New here... really scared.

[Gogetah]

So I'm 26 years old and was just diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea... I'm currently awaiting to meet up with the specialist but I can already feel the impact my chest is soar I'm tired every morning I sleep 12 hours a day napping alot I'm overweight and I'm easily agitated I chalked all of this up to depression over the years and now I know why. I'm just really scared man I've always been a big macho tough guy and for once I'm really worried I've read stories about people dying in their sleep my doctors best friend died at 30 from it. I'm worried about wearing cpap at 26 and bringing girls home only to look like bane and have them be turned off. I'm worried the machines won't work or I won't be comfortable and I just feel like I'mreally young to have this... I mean 26 and I already have a life threatening medical issue. I just need to talk to someone maybe get tips or suggestions thay made it easier for everyone else I'm sincerely freaked and none of my.friends or family understand they just say use the machine but it's not as easy as that. What girl would want a young guy who needs to sleep with a machine... :/ I'm probably being stupid about this but every aspect has bothered me.

[OpalRose]

Hi Gogetah,
First, welcome to Apnea Board. Hope you will stick around, people here have lots of knowledge on the subject and can advise you.

I know you are young, but look at it this way, you are lucky to be diagnosed early in life. I know looking back at my symptoms that I had apnea for years before being diagnosed, and all that time of not knowing and not being treated, the disease has done its damage....like high blood pressure,
Hypothyroidism, pre diabetic (which seems to be reversing since treatment and losing some weight).

Now, as far as that special girl is concerned, if she is the right one for you, she won't care about you having to wear a mask. She will love you no matter what. Don't settle for anything less, and take care of yourself first.

I know your scared and it is not easy, but you will be fine.

[Ailu]

Hi Gogetah,
First, welcome to Apnea Board. Hope you will stick around, people here have lots of knowledge on the subject and can advise you.

I know you are young, but look at it this way, you are lucky to be diagnosed early in life. I know looking back at my symptoms that I had apnea for years before being diagnosed, and all that time of not knowing and not being treated, the disease has done its damage....like high blood pressure,
Hypothyroidism, pre diabetic (which seems to be reversing since treatment and losing some weight).

Now, as far as that special girl is concerned, if she is the right one for you, she won't care about you having to wear a mask. She will love you no matter what. Don't settle for anything less, and take care of yourself first.

I know your scared and it is not easy, but you will be fine.

Wow, couldn't have said anything better than OpalRose here, my sentiments exactly. I could only add, to read the "Sucess Stories" thread when you can, it will really help you see how life changing getting on CPAP can really be!

[justMongo]

Would you want to be with a woman who is so shallow that she's turned off by a CPAP machine?
Give the ladies some credit -- the good ones will look past the machine and look at the real person.

You can adjust to the therapy; and when it's working right for you, you'll see a difference in yourself -- how you feel; and your outlook on life.

Welcome to apneaboard. (edited: You'd think I could spell apneaboard.)

Mongo

[fvcroft]

Hi Gogetah

First let me say, Welcome

OpalRose said it right and I would add one thing.
I too am brand new, have my machine less than a week. But I look at it as a blessing. I have a couple of health issues, high blood pressure being one of them. I am "told" that getting a handle on my apnea "may" allow me at some point to go off my blood pressure medication. I am also told that other areas of my life may be improved as well, notwithstanding my day to day and social life being that I will be able to better enjoy each of these things.

Do I look and feel silly wearing my mask? Absolutely! But its for 8hrs out of my day, while I'm sleeping, and while my partner is sleeping. In the very short time I have been using it, It has not interfered with our "bedroom time" and I honestly cant see that it will.

When I first joined this forum yesterday someone welcomed me with the words, and I'm paraphrasing, welcome to the land of the hoseheads... or something like that. That there summed up basically how I'm looking at this, having a sense of humor about all this. The proverbial make lemonade out of lemons sort of thing. Its a necessary evil but an evil that has a silver lining, a more fulfilling quality of life.

I understand that all of this is quite overwhelming and I dare say it will get even more so before it gets better, but I ask only that you don't give up on it and just take one day at a time and give yourself time to absorb all the information you will be givin. I'm sure at the end of the day you will see that this is worth it and you'll wonder why you had reservations to begin with.
Have patience and please don't panic.

[MobileBasset]

I can already feel the impact my chest is soar I'm tired every morning I sleep 12 hours a day napping alot I'm overweight and I'm easily agitated I chalked all of this up to depression over the years and now I know why.

Welcome Gogetah,

From what you wrote it looks like your social life is already being affected. Wouldn't it be great if you could address those issues? I was 26 once and I would guess a lovely lady would be much more attracted to a lovable, rested, un-agitated guy, who happens to sleep with a CPAP, than the alternative. Embrace the CPAP and see if it can get you there.

[Sleeprider]

My daughter is a really fit and attractive girl, and her boyfriend has a successful business and together they have a lot of fun...until night time comes when he collapses in an exhausted heap and starts to snore and gasp. She lent one of my older CPAPs to him to try to get him started. Sleep apnea is more unattractive when left untreated.

What you're doing is good for you, and will benefit everyone around you in ways you don't even know yet. You will learn to make xPAP therapy fit around your life, not the other way around. I take motorcycle trips, go on vacations, and even manage to have a love life, and CPAP works with all that...it's just not the center of attention. It's part of life and will eventually fade to the background and become as noticeable as the toothbrush you use. It's just a tool, and it's only really noticeable if you don't use it.

[stanleydean]

Hi Gogeta and welcome to the Apneaboard. You have gotten replies from Opal Rose and others that really hit the nail on the head. I had been using a CPAP for about ten years before discovering the great group of people that make up the board and then didn't take advantage of this resource for another year. You ARE on the right path so hang in there! You are blessed to have this diagnosed early! Good lick and stick with it, you will be glad you did.

My wife of 56 years would tell you that she has been much happier sleeping with a guy using CPAP for the past ten years than than she was for the previous ten years with my snoring and more importantly, the times she had to nudge me to restart my breathing. I'm 82 and my overall health has improved with CPAP use plus some supplemental oxygen which you may or may not need.

Also, it is hilarious how cats and dogs react when confronted with an alien wearing a goofy mask!

[Ghost1958]

You got it caught early. Which saves you the host of medical issues it causes later.
As far as the girls, if a woman is THAT barbiefied, your lucky to find it out fast.
She will be nothing but drama to deal with about everthing else too.

[trish6hundred]

Hi Gogetah,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
First of all, What OpalRose said. I know you are scared but you are able to treat your sleep apnea early and that's a great thing, I know it's bothersome to you but as hard as this is, just try REAL hard to relax and not panic.
Hang in there for more suggestions and much success to you as you start your CPAP journey, and do watch out for the shallow girls who would shun you because of a mask, a hose and the machine that will help you.