Hi, I was recently diagnosed with mild sleep apnea (AHI 9).  At only mid-twenties, I am sort of frustrated by this.  I am in very good shape and work out 5 days a week.  However, my dad and older brother both have sleep apnea to varying degrees, so it's not a total shock.  While my fiance has been very supportive (and she's happy I won't be snoring), the thought of wearing a mask in bed for the rest of my life seems really weird and a little disheartening.  I can't even talk to her before sleeping and obviously intimacy takes a little advanced planning.  I think if I were older, like my dad's age, I wouldnt mind as much, but I feel like I am too young to need this.  Any advice from other young people on how to adjust to this reality?

Also, for those who have mild apnea and limited symptoms, how much of a difference has cpap made for you?  I've had the machine only a few days and I am still adjusting.  I've slept worse so far, but I think will adjust ok once I'm used to the mask.  I got a sleep study in the first place because my terrible snoring was keeping my fiance up, and because my dad and brother have it.  I never felt exceptionally tired or had trouble staying awake, although I do drink a fair amount of caffeine during the day, which could be masking it.  My concern is that I'll have to use this machine and won't see any tangible benefit in my day to day life.  I realize I need to treat the apnea for long term health benefits, and so I don't snore, but I will be frustrated if I don't feel any more energetic or alert.  I'm hoping I've been a lot more tired than I realize and now I'll feel more alive.  Have any other mild sufferers had similar experiences, wherein you didn't realize how tired you were and the machine helped?  If so, how long did it take you to feel better/different?  Have any other mild sufferers had success with other treatments, namely surgery?  With the reportedly low success rates I'd hate to have surgery and still end up needing the cpap machine.  However at my young age, I feel like surgery could be a worthwhile option, rather than a strange machine for the next 50 or 60 years.  Sorry for the length of the post but just wanted to give some context.

Lloyd Braun wrote:

Hi, I was recently diagnosed with mild sleep apnea (AHI 9).  At only mid-twenties, I am sort of frustrated by this.  I am in very good shape and work out 5 days a week.  However, my dad and older brother both have sleep apnea to varying degrees, so it's not a total shock.  While my fiance has been very supportive (and she's happy I won't be snoring), the thought of wearing a mask in bed for the rest of my life seems really weird and a little disheartening.  I can't even talk to her before sleeping and obviously intimacy takes a little advanced planning.  I think if I were older, like my dad's age, I wouldnt mind as much, but I feel like I am too young to need this.  Any advice from other young people on how to adjust to this reality?

Also, for those who have mild apnea and limited symptoms, how much of a difference has cpap made for you?  I've had the machine only a few days and I am still adjusting.  I've slept worse so far, but I think will adjust ok once I'm used to the mask.  I got a sleep study in the first place because my terrible snoring was keeping my fiance up, and because my dad and brother have it.  I never felt exceptionally tired or had trouble staying awake, although I do drink a fair amount of caffeine during the day, which could be masking it.  My concern is that I'll have to use this machine and won't see any tangible benefit in my day to day life.  I realize I need to treat the apnea for long term health benefits, and so I don't snore, but I will be frustrated if I don't feel any more energetic or alert.  I'm hoping I've been a lot more tired than I realize and now I'll feel more alive.  Have any other mild sufferers had similar experiences, wherein you didn't realize how tired you were and the machine helped?  If so, how long did it take you to feel better/different?  Have any other mild sufferers had success with other treatments, namely surgery?  With the reportedly low success rates I'd hate to have surgery and still end up needing the cpap machine.  However at my young age, I feel like surgery could be a worthwhile option, rather than a strange machine for the next 50 or 60 years.  Sorry for the length of the post but just wanted to give some context.

Welcome.

You have a lot of things going through your head at the moment....understandably.........BUT the information that you have posted is a little scant (not blaming you for this).

Did you get a copy of your sleep study report ? Did you have a titration study ?.........You need to get your hands on both reports..........you are entitled to them. The detail in them will help to point you in the right direction.

Has your sleep doctor discussed the study reports with you ? If not, you should arrange to speak to him/her ASAP.

Without hard information we can only 'guess' at your situation. Why did you have the sleep study ? What symptoms did you have ? Has your sleep doctor discussed any other treatment options other than CPAP ? Any mention of 'positional apnoea' ? Any mention of oral devices or specific surgery (say to correct a deviated septum or allergies etc) ?

At present things are fairly topsy turvey for you............you seem to be concentrating on CPAP.......good and bad points. At this stage I can only ask questions......but with a few answers there are some very knowledgable people here who will chip in with some solid advice.

Sorry we have to meet this way  

Daniel.


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

i have been reading this post and have a similar problem, i have had tests for apnea and the consultant said there is something there but did not think it was apnea.  This was about 3 years ago, I have three partners since all saying that i snore so loud and sometimes seem to stop breathing all together.  I have not had a refreshing nights sleep for as long as i can remember.  the consultant never told me the results although he mentioned episodes, i am from the UK have i a right to ask for the results and even ask for more tests.  Just lately my legs ache so bad now in the morning and throughout the day, I read somewhere this could be due to lack of oxygen.  Sorry to jump in on this post but someone seems fairly knowledgeable and I am like a lot of people confused and would like my quality of life back.

Any Help appreciated.

Tony

I believe I have been suffering from mild apnea (AHI 14) since my mid-twenties but was only recently diagnosed at Stanford (I had 2 previous studies which showed nothing).  I failed cpap and oral appliance for various reasons.  I am currently thin, and in good physical shape.  I consulted with a prominent surgeon in Palo Alto who said even though the AHI is low, you can still suffer significant symptons.  Also, apnea continues to worsen which age.  Since I did not have any excess tissue (i.e. large tonsils, long uvula etc.) he said I was an excellent candidate for MMA jaw advancement surgery due to my small jaw.  This surgery has a 90-95% success rate.  I am scheduled for this surgery in Jan.

Quote:

Also, apnea continues to worsen which age.

Only if left untreated.

 

Quote:

Since I did not have any excess tissue (i.e. large tonsils, long uvula etc.) he said I was an excellent candidate for MMA jaw advancement surgery due to my small jaw.  This surgery has a 90-95% success rate.  I am scheduled for this surgery in Jan.

By success do you mean a 90/95% chance of completely curing your apnoea ? Did he say that the 90/95% success was for 'life' ?

I seriously think that you are being misled here.

Before anyone gets annoyed here..........I am not saying 'don't have the surgery'...........I am saying that the percentages quoted did not come from any peer reviewed study of this procedure for success after 3/5 years post op. Also, you are an adult and can decide for yourself...........BUT I think you should research a little further.

Daniel.


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

I would think that apnea might continue to get worse with age simply because we all lose muscle and skin tone as we age.  That would seem (to me) to contribute to the increase in obstruction.  Anyone else have an idea here?

Lloyd, I am NOT young nor do I have a mild case,  hope you don't mind my chiming in here.  I completely understand your concerns about the machine, intimacy and the maraud of concerns that come with a life change like this, I can assure you that in the end you will be glad you are getting help now while you ARE young.  You will hopefully avoid a number of health issues that come with undiagnosed sleep apnea.  Thankfully you have a supportive fiance and she is getting the added benefit of NO SNORING, trust me that one is a great benefit!!!

Don't give up it will take some time for you to adjust to the new way of sleeping....it WILL happen.  Keep us posted.


_________________
~ElleMarie~ One day at a time......are you kidding me?.....sometimes it's just one minute at a time.

Jun 2007 AHI 100.7 started cpap at 9** Oct 2007-11** April 2009 Bipap-15/10
Respironics auto M w/ Optilife nasal pillows

ElleMarie wrote:

I would think that apnea might continue to get worse with age simply because we all lose muscle and skin tone as we age.  That would seem (to me) to contribute to the increase in obstruction.  Anyone else have an idea here?

I agree.

Heck, age is a risk factor for sleep apnea.

I got my sleep study results (although not the complete results from the titration study).  All 56 events I had occurred on my back.  I had 54 hypopneas and 2 apneas.  My lowest oxygen sat was 91%.  Does this sound like a milder case?  Seems like I could try a pillow or shirt to keep me on my side, no?  Has anyone had much luck with this?  In the titration study the cpap definitely helped though, as I had only 1 event the entire night.

Lloyd Braun wrote:

I got my sleep study results (although not the complete results from the titration study).  All 56 events I had occurred on my back.  I had 54 hypopneas and 2 apneas.  My lowest oxygen sat was 91%.  Does this sound like a milder case?  Seems like I could try a pillow or shirt to keep me on my side, no?  Has anyone had much luck with this?  In the titration study the cpap definitely helped though, as I had only 1 event the entire night.

It depends. How much sleep time did you have on your side and did you have any REM sleep on your side?

If not, then you may not have a complete picture as to whether or not positional sleeping will keep your AHI below the magic number of 5.

Total time on my side was not much, ~ 45 minutes.  But the point is that I'd learn to sleep on my side, right?  During the study I generally avoided sleeping on my side due to the cpap and wires making it more difficult.  Without cpap I am able to sleep on my side somewhat comfortably, but I naturally gravitate to my back because I am more used to it.  I assume with a pillow fitted for side sleeping or something else I could easily sleep on my side.  Sleeping on my side is currently far more comfortable than sleeping with cpap.

Lloyd Braun wrote:

Total time on my side was not much, ~ 45 minutes.  But the point is that I'd learn to sleep on my side, right?  During the study I generally avoided sleeping on my side due to the cpap and wires making it more difficult.  Without cpap I am able to sleep on my side somewhat comfortably, but I naturally gravitate to my back because I am more used to it.  I assume with a pillow fitted for side sleeping or something else I could easily sleep on my side.  Sleeping on my side is currently far more comfortable than sleeping with cpap.

You can certainly add items that prevent you from sleeping on your back, however you may still have sleep apnea on your side. I realize that your study may not indicate that, however your sleep study data may be incomplete if it did not include REM sleep while in a side position.

I am also a young sleep apnea sufferer. I'm a 22 year old female, 5'1" and 120 pounds. So the last thing I was expecting from going to the sleep clinic was them telling me I had sleep apnea. It's mild, but when I go into REM, it doubles. All but one of my episodes were hypopneas. They said it woke me up on average 24 times an hour during REM, which helps explain my sleepiness. I thought I had REM sleep behavior disorder, because I yell, talk, sing, laugh and do everything in my sleep. Seems like that night I didn't. Had a hard time sleeping with all that stuff attached to me.

I went in last week and tried the CPAP. I didn't want to, but the doctor said to give it a try. I slept a lot better last time, but who knows if it had anything to do with the mask on my face. I go in for my results next week and I'm curious as to how much it helped. How are you feeling now that you've had it for awhile? I just wish I didn't have to start using something like this so young...or ever. But I don't want problems later in life.

Let me know how you're feeling and how it's helping you. My boyfriend isn't thrilled at the idea of the mask, but he wants me to be healthy and less lethargic (he's always making fun of me for dragging my feet...except when we go to the mall, haha).

I'm 53 so I'm not young but my AHI was only above the cutoff during REM sleep and the percentage of time I spent in REM sleep was very low. I definitely do feel better on the CPAP though it took me quite awhile to get used to it and solve mask problems.

Used to be I would nap at work for 20-40 minutes during my lunch hour and go straight into a dream. I don't do that anymore. I also can focus much better and am not so irritable any more.

So I think there's something to it.


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Diagnosed September 2009
cpap machine: resmed compact S8
pressure: 9
sleep study results: AHI 4.2 (nl=<5); REM AHI 9.4 (nl=<5); REM 15.7% (nl=25-35%)

respironics comfort fusion nasal - leaks drove me crazy
LT Swift nasal pillows - works great