Sleep Apnea

[Truthiness Inspector]

Who here has it?

And what does it really feel like, not text book stuff?

Almost every night right as I'm crossing that threshold into sleep I feel like I'm dying, and I wake up with a start like I can't breathe and my heart stops. I know it's going to happen, and yet when it does each and every single night I always think, "Is this the time I'm really going to die?" I wake up choking all the time too.

I have insomnia too, but this thing... :(

[Truthiness Inspector]

1. No input?

I thought maybe at this time of night I'd find others with this same prob.

[gator_in_Ontario]

2. My wife has it

she is sleeping soundly with her machine on, and I'm the insomniac. She uses a CPAP machine and it really helps her. She said it was scary before she was diagnosed, though.

[Iniquitous Bunny]

3. I don't have this, but...

I have a family member who is the director of a sleep lab. You need to get in for a sleep study- NOW- and probably use a CPAP machine like the other poster mentioned.

Info:

http://www.sleepcenters.org/

Find one near you and call for more info. They can help you. It is covered by most insurance.

[joneschick]

4. my husband and his dad both are now CPAP sleepers

it's made a world of difference. At first it was kinda like sleeping with Darth Vader, but I got used to that.......PM any questions, but definitely get to a doctor and some sleep center analysis pronto!

[NC_Nurse]

5. Often connected to being overweight

so if that is part of it for you, you can avoid the CPAP machine or a UPP surgery by losing weight. You should definitely get a sleep study, it's bad for your heart over the long term.

[astral]

6. I know someone who got the machine

and started getting a good nights' sleep on a regular basis for the first time! It affects you in that way more than you realize, until you get a chance to do something about it disrupting your sleep cycles every night. It can be life-threatening, I understand, but I don't know how that works statistically.

[Bombero1956]

7. I have it

I had my sleep study done 8 years ago. I use a Viasys Orion. Best thing I ever did. There are many kinds of machines available with different kinds of face gear. The hardest part of using a CPAP is getting used to sleeping with your mouth closed. I over compensated and would wake up with jaw and neck pain from clenching my jaws. The provider of the machine should teach you how to use the machine and how to maintain it. Good luck.

[BrotherBuzz]

8. Bernie Ward (KGO radio) has Sleep Apnea

He's done entire segments on the studies Stanford University has done on him, wired-up and all. Interesting, one of his problems isn't insomnia, but narcolepsy. Dead air on Brother Bernie's radio show is always interesting.

[grannylib]

9. My hubby and several of his family members have it. I love him dearly

but have a hard time sleeping in the same bed with him, the snoring and the 'jerk' when he wakes himself up make it almost impossible for me to sleep...
A few of his siblings are on the CPAP machines and I am trying to talk him into going to the doctor to get it checked out...he's always SO tired, I know he is not getting the kind of sleep he needs.

I am sorry to hear it's making you suffer so!
Please get it checked out...it's manageable with some medical help! :hug:

[ccjlld]

10. My Dad, Brother, and Sister

all have CPAP machines. I'm beginning to think that maybe I need to have a sleep study done too. Problem is, one of the side effects of the Paxil I take is that I don't sleep very well. I take another medication occasionally when I really need to try to sleep the whole night through. Still, I usually wake up once or twice during the night.

I do know that I usually sleep better when I use one of those Breathe Right strips on my nose. Once I have it on, I instantly feel I can breathe better.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. See a doctor right away, please.

That is too scary to not take care of.