first time here [what other issues associated with Sleep Apnea?]

[ProphetPX]

hi, my name is Ryan - this is my first time here.

well I now have to fix this post since my earlier version of it was all boring cpap talk hahaahaa so now I am changing this post.

what other issues are connected with apnea?     I have other health issues but the only one I know that is connected is my being overweight?  my throat airway is that apnea problem.

I don't know what other things that I can do about my apnea except use my machine as I need to every night.

are there nutritional deficiencies that I can work on?  or foods I need to cut out of my diet?  thanks.

[CB91710]

Alcohol before bed is a biggie.

[OpalRose]

Try to limit your food and caffeine intake before bed.

There are several things that can affect Sleep Apnea. An out of whack thyroid, high blood pressure,
diabetes, and certainly vitamin deficiencies, like low Vitamin D, magnesium and others.

If your not sure, ask your doctor to order some simple bloodwork. He/She can then recommend.

[Fats Drywaller]

I don't know what other things that I can do about my apnea except use my machine as I need to every night.

Yes, that's mainly it. Use it all night, every night. At first that might be difficult if it's uncomfortable. It's important to tune the machine's settings as necessary (you can get data from Sleepyhead using the SD card) and to use a mask that is comfortable and not leaky. The right mask is different for different people, and it takes some trial & error, experimenting with various ones and maybe among the three general types (nasal-pillows, nasal, full-face). Once you have the machine's settings correct to get your AHIs as low as possible, and a mask that you like, it's just a matter of time. It takes a while (weeks or months) from starting out to feel the full beneficial effects.

As mentioned earlier, alcohol, caffeine, other liquids, and foods can all affect your sleep and the performance of CPAP. Also prescription drugs. A good practice is not to drink or eat anything for some number of hours before bedtime. The chronic buildup of carbon dioxide in the body will give you acid stomach, possibly with gastric reflux, and it will make you need to urinate more during the night. Those symptoms should gradually fade away as your CPAP therapy progresses. If one or more of them doesn't fade after some weeks, then see your doctor at that time and get diagnosed, with all the usual blood & urine tests, etc.

You don't get the full benefits unless you use the machine & mask during every sleeping hour. And without the full benefits, the whole process of getting back to normal takes longer.

[ardenum]

sleeping hygiene is important, my room is pitch black and all light diodes from every equipment are covered with black electrical tape. There are no electronic devices besides the cpap and a night vision camera in my room. Doors are sounds proofed. And the icing on the cake I only use the room for sleeping, i go to the room at the same time and only reenter when I go to sleep.

[Sleeprider]

Several problems are notably worth investigating as comorbidities with over-weight and CPAP use. A relatively high number of males will test low for testosterone. Diabetes and hypertension is also more common in our cohort is more common than with thin individuals. Everything gets better with exercise and good sleep. Keep on CPAPing.

[ardenum]

Several problems are notably worth investigating as comorbidities with over-weight and CPAP use.  A relatively high number of males will test low for testosterone.  Diabetes and hypertension is also more common in our cohort is more common than with thin individuals.  Everything gets better with exercise and good sleep.  Keep on CPAPing.

I'm thin with a 12 year old girl levels of testosterone. So there's definitely something going on with testosterone and sleep apnea.

[Fats Drywaller]

Chronic untreated sleep apnea can also cause heart damage, which should be visible in a heart ultrasound scan (echocardiogram).