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AUTHOR: Dan Smith on 10/17/2024

This may be a stretch for the forum but I’m going to throw it out there and hope it helps someone.

When my first wife told me that I held my breath while sleeping I didn’t think much about it. Then Chris (new wife) told me that I stop breathing and probably have apnea, and should do a sleep study.

So I did. And I hated it. Dozens of wires attached all over my body. The worst of them on my head, attached with gooey crap tangled in with my hair. I hate stuff on my head, I don’t even wear hats in the winter. Results, 33 incidents per hour; pretty severe.  But I toughed it out and was prescribed a c-pap machine.

During the test I did not like the standard full size mask at all. The silicone material was not comfortable. I figured smaller was better. So at home I experimented with smaller masks. First one that covered my mouth and butted up to my nostrils; no good. Need smaller. Got one that that only butted up to my nostrils but not over my mouth; no good. Somehow I had to meet Medicare’s requirement of at least 4 hours per night for 75% of the month. That pretty much meant at least 4 hours lying in bed NOT sleeping. One night, frustrated and exhausted I tore the headgear off and threw it across the room. It crashed into the closet door, breaking the mask.

I was at my wits end and totally prepared to return the equipment to sender, which is what about half of the sleep apnea patients’ end up doing. Then I spotted something that I thought might work. It was full face mask with memory foam instead of a silicone seal.

Finally a mask I could tolerate. It still took some time. There is a learning curve to c-pap machines, mostly dealing with the spaghetti like straps on the head gear. And then there’s the dents in puts on your skull.

I still don’t love it, but after about 3 years I have finally mastered it. Yesterday marked 365 consecutive nights, average time used 7 hours and 38 minutes, with less than 2 sleep apnea events per hour. And yes, I do feel better.

There are also surgical options available if the machine isn’t for you.

Sleep apnea can be fatal. C-pap machines can give you better rest, more energy, and may even save your life.

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rmandr
3 months ago

This post really struck a nerve with me.

In 2019 I tried the CPAP machine after having insomnia since the mid 90’s. After a couple of nights I discontinued using it and returned the machine. My biggest complain was the continuous air pressure made me repeatedly decompress my ears throughout the night.

This past year my sleep was getting worse and I went to the university sleep center and had the sleep study with all the wires you referenced. It came back that I definitely needed to use the machine. After explaining my prior experience the doctor told me that the newer machines are not “continuous pressure” and are instead “automatic pressure” only pushing air when you breath in, so I agreed to give it a try.

You explanation of the mask issues was spot on and the nose mask made my nose super sensitive, the doctor said it would go away after a couple of weeks. I plowed through with the dry mouth, the strap on the head etc and recently acclimated to all of it. Like you said, “I still don’t love it” but I’m committed to using it, I’m glad to hear it gets better with time. I just began two months ago and I’m averaging 7 hours per nights and yes, definitely sleeping better.

As a teenager and even after collage I slept great often past noon, now more and more friends tell me they too use the CPAP machine. I’m assuming this happens more as we age since we’re all in our 70’s although some have been using it for years. According to my wife I’m not a big snorer although some nights, especially when I’m super tiered I have occasional mild snores.

Even though you began your post by saying, “this may be a stretch for this forum,” I was glad to see Jonathan thought it was appropriate, thanks for sharing.

G W
3 months ago

Great post, Dan.
I’m just shy of 65 and have used a CPAP for 27 years. At the time, I just could not understand why I was completely exhausted every day by the time noon rolled around. I worked long hours with a hectic schedule with 7 day workweeks for years but took all that in stride previously. A fortunate conversation with a work associate that had just started using a CPAP at that time may have saved my life.

CPAP machines have come a long way since my first unit, in very positive ways. Same for the variety of masks now available. To be clear, I despise having to use the machine, the hose, taking it along on travels, cleaning it, using a chin strap to avoid my mouth opening while asleep, etc. The reality however is that using the machine made my exhaustion issue fade away within a few days and continues to help me today.

I was not a candidate for the throat surgery. I know that new products show up from time to time including a new, implanted device that “supposedly eliminates”the need for using a CPAP. As my sleep doctor would say, everyone’s needs are different and one product doesn’t work for all. I replaced my machine (same brand/unit) this year as my previous unit had reached its intended hours of use. It cost me a whopping $750 plus a few bucks for some supplies ~ $1,000 out the door.

I’ve read several posts and comments on HD somewhat recently regarding things like colonoscopies and the inconvenience, discomfort or modesty issues involved, sleep studies, CPAPS, etc. I find these responses out of alignment with the financially and educationally astute community here that can dwell endlessly on when to take SS, Medicare, annuities…..the list is long. Yes, these are definitely important financial issues but rejecting being inconvenienced by having to do things mentioned above can make the need for these financial discussions a moot point. If you think a colonoscopy is terrible, I can share the highlights of the surgeons transcripts of my father’s multiple surgeries dealing with colorectal cancer. Literally, get off your arse and have it inspected!

Best to all.

Nony Edwards
4 months ago

My uncle visited with his C-PAP machine many years ago. He told me that his Dr. diagnosed sleep apnea and explained that it was a life threatening issue. Uncle laughed and said that he had never seen sleep apnea as a cause of death in an obituary. Dr. responded – they refer to it as “he died peacefully in his sleep”.

I followed Uncle’s example and had a sleep study. Have now been using a C-PAP for over 15 years. Not easy at first, but now we go everywhere together. I have explained to my grandchildren that it is my “snuffleupagus” machine to assure them it is truly a good thing.

stelea99
4 months ago

For those who want to get a strong hint of whether or not they might have sleep apnea, there is a very low cost device called an oxygen sensor. It clips on your finger and you wear it overnight. In the morning, you download the results into an app on your smart phone. If you can keep it on your finger, (I had to use some white medical tape) it will tell you what your O2 saturation did over the night. Apnea can make it go way down into the 80% range (obviously because you are not breathing sometimes). I have Afib, and when I was diagnosed sleep apnea was suggested as a possible cause that I needed to research. I don’t snore and several nights of testing showed that my O2 level never went below 95%. I then got my wife to try it for a night and clearly she had an issue leading a sleep study and to her ultimate use of a CPAP machine.

David Lancaster
4 months ago

FYI,

Another treatment alternative for sleep apnea is a Mandibular Advancement device. This is like two mouth guards that attach to each other and draws your lower jaw forward. It appears to be covered by Medicare.

Last edited 4 months ago by David Lancaster
baldscreen
4 months ago

Good article, Dan. I didn’t know Medicare paid for the sleep apnea machines. I am glad you found something that works for you. Chris

Winston Smith
4 months ago

Dan,

Thank you for telling your story.

I, too, am one of those unfortunate people who need a CPAP machine.

My wife says I no longer bother her with my snoring.

A year or so ago we took an overnighter to visit with some friends. I figured “oh … for one night I can do without my contraption”.

Big mistake.

I use it every night now.

And I haul it along whenever we travel.

The hardest part for me was learning NOT to breathe through my mouth when I sleep.

Jonathan Clements
Admin
4 months ago
Reply to  Dan Smith

Just what I’m looking for in a HumbleDollar contributor!

OldITGuy
4 months ago

I had a pretty bad snoring problem about 21 years ago. I wasn’t checked for sleep apnea at the time, but there is a strong relationship there. An ENT took one look in my throat and recommended radio frequency non-invasive tissue ablation. He did it in his office and it took about 10 minutes. It worked really well for me. Over the next 2 weeks the tissue shrunk up, my airway opened up, and the snoring went away. About 6 years ago my youngest son had significant snoring, so I suggested he go to an ENT. They wanted him to use a c-pac machine, but he didn’t want to so they ended up doing surgery on him. It wasn’t the radio frequency kind of surgery, so his recovery period was a couple weeks. It also helped him immensely.

Jeff Bond
4 months ago

I don’t think it’s a stretch at all – unless Jonathan says it is. 🙂 I don’t have sleep apnea, but I try to monitor my sleep. I have a Garmin sports watch that monitors sleep, but I don’t agree with what it tells me. Some days I wake up fully rested and the summary report says I had a crappy night’s sleep. Other times it says I slept long enough, but didn’t get enough REM sleep. But I feel fine. I rarely need or take daytime naps.

I recently read an online article on sleep and Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Sports watches can pretty accurately monitor when you go to sleep, when you wake up, heart rate and breathing rate through the night, and HRV – but the interpretation of the data is still a bit wonky.

I’ve decided I need to trust how I feel and be less dependent on technical information as far as sleep is concerned.

Edmund Marsh
4 months ago

Dan, I think it’s a good topic. What fun is retirement if I’m more grouchy and falling asleep at every opportunity?

bbbobbins
4 months ago
Reply to  Edmund Marsh

Some might say those are the point of retirement….

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