So there was this guy. He snored up a storm. His snore was so bad he would sometimes startle himself awake. Everybody knew he snored because if he napped in the chair he would snore and snore and snore. His wife sure knew it. Life went on.
It was so bad he would always warn the passenger sitting next to him on the airplane. He would give permission (laughing) for his seatmate to whack him if the snoring became obnoxious. He would warn the passenger that he knew it would happen so he would expect the whack. More often than not he would scare himself awake with a loud and ugly snore. He thought, “So what? I snore!” Life went on.
It seemed he always snored when he slept on his back in bed or in a chair or on a couch or in a plane. He, his family and friends never mentioned OSD. Nobody ever gave it any thought, life went on.
He always thought he got a good night’s sleep. He seemed well rested the next day and was always ready to go. He never lacked the energy to do anything. In fact he was a type “A” dynamo at the office and socially. His athletic ability was no less than the average guy. Maybe he was a bit more athletic then the others when he was in his late forties because he still loved to water ski and was team capable. Life went on.
One day he got pneumonia and was hospitalized. It was too late, his lungs got infected and he got a sepsis infection. His oxygen saturation dropped below 88%. They would not discharge him until his o2 resumed a normal level. It did, he was discharged and life went on.
His post discharge orders included a sleep study just like the ones you all talk about here. I’m not going to burden you with the numbers. Lets just say he had 53 OA's, 163 OH's netting his RDI at 38. Just over the line for moderate OSA. So he figured ok, get the CPAP. Life goes on.
So what? What’s changed? More energy? Nope. Feel better? Nope. Feel bad? Nope. Snore in bed? His wife says sometimes. Snore elsewhere? Sure, no CPAP except in bed. What if he quit the CPAP? Life goes on?
He wants to know what’s the big deal. What should I tell him?
I would tell him/you to give us more to go on. What type of apneas were they? What type of cpap machine and mask is he/you using? Is he/you having any particular problems like mask leaks which might be hindering treatment? Has he/you talked to his/your doctor more about this? Tell him/you not to give up just yet until he/you know more about what's happening to him/you, IMHO.
And tell him/you to join our forum as a member so he/you can enjoy some of the additional features members get to enjoy.
And tell him/you to write some more clever stories. I love it! Haha!
You/he are funny.
Yeah, I'm not sure which way you want to go with this. Sounds like somebody has been fighting an uphill battle for years and has run up against a wall, and is completely frustrated.
So if you're looking for the bomb, here it is.
In the early days of sleep apnea, before CPAP, there were only 2 treatment options. Tracheostomy and weight loss. Which meant there was only one option. So in 1988, in a hallmark study of 385 patients, which represented one of the last good opportunities to take a group of known patients with sleep apnea and track them, untreated, showed that 40% of persons with an apnea-hypopnea index greater than 20 died over an 8-year period.
There's an endless amount of data out there that relate to untreated sleep apnea.
7 times greater likelihood of being involved in an automobile accident.
50% chance of having hypertension.
9 times greater likelihood of having a stroke.
7 times greater likelihood of dying of a stroke.
You wanted the punch line to life goes on?
There it is.
RDI 38 puts you in the severe category by most standards.
If you have more info, like the oxygen desaturations, arousals, and pre- and post- CPAP details, you can post them, there's often information there that show's there's plenty of difference after treatment.
Not all the benefits of OSA treatment are noticeable, though.
You don't feel hypertension.
And by the time you feel an automobile accident, or a stroke, it's too late.
Stay in touch.
sleepydave
Hi Wondering:
With all that Stage 1, no 3/4 and reduced REM, that looks like a pretty rotten night.
Got the results from the CPAP titration, same Stage%'s, plus AHI on ideal pressure and number of arousals?
sleepydave
I'm wondering, can I clone you? . Just kidding! Just as Dave and Linda have reiterated, one of the most serious and long term effect of OSA is not noticable, high blood pressure and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Lets work together to get you adequately treated. You are doing well now, just imagine how good you will be feeling when your OSA is compensated. Just team skiing? Why not skiing and a few other sports!?
Vicki
_________________ That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.
Need to bump this up so I thought I’d tell you about that first night with the answer to this lonely problem so many of us share.
It was time. I was excited and nervous at the same time. My anxiety grew as the clock ticked away. When would it end? This waiting and pacing the floor, it was making me a wreck. Soon she would be here; at long last we would be together. Would it be dreamy? I could hardly wait any longer. What time is it now? Where are they? He said he was on his way, she was with him. Not for long. He will give her up and I will be in charge.
Tonight will be our first night. How far dare we go? Do I just bring her up to my room? Should I let him walk her up the stairs and into my room? I talked with him on the phone. He seemed to know so much about her. I felt a little jealous but somehow he assured me and my confidence began to grow. He said I would adjust and he had orders to adjust her. The authorities knew what to do. She would serve me and only me. How strange I thought. He would give her up so we could stay together.
They finally arrive and I get my first look. She looks different. Not at all like the one I had slept with the second time. Smaller, quieter, she just sat there and hummed. He explained her intricate parts to me and how to care for her. I listened carefully as I did not want to hurt her. I asked if I needed to do anything to get her going. No he said, she was set and would gradually warm up to a perfect level. I just had to turn her on and she would be ready and willing to go. How could he just let her go like this?
He showed me what I would need to wear as I use her. There were choices. I had never known that. I thought there was only one kind. I picked one that looked like it would fit me. He said I could try it on now. Right here? Why not wait until I’m in bed with her? He said he wanted to insure it fit me.
How strange, I let him adjust it, move it around, tug at it, loosen it, tighten it and he finally slipped it on me. I was embarrassed. It felt strange and I wondered if it would work with her. He said of course it would, don’t be shy.
He left and we were alone for the first time. I’ll admit it, I was still nervous. What If I panicked like others had? I waited a few hours and finally went to bed. I got undressed and climbed into the bed. She was there waiting. I put it on myself this time. It felt tight and uncomfortable. Whoosh, whoosh as she ramped up faster and faster. She was strong and in charge. I just lie there and let my confidence grow. I experimented and changed positions several times. Wow I was so tired. Soon I just rolled over and fell asleep.
She was still there in the morning. I felt relieved. I knew now CPAP must never leave me. Loosing her could kill me.
Need to bump this up so I thought I’d tell you about that first night with the answer to this lonely problem so many of us share.
It was time. I was excited and nervous at the same time. My anxiety grew as the clock ticked away. When would it end? This waiting and pacing the floor, it was making me a wreck. Soon she would be here; at long last we would be together. Would it be dreamy? I could hardly wait any longer. What time is it now? Where are they? He said he was on his way, she was with him. Not for long. He will give her up and I will be in charge.
Tonight will be our first night. How far dare we go? Do I just bring her up to my room? Should I let him walk her up the stairs and into my room? I talked with him on the phone. He seemed to know so much about her. I felt a little jealous but somehow he assured me and my confidence began to grow. He said I would adjust and he had orders to adjust her. The authorities knew what to do. She would serve me and only me. How strange I thought. He would give her up so we could stay together.
They finally arrive and I get my first look. She looks different. Not at all like the one I had slept with the second time. Smaller, quieter, she just sat there and hummed. He explained her intricate parts to me and how to care for her. I listened carefully as I did not want to hurt her. I asked if I needed to do anything to get her going. No he said, she was set and would gradually warm up to a perfect level. I just had to turn her on and she would be ready and willing to go. How could he just let her go like this?
He showed me what I would need to wear as I use her. There were choices. I had never known that. I thought there was only one kind. I picked one that looked like it would fit me. He said I could try it on now. Right here? Why not wait until I’m in bed with her? He said he wanted to insure it fit me.
How strange, I let him adjust it, move it around, tug at it, loosen it, tighten it and he finally slipped it on me. I was embarrassed. It felt strange and I wondered if it would work with her. He said of course it would, don’t be shy.
He left and we were alone for the first time. I’ll admit it, I was still nervous. What If I panicked like others had? I waited a few hours and finally went to bed. I got undressed and climbed into the bed. She was there waiting. I put it on myself this time. It felt tight and uncomfortable. Whoosh, whoosh as she ramped up faster and faster. She was strong and in charge. I just lie there and let my confidence grow. I experimented and changed positions several times. Wow I was so tired. Soon I just rolled over and fell asleep.
She was still there in the morning. I felt relieved. I knew now CPAP must never leave me. Loosing her could kill me.
Whew, I need a smoke. lol.
_________________ Hi. I don't sleep good. Is it bedtime yet?
The time now is Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:59 am | All times are GMT - 4 Hours
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. Just kidding! Just as Dave and Linda have reiterated, one of the most serious and long term effect of OSA is not noticable, high blood pressure and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Lets work together to get you adequately treated. You are doing well now, just imagine how good you will be feeling when your OSA is compensated. Just team skiing? Why not skiing and a few other sports!?