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Let me first say thank you to the Forum admin and members for this fantastic resource for OSA sufferers. Its one of the few places on the internet where I've found useful answers.
A bit about me.
I'm just about to turn 50, 6ft and 100Kg. Been diagnosed Type 2 diabetic several years ago. I'm also on medication for some other unrelated health issues.
My CPAP story.
I think its a pretty typical scenario, falling asleep ALL THE TIME! Even at work in meetings - very embarrassing. Getting up to go to the toilet 12 or more times in the night - which I thought was the diabetes.
My GP referred me to the sleep clinic at the London Chest Hospital. They gave me a home monitoring kit which I used for one night and then dropped off the kit the next morning. That afternoon I got a phone call from the hospital "We want you to come in". "Sure when?". "Tomorrow!". So I did. They explained that my results were so bad, and my my blood pressure was getting so high they were worried I would have a heart attack.
So I spent they next 3 days in the hospital. The ward was a dedicated sleep unit with 5 or 6 other men in a similar situation to me. Some in more difficult situations, needing to resolve the OSA so that they could have heart surgery.
I thought "they are all snorers, I will never sleep in here". The first night they put a full face mask on me and turned the machine on. I have to say at first I felt panic and very uncomfortable. However, the nurses were very understanding and professional. They advised me to concentrate on my breathing and count my breaths. This seemed to work and after a few minutes I was asleep. Imagine my surprise when I work up THE NEXT MORNING. My first full nights sleep for probably more than 10 years. For me it was truly incredible. OK so my mouth felt and tasted like the bottom of a parrots cage, but I thought that was a small price to pay. Apparently the first night is a monitoring exercise where they work out what pressure you need, and then the next couple of nights they iron out any kinks and let you get used to the mask and the machine.
I adapted to the machine pretty quickly, but other people had problems with the mask or the pressure. One guy went asleep ok, but kept on taking the mask off in his sleep. I really felt for all these guys and their battles.
I got the machine home and after a while got a humidifier attachment which helps a bit with the dryness - but its still an issue - albeit a minor one. My only other gripe is an ache in the chest, this went away after a couple of weeks or so, and occasionally returns if I use the machine for too long (I think this a pretty common side effect).
The pressure on the machine says 12.5 whatever that means, I think that is high, but I've not much to compare that against. The machine says it gets about 6.5-7.00 hours use a night, which I think means I'm sleeping for that amount of time - which is great. I've lost a little weight, but know I could have lost more. I certainly have a lot more energy nowadays.
And the best thing is I don't fall asleep during the day. EVER!
Thanks
Mike
A bit about me.
I'm just about to turn 50, 6ft and 100Kg. Been diagnosed Type 2 diabetic several years ago. I'm also on medication for some other unrelated health issues.
My CPAP story.
I think its a pretty typical scenario, falling asleep ALL THE TIME! Even at work in meetings - very embarrassing. Getting up to go to the toilet 12 or more times in the night - which I thought was the diabetes.
My GP referred me to the sleep clinic at the London Chest Hospital. They gave me a home monitoring kit which I used for one night and then dropped off the kit the next morning. That afternoon I got a phone call from the hospital "We want you to come in". "Sure when?". "Tomorrow!". So I did. They explained that my results were so bad, and my my blood pressure was getting so high they were worried I would have a heart attack.
So I spent they next 3 days in the hospital. The ward was a dedicated sleep unit with 5 or 6 other men in a similar situation to me. Some in more difficult situations, needing to resolve the OSA so that they could have heart surgery.
I thought "they are all snorers, I will never sleep in here". The first night they put a full face mask on me and turned the machine on. I have to say at first I felt panic and very uncomfortable. However, the nurses were very understanding and professional. They advised me to concentrate on my breathing and count my breaths. This seemed to work and after a few minutes I was asleep. Imagine my surprise when I work up THE NEXT MORNING. My first full nights sleep for probably more than 10 years. For me it was truly incredible. OK so my mouth felt and tasted like the bottom of a parrots cage, but I thought that was a small price to pay. Apparently the first night is a monitoring exercise where they work out what pressure you need, and then the next couple of nights they iron out any kinks and let you get used to the mask and the machine.
I adapted to the machine pretty quickly, but other people had problems with the mask or the pressure. One guy went asleep ok, but kept on taking the mask off in his sleep. I really felt for all these guys and their battles.
I got the machine home and after a while got a humidifier attachment which helps a bit with the dryness - but its still an issue - albeit a minor one. My only other gripe is an ache in the chest, this went away after a couple of weeks or so, and occasionally returns if I use the machine for too long (I think this a pretty common side effect).
The pressure on the machine says 12.5 whatever that means, I think that is high, but I've not much to compare that against. The machine says it gets about 6.5-7.00 hours use a night, which I think means I'm sleeping for that amount of time - which is great. I've lost a little weight, but know I could have lost more. I certainly have a lot more energy nowadays.
And the best thing is I don't fall asleep during the day. EVER!
Thanks
Mike
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