Tips for sleep apnea patients

[zonk]

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Philip R. Westbrook, Chief Medical Officer of Advanced Brain Monitoring, Inc., recommends you do the following:
Always inform all your physicians that you have sleep apnea and how that disorder is being treated.
Tell a spouse or responsible persons the details of your diagnosis and treatment so they can inform the physician in an emergency situation
Avoid narcotic (opioid) pain medications such as morphine, which can lead to life-threatening hypoxia (low oxygen), even in patients with mild sleep apnea
Avoid alcoholic beverages (or use with moderation) within 3 hours of bedtime
Avoid (or use with caution) sleeping pills and other medication known to cause sedation
If you smoke, quit. You are three times more likely to have sleep apnea if you smoke than if you never smoked or stopped smoking.
Avoid sleeping at high altitude. Altitude can make the loss of oxygen that occurs with sleep apnea worse
If your sleep apnea causes you to be sleepy, avoid operating a motor vehicle or other machinery potentially dangerous to yourself or others until you are adequately treated
If you are being treated with CPAP, always take your CPAP machine with you if you are being admitted to a hospital.
If you are overweight, lose weight. Sleep apnea is strongly linked to obesity.

[zonk]

Healthy lifestyle [Source: ResMed]

Different aspects of your lifestyle may impact your therapy. Your daily habits and personal relationships may play a role in the success of your treatment. While it may take time, it's possible to comfortably integrate therapy into your lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have.

Daily habits
Changes in your daily routine may affect your therapy. Drinking alcohol, gaining or losing weight, or taking medications can cause your pressure needs to change. Check with your doctor to see how your lifestyle might affect your therapy, and be sure to tell your doctor about any symptoms or changes.

Personal relationships
Some people feel self-conscious about using their PAP equipment in front of others. They worry that their spouse or partner may be “turned off” by the appearance of the equipment.

Similarly, some people worry about taking their equipment with them on trips, like camping or business travel. They worry their friends or colleagues will think less of them because they are on PAP therapy.

These concerns are normal, but PAP is nothing to be embarrassed about. By using your PAP regularly, you are taking control of your health and making a positive choice for your future and wellbeing.

[chaddy511]

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Philip R. Westbrook, Chief Medical Officer of Advanced Brain Monitoring, Inc., recommends you do the following:
Always inform all your physicians that you have sleep apnea and how that disorder is being treated.
Tell a spouse or responsible persons the details of your diagnosis and treatment so they can inform the physician in an emergency situation
Avoid narcotic (opioid) pain medications such as morphine, which can lead to life-threatening hypoxia (low oxygen), even in patients with mild sleep apnea
Avoid alcoholic beverages (or use with moderation) within 3 hours of bedtime
Avoid (or use with caution) sleeping pills and other medication known to cause sedation
If you smoke, quit. You are three times more likely to have sleep apnea if you smoke than if you never smoked or stopped smoking.
Avoid sleeping at high altitude. Altitude can make the loss of oxygen that occurs with sleep apnea worse
If your sleep apnea causes you to be sleepy, avoid operating a motor vehicle or other machinery potentially dangerous to yourself or others until you are adequately treated
If you are being treated with CPAP, always take your CPAP machine with you if you are being admitted to a hospital.
If you are overweight, lose weight. Sleep apnea is strongly linked to obesity.

[chaddy511]

Quit all that. Omg then what. Life would be too boring to go on. I take about all of those things. But if the pap machine is stopping your sleep from fragmenting. That would be the real problem. Well, my situation is a little different i guess. I did stop taking the opiates for 4 months. This is before i got diagnosed and got on the pap. I was suspicious of the opiates because hey are a respitory depressant. 4 months later. I was just as exhausted. That wasent it. Im still new to the cpap. Only one month. Did you experience fatigue from the alnea.

[zonk]

but PAP is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Exactly right nothing to be embarrassed about.
I don,t have a problem telling anyone who prepared to listen that I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP

[Dreamcatcher]

My names DC and I have sleep apnea....

I also smoke at times, drink at times, go without my machine at times and I can also be a crabbit bawbag

If I die, I'll do it enjoying myself

Ps this is not recommended for anyone else (Rebel with a cause)

[zonk]

My names DC and I have sleep apnea....

Enchante monsieur

[acdodd]

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Philip R. Westbrook, Chief Medical Officer of Advanced Brain Monitoring, Inc., recommends you do the following:
Always inform all your physicians that you have sleep apnea and how that disorder is being treated.
Tell a spouse or responsible persons the details of your diagnosis and treatment so they can inform the physician in an emergency situation
Avoid narcotic (opioid) pain medications such as morphine, which can lead to life-threatening hypoxia (low oxygen), even in patients with mild sleep apnea
Avoid alcoholic beverages (or use with moderation) within 3 hours of bedtime
Avoid (or use with caution) sleeping pills and other medication known to cause sedation
If you smoke, quit. You are three times more likely to have sleep apnea if you smoke than if you never smoked or stopped smoking.
Avoid sleeping at high altitude. Altitude can make the loss of oxygen that occurs with sleep apnea worse
If your sleep apnea causes you to be sleepy, avoid operating a motor vehicle or other machinery potentially dangerous to yourself or others until you are adequately treated
If you are being treated with CPAP, always take your CPAP machine with you if you are being admitted to a hospital.
If you are overweight, lose weight. Sleep apnea is strongly linked to obesity.