I have sleep apnea and scared.

Hi everyone! Well I just found out I have sleep apnea. I guess this is bad and good news. If I have it then my ins. will approve me quicker but, it is not good for my health. I went to do the sleep study this past Saturday. Now I have to go next Sat. too, but I am scared right now because I don't want to sleep with a mask around my face. They are going to install the machine I think this week. Any body with sleep apnea? And does this mask help with sleeping better? Maria M.

I,myself dont have sleep apnea...but,my twin sister does and she too, has to wear a C-pap every night ,or at nap time....most forget to breathe while sleeping..... The most common kind of sleep apnea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. Sleep apnea means "cessation of breath." It is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. The risks of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea include heart attacks, strokes, impotence, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and heart disease. In addition, obstructive sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness that can result in accidents, lost productivity and interpersonal relationship problems. The severity of the symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe. Moderate to severe Sleep Apnea is usually treated with a C-PAP (continous positive airway pressure). C-PAP is a machine that blows air into your nose via a nose mask, keeping the airway open and unobstructed. For more severe apnea, there is a Bi-level (Bi-PAP) machine. The Bi-level machine is different in that it blows air at two different pressures. Make sure you follow your doctor advice...sleep apnea is a serious condition....

Hi Maria, Don't be scared. I have sleep apnea and prior to surgery had been wearing my mask every night. I LOVE my mask! Yes, it definitely took time to get used to it, but once I got used to it, it REALLY helped me sleep thru the night. I swear, when I use it I don't even get up to go to the bathroom -- I sleep right thru the entire night! And I used to feel like I hit a wall around 3 pm in the afternoon, but after using the CPAP, I was no longer tired during the day. And no more sleeping 10 hours just to feel refreshed! Yes, sleeping with the mask and all the wires at the sleep study is not an easy thing. The first time I kind of had a small panic attack and could not tolerate it. I had to see my doctor who gave me a Rx for a mild sedative. I took it prior to the next sleep study and had no problem at all. They diagnosed me and got me a CPAP machine and mask. My air pressure was 16, which is pretty high, and it did take me awhile to get used to it. I finally got used to it when I took it on vacation and was just so tired at the end of the day that I didn't even have the energy to take it off in the middle of the night! That's when I started sleeping through the night. One thing to know is that there are all kinds of headgear and masks. It took me a while to find a mask that was comfortable (didn't feel like it was mashing in my teeth), and also headgear that would loop the tube up toward my head so I could freely turn during the night. So be sure to work with your sleep doctor to get a good fit. Keep going until you get something that is comfortable. Believe me, it is a great thing once you get used to it. Don't despair! Good luck on everything! M.

I have sleep apnea also and I have had my machine for 3 months now. I love it!!!! Yes it is a pain and I am still getting use to it, but I sleep through the night. I actually dream now I couldn't rember the last time I dreamed. I also realized I needed it when I would be driving home in the afternoon and all I wanted to do was close my eyes just for a second While I was driving. My husband was scared for me when I sleep because I gasp for air. heck even my best friend noticed when we stayed at her house and she told me I scared her when I sleep. Now I sleep good. As for headgear I broke mine but I refuse to sleep without it so I tapped it together. Belive me I was scared at first too because I do not like anything on my face it scares me so the first night with it at the sleep center was terrifing but sooo worth it. You will love it!!!!! the sleep is awesome!!!!!!

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and have had my mask for 2 weeks now. While it is not the most comfortable of things (compared to no mask), waking up in the morning refreshed makes it well worth it. Good luck to you.

I had sleep apnea prior to my surgery. It does take getting used to, but after a week of trying you will see the benefits outweigh the uncomfortness of the machine. I for the longest time could not fall asleep with it on. So I tried what i call the Pavlov method. I would fall asleep without the mask, then the first time I woke up I would put it on. Since I would fall to sleep quickly, I didn't have time to feel uncomfortable. About a week or two later i put the mask on before falling asleep and I went right to sleep. My body recognized it was time to be sleeping. I forced (bugged) my older brother to get tested and he too had sleep apnea. He got the exact same machine I had and while he had the same problem I did at first, came to quickly love the machine as he wasn't tired all day anymore. Sleep apnea isn't anything to be scared of, it is like any other ailment, treat it and live a long healthy life. Don't and things only get worse. I said I HAD sleep apnea, that is because I had GBS and after 5 months I started having more problems with the machine than it was solving. So I told my doctor and did another sleep study at 8 months post op and the study revealed I no longer had sleep apnea.