"Aw, I'm just snoring, it doesn't mean anything. There isn't anything I can do about it."
Have you heard or said that?
Were you later diagnosed with Sleep Apnea?
Apnea is Greek for "without breath."This lens is designed with the thought to give you a "new breath."
Educating yourself
- Symptoms
- The signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apnea overlap, sometimes making the type of sleep apnea more difficult to determine.
- Causes
- Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. These muscles support the soft palate, uvula, tonsils and tongue
- Risk
- Sleep apnea may occur if you're young or old, male or female. Even children can have sleep apnea, a problem more common than it's known. But certain factors put you more at risk
- When to seek help
- Many people don't think of snoring as a sign of something potentially serious, and not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. But be sure to talk to your doctor if you experience loud snoring, especially snoring that's punctuated by periods of silence.
- Diagnosis
- Your doctor may make an evaluation based on your signs and symptoms or may refer you to a sleep disorder center, where an evaluation often involves overnight monitoring of your breathing and other body functions during sleep.
- Complications
- Sleep apnea is considered a serious medical condition. There are many serious potential complications - including cardo-vascular and sleep deprived partners!
- Treatment
- Sleep apnea rarely goes away on its own. A number of treatments are available. For obstructive sleep apnea, certain devices can help open up a blocked airway. In other cases, surgery may be necessary.
- Self-care
- n many cases, self-care may be most appropriate in dealing with obstructive sleep apnea and possibly central sleep apnea.
Living (and sleeping) with a CPAP
OK, the doctor has said you have sleep apnea and need a CPAP.What's it gonna be like with a gale blowing up your nose all night?
In a word, restful!
It takes some getting used to, but once you have a CPAP, you'll find yourself using it even just for that twenty minute power nap.
Like most men, I was coerced and cajoled into getting a sleep study. I knew deep down that something was amiss because I would take hour naps mid afternoon, fall into bed at 9 pm and wake up exhausted.
My mood changed: I was crabby, because I was sleep deprived.
Finally I checked into a clinic for the sleep study and learned that I had sleep apnea and the best treatment for me was to use a Continous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.
Welcome to the world of hosers.
The first night I put on the CPAP at home, I was so self conscious I put it on the dark and huddled to my side of the bed. I didn't want my wife of 20 years seeing me with this contraption on my head. Yes, you look stupid.
Will I ever get used to this blowing up my nose?
Yes, but it will take time. It's unnatural to try to exhale when a machine is pumping air agains you. Don't give up. Even if you have to take a few weeks until you sleep through the night, it is worth the effort.
But I sleep on my stomach!
Not any more! Well, maybe for a few minutes, but the mask will soon become discombobulated and start leaking and you'll be awake and fiddling with it.
Leaking? Fiddling with it?
Yes, you'll find that sometimes you'll have your head in such a way or the pillow will crunch up and dislodge your mask to cause a slight air leak. If the ssssssssssssssssssss sound of the air doesn't bother you, the fact that you're not getting full pressure will probably soon wake you. Eventually, you'll learn to make adjustments without becoming fully awake.
Seem to be a lot of different headgear and machines, which is right for me?
Yes, unfortunately this is a matter of trial and error. If you can avoid buying your first maching and rent it instead, you may find it to your advantage. As far as headgear, you may have to buy a few models and experiment before you find the one that is right for you!
I personally don't use a humidifier and prefer headgear with nasal pillows.
(more information to come - lens still under development)
The CPAP machine and headgear
You won't really choose a CPAP, your doctor will prescribe one for you. It may be a CPAP, which delivers the same pressure continously, a Bi-PAP which delivers different levels of pressure depending on your needs, or auto-titrating which adjusts as you breath to reduce your apnea. But you doctor will guide you in this decision.
Almost any type of CPAP will allow you to "ramp-up" your pressure from a very low level to your prescribed pressure to make it easier to get to sleep.
You only real choices will be whether to have a humidifier and which type of headgear.
How do I decide on headgear?
You have to do a lot of honest self analysis.
Are you a mouth breather?
Do you care how you look?
Are you a "hot head" ie: would have a full head cover make you uncomfortable?
Do you travel a lot?
Do you have sensitive skin around your nose and mouth?
Do you have allergies to synthetic rubber or silicone?
Do you have facial hair?
These are the questions you need to consider when choosing your headgear. And I wager you won't stick with the headgear your start out with. So be ready to spend some out of pocket money for your own comfort.
Almost any type of CPAP will allow you to "ramp-up" your pressure from a very low level to your prescribed pressure to make it easier to get to sleep.
You only real choices will be whether to have a humidifier and which type of headgear.
How do I decide on headgear?
You have to do a lot of honest self analysis.
Are you a mouth breather?
Do you care how you look?
Are you a "hot head" ie: would have a full head cover make you uncomfortable?
Do you travel a lot?
Do you have sensitive skin around your nose and mouth?
Do you have allergies to synthetic rubber or silicone?
Do you have facial hair?
These are the questions you need to consider when choosing your headgear. And I wager you won't stick with the headgear your start out with. So be ready to spend some out of pocket money for your own comfort.
