Greetings Everyone,

  I have just been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.  To be honest, though, I am concerned about what my doctor told me and am hoping that this forum can help.

  Two weeks ago, I went to a sleep clinic for a sleep study.  Half-way through, they hooked me up to a CPAP machine.  Then, they woke me up, asked me if I felt like I had a typical night's sleep (I didn't think the machine helped much, but they said it helped a little), and then I left.  Yesterday, my doctor called me and said that I had moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  He order a Nasal CAT scan, set me up to get a mask fitting, and referred me to an ENT specialist to determine whether surgery was an option of if I'd have to use the CPAP machine for the rest of my life.

  Now, I don't have any results in hand (I'll be getting those next week), but you now know as much as I do.  What questions should I be asking of my PCP or the ENT?  I've learned quite a bit about OSA through this site and other web resources, but it only tells me about the condition.  It doesn't do much to calm me down.

  Oh, and for those of you that are using a CPAP machine, how does it affect your spouse/partner's sleep?  My wife is a light sleeper and it was because of her I approached my PCP about my snoring and breathing.  I can only assume the machine would be better than the snoring, but since I'll be asleep ;) I won't know.

  Thanks in advance for your comments...  I'll be around...

Jeromy

This was the greatest learning experience I have had every while on line in a chat room.

As I look at all of the post, I think I have very nice for my insurance pays for everything
Including a home health service that came out to my house and set me all up with the machine and the mask by adjusting the straps to fit my head.  I am using the C-flex machine it does all of the thinking for me.  Everything is programmed into the unit.  All I have to do each night is to press three buttons.  One for the heat and the heat level is preset. One for the maximum air ( which is 13) and that is preset and the third is a ramp button which reduces the air flow to a lower level and increases over to the maximum level over a twenty minute period.  

My sleep study was done in separate building from the hospital but still on the grounds of that hospital.  I went on two different Friday evenings.  Second night was my first night sleep with the cpap.  Then I had to wait for about one week before I was set up at my home by a technician.

jeromy wrote:

Greetings Everyone,

  I have just been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.  To be honest, though, I am concerned about what my doctor told me and am hoping that this forum can help.

  Two weeks ago, I went to a sleep clinic for a sleep study.  Half-way through, they hooked me up to a CPAP machine.  Then, they woke me up, asked me if I felt like I had a typical night's sleep (I didn't think the machine helped much, but they said it helped a little), and then I left.  Yesterday, my doctor called me and said that I had moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  He order a Nasal CAT scan, set me up to get a mask fitting, and referred me to an ENT specialist to determine whether surgery was an option of if I'd have to use the CPAP machine for the rest of my life.

  Now, I don't have any results in hand (I'll be getting those next week), but you now know as much as I do.  What questions should I be asking of my PCP or the ENT?  I've learned quite a bit about OSA through this site and other web resources, but it only tells me about the condition.  It doesn't do much to calm me down.

  Oh, and for those of you that are using a CPAP machine, how does it affect your spouse/partner's sleep?  My wife is a light sleeper and it was because of her I approached my PCP about my snoring and breathing.  I can only assume the machine would be better than the snoring, but since I'll be asleep ;) I won't know.

  Thanks in advance for your comments...  I'll be around...

Jeromy

Hi Jeromy,

Yeah, it's hard to calm down when faced with all of this.
Other than the snoring and breathing, how did you feel during the day?  Were you feeling particularly exhausted?  Had you developed other conditions like high blood pressure?  I'm only asking.  If you felt such things, remember them, and if you start cpap treatment, notice the changes.

Be sure to ask lots of questions about surgeries and commit to nothing at first, in my opinion, until you feel absolutely comfortable and knowlegable about the procedures.  Take notes if they recommend surgery and they describe it.  

I'm single, so affecting a spouse right now is not an issue for me.  I've had only one machine.  But I've heard that some machines are quieter than others.  But frankly, I don't remember which ones they were.  That might be a good question to post here for suggestions from others.  And you are right, she will likely be much happier than with the snoring, especially if your snoring included sounds of choking or breathing problems.  I'm a light sleeper, yet I like white noise and often sleep with a fan, just for the sound.  If she's like that, any sound from your machine might actually be welcomed, depending how she feels about it.  

Good luck, and let us know how things go.


Linda

jeromy wrote:

Greetings Everyone,

  I have just been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.  To be honest, though, I am concerned about what my doctor told me and am hoping that this forum can help.

  Two weeks ago, I went to a sleep clinic for a sleep study.  Half-way through, they hooked me up to a CPAP machine.  Then, they woke me up, asked me if I felt like I had a typical night's sleep (I didn't think the machine helped much, but they said it helped a little), and then I left.  Yesterday, my doctor called me and said that I had moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  He order a Nasal CAT scan, set me up to get a mask fitting, and referred me to an ENT specialist to determine whether surgery was an option of if I'd have to use the CPAP machine for the rest of my life.

  Now, I don't have any results in hand (I'll be getting those next week), but you now know as much as I do.  What questions should I be asking of my PCP or the ENT?  I've learned quite a bit about OSA through this site and other web resources, but it only tells me about the condition.  It doesn't do much to calm me down.

  Oh, and for those of you that are using a CPAP machine, how does it affect your spouse/partner's sleep?  My wife is a light sleeper and it was because of her I approached my PCP about my snoring and breathing.  I can only assume the machine would be better than the snoring, but since I'll be asleep ;) I won't know.

  Thanks in advance for your comments...  I'll be around...

Jeromy

Hi Jeromy,

Firstly, listen to the ENT and do not agree to anything. If he suggests surgery, ask him why, what it will achieve, how it will achieve it, the success/failure rates and where these figures come from, do the figures relate to long term success (3/5 years +) and above all the recovery time and finally the cost.

Good to see that you have researched the condition, so you will be aware of the possible damage to your general health, cardiac, renal and neuro problems. The fact that you have taken the first big step towards dealing with this condition and are now aware of what it can do to you if left untreated should start to calm you down a little. I found that knowing why I had hypertension, why I crashed the car at 3 in the afternoon, why I couldn't concentrate was great, because it was explained to me that the condition was treatable.

Your wife is going to love cpap (you using it that is). I read once where heavy snorers can achieve over 100 decibels. CPAP machines are around 30 decibels.........no contest. The noise is similar to a small fan.

Be positive, the benefits of cpap are terrific.

One other thing, when choosing equipment the mask is far more important than the machine. It is your only contact with the machine. If it isn't right, then cpap might not work for you. Spend plenty of time over your choice.

Best of luck.

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Thank you all, for your words of wisdom.  I have started to feel a little better over the last few days of doing research.  As I start looking into more and more symptoms, I am starting to realize the impact of this condition on my daily life.  I thought all of these symptoms were normal.  In fact, I would have never spoken to my doctor about my sleeping unless my wife wrote it down on a list of questions she MADE me bring to my physical.

I'm actually relieved that I got diagnosed with a condition that is manageable.  It explains a lot of things, and knowing that the condition can be managed is starting to make me feel much better.  I actually can't wait until the technicians come set up the machine... I want to know what it feels like to have a good night sleep... and maybe even a good dream or two :)  I just hope it works for me.

/jeromy