly, when hubs got his mask, I thought I was the wife of Darth Vader. It was horrible, not for him but me (call me Darth Vader’s Drama Diva). After a few months, my husband ended up hating the mask too and switched to this mouth piece guard system (can we put dr’s names here?). He loves it, he’s not Darth Vader anymore and his sleep apnea is 90% gone. Also, since I am probably needing a check up too can you share a good doc to get tested?
Good luck❣️
I’ve been using a CPAP since 2012 and it made all the difference with brain fog and energy. I use a mask that goes over my nose. The dr told me that to keep my mouth closed I could buy one of those sling things and after 1 month my body would be used to doing it. He was right – 12 years later and my mouth still stays closed (but only when I’m sleeping. 😉
It does take a bit to get used to the tube connecting you to the machine, but at this point once I put it on my brain knows it’s time to shut down and sleep.
Do it! CPAP is the most reformative tool in my sleep rehabilitation. (Buh bye brain fog..) I would say it is worth it to get a travel CPAP even if you are not travelling. Because you may travel some day and if you don’t, when the power goes out, it doesn’t turn into an active strangulation machine. Plus the travel ones are small and more easily hidden from the imaginary cleaning lady I am sure that would be shocked by my apparatuses.
I used a CPAP machine for sleep apnea for many years and it helped a lot but after a while (several years) I just couldn’t tolerate the masks. Whether that had anything to do with worsening anxiety or not I can’t say. Just recently had the Inspire implant for sleep apnea. Still in the learning/programming curve but so far it’s been a game changer for me. It’s not for all apnea sufferers but if you can’t tolerate CPAP, it might be something to look at. No, I have nothing to do with the company, just a satisfied user.
Cpap user here! You will think omg, I’ll do this and the next day instantly better. Unfortunately no. It takes a few months, but it’s easy to get use to, with the right mask. I tried the nose one and I got an earache, the perfect one for me is the Amara view, because you can still see over the top of it, but finding what works for you might not happen on the first try, but in the long run is so worth it! Plus, I can pull covers over my head and sleep in without suffocating. Bonus! Also, plenty of skinny people have this and even children. Thinking it’s about weight is old news.
My cpap makes zero noise. I love this thing…once you tweak it if need be. I’m so glad you got one because you will slowly feel better, and that’s a good thing! Plus, you can take pictures and pretend you are in the icu and scare people, lol.
Husband wears one and has for a long time. CPAP and BIPAP are two different thing and one may work better for you than the other. Like others have said, trial and error with various face masks/nasal pillows will probably yield good results. Look forward to more energy and better sleep. Good luck, Jenny. We’re rooting for you!
It’s definitely a bit of an adjustment but waking up without a headache or exhausted from not breathing is pretty sweet. I also had nightmares pretty much every night about being on a tactical team who were in danger and searching for something. I’m guessing they were looking for oxygen bc the nightmares immediately stopped after I got my mask. 🤷🏽♀️🙂 Good luck!! ❤️
I just started with a Herbst device! It looks torturous, but helps so much. Sleep issues are the cause of SO MANY health issues…truly a trickle down doozy. I wish a sleep study was required of everyone of a certain age as the natural degeneration of muscles in our neck causes so many sleep issues.
I have been diagnosed with apnea and did try the whole contraption for 6 months, long enough to learn neither my husband or I could sleep when I was wearing it. I had to tighten the mask so tight to my face to keep it from letting air escape out the side that it left deep red lines in my skin. The air escaping made a kind of wheeee sound. Annoying enough without the lines on my face. Since I am a mouth breather I couldn’t use the nose type. I still snore but no problems other than being tired, but I have fibro too so I’m tired anyway.
I’ve been using one for over 20 years – they have come a long way during that time in terms of machines and mask options. Bottom line, it takes a little while to get used to, but it is life changing in terms of its effectiveness. I went from constantly falling asleep during the day (at work!) to rarely. (Funny story, I was working at a sleep lab and fell asleep on the job. The head of the clinic caught me and instead of firing me, he offered me a free sleep study, and gave me a free donated CPAP. I was newly in the country and had no health insurance. Talk about luck!)
Never commented before. Both myself, wife, son have sleep apnea. On my fifth CPAP machine, all ordered on line. My only recommendation is get one with a humidifier tank and hose best decision I have made. I even have one just for travel.
My ex husband tried the CPAP machine, decided he didn’t like the one mask he tried, and kept ripping it off in his sleep. He didn’t try any other kinds. He said it hurt his head and left him with dry mouth even with the distilled water. Then he tried a mouth guard, which worked great, but he kept biting through it and breaking the bands that held it together, and almost choked on it in his sleep.
He gave up on the whole thing instead of trying other options, even though his snoring, choking and gasping and lack of sleep was making him awful to live with, and it’s really upsetting to live with someone who is dying multiple times a night, and keeping me awake the whole night long with snores I could hear from outside our apartment, and my hoping he wouldn’t die in his sleep, or drive drowsy and crash his car.
End story, his refusal to use a mouth guard or CPAP machine is going to kill him eventually, and it killed our marriage because he wound up being an awful grouch to me from lack of sleep and refusal to do something about it.
So stick with it, try different masks, or the mouth guard, or whatever you can to figure out something that works for you. Because the alternative of not doing something about it is far worse.
Team CPAP for at least 5 years. Maybe more. I have a tip to help you get used to it. For the first day or so before you try to wear it at night, sit in your bed and wear it. Watch TV, read a book, do whatever you feel like doing that will keep you still. The first night I tried to sleep in it, it was a no go – I ripped it off in my sleep and tossed it. I called my doctor, and he gave me the above advice. It really helped. I cannot sleep with without mine on. My husband, however, has been team CPAP for 10 years. I believe he has worn his mask three times altogether. We now sleep apart.
I also stop breathing during sleep, also during the day. It’s not sleep apnea for me, though, despite being fat. They always think it is. I have a nice CPAP that I can’t use, though. Do you want it? I use oxygen.
There’s the traditional sleep apnea machines and implant devices, but there is an oral medicine coming out soon called AD109. Something to explore! The machines are great but sounds like your furry babies may be an issue.
Hi Jen, I didn’t read all the comments, so if this repeats, I apologize. I’ve used a cpap machine for 15 years. The machine I love is a Resmed Airsense 11 (the current version, I think). It senses whether you’re breathing in or out, and follows your breathing so that you aren’t fighting it. When you stop breathing, it ramps up the pressure until you start breathing again, then settles back down. It also has a cell connection built into it, and reports your nighttime breathing history to a website that you can use to see how you’re doing. I’m sure people have noted that the standard masks are terrible! I was never in my life so anxious and claustrophobic as when I tried to sleep with that thing. The solution is to use the ResMed Swift FX nasal pillow system instead. It straps gently over your head and holds two very soft silicone air funnels in your nostrils. The kit comes with 3 sizes of “nasal pillows” so you can find just the right one. It’s still annoying, but not as much as falling asleep at the wheel or dying of heart failure because your body thinks it’s suffocating 100 times/night. Do you and Victor sleep in separate rooms? If not, he’s a saint. My wife used to lie awake listening to me not breathe. When she thought I’d never start again, she’d kick me. For a woman who was anxious and had trouble sleeping anyway, this was a nightmare.
You will feel so much better with a CPAP machine – in a couple of months. It won’t work immediately as it takes time to recover from sleep deprivation. And there are many types of masks, so if the first ones you try don’t work for you, don’t give up. It’s so nice when our problems can actually be solved by something simple. Also, if you take naps, be sure to use it then. I’m so happy you found a solution.
My husband uses a CPAP. He looks and sounds like Darth Vader but it’s actually really not complicated and really helps. You got this!!
Honey-your life is about to change!! I have been using a CPAP machine for 5 years. It takes awhile to adjust-you may need to switch masks until you find your perfect fit but it is all well worth it. I feel so much better and you will too if you stick with it!
Would be so happy to answer any questions along your way!
Oh, man, that sucks.
I was tested for sleep apnea a few years back. I didn’t have it. The doc said, “We can find nothing wrong with you, but you woke up 126 times during the test night. I suspect you need some sort of psychological help.” So, yeah, demons!
There are three basic styles of masks, with many variations within each style, so you have options. Folks have mentioned the nose pillows, then the kind that covers/encases your nose (I call it the clown nose which did NOT amuse my doctor and it’s the one she and I both use) and then the kind that covers your mouth and nose.
I like my clown nose, but it poses a problem if I watch something sad right before bed since I’m a cryer and then my nose gets stuffed up. I manage though. I kinda wish I had the full mask to switch to when that happens.
AirSense has good CPAPs and pretty straightforward in use, but have your doctor set the amount of humidity and pressure. Too much pressure can give you the sensation of not getting enough air (oddly) and too high humidity means you’ll have moisture building up in the mask which will be a little puddle running down your face in the morning. Lovely.
CPap is so much easier than taking another pill or getting surgery. Dental appliances do not usually work and tend to cause issues with TMJ. Nasal pillows with a hose that comes out the top is easiest for reading in bed. Try using it during the day while reading or watching TV, and that will speed up the process of getting used to it.
You will get used to a cpap machine but you will never like it. Be persistent and ask for different masks, nose pillows, etc until you are comfortable-ish. Also, if your apnea allows, there is a device that replaces the machine. It goes in your mouth and pulls your lower jaw forward to improve your breathing. I have that. I don’t know what it’s called. It is like a bite guard with metal but goes on the roof and the bottom of your mouth. I had to pay extra to get the super strong one because I grind my teeth. I much prefer it over a cpap machine. Ask your doctor about it.
My husband uses a cpap machine. I don’t even hear it. Am I going deaf? Probably.
I’ll be thinking of you dear friend.
LOVE mine. I had similar events per hour. Once you get used to it you will never want to be without it. Bonus: Airlines don’t count your machine as a bag and so I stuff my cpap machine with additional stuff to lessen the amount of baggage.
I had such bad sleep apnea I was literally falling asleep while driving. My first solution was “catnaps at well lit highway rest areas,” but that’s not always possible. And risks me being murdered. Plus the stress was driving my blood pressure through the roof. So it’s been CPAP for 15 years. It took maybe a week to get used to it and since then I’m just grateful to have it. In fact feeling its gentle little alien-like grip makes me relax so I get to sleep faster! Unhesitatingly recommend it.
I did one of those tests once. The official diagnosis was “Medically speaking there’s nothing wrong with you. Have you seen a therapist yes?”
My mom and husband have CPAP machines and both have said that at first it is annoying/confusing to find a new way to sleep, but that after you get the trick of it it’s fine. Also, my mom said it was SO worth it, cuz she felt WAY better with it. And my husband kinda agreed that was true, but then he forgot part of it when he was on a trip and after just one night, he noticed a huge difference. He got home after the second night away and was basically like NEVER AGAIN, because apparently it really does help a TON.
I am trying to get my own sleep study done now, because I also have the brain fog and some seriously bad fatigue, but it doesn’t seem like an apnea thing, so we’ll find out. Well, I hope so anyway – my doctor is on board and pushing for it, but the clinic never gets back to me, soooo apparently they want me to suffer, but one day my dr. will nag them enough that they stop being cruel.
I’ve had cpap since September 2023 – and like you, I was basically dying each night more than once. Since day 1 Cpap changed my life – or gave it back to me again. They said to give it a week to adjust to – but I slept soundly for the first time in forever from that very first night. You’ll do great!
I have sleep apnea and I actually live my cpap. There are different types of masks for how you breath, when you actually breath. I can tell a huge difference when I sleep with out it. I’m on my second one because I used the 1st one for like 18,000 hrs and it stopped working effectively. They may take a bit of getting use to but Definitely worth it! ~Ashlee Fowler
I got tested years ago and was found to have severe sleep apnea.
My anxiety made me terrified to use it but they gave me these tips.
Put the mask on 20min to 1/2 before you go to sleep to help you relax.
I read before I sleep so they said to do that but you could listen to music, a calming podcast, or watch something on an iPad.
There is also a way to lower the air so you don’t really notice it and it gradually builds up. They said I can keep doing that until I felt comfortable while I was waiting to fall asleep.
It took me about a week and now I don’t even notice I’m wearing it anymore. They have different masks so you can keep trying till you find the one you’re most comfortable with. And they can adjust the airflow and it’s been a life changer.
I never sleep/nap without it.
I hope this helps, and I promise you will feel better.
My husband uses a cpap. It does take a little bit to get used to it however it’s so worth it. It comes in a nice carrying case so he can take it with when traveling. When he wants to take a nap he takes it in bed so he can use it. It does make some noise when it’s on. It sounds like a white noise machine which is nice.
Been on one for three plus years. Piece of cake. After a while you can’t imagine sleeping without one. Do it. The nice thing is you can pull the covers over your head and have your own private air supply.
I just started using one in the past year because my husband noticed that I recently started snoring! Turns out I have mild sleep apnea.. It was really easy to set up. The mask I got just goes on my nose and straps around my head. Although, I have a mild case and sometimes the mask you have to get may be different depending on how you breath at night (like a mouth and nose one covering mask).
It was weird for the first few nights, but I got used to it pretty easily… I will say I used to move around a lot, flip sides and wake up and now I pretty much sleep through the night on my back… sleeping on my back was probably the most difficult for me because I’m a side sleeper… and I don’t like laying on my side with the mask..
The first few nights I used it I had weird dreams… and I could tell when the air pressure increased.. felt weird..
You will feel so much better when you are using the CPAP machine! There is a small adjustment to wearing it, but so worth it in the long run!
Got sleep apnea, not obese, just unlucky. I love my CPAP, ( which spell-check made into “clap”, so good thing I checked)! It may be slightly inconvenient sometimes, but just knowing I will wake up rested is such a thrill that I still love it. I don’t always stop breathing, but it’s such a shallow breath I don’t move air. Don’t ask me how this is still breathing. I Stop breathing when my brain has REM asleep, hence….. not a good night. If you want to see a picture with my pug- face mask also on.. just ask. Had a cpap for many years! It’s fun!
I’ve been using a CPAP since December and I feel so much better! Set up and use is easy and so worth it to get a truly restful sleep.
First and foremost, you are not allowed to die. I am much older than you and I insist on dying first. Secondly (and I don’t have sleep apnea so I don’t know squat) they keep advertising something on TV that is an alternative to the machine. Have you asked about it? Anyway, looking forward to having you fog-free. If you are this brilliant with brain fog, please talk down to me at my level when you far exceed my abilities to understand you.
I recently got a CPAP machine. It’ll be ok. You can get a cute little under the nose mask, and you’ll learn the difference between nose pillows and nose cushions. You’ll be able to sleep 9 full hours (probably, your mileage may vary, this is just my experience) and it is easier to breathe. It’ll be ok.
My mom swears by hers and says she sleeps so much better. I know several people that use them and maybe I need one too. Thanks for the reminder to get sh** checked.
For me, getting a CPAP mask that was ‘nose pillows’ and rested under my nose instead of covering my nose and mouth made a BIG difference in terms of how I could manage the claustrophobia/anxiety of it. But I also had to “power through” a bit (with the help of lorazepam…) to just get used to sleeping with it on. It took me years to get into the habit of using it regularly but I got there!
A CPAP takes a few nights to get used to, but after you do, you’ll feel SO much better. I’ve been using one for several years now and I feel so much better. I was having an “episode” ever second. My husband can now sleep through the night also. He was waking up because the snoring would stop, then I would gasp for air so loudly it scared him enough to always check to make sure I’m breathing. Not as much snoring either, so that’s a bonus. Just don’t get drunk and then try to wear the CPAP, I get claustrophobic when I do that. Good luck and here’s to good oxygen!
My husband has terrible sleep apnea and I would often lie awake waiting for him to stop breathing so I could nudge him awake (alive) again. He’s had a CPAP for over a year now and he’s feeling so much better—as am I! He sleeps and is so much more rested. You’ll feel so much better Jenny!
I was just looking up sleep specialists for myself because I’m pretty sure I have sleep apnea too, on top of a pretty severe sleep disorder wherein I only seem to be able to sleep during the day but it’s kind of hard to do that when people also want me to do my job during the day. Anyway, my mom and brother-in-law both have CPAP machines and they both sleep much better with them. I really don’t want to have to deal with it or have a CPAP either but I’ll take that over feeling like I’m dying all the time. And also possibly dying from not breathing.
untreated sleep apnea causes depression, so please use a cpap every time you sleep.
It took me a long time (several years) to get used to the CPAP and mask, but once I did, I felt so much better and had so much more energy. Just give yourself time. If you can’t do it right away, just stop for a while and then try again in a day/week/month. The type of mask you get and what kind of sleeper you are (back/side/etc) will make a big difference.
I’m convinced the CPAP saved my husband from an early death. Consider the version with “nasal pillows” instead of the full face mask. It may take some adjusting but you will feel so much better.
I was really shocked when I found out I had sleep apnea because I didn’t have any of the normal symptoms and was only getting sleep tested for chronic insomnia. It was a scary diagnosis but getting cpap was a game changer. It’s not fixed my insomnia but at least the sleep I do get is so much better quality now.
The masks and machine all look scary when it’s new but it honestly only took me a couple of days to get used to wearing it. My machine is really quiet so hopefully yours will be too and they have all sorts of different shaped masks so you can try different styles if the first one isn’t comfortable.
32 times sounds like a lot but when I got tested I was stopping breathing 82 times an hour so yours isn’t the worst diagnosis I’ve ever heard of.
Good luck trying out your machine, I suffer with panic attacks and the first time I put it on it did feel a bit frightening but my doctor recommended trying it for the first time when I was sitting relaxed doing something like watching TV. The very first time I put it on I pulled it off almost immediately but then I tried again and tried to focus on a movie and let myself breathe normally. It really helped to get used to sitting wearing it when the lights were on and I was wide awake as it gave me time to get used to how it all felt. Then when I went to bed later I felt more comfortable because I knew how to set everything up and I’d already adjusted the mask straps so they were comfortable. The first few days I found I was taking the mask off in my sleep halfway through the night which is totally normal but by the end of the week I was waking up still wearing it and didn’t really notice it was there anymore.
You’ll feel so much better when you can breathe properly that you’ll soon get over any nerves about the mask!
My dad has a sleep apnea machine. I think it would be so uncomfortable, but he tells me without it he wouldn’t get any sleep at all. He just goes to cvs once in awhile to buy whatever water he needs for it.
I stop breathing when I’m awake now and my doc wanted to test for a sleep apnea. When they called to schedule a sleep study, I told them I have issues during the day when I’m awake and they said they’d get back to me. That was ages ago. I hate the Healthcare system.
You get used to it. Try a CPAP mask that uses ‘nasal pillows’ instead of the full face, Darth Vader looking things. Refreshing sleep is life changing. Good luck!
If you are a mouth breather, you will need a mask that goes over your mouth. I wasn’t asked if I was and only had a nasal mask which gave me panic attacks every time I didn’t breathe through my nose. I now have a mask that goes over my mouth and the nasal part rests under my nose.
Just started my CPAP adventure six weeks ago with a contraption that uses nasal pillows – sounds more comfy than it is – and I can tell you it takes several weeks to adjust. I have only successfully used it a full eight hours twice. Worth sticking with as the alternative is maybe be dying from sleep apnea? Not yet feeling all that refreshing energy I was promised but not giving up. Hang in there! Upside is it’s hilarious looking! Side sleeper for life!! I’m exhausted.
After years of snoring that just got worse, my husband finally yelled in the middle of the night “go get a fucking sleep test”. I did the at-home test, and I apparently stopped breathing 13 times per hour. Apparently that’s not good, so I got a CPAP. It’s not hard to get used to, there’s a very long tube so I can even turn over. I needed a full face mask because I’m a mouth breather. And when it’s on my face, it’s silent. Doesn’t bother either of us. For the first time in 10 years, I can get out of bed most mornings without feeling completely sleep-deprived.
I have severe sleep apnea. I’ve fought having a CPAP machine for a couple of years, but I might have to give in. I’m not getting enough sleep and I’m feeling burnt out all of the time.
Really I love my cpap, soooo helpful. It wasn’t complicated and luckily the “nose pillows” really work for me. You got this. Really.
Claps are a good thing. My husband got one six years ago and I no longer want to smother him in his sleep. You will wake up feeling like you’ve actually slept instead of waking up feeling like you just did battle with some dream demons
I’m totally adjusted to my cpap and wear it regularly. It didn’t take me more than a couple of nights to adjust. My only thing is that my lungs hate the transition period between no cpap and cpap so I have to take the first couple of minutes to put the mask on and off for longer periods until my lungs remember that this is a thing we do every night. But that is only like two minutes.
My only tip is that if the nose plugs bother you, put some KY jelly up your nose. This was explained to me by the CPAP technician who fitted my mask, so I’m not making this up.
Please don’t die; we need you in the world.
There are all kinds of masks! If you are a topsy turvy sleeper who moves around a lot they have masks for that! The hose attaches at the top of your head so you can roll around without wrapping yourself in the air hose! If you sleep with your mouth open they can give you a chin strap that holds your mouth closed while you sleep or you can get a mask that covers your nose and mouth instead then you do not need a chin strap. If you have sensitive skin sometimes the mask can irritate your skin, there are satin wraps that can be attached to your mask so it isn’t rubbing directly against your face. Hope some of this helps!
I have used a CPAP for years and it makes a huge difference and I didn’t have that much trouble getting used to it. I will mention that there is a new treatment called Inspire[dot]com, which is essentially getting a little thing like a pacemaker installed, except it gives your soft palate or something a little tweak every few seconds so it doesn’t block your throat. I also think it’s not nearly as invasive a procedure to have it put in as getting a pacemaker would be. Good for you for taking care of yourself!
I am a fellow cpap wearer – don’t worry the machine is straight forward to set up. As others have mentioned the new machines run fairly quiet. The mask is a little uncomfortable at first but try different masks to find the right one for you. I put on an alarm to wake me up to put it on. I need to be half asleep, I have tried to fall asleep with it on already and that doesn’t work for me. Good luck Jenny. Pleasant dreams 💤
Yep, I have a cpap too; I won’t bore you with my diagnosis’ details or machine type. You’ve gotten lots of good advice already…but I just wanted to say that wearing a CPAP is NOT SEXY. Maybe better if spouse wears one too.
My bedroom has sliding mirror closet doors…and I’m always startled when I see myself with the device on; the movie “Alien” always comes to mind. Other than that, it is all pretty good.👍
I’ve used a cpap for several years. I griped about it for a while. It’s like having an octopus on your face, but it’s better than dying in your sleep, I guess. I have treatment-resistant depression and CPTSD, so I have a lot of symptoms that are common to various ailments, but I I think it’s helped. If you have a headboard, try putting the hose behind and over it to keep it from running amok. Good luck!
I just started with a CPAP machine a few months ago, and although I have had to change face gear types several times to help me sleep (I sleep on my face, so…) it makes sleep much more restful and I don’t snore either, and apparently I sounded like a wildebeest with my snoring. Or whatever snores really loudly. Just keep trying until one day the CPAP is easy and you sleep better and your brain gets less foggy. Apparently CPA has saved some of my friends’ lives, so please use it and keep messing around until you get the right mask for you. We need you to not be dead.
My wife, who has ms, also has sleep apnea.
She used a cpap for years, and it was beneficial.
However, she recently did the Inspire operation.
She sleeps much better with it, and, when we spend the night away from home, she doesn’t have to wag around the cpap machine.
Well…I stopped breathing 40 times so HA…got ya beat! I (and my husband) have been sleeping with a CPAP machine for years now. I won’t lie…sometimes it’s hard but you WILL get used to it. Just keep trying after you fling it off during the night. It gets easier…or more familiar. Good luck.
Well that is scary as can be. I’ve wanted a CPAP machine ever since Covid after I read about a man overseas who couldn’t find room in a hospital to treat his dad who caught it. He kept him on a CPAP machine to help him breathe and had him do the PRONE thing. It’s like a bed for a pregnant woman to lie on her stomach (ever did a hole in the sand at the beach to accommodate your big pregnant belly?). Gravity makes breathing easier when your lungs can dangle instead of being crushed by all the other body parts. You can now be a lifesaver in addition to saving your own by not dying at night. Fingers crossed and prayers sent.
The machine looks scary but it’s really helpful. It beats the side effect of Death due to sleep apnea by a mile. My husband would stop breathing several times a night and it was so scary. I would have to shove him to get him to breathe again. Honestly the CPAP machine is a game changer. Good luck! I think you’ll feel so much better.
I had a boyfriend years ago who used a CPAP machine. The white noise it made had me lseeping like a baby, too!
I was diagnosed last year. Very much still alive. I think I had it easy getting used to it. I also watched a lot of YouTube videos about mask types. I am a Flippy floppy mouth breathing stomach sleeper so I went with the f30i which has the hose coming out the top of my head so I don’t strangle myself in my sleepytime gymnastics routine.
Hello dear Jenny!
I just found out about February and have had challenges (especially my cat 😺) but it’s made falling asleep way easier and I have come up from 22 not breathing to only under 5!
You’ll do great! Hang in there! You got this! Love and hugs 🫂-Tina in Kentucky
What everyone said. The main thing is to get a mask which works for you.
That’s a lot of times to stop breathing and a super low o2 level- I’m so glad you got it checked again. After I started using my Cpap I went from 20 episodes an hour to .7. I also bought this super soft chin strap to keep my mouth from dropping open (but I can still say good night.) I look like Hannibal Lechter, but at least I know I’ll keep breathing. And the machine is super quiet so my husband is happy too. Sweet dreams!
It’s not very sexy but it WILL change your life. No more being tired, brain fog or dry mouth. Best of luck!
Couldn’t do the whole CPAP thing. Was diagnosed with sleep apnea decades ago. I felt like the mask was trying to murder me. Then they told me I had to clean everything every day or the mold that grows in the tubes and machine will basically kill me, too. So it was double murder. I tried several different masks and the anxiety they caused was so awful – because they were trying to murder me, obviously.
Love, love, love my CPAP! It’s easy to get used to, and you will feel so much better.
I’ve had one for a couple of years. I also avoided it, but I’m so glad I have it. I sleep so much better. It’s not that invasive and I got used to it pretty quick.
You will be forever grateful for the machine once you get used to it. Do NOT give up on it.
I got my cpap back in April 2021, and I don’t adore it but it is helpful! I highly recommend embracing the power of doing the thing while complaining about it. Every time I go to my sleep dr and they ask how it’s going and I go “wehh, I don’t wanna deal with the dumb thing!” And they ask me if I need anything changed or such and I’m like “nah I’m good, it’s fairly intuitive actually! I just Don’t Like It”
Also you can get an app that’ll let you look at how many times you stopped breathing last night. And boy is it validating to go “UGH I’m so SLEEPY, WHY” and then I look at the app and go “oh yup that’ll do it”
My husband has had sleep apnea for years and sleeps with a CPAP every night. It took a bit of getting used to, but he quickly adjusted and gets much more restful sleep now. And I do to because, you know, snoring. xoxo
My dad’s doctor said my dad was the worst case of sleep apnea he’d ever seen. Considering that doctor had been a sleep specialist for over thirty years…that’s got to be pretty bad.
The thing with sleep apnea, though, is that it increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes, so CPAPs save your life. And getting sleep after being sleep deprived will give you a whole new lease on life!
Now they have some kind of implant that goes under your skin and you don’t need tubes and a mask and the machine. I would get that if I got sleep apnea.
It took me less than a week to adjust to the mask, and I’ve been using it for 5 years now. And you know what’s amazing about CPAP machines, besides their actual purpose? 1. I’m guaranteed to get properly humidified air all night long (thank you, distilled water and the built-in humidifier), and 2. You can pull ALL the covers up over your head and not suffocate. Win-win!
I’ve used a c- pap for years and never felt any different but I use it every night because not breathing kills off brain cells and can shorten your life. Feel better or not, know that you are taking care of you and that’s important. Good luck.
My son used a BiPap, which is very similar to CPAP. He was only 13 when he started, and he was used to it by the second night. It also helped his respiratory system a great deal.
I actually had a training class on the cpap. Not sure if insurance required it or if it was simply something the vendor of the machine requires. Either way, super helpful.
It took me several nights to get used to it. I still put it on for the last 30 or so minutes of reading in bed before I turn out the lights. To get me used to it before I lay down.
I had the same type of take home monitor. My events were above the “you’re effed if you’re above this” range. Sorry, the “high” range. It was 40-something. Sad thing? I woke up the morning after wearing that monitor feeling really refreshed. Better than I had in weeks, so was convinced I wouldn’t have sleep apnea.
My husband has a CPAP for apnea and there IS a learning curve but it really does make a huge difference. You’ll be ok. My only suggestion is that if you like really really hate the way it feels, ask for different options for the mask. There’s several kinds and different ones work better for different people. Sending hugs!!
CPAPs come with different mask gizmos. You can get one that just fits over your nose so that it doesn’t feel like a face hugger from Aliens. It’s something to get used to but it’s definitely doable. I bet that even with an adjustment period, your sleep will be a helluva lot better than constantly ceasing to breathe!
I absolutely HATED the CPAP mask, tried for months but gave up for 10 years. Sleep apnea of course just got worse. Decided to try the CPAP again. This time I read some tips on how to learn to tolerate the mask and the air being blasted into my nasal passages. The tips that worked for me: wear the mask without the machine on while in bed and “winding down” (scrolling my tablet) for awhile. After doing that for a few nights, I’d then start turning the machine on again while I’m winding down but not yet trying to fall asleep. I couldn’t keep the mask on all night for the first week or two, but just getting myself used the mask and then the machine while I was awake eventually helped me get used to it to finally fall asleep with it on, and stay asleep.
I still hate the mask. However. For the first time in well over 10 years I’m actually sleeping. I went from needing 9-12 hours of sleep a night to a much more normal 7-8. And I wake up rested with more energy in the day. I wish I could get that without the annoying mask and machine. But I’m so glad to have it. Take your time and good luck!
They can be useful. My husband’s friend used it to blow up air mattresses for a scout troop when they forgot the pump.
The CPAP machine will allow you to sleep and not starve your body and brain for oxygen. They are simple to use, portable, make an excellent white noise and will save your life. Yes, you can take a nap without one but once you start to use the machine on a regular basis you will be able to tell the difference. Try a few different types of masks or nose pillows (my personal preference) to see what works best for you. I personally don’t use the humidifier chamber but some people do. Yes, it can be a hassle to get used to it with trying to find the best position for the hose (and not feel like it is an elephant trunk hanging off your face) but it is worth it! Start off wearing it for 3-4 hours at a time and slowly add hours as you go. Good luck.
Jen,
I didn’t read the post text, way too long for my poor brain tonight. But I saw the pic. Are you getting fitted for an old woman oxygen tank?
At least you’ll get plenty of exercise lugging around a 40lb steel tank, which will come in handy if ever you meet up with the A-Team. Will it come with an Acetyline torch?
Wait a minute, all the comments are about cpap this and cpap that. Try working with the insurance to get them to pay for your son’s fancy trademarked Bipap respiratory aid, even though his lung muscles could well collapse in the night, or worse blow up, without both the positive pressure and negative release function it provides.
(Sodding hell, way to go flip the script, Mike!)
I once had to share a hotel room with a guy using a CPAP machine. It was terrifying because it sounded exactly like Darth Vader in a bad mood. Then it got worse. He took it off to go pee, and since he’s a smoker the hacking and coughing was beyond disgusting. I seriously contemplated trying to sleep in the hotel lobby.
Then again, another buddy started using one, and his life suddenly got a whole lot better. Have fun with it.
I also had 32 events per hour – which was shocking because I didn’t think I had sleep apnea! The first night I tried the CPAP I thought, “This is so weird. How am I ever going to get used to this?” Then it was 8 hours later and I thought, “Holy crap, is this how people feel when they’ve slept?!” I’ve gotten back hours of my life (used to sleep until 10 on weekends and still be exhausted) and I sleep so well. All paws crossed that you’ll have a great experience!
Hide the tubing from your cats during the day. Seriously, that tubing is expensive and cats LOVE to slash it apart.
I read most of the comments and agree to the “try different masks” one the most. I am claustrophobic but still love the full nose, mouth mask size medium. I am borderline apnea but it has made such a huge difference in my wokeness…awakeness..um being able to stay awake during the day.
The nose pillows comment I didn’t agree with. Made me feel like my nostrils were in a continuous state of “flair” and not in a good way. Plus then I worried they may stay that way.😳I too live in S. Texas. Coastal. I have the one with the humidity tank and I use distilled water. It helps you not get all dried out….cause who likes being dried out right! Texas is hot enough without having to worry about your insides also drying out. However mine broke and it doesn’t warm up anymore but I still use the water tank and it’s fine. At least I think it’s fine. My worse complaint is the awful mask lines you get in your face that make you look like you have pillow lines or scars all over your face that actually don’t wear off for quite some time throughout the day. This was a serious problem for me because I was a teacher ….and kids don’t care what they say to you about your appearance.
So I bought some cushy covers to help with that. So far so good. Amazon is the best!
Hope you find the right fit. I fall asleep to the “white noise” sound of it and throw in some earplugs and a lavender flax seed super sexy leopard mask to “pull together” the whole ensemble. My husband appreciates my attempt at trying to make it look less alien like.
Which is actually hypocritical of him since he is also wearing a matching set.
Ahhhh the joys of aging. Good Luck.
-Lori
My CPAP machine has been life changing. Not to brag, but during my sleep test I stopped breathing an average of 100 times an hour. There is an adjustment period but you can do this. Try different masks and even a wedge pillow. My sleep educator encouraged me to try watching TV or reading a book while hooked up to the CPAP machine to help get used to it. I feel so much better thanks to this machine!
This is timely. Headed to a pulmonologist next month because my doc wants to rule sleep apnea out.
I’ve followed you for years but never commented but I want you to know the cpap is nothing to fear. It is very quiet and extremely easy to use. There are three types of masks. One covers the mouth and nose, one only covers the nose, and one sits in your nose as nasal cushions. If you tend to breathe through your mouth you may want the mouth/nose one. That felt claustrophobic to me. I also didn’t like how air directly in my nose felt with the nasal cushions so I use the nose only mask. I had no issues adjusting. You don’t need months just days if that. I tried the dental guard first but they didn’t tell me it isn’t ideal for people that grind their teeth. I destroyed a several thousand dollar sleep apnea dental guard in a few months. There is nothing to fear about the machine. It will be so much easier than so many of the obstacles you’ve already overcome. You’ve got this!
My home sleep test just had a monitor on my thumb, but the fuckers didn’t disable the alarm, so every time I drifted off to sleep it would drop below 90% and beep and wake me up. And did I mention I have a dog that is terrified of beeping? (I have no idea why)
My doc said the most concerning was when it dropped to around 70%, but I saw that reading when I was wide awake and starting to get a little panicky because how the fuck does a sleep test work when it doesn’t let you fucking sleep?
Anyhow, that’s how I got a referral to an an ENT for later this week.
I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine. It was not hard to get used to and it does help. If you can get a mask that just goes over your nose (and not your mouth, too), it’s very easy to adjust to and you will do great. If the mask covers your nose and mouth, my understanding is that it takes a little longer to adjust, but it will be worth it because you don’t want to wake up gasping for air, or worse, die. 🙂
Welcome to the club! I am in the “severe” category: I would wake up 78 times per hour; stop breathing 46 times per hour.
I would wake up in the morning more exhausted than when i went to bed.
I was getting NO REM sleep. Brain fog—honey, i had it (during a time in my life when i was taking care of a mom with dementia and working full time.)
In the past 10 years i have slept EVERY NIGHT (except for one) with a CPAP and it has literally saved my life.
It took me a couple weeks to get used to the mask but now it is second nature.
Embrace the technology, little sister. It will save your life and you will feel human again! ❤
Carolyn
I got one recently. A Resmed automatic CPAP. It is practically silent and automatically turns itself on when you put the mask on and off after a while (20 minutes or so) once you take it off.
I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea since 2014, and wow did it help. Definitely use the machine. Either get a sleeve for the tube or tuck it under the covers when you sleep to stop the kitties from attacking it. I use the nasal pillow design, which is just a littler and more comfortable mask that fits up against your nose. It works really well for me, as I was able to then keep my mouth closed at night.
It brought my blood pressure into check, which helped my migraines — I found out that they’d all been cycling with one another and making one another worse. And my fibromyalgia got a little better for a while, too. It’s amazing what having better sleep can do.
You’ll likely be referred to a cardiopulmonary specialist if you haven’t been already, and that doctor will walk you through everything. I now see mine about once a year unless I need an adjustment in air pressure.
Much love and luck to you!!
I’ve used a CPAP since 2006. It was hellacious for me to get used to, but I did and it probably saved my life. The biggest key is finding the right mask. Keep trying until you get one that works for you. Consider joining an online forum of CPAP users like http://www.cpaptalk.com for encouragement, education, and advice. Good luck.
I was diagnosed with mild/moderate sleep apnea maybe 15 years ago, and getting a CPAP was a game changer. You really have no idea how bad you’re sleeping until you experience the difference. I started with a half mask (over nose only) but up mouth breathing and so went back and asked for a full face (mouth and nose) mask. I don’t have any particular advice as I adapted to the machine fairly easily.
Yeah, that sucks.
I had the test in the hospital because I was exhausted but also would be full-on throwing up in my mouth while asleep, then inhaling it and choking awake, which is fun.
They said I had 20- or 30-something moments where I stopped breathing for 10 seconds or more and 7 times I stopped breathing for 30 seconds or more. I was like “holy, shit!” but then she says that I’m required to stop breathing 9 times for 30 seconds or more to be diagnosed with sleep apnea and for insurance to cover it.
So I guess I’m just fine, right?
OMG I just had to do this too! Waiting results.
I use a bi-pap and really love it. It may take a while to get your right air levels but it is so worth it.
I’ve been wearing a CPAP for 19 years – welcome to the club! I’ve been able to wear a mask that only covers my nose rather than mouth and nose. I had a bulkier, louder unit since 2005, and was glat to have it. Breathing is Better. About a year and a half ago did a take-home sleep study like yours and got a modern, smaller, smarter, and quieter unit.
Your Pulmonary doctor/clinic (breathing specialists) should refer you to folks who will give you the equipment. They’ll help you try on different masks to see which is most comfortable and effective for you.
Go for it. Make the Brain Fog Flee! Breathing is Better!
This could be my story – except I stopped breathing 33 times an hour. So like, I didn’t sleep for any stretch longer than 2 minutes and never entered REM sleep at all. It was not great. A CPAP has made all the difference in the world. My brain fog isn’t totally gone (sadly, perimenopause, probably?) but I no longer fall asleep during the day if I sit down for longer than 5 minutes, AND I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed. It truly is amazing. There are big differences in the types of masks available. I have friends that use the nasal pillows (ha!) but for me, I felt like I was being suffocated. I use one that just covers my nose (a nasal wisp – gotta love the names). So don’t lose hope if the first mask you try doesn’t seem right for you. Keep trying! And good luck and I hope you enjoy your upcoming restful nights.
I have sleep apnea and using the machine, which I was absolutely hesitant to do for months!!!, absolutely changed my sleep!! I don’t nap in the day anymore. But more than that it helped my heart! My BP went down, my heart got stronger. It’s been great. 😊 PS, I also didn’t know I had it. My ex wife just hated how much I snored. 😐 Current wife, two weeks into first sleeping in the same bed…. “Hey did you know you stop breathing when you sleep?” ❤️ 😳😳😳😳
Got tested, and the rest is history.
Expecting to put the mask on and be happy for 8 hours with no preparation is a recipe for not wearing it. Best advice I’ve heard: spend a week getting used to wearing the mask; wear it for an hour or so a day while reading or napping. Same with the machine: get used to the sound before you spend a whole night with it.
I have used a cpap for 10 years. It made a huge difference. I am weird in that I took to it immediately. I had a full face mask for years, but I bought a nasal pillow mask later and learned that if I tape my mouth shut, it works just fine. It seems if you open your mouth the air pressure does weird stuff. I read about “hostage tape” for snoring and thought hey, that might work. So I got medical tape and use it every night….freaky but it works so I can use the nasal cpap.
Haven’t had apnea myself, but my dad struggled with it for years before getting it checked out. He would stop breathing for over a minute at a time, wander through the house and fall back to sleep in odd places elsewhere (like face down, kneeling into the stuffed chair in the living room). When my stepmom woke up to him trying to saute dry dog kibble on the stove (with the gas ON), she made him go to the doctor. The CPAP took a little adjusting to, but made a HUGE difference in his quality of life. His energy levels went way up and he was able to do so much more because SLEEP IS GOOD FOR YOU. So yeah, it’s a weird contraption, but damn if it doesn’t work like a charm and really get you feeling better. I hope it helps you so you can feel better too!
I have a consult for a sleep test 8/26. Given that Garmin rates my sleep generally in the 50s and 60s I’m confident that I have sleep apnea. I don’t wake up choking, but I know I’m not getting good rest most of the time. I’m hopeful that this will all be life changing, for you as much as me.
My hubby has sleep apnea (we’ve been married 20 years). He had to go into the clinic to do the sleep study and only lasted about 3 hours before he couldn’t take it. He stopped breathing 72 times an hour… NOT GOOD! He’s gone from the big, bulky, loud machine to the one today that only covers his nose and is very quiet! The difference in how you will feel (not to mention the you-not-dying benefit all of us will enjoy!) will change your life. So glad you got tested again!
I got diagnosed with sleep apnea last year. In my case, the this discovery started with a chipped tooth! So that was odd. But, as weird as a cpap looks, it does help and I was able to get used to it after a week or so. Sometimes if you don’t fit it right and you’re an active sleeper, you may awake to air being blown in your face, but I feel the benefits outweigh that rare nuisance. I sleep on my side and stomach and the mask is actually comfortable to sleep with in those positions. The cpap I got has an application that goes with it and helps you track your sleep habits too. You have to clean it weekly, change out some of the parts. You need distilled water for it. But with extra sleep, you will remember to created recurring reminders for all the extra maintenance rituals involved, so it’s all good.
It is a bit weird and you do have to make up your mind that you will win and use it consistently. It is just headgear that attaches to a hose that attaches to the cpap machine.
And it is fucking magical.
You will actually get restful sleep and not keep dying in your sleep.
IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PLEASE GO IN AND MAKE THEM HELP – THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MACHINES AND DIFFERENT STYLES OF HEADGEAR. Sorry for yelling but my aunt was having the worst time trying to use hers and once I saw what they had given her I just about screamed and made her call them for an appt, searched and found the headgear she should have and now it is great.
Be sure to follow the instructions for cleaning the equipment regularly.
Every once in a while when the power goes out you will have a reminder of how wonderful the machine is and how awful it was when you weren’t breathing in your sleep (just happened to me and was no fun).
Been on a cpap 10+ years. Not much issue with mask or nasal pillows, and even if I did I feel sooo much better on the machine I would still have no issue using it. I know you travel. They make small, light units for travel to ease the packing.
Lots of people saying “nasal pillows” – only get this type of mask if you can easily breathe through your nose! I can’t, so that one didn’t work for me. I also vastly prefer the kind where the hose comes off the top of your head vs out the front, much easier for me to sleep on my side. I like it QUIET when I sleep so I usually put an earplug in the ear not against my pillow, but it’s really super quiet, my husband says it’s like white noise.
Good luck, you can do this!! And once you get used to it, you really do love how you feel every day, so much more rested.
Go for it, Jenny! My husband uses a CPap. More energy, clearer head. Plus less frighting half-wake nightmare’s for me, trying to smack the Boston Strangler off my man’s chest. Nice bonus: you get to scare the bejesus out of Victor because you can sound like Darth Vader in the first few minutes.
Dear Jenny, I have a CPAP. It works, which is why I still use it, but it took me almost a year to wear it for more than a half hour after I got to sleep. I have always had issues sleeping with things around my face. But eventually it got better so just stick with it. I recommend the mask with the hose sticking out the top of the mask (so the top of your head) because it gets tangled less. I have just the nose pillow and it works fine for me. I’ve been told that people have an easier time keeping it on and staying asleep with the full nose/mouth mask but I’ve never tried it. I think the full mask is also easier for those who have routinely blocked nasal passages.
Amazon sells this great stand for hose taming that sticks between your mattress and box spring and keeps the hose from tangling completely. I recommend getting one for your home and one for travel, they are so useful. So I guess the takeaway I have is that it takes a lot to get used to, especially for those of us with anxiety, but it does work. I have more energy, less mood swings, fewer heartburn episodes, fewer migraines (I did not know that sleep apnea can cause migraines, but apparently it can). I also have to gush for a minute…You are AMAZING and I appreciate you more than words do justice. Thank you for being here on earth and making me feel not quite so alone.
Sorry you have it, but good thing you got checked. I’ve been a Registered Sleep Tech for waaaay too long (17 years) Anyway, They will want you to go back in for a CPAP Titration with all of the octopus tentacles again. Sorry, I mean all of the wires. Unless the soul sucking vampires (insurance company) ok’s an auto titrating Machine. It is a lot to get used to but it’s going to be worth it!
My CPAP is literally a life-saver – and if you use it, yours will be too. It will very likely help your brain fog. I got diagnosed decades ago after having horrible dreams where I was being killed – just my body desperately trying to wake me up to breathe. PLEASE try different masks and machines until you find one that works for you. So many people I know get diagnosed and then don’t use one because they are uncomfortable. My favorite is a nasal pillow style, but I’ve tried a lot over the years. There IS one that’s comfortable for you. I’m so glad you got diagnosed, Jenny. Sleep apnea is very, very dangerous. BTW, it’s not a bad idea to get a backup battery, for traveling and in case of power failures. I’m so dependent on my CPAP, I have two batteries.
I’ve been using a CPAP machine for decades. You will probably do well with it – I was so sleep deprived when I got it that it provided immediate relief.
As others have said, if the style mask they give you doesn’t work for you, try another. I like the nasal pillows best. It’s small and fits in your nostrils. It doesn’t shift around when you move. They started me with the standard triangle-shaped mask, but when I shifted in the night with that, I would get air leaks and some squeaks that drove me nuts. Find what works for you. You’ll feel soooo much better! Oh, and as it is medical equipment, it is not counted as your carry-on luggage on airplanes. Take it with you whenever you travel. I’ve taken mine to Britain and Italy.
My hubby’s bodily structures were literally suffocating him (obstructive sleep apnea). He had a terrible primary care 10 years ago who blew off all of his symptoms and told him to simply “sleep on his side.” If we followed that terrible doctor’s advise my husband could have developed cancer overtime in his uvula.
We switched to a different PCP and got him to an ENT. His tonsils were horribly inflamed/infected (he had sore throats all the time for years), he had a growth on his uvula, and he had a bone spur that completely blocked one of his nasal passages. He had to have extensive major surgery which was frightening and the recovery was brutal, but he recovered and no longer had OSA (he was retested for it with a follow up sleep study after surgery). He has to keep his weight down and has to wear a snore guard at night to keep his airway open, but he’s like a new person and feels so much better.
My husband was treated by an ENT (I’m unsure of what other types of specialists treat it as well) but it maybe a good idea to see an ENT to determine what exactly is causing the sleep apnea (it could be obstructive sleep apnea). In my husbands case his angel of an ENT helped him and found the growth on his uvula (it was not cancerous but could have become cancerous overtime), which we never even knew was there and having it removed potentially saved his life.
Sorry about all the sleep apnea drama! The human body is a wonderful, terrible thing isn’t it?
Good news about a CPAP, you sound like Darth Vadar when you speak!! So that’s a positive!!
So if you can see this, here is what my “wiring” for the test looked like
hmmm… it didn’t work…maybe this will https://www.facebook.com/Geneb2/posts/pfbid0HepQF6p55LfvA2gziVGKu4YLujur873Vz2sPsqc9GrWj8TVXRPj63Su2qmEo2Kaql
Advice? Ask about INSPIRE as a solution. It is an implanted device so you don’t have to live like Darth Vader
I’ve used a CPAP for years and it helps a lot. The masks are expensive, but get several different types and experiment with them to figure out which one works best for you. It’s not a one size fits all type thing.
Been using a CPAP for over 20 years. I was told when I first started it might take a while to get used to, but I almost instantly fell asleep and have never had a problem with wearing it. Getting it completely changed my life for the better. Hope it helps you too!
There is a new filter to put on a input or output to make sure you are not breathing in every particular of dust and cat hair. It mentioned microbial blocking. So you don’t have more issues from allergies. Usually they tell people to just turn up the pressure. Not helpful if you already don’t breath.
Hey Jenny. Your sleep apnea may also be a small part of your depression and anxiety picture. The fatigue results from never being able to get to the REM sleep level, as you are awakened by the choking feeling and then have to start all over again. Concerning to me (as a retired ICU nurse) is that your oxygen levels also drop significantly. This could be a small factor in your anxiety, as typically low oxygen levels make one feel panicked.
I have been using CPAP for over 15 years and I would never go without it now. In fact, if I try to cheat and fall asleep on a couch somewhere the machine isn’t, I can’t even fall asleep.
Contrary to what some people think, the nasal mask (that goes over only your nose) is not oppressive in feeling. Someone mentioned nasal cushions, which would be good to try if your pressure setting isn’t so high. They sit directly under your nose and slightly enter your nostrils, where they form a seal and blow the pressurized air in. The air doesn’t “breath” for you; rather, it keeps your airway from flopping closed during the breath cycle, thereby preventing the apnea.
If your pressure is set higher, the pillows may bother you as there would be a lot of air pushing into just your nostrils, a narrow opening.
If you use a nasal mask, the air seems to be less forceful, even at the same pressure.
Lastly, you will notice a huge difference in your fatigue levels. Bear in mind that untreated sleep apnea is about a lot more than just snoring. It puts a terrible strain on the heart with possibly dire consequences ultimately.
You will be tempted to fall asleep without it on “just this once”. Don’t do it!! Compliance is key to successfully treating the condition!!
Good luck and think of this as a GOOD thing, not a bad thing. It is the first step in having a clearer head, less tiredness and possibly less anxiety.
You go girl!!! (Also, be good about keeping the mask, hose and water chamber clean)
Love you bunches!!
Heather
Took me a few tries to find a mask I could live with, learn to use mouth tape to keep my mouth closed, which lets my nasal mask work, and use saline spray to make sure my nasal passages are good and open. Everything works great now. Oh, and switched to a BiPap rather than Cpap so I didn’t feel like I was fighting to exhale. Give it time and patience and don’t be afraid to try different masks solutions.
My mom started using a CPAP machine several years ago and she said she now has the best !! sleep of her life.
Using a CPAP beats the alternative any old day – without one you’re *not breathing* for four times an hour while in bed and that is Bad. They’re covered by most insurance and most people adapt to them fairly easily.
You probably do know people who use them; sleep apnea is common. Hey, President Biden uses one!
I have had one for a year! It looks complicated and uncomfortable and like you won’t be able to sleep with it but honestly life changing. You will feel like a new person!!!
My husband has sleep apnea and uses a Cpap machine. I know I sleep so much better since he got one. Make sure to go with the mask that has nasal pillows not that full mask. He says it’s definitely more comfortable. I hope you’re feeling much better shortly!
I haven’t read the 228! comments before mine, but sleep apnea/cpap I know! Been on one for almost 20 years now. I was very upset when I first heard I needed one, but now I’m more terrified to nap without it! It will become second nature and just a normal night time routine (but it is a pain to travel with). Just know there are lots of options- just a cannula in the nose, a ‘whole face’ mask, just nose vs. nose and mouth, etc. so don’t assume what they give you is the only option. Keep trying and requesting different types until you find the right one for you (mine has very a thick gel insert by the nose area, and was way more comfortable than the other options. And my mask size is ‘petite’, which is the only thing about me that is, so I relish checking that box off on re-orders! You got this, feel free to reach out with any other questions!
I have sleep apnea too, but use a dental appliance (fancy mouthguard) instead of the CPAP machine. It was expensive, but it’s lasted 6 years so far, and it’s really convenient to use.
It doesn’t work for everyone, which makes it hard to justify the cost, but you can get a cheap one from a drug store to see it helps before paying for the better version.
Not the sexiest thing to wear to bed, but before this, my husband had moved to the guest room because I snored “like a bear riding a lawnmower”, so I was glad to get this fixed!
I took a sleep apnea test a month ago, in a clinic. Turns out I have severe sleep apnea. My oxygen saturation also dropped to 60% . LOTS of snoring. Restless limb twitching stuff. I’m getting my CPAP machine next week. I have a few cousins with sleep apnea — they said the CPAP was life changing for them (in a good way). Fingers crossed it will be for you and me too.
CPAP can change your life! I got diagnosed a year and a half ago and this machine has made my life infinitely better! I have a nasal pillows mask and it took a couple of days to get used to – but since then I actually sleep! And feel rested!
So you’ll probably have this period of time where you have to prove that you’ll comply with using the machine before your insurance will pay for it. I think you’re required to get a minimum of 4 hours use in every night for several weeks. You know when is a fun time to try to get compliance in? When you have a newborn. Yep. Literally had to sleep in 4 hour shifts while hubby took care of the interim feeding (which maybe isn’t such a bad thing, being required to not be woken up). I guess a girl does what a girl’s gotta do, right?
You’re going to start feeling so much better so fast that your tolerance for all that crap on your face is going to feel sooooo worth it.
I would marry my CPAP if it wouldn’t invoke some polygamy law. Seriously. I ADORE my machine. I have tried the full face mask, the nasal mask, and the nasal pillow – and each of them has plusses and minuses. I didn’t love the full face mask for comfort reasons, but my husband swears by his because he likes to sleep with his mouth open. The nasal mask makes me feel like an awkward elephant, but is overall pretty comfortable. I use the nasal pillows and truly love them. I can actually forget I’m wearing them, and I feel like they are the most effective for me. I even wear my CPAP for naps now. I honestly can’t sleep without it now — well, actually, I just don’t even try. The best advice I received was to wear the mask while you’re awake for an hour or so at a time – while you’re watching TV, reading, art-ing, whatever. It helps you get used to to feel and sound, and you can practice trying to just breathe through your nose – which is the ideal. Oh, and use good water in the tank — makes a HUGE difference. We use our reverse osmosis water, but a lot of folks use distilled. Just make sure it’s good clean water. You will be AMAZED at the difference it makes in how you sleep and how you feel! Stay alive, my friend! The world is infinitely better with you here!!!! <3
Hi Jenny! I was afraid to start the CPAP therapy as it was during lockdown and I got zero advice on setting it up. What I’ve learned since then is there is a heated hose that’s a lot nicer to use. You can’t feel it, but the air exiting from the mask’s front port will make you have a dragon-stream of air that keeps kittehs from sleeping on your pillow.
Wash all the reusuable filters, water tank and hoses as the schedule suggests, so you don’t get itchy around your nose.
Set the CPAP machine on your floor, on top of a something stable and fireproof like small cinder block and away from your bedskirts.
Your specialist will be able to remotely view the nightly reports collected on your SD card, as there’s a modem in the machine that transmits your data to them.
You can download a program called OSCAR onto your desktop computer, then eject the SD card from the CPAP machine. Put it into your Mac to see some interesting information. It generates several reports. -Just be sure to reinsert it back into the CPAP!-
The CPAP machine’s small enough to take traveling. There’s a special classification for carrying this medical device on flights. There’s also a smaller, travel-size model.
You can make up a components replacement schedule on your phone to replace the filters mask and the hose.
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Something I strongly suggest for you, is to buy a battery backup. It stays plugged in to your house and CPAP machine, and will kick in if your power goes out.
Bigger is generally better. In my engineer-past, I bought the APC brand as they were so reliable. Victor probly has a battery backup on his work computers and you will want something like that.
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Did you get glasses as a child and marvel at how you could suddenly go bowling and see all the pins? That’s how using the CPAP is going to feel. -Brace for transformations!
I HIGHLY recommend a CPAP pillow. It is a regular pillow, except it has half-circles cut out on each side so that the hose doesn’t get pulled, tugged, etc. It made sleeping with the CPAP much easier.
The mouth pieces don’t work as well as the machines. I had TAP appliance, which pulls your lower jaw forward while you sleep. I hated it. It changed my jawline and I had to work to get it back to normal. It also didn’t really do the job as far as the apnea went. Although, I only had mild apnea at the time. It later got a bit worse and I went
I HIGHLY recommend a CPAP pillow. It is a regular pillow, except it has half-circles cut out on each side so that the hose doesn’t get pulled, tugged, etc. It made sleeping with the CPAP much easier.
The mouth pieces don’t work as well as the machines. I had the TAP appliance, which pulls your lower jaw forward while you sleep. I hated it. It changed my jawline and I had to work to get it back to normal. It also didn’t really do the job as far as the apnea went. Although, I only had mild apnea at the time. It later got a bit worse and I went with the machine. It was quiet and the humidifier really helped my allergies, probably because it heated the water first.
The difference is amazing. I too had been previously tested twice before over the last fifteen years for apnea with similar results, but most recent test (3rd times a charm) came back much like yours. I’ve had my cpap just under a year now, and I actually feel rested when I wake up in the morning. It has helped with my anxiety since sleep issues and my anxiety seem to be correlated and trigger each other so either problem makes the other significantly worse. The tubes are less disturbing than lack of oxygen so that certainly helps to get accustomed to wearing the mask and tubes to sleep. For me, what made the biggest difference was finding the right mask that worked best with stomach sleeping because no matter what position I fall asleep, I always wake up on my stomach. Congratulations! You have finally won the sleep lottery!
I’ve been using a CPAP for just about 4 years and it has made such a difference. Takes a little getting used to at first but if you stick with it you will feel so much better. Both my husband and I have them.
When I did my test I stopped breathing an average of 33 times per hour. Scary. I was nervous about adjusting to the cpap but I adjusted super quick. And I felt SO much better when I started using one. I hope it’s as miraculous for you as it was for me. If you have to use a full face mask I recommend the Phillips dream wear full face mask. Much more comfy than the triangular ones and the tube attaches as the top of your head instead of in front of your face. I’m to the point now where I can’t sleep without it or I feel like total crap the next day.
Multiple family members with CPAP. If you can adjust to it they do work wonders. 1/3 of people adjust and love it, 1/3 of people just tolerate it but it helps enough that they stick with it, 1/3 can’t ever adjust. Let’s see how you do.
WASH YOUR HOSES. That’s not negging. Wash each morning and have an easy place to hang to dry. A hanger over the bathroom door is great.
Consider using filtered water. Buy the gallon jugs and just keep one in your room.
If you go in for your mask fitting and then take it home and it’s…just not right…go back and have them try again. There are multiple models of masks so don’t let them be all “whelp, that’s the best we can do”. Faces be weird yo and you deserve a mask that is going to work for yours.
You’re amazing. Let’s keep breathing. We can do this together.
I have a love-hate relationship with my CPAP that I started using a few months ago. I hate it because I feel like a geriatric old man (I’m neither geriatric nor a man) and it’s a pain in the ass. But I have feel so much more rested now and based on the tracking my doctor did, I dropped from 20-something events to like 0.2. Danggit. I get I’m gonna keep using it.
Next week I get a mouth appliance that will pull my jaw forward so that my tongue can’t fall into my airway. Apparently my apnea is mild and doesn’t require a CPAP. I was a little disappointed. Let’s see how this jaw-forward rubber thing works.
Thank you for not dying in your sleep, Jenny. Seriously! This world is fucked up enough without having to lose you, too!
The boyfriend has a CPAP. It’s little like sleeping by Darth Vader or soothing white noise depending on your state of mine. It’s as sexy as my night guard.
Get the CPAP. I’ve been using one for YEARS…Not a big deal to get used to (at least in my experience). Invest in distilled water.
It’s good that sleep apnea is a readily solvable problem! Don’t be afraid to try different masks until you find what works for you. It took my husband a while to get it right but once he did . . . no more snoring, no more terrifying not-breathing while sleeping, no more panic attacks at night.
Try this Facebook affinity group for sleep apnea discussion, hint,assistance.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/519375879479849/?ref=share
My husband started with the old school CPAP which looked like a full face mask and sounded like Darth Vader and made me cry the first time he wore it to bed. It was so annoying that he only wore it sporadically over the next decade or so until I realized he was probably going to die unless he took it seriously. Now, he’s mostly serious. Just make sure you get the right nose pads and pressure adjustments if it does feel right!
Welcome to this club! I’ve had my CPAP for 2 years now, and it’s totally fine. I move around a lot in my sleep and I was worried the thing would strangle me, but I lay the tube across the top of my pillow and it stays our of the way. I had 43 events/hour and my O2 dropped into the 70s … it took me 2 months to get the machine and I was scared to sleep, too! You will get used to it and feel tons better!
Welcome to the club pt 2… the machine is also silent. Hubby and I both have one and they don’t make any noise. You might have to try a few masks to find a good fit. You can do it!!
Welcome to Team CPAP! There are also dental devices and an implant, in case the CPAP mask doesn’t work out for you. I’m in my first year of using the CPAP, and it’s an adjustment, but I’ve noticed some improvement (when my dogs allow me to sleep for more than three hours). Good luck! You’ve got this, and I hope you feel better soon with uninterrupted sleep!
Make sure that you get the CPAP serviced regularly, and if it ever acts up, take it in! That thing will help keep you alive (YAY) but only if it works. My dad was too cheap to get his serviced as often as it should have been, and refused to upgrade it to a newer (more expensive, not duct-taped together) model. It failed one night and he never woke up.
I am not trying to scare you at all, I just feel it is important for anyone who has a CPAP to make sure they take care of it and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on getting it checked and/or serviced regularly. Think of it like the brakes on your car. When they start getting squeaky you don’t keep driving on them, you get your mechanic to replace the worn out parts. Do the same for your CPAP and it will continue to do its job of keeping you safe.
I am a newbie on the CPAP machine and had similar sleep study results. When they first put it on me at the medical device store, I kind of freaked out. I felt claustrophobic & like someone was smothering. I cried and was embarrassed. BUT let this be an encouragement — I promise – because it is so important to breathe. I am at week 3 and am wearing it the whole time I’m in bed. When I was being fitted they said, wear it during the day or while you are watching TV to get used to it. I nearly laughed with “oh hell no” but that’s what helped. I wore it while I was working — first for 5 mins, then 10, then 15. I went to bed early and wore it while watching TV on my iPad — so I could get used to a tube, and the feeling of bed and the device. I had heard so many people say “After that first night I felt so rested and like a million bucks” that wasn’t my experience. So just encouraging you that taking time to get used to it is a difference maker, and don’t get discouraged if the first couple nights it’s weird.
Also if your cats bite the tube (my dog chewed up mine) – Walmart neighborhood market has the unheated tube. And get 3-4 distilled gallons of water so you know you have it and don’t need to worry about running out.
I got CPAP wipes b/c I’m lazy to clean my mask in the mornings.
I have to use a CPAP and they are much quieter than they used to be. Also some people feel claustrophobic when using them (I am one of those people. Ironically I feel like I can’t breathe.) Anyway using a small fan (pointed at my face) helps me to not panic while wearing it. I know that seems odd but believe me it works. Also something else weird, I was getting a bald spot where the mask strap rubbed against my head in my sleep. I have found that if you wear a sleep bonnet under the straps this will not happen. I hope I haven’t scared you off of using your CPAP because after the initial two weeks or so it took to get used to it, I sleep so much better. I feel so much more rested and now I can’t fall asleep without it. If I doze off, I wake up immediately due to not being able to breathe.
https://www.reddit.com/r/CPAP/ has been a helpful community of people – it’s helped me know I’m not alone as I get used to this.
I’ve had sleep apnea for years. I have tried every type of mask available and had issues with everyone. A little over a year ago, I got the Inspire implant. A couple of scars, but I love not having to deal with the mask and cleaning and care of the machine, mask and tubes. Highly recommend the Inspire implant. Best of luck on your sleep apnea journey.
Shoot! The exact same diagnosis as you (the examiner guy on the phone let out a long sigh when he saw my results as I was as high off the charts as you could go) but I gave up after three months. I hated it so much and it woke me up all night and I gave up. Now I feel like I have to try again.
Everyone here seems to have found a way to make it work for them.
I didn’t wake up fully refreshed though. Every morning I woke up with a headache dead center in my forehead (which is gone since I gave up).
I started using one a little over a year ago and it was life changing! I stopped breathing approx. 124 times an hour. Blood oxygen down to 69% before they ran in the room and hooked me up to a CPAP a couple of hours in. I had some issues with my travel machine last week while camping and it reminded me how terrible I used to feel all the time. It’s wild!
My son wears a cpap he was stopping breathing 51 times an hour. With it he sleeps so much better. It does take some time to get used to but so much more energy when using it
I’d like to suggest this is an opportunity for masks. Several parts of the CPAP are replaced on a periodic basis, including the mask. So! this is your opportunity to decorate it with something “Victor” will LOVE to wake up in bed with. I recommend Velcro for even more variety, but I’m thinking something like snake skin or fur with those little glue on googly eyes, maybe a rat tail, some futuristic breathing tube themes, etc.
My ex had a Bipap Machine with a Nasal only mask. This was 15 yeats ago we were together. And he swore by it. I thought it made him look like Vadar or like something from an Anime film about pilots but ultimately the peace of mind it gave us both was totally worth it.
He was such a believer in them he made me get the invasive, in person sleep test after which they kept me there for the non-optional nap periodically all day to test for narcolepsy too test. Neither of which found anything significant. Regrettably, I almost wished that I had had a pathology at the time because I was constantly exhausted and etc….
Fast forward those 15 or so years and now I’m wanting my current husband to get tested. He sleeps terribly and gets horrible night terrors. But so far he is reluctant/resistant. I’m considering asking for a retest for myself as well given the changes middle age has brought on.
All of that to say, Jenny, I’m glad you’re still here, grateful that you won’t be spontaneously dead one morning, and so curious to see if your anxiety/depression improves as well…. please keep us posted on your journey….
Xoxo
When I was diagnosed with apnea I hated the idea of a CPAP so I got an oral appliance. It holds the lower jaw forward to give you an underbite and open the airway and it works fabulously well for me. I was already used to a mouth guard so the adjustment wasn’t bad though it felt odd at first, especially during the adjustment phase.
I was tested for sleep apnea years ago and definitely had it. But I now sleep sitting more upright with several pillows supporting my head and back. I’ve researched this and apparently it is a common and effective solution for a lot of people. I find it very comfortable and easy to live with. Also, sleeping on one’s side works fairly well. I often switch between positions, but never just sleep on my back with one or two pillows.
My husband would leave me if it was a choice between me and his CPAP machine. He loves it so. It does change your life to suddenly be sleeping soundly
I don’t have apnea, so no advice on CPAP, but I do have narcolepsy, and what you’ve described about your body sleeping but your brain staying awake sounds a lot like my experience of narcolepsy.
For me, (and of course everyone is different) a medication called Sunosi has DRASTICALLY reduced my sleep issues. I actually sleep and wake up at normal times, and I don’t struggle nearly as much with brain fog (I call it “walking through water”).
Might be a thing to ask about, just an anecdote that may or may not be helpful to you ❤️
I’m here to echo all the folks that have said a CPAP isn’t that bad. I now sleep through the night. It’s quiet, and unobtrusive, but I look like Bane and sound like Darth Vader when I wear mine, but that’s ok because they’re my favorite villains. 🙂
My husband and I have both had chaos for years. I used to call us Mr and Mrs Vader. Now I can’t imagine getting decent sleep without it. I like to think of it as putting on my scuba gear before diving down into sleep.
How did cpap become chaos???
Make sure you get a fabric protector for the tube so that you don’t get skin irritation. My husband got some gnarly acne until he got the little sock that goes over the tube.
It took my husband about a week to get the hang of the machine and it has changed both of our lives. He sleeps well and it no longer feels to me like sleeping next to a jet engine.
I have sleep apnea and I LOVE my CPAP machine. I can’t sleep without it anymore, and just putting it on is like snuggling into a warm blanket. I hope you come to love yours just as much and it helps you as much as it helped me.
I’m so sorry to hear about your sleep apnea diagnosis, but I’m glad you’re finally getting the help you need. It’s great that you’re taking proactive steps to improve your health and well-being.
Don’t worry too much about the CPAP machine. Once you get used to it, it can be a lifesaver. Many people find that it significantly improves their sleep quality and overall health.
I hope you find a solution that works for you and that you’ll feel better soon. Sending you positive vibes!
khalidelarbi
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