geeeeeeeeeewow...that's scary...
I've been having to take max strength unisom 2 & 3 per night they are 50mg per capsule.
that's just to fall asleep...and throughout the night I still wake up a gazillion times
and by morning I feel as though i've never went to sleep. Which makes for a Sucky work day!

Last Tuesday night I went in for the first part of my sleep study the next morning the person observing me said that I defiently have apnea...Well a couple of days later I get a phone call
for Melissa and she tells me that I stop breathing 17 times per night while sleeping...
"YAWN".....No wonder I'm exhusted and sleepy all of the time!!

Tomorrow Night 1/20/09 I have to return to the sleep center for the 2nd night of my
sleep study...

Sleep aids are the worse thing to take if you have sleep apnea. Muscle relaxers are another one you shouldn't take. Sleep aids taken by someone who has sleep apnea can cause that person to not ever wake up. Have your doctor call the following number  and ask for Dr. Robert Westlake. He is the chairman for the Sleep Apnea center . It's long distance but it is better to know what you can and can not take to to be safe. 1-315-492-5011 . It is the number for Community  General Hoslpital in Syracuse, New York. You will get the main switch board and just tell them the name of the doctor you want to speak to at the Sleep Center. good luck

ps: I have sleep apnea and I use no C -Pap at all . The idiots who did the test never did the second part of where  they hook you up to the machine. 

Hi Twinkletoes,  I also just recently found out that I have sleep apnea.  I had my second sleep study with the cpap machine a week ago and have my new machine. I was scared out of my wits to use this machines,,,,, but within a couple of days it has become my new sleep buddy and I am having no problems with it.   

My surgeon told me that I had to be on the machine prior to surgery so that I would be able to use it after surger to aid in the healing process. 

Thank you so much for you informative post, it was muchly needed and apperciated as well. Thank you!

I did notice an earlier post re someone giving away a CPAP machine on this board.  Your doctor may have one since a lot of people give them back when they don't need them anymore.  They do need to be programed by a doctor to meet your body's requirements.

I have a love-hate relationship with mine.  Getting the perfect fitting mask is the most important thing to accomplish.  I went through five masks in the first three months trying to find the right one.  I finally went with a gel mask.  There's nothing to be afraid of.   You might need some type of mild sleeping pill until you get use to the mask.  But the difference you will feel after a decent night's sleep is amazing. 

Your body needs the deep sleep in order to flush out your liver and kidneys.  When you have apena you're waking up all the time (I was waking up an average of 46 times a hour.  I would stop breathing and my brain would wake me up enough to breath again).  You don't realize that your being woke up all the time.  You will never want to go back to being sleep-deprived, waking up with a headache, afternoon exhaustion, no energy and it does lead to weight gain if it's not diagnosed. 

I hope this calms your fears.  Dianne