I found out I have sleep apnea. It seems a little more common than I realized. Any of you deal with sleep apnea?
I haven't bought the machine yet. This is still in the early stages. Kind of a pain on 1 hand, but I guess good to know and treat it on the other.

There are many I know that have machines including me. I am on my 6th year with a machine with a nasel mask and have not had issues with the machine or the service. Beats the H out of not getting a better nights sleep.

Bryce

It is good to treat it, it can cause serious health issues if left untreated. I have moderate sleep apnea and use a CPAP. Found after the fact that several people I know use one too. The machine I have is self titrating so it automatically adjusts the pressure as needed. I use a nasal mask only, try several masks and find one that is comfortable. The first few nights were difficult to get used to using it all night. Now it is second nature.

I have been dealing with SA for 15-20 years. CPAP is the only way I can sleep.

1. Make sure the mask fits properly.
2. The air pressure needs to be correct for You.
3. A built in humidifier is best, but an external hookup will work too.
Your throat can get mighty dry if you don't use a humidifier.

I found out the hard way that you need to have the adapter so you can hook it up to a marine battery
if the electricity goes out or if you want to go camping you have power for your machine.

Weight loss , excersie , and surgery might be a good alternative to machine attachment

I also was diagnosed last year and have been using an auto titrating machine. It has made a huge difference in my energy levels. I used to always be tired at work during the day. Looking back, I don't know how I functioned without one and am nearly addicted to it.

I'm learning on a bi-level, after 40 or 60 years of living without it; my wife likes the quiet-I ain't so sure I like the aggravation. I lose more sleep to knocking the mask off than I do to the apnea.
fwiw, a couple of Drs. have told me that anyone who snores is likely going to be diagnosed as apnea.
Where do you get this adapter to a marine battery?

I have had SA for a while. Got bad enough lately, I needed to do something. Know several people that use the CPAP with success. Didn't want to get tied to a machine if there was another option. My dentist is a provider for a new method of helping SA patients. I did a sleep study at home one night with his monitor. Took it back to him the next day and they plugged it into the computer. Showed how many times I stopped breathing through the night (83) the length of time I had stopped breathing( 38 sec. was longest) positions during the night and what times they changed, oxygen levels and times of breathing through nose or mouth. Yup I had a problem.

Took teeth impressions, measured a lot of things like jaw joint angles, length of jaw, teeth bite and probably other stuff. He sent all the information too ProSomnus sleep technologies . Several week later I got two set of mouth gear.(one mild and one aggressive) Much like an orthodontist retainer only it pushes the lower jaw forward to open the airways.

Have been using it now for a couple of weeks. Haven't slept this well in a long time. Wake up rested. Still getting used to it but hasn't been much of a problem. Will do another sleep study in about a month to see if a different combination of mouth pieces will be needed. With two uppers and two lowers, there are many combinations to choose from if the study shows I need to use a more aggressive combination. So far I am a believer in the new technology.

I agree with antigov above, weight loss would help many. I am a fairly thin person but still have the problem. My guess age is the main factor for me. Hope this helps someone.

I will add that I have never used a CPAP, so I can't compare the two.

can't imagine trying to sleep without it now. i use the nasal cushions and won't look back.
both the wife and i sleep much better. i no longer make that bathroom trip in the middle of the night.

Good information, I am going in for a sleep study next month.

I went for a sleep study. Never went to sleep, being in a strange place, all the wires and gizmos hooked up to me. But, even though I never went to sleep they KNEW I needed that $1200 machine and all the stuff to go with it. I can't use it....get the hose all wrapped around my neck and tangled up.
It sits on the floor by the night stand. Even with the gizmo on, I still snore and wake myself up.

use mine every night

I have had mine a few months now. No improvement yet. I hate it.

If you need it use it, it will add years to your life imo. I can’t sleep without mine. Never heard weight is a cause of it though, I’d be curious to know if there’s research to back that as I know a lot of people that use a Cpap, about 50/50 are over weight

I never heard of anyone who took a sleep study test that didn't need a CPAP machine. And I've heard several people say they never fell asleep at all - yet after four hours of laying there awake the results show conclusively that the subject has sleep apnea and needs a CPAP.

I'm skeptical - as usual.

I've used one for years. No problem. Yep lots of people on it. I slept just fine at the sleep study. I was tired all the time but not now. Can help you dodge a stroke. I love it.

That’s because most people go for it knowing that they probably need it. Without it I could sit in a chair and be snoring and gagging in 5 minutes. My wife and son both said I actually quit breathing in my sleep and snored horribly. I doubt most people go there thinking they may not need it. I’d be curious if someone without any symptoms would go there just to see if they’d give it to them?

My wife took the test, she dose not need one. I have worne one for years even if I am just taking a nap I put it on. without it I wake up with a headache. The mouth jaw things did not work for me.

My doctor who I have found to be a pretty straight shooter says it is a good mix of people of all varieties of shapes and sizes. One real benefit that he as found with a number of his patients that start using a CPAP is weight loss because they are not constantly trying to replace low energy by eating more often.

One factor that does hold up pretty well for those having SA is a neck circumference greater than about 17.5 inches. That much tissue collapses on itself when laying down regardless of is you are overweight or not.

I did the home sleep study for two nights which monitors chest expansion, oxygen levels, and breathing. I was having upwards of 30 apneas per hour and the longest I quit breathing was about a 1:12. My oxygen levels were staying below 90% most of the time. The home study is a bit on the conservative side so it likely underestimates what is actually going on and is not useful for studying the titration needed. My doctor prescribed a auto titrating machine and I was able to avoid the full at-clinic sleep study.

Its been worth every penny I paid for it.

I've been using one since December of 2013. A surprise bonus I found, is that I have not had the common cold since I started.