New member, please help
I'm a bachelor, who lives alone. But a while back I was told about my snoring from a house guest. I immediately got a sleep study scheduled. My experience was horrific. The amount of air forced on me was unbearable and I couldn't breathe at that pace let alone sleep. After the test, the doctor said he wouldn't give me a cpap, that I needed to just focus on weight loss. I haven't been able to keep the weight off. I lose some gain some and so on. Aside from the snoring I've never felt the fatigue or anything else. Until this past week. I'm not sleeping. And my blood pressure is really high (something I've never had) When I try to sleep I awake a few minutes later trying to breathe. I have breathed with my mouth during sleep since childhood due to severe nasal problems since birth. But for some reason this week, when I wake up out of breath my mouth is closed. I'm really scared and I feel like im about to die. So although I'm just as scared of the pain that I'm going to endure I'm scheduling another sleep study. Just in case the doctors once again won't give me a cpap I ordered a dreamstation off Amazon. Though I have no idea how to use it, it should be here in two days. Does anyone have any advice? Help. Please.
RE: New member, please help
Welcome SleeplessinNC.
Firstly, go back to your doctor and tell him of your latest concerns and problems.
CPAP takes a bit of getting used to, and the test is never fun.
If you do get put on CPAP a clinic will set it up initially [usually in auto mode to get a baseline for the settings], then they will make adjustments under the direction of a respiratory/sleep specialist until they get your AHI numbers within reasonable parameters.
It is really something you should be doing under medical supervision.
Maybe you should rent out your spare room, then at least you would have someone in the house if you need assistance.
RE: New member, please help
G'day and welcome to Apnea Board.
The initial sleep test shouldn't involve any air pressure - there will be 16 or 17 electrodes and sensors glued to your body but no air pressure. The test is designed to measure how you breathe naturally. Only if it's determined that you have apnea will they then test you with pressure to see how much you need (the titration test). While the titration test isn't necessarily pleasant it certainly isn't painful.
The fact your doctor won't prescribe a CPAP might indicate that you don't actually have apnea. You should discuss this with him in detail to find out exactly what is going on. Your symptoms may well be from something quite different from sleep apnea. I agree with the comment above - you need to find out exactly what's happening before trying a do-it-yourself solution.
RE: New member, please help
Get a copy of the sleep study. We can go through the results with you. If you had a split study, which would have evaluated you for the presence of sleep apnea, the first-half would have been diagnostic, and the second half a titration test. Failing to sleep for titration is not solved by telling you to lose weight. Get the results, and post back.
RE: New member, please help
Additionally, hope you are consulting a cardiologist about the bp. Good cardiologists are well aware of the risks associated with OSA, so they are a potential ally in dealing with the sleep establishment.
Very doubtful you are in immediate mortal danger. FWIW, CPAP has lowered my high bp more than the medications have. If you get on the machine, this forum is a great support. Keep reading and keep posting.
We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.
RE: New member, please help
Hi SleeplessinNC,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Hopefully you got a copy of your sleep study, if you did, feel free to let us know, so we can better assist you. If not, you should ask for it to have in your records.
Also, talk to your regular doc about this situation and get his/her assessment.
I wish you good luck in finding out what is going on with your health problems.
trish6hundred
