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I Almost Certainly Have Sleep Apnea - but know I could not use a CPAP Mask
#1
I Almost Certainly Have Sleep Apnea - but know I could not use a CPAP Mask
As the title says, I'm 99% certain that I have sleep apnea. My doctor says that I have a smaller than normal airway passage and he would bet his 401k that I have it based solely on that. 
I am famous/infamous for snoring loudly all my adult life. I do not have any weight issue so thats ruled out as a cause. I'm quite sure that my doctors diagnosis is correct. 
I usually wake up feeling rested so, for many years, I told myself I must not have sleep apnea. Though, almost every day, somewhere between 3pm and 6pm I find myself 
becoming very tired and need a one hour or so nap to function decently the rest of the day. 

But yet another reason I am quite sure that I have sleep apnea, a few years back, I was at a very good friend, and neighbors going away party and drank a lot more beer than usual. I came home intending to check my e-mail and fell soundly asleep in the chair in front of my computer. I slept the entire night in the chair, and got up after seven hours with an incredible amount of energy and wakefulness. I had honestly never experienced that before. 

I did intend to have a sleep study done a couple years ago, but the recommended sleep clinics anywhere near me all closed at something like ten at night. I don't even go to bed before 2am, so that was not going to work. And, in my case, they wanted to do the sleep study there, not remotely at my home. 

My primary question is this. I sleep on my side, exclusively. I can't get to sleep if there is even a wrinkle on the   pillowcase. That essentially seems to rule out any possibility of using a CPAP mask. And, other than Inspire, which my doctor told me I am not a candidate for, there really isnt any other treatment that I am aware of. Is there really any point in even bothering to continue to try to find a workable sleep clinic? There seems to be no treatment available that would work for me anyway? 

I'm 68 years old, and have gotten by this long, likely not worth bothering with. Although, to wake up like I did that day after sleeping all night in the computer chair would be life changing. 

Your thoughts would be appreciated.
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#2
RE: I Almost Certainly Have Sleep Apnea - but know I could not use a CPAP Mask
The sleep clinics are back open or you can opt for a home sleep study. You might as well quantify your suspicions and make a decision based on that. At 68 you can make excuses until the cows come home, but there is a good chance that doing something about this will be better than wondering for another year. Procrastination is accepting the status quo. Your choice.
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INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#3
RE: I Almost Certainly Have Sleep Apnea - but know I could not use a CPAP Mask
You don't need to go to a sleep clinic or sleep specialist. Your regular doctor, PA, LPN, or dentist can set you up with a home sleep study. That's what I did, and from what I hear, it works better for most of us than the specialists.
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#4
RE: I Almost Certainly Have Sleep Apnea - but know I could not use a CPAP Mask
I'm a side/stomach sleeper who also can't stand wrinkles in my pillowcase, but have a great fitting nasal pillows mask that is easy to sleep with. I sleep great and don't snore any more. I'm 70 and have been on CPAP for 4 years. Don't use that as an excuse not to get tested.
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#5
RE: I Almost Certainly Have Sleep Apnea - but know I could not use a CPAP Mask
(02-02-2025, 01:52 PM)Doublereeder2 Wrote: I'm a side/stomach sleeper who also can't stand wrinkles in my pillowcase, but have a great fitting nasal pillows mask that is easy to sleep with. I sleep great and don't snore any more. I'm 70 and have been on CPAP for 4 years. Don't use that as an excuse not to get tested.
Thanks for your thoughts on my specific situation. Much appreciated. I will have to look into the "nasal pillows mask". 

I suppose some of my expectation of failure is the fact that I have four friends diagnosed with sleep apnea, and only one has managed to be able to sleep using CPAP long term.
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#6
RE: I Almost Certainly Have Sleep Apnea - but know I could not use a CPAP Mask
Hi, Slapshot

When I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about three and a half years ago, and the doctor told me I needed to use CPAP, I was in shock and fell into a deep funk for six months.  I had known I needed to do something but I thought I had mild sleep apnea and they would prescribe physical therapy exercises, I guess.  So you are ahead of me in realizing that you need CPAP and will benefit if you can use it.

When I finally got around to getting the machine, I was near terrified.  I used to have a hard time going to sleep, too, and was afraid I wouldn't be able to sleep with the mask and pressure.  After a few attempts, I was able to sleep through the night.  CPAP made such a difference in how I felt that I never wanted to sleep without it again.  I wish I had gotten a sleep test 20 years ago -- or even at your relatively young age -- it would have changed my life.

I'm not saying that adapting to CPAP was easy.  But I found helpful videos on YouTube and information here on Apnea Board that answered my questions and helped me solve any problems that arose.  I also did a consultation with Supplier 41 to fine-tune my settings.  But the main thing, as you can see, is that you're not alone in this with experienced Apnea Board members here to help.

Now I look forward to putting the mask on as soon as I lie down to sleep and can scarcely believe that it was challenging at first.  You're several years younger than I was when I started -- not too old to improve your life!

Wishing you all the best!
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#7
RE: I Almost Certainly Have Sleep Apnea - but know I could not use a CPAP Mask
Here's the bottom line on CPAP and Apnea therapy. No offense to the doctors involved, but they often get settings wrong. This is a big reason members are here on the Apnea Board. Because two things exist with Apnea therapy, you must use data and the CPAP must be set. Default will not cut it, yet most doctors think about what settings seem best and typically most choose out of the box default.

So for that highly brilliant job of issuing default, why did you bother to pay them? This is lower requirement of IQ than the weatherman saying it's going to be brighter tomorrow daytime than it was last night.
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INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#8
RE: I Almost Certainly Have Sleep Apnea - but know I could not use a CPAP Mask
(02-02-2025, 07:36 PM)Lucid Wrote: Hi, Slapshot

When I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about three and a half years ago, and the doctor told me I needed to use CPAP, I was in shock and fell into a deep funk for six months.  I had known I needed to do something but I thought I had mild sleep apnea and they would prescribe physical therapy exercises, I guess.  So you are ahead of me in realizing that you need CPAP and will benefit if you can use it.

When I finally got around to getting the machine, I was near terrified.  I used to have a hard time going to sleep, too, and was afraid I wouldn't be able to sleep with the mask and pressure.  After a few attempts, I was able to sleep through the night.  CPAP made such a difference in how I felt that I never wanted to sleep without it again.  I wish I had gotten a sleep test 20 years ago -- or even at your relatively young age -- it would have changed my life.

I'm not saying that adapting to CPAP was easy.  But I found helpful videos on YouTube and information here on Apnea Board that answered my questions and helped me solve any problems that arose.  I also did a consultation with Supplier 41 to fine-tune my settings.  But the main thing, as you can see, is that you're not alone in this with experienced Apnea Board members here to help.

Now I look forward to putting the mask on as soon as I lie down to sleep and can scarcely believe that it was challenging at first.  You're several years younger than I was when I started -- not too old to improve your life!

Wishing you all the best!

Thanks very much for your your insight. Between you and Doublereeder2, It appears there may be some hope for me too. I'm going to give it my best shot!
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#9
RE: I Almost Certainly Have Sleep Apnea - but know I could not use a CPAP Mask
to me this is a life saving thing. you seem to have every reason to use it covered by a can't or won't. nobody here can fix that for you. you need to make an appointment with a doctor and find what untreated sleep apnea is doing to your heart. remember all the older relatives that died of old age or natural causes. no such animal. alot of them probably died of the effects of untreated apnea. most of them had no choice about a c-pap because it wasn't invented til the 1980's. but we have a choice and it is blessing that we do.
First Diagnosed July 1990

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Retired 1968-1990
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