Hi Adrianna,

I'm so sorry.  I know this is so difficult for you.
The ladies here can relate to you better than me and will have more suggestions, for I don't have a husband with this problem.  I've been close with a man who uses cpap, but he uses it faithfully and it helps him.  In fact, if he goes without using his cpap for a day, he really feels it.

I suspect that it isn't just the mask that keeps him from using his cpap.  But if it were, there are different types of masks, some far less claustrophobic than others.  But I'm guessing he simply doesn't want to try.  Did he use his cpap at all?  Or did he use it some and just not feel better from it so he gave up?

Was he told enough about sleep apnea?  He likely was and he's just refusing treatment, perhaps.  But sleep apnea can cause heart problems, or make existing heart problems so much worse.  And sleep apnea can cause depression.  And I agree with you, merely the diagnosis of health problems can cause depression.  But was he depressed or in a brain fog before being diagnosed?

It's a shame.  Because if he's not using cpap, sleeping 12 hours added with daytime naps can actually be worse for untreated sleep apnea.  I don't know the details of his condition (did he get a copy of his sleep study report?), but I'm guessing his oxygen level is low.  He doesn't feel rested because is body is working overtime to literally save his life and jumpstart his breathing, and he may not be entering deep sleep.  Every time you sleep, it's just that many more times when you stop breathing and lose still more oxygen.  It's a viscious cycle, more of a downward spiral.  I remember staying in bed constantly and napping constantly before being diagnosed, but now I know that I was literally starving myself of oxygen.

I don't know what to suggest.  Is there some other person -- perhaps another family member, clergy, close friend, doctor -- who might convince him to use cpap?  


Linda


_________________
Click here for link to FAQ and topics
Click here for link to section on machines and masks

Hi Adriana:

Your husband has more then sleep Apnea, I guarantee you that. He is depressed and most probably has severe depression and anxiety. Pain and health problems make you very irritable and want something or someone to blame it all on. When this happens we all tend to blame those we love the most. Ten to one he snaps at folks during tense moments at work and even when shopping.

I am on medication for stress and anxiety, a deflamatory for fibre malagia which he may also have, and a sleeping pill, and have to go on the same C-Pap machine. I suffer from complete fatigue and weakness that was also complicated with throbbing pains in my arms, legs, chest, neck, and back that was caused by Statin in the Drug Vytorin which was validated by a Muscle Biopsy when they thought I had Polymyositis or Intermyositis. Yes, the statin drug caused severe destruction of cells in my muscles including my heart and it will take 6 moths to a year for my body to regenerate those cells. My breathing and swallowing of food was bad when ever I got excited and always a breathing problem when sleeping. I had the study done and had stopped breathing more then 100 times in first 3 hours of the study and at least one time wa for 59 seconds. This is not a good thing, but I am sure I will live.

I was always yelling at the wife and kids till I was put on the anxiety medication, but it took a while for it to kick in, had to be using it for at least a week or so. Most of the time now, I am more relaxed and panic attacks have stopped. I am waiting for the C-PAP machine to come in, and am not really optimistic about it, but I hope it corrects my breathing problems and daily fatique and weakness.

I have been on a stict diabetic type diet, because I have pre-diabetes based on an FBG and OGTT, and I an on a low fat and low cholesterol diet since April and lost forty pounds rather slowly.

My wife tends to blame me for all my problems because of my weight gain over 30 years time because poor eating and lack of physical exercise that I did when I was younger. This aggrivates the heck out of me, but I tend to put a dead ear to it so I don't get spun up.

People, in general, tend to put a lot of energy into always looking for something or someone to blame for bad situations. Instead we should concetrate on a solution and solve the problem. I know I made mistakes, so what, what good does it do to harp on them now. Why look for blame. Determine the cause and move on to a solution. If you love your husband, stay on that path, let him know that. There is not always one fix to a problem either.

I am more concerned about any noise this machine makes that may disturb my wife's sleep or put her in a position to want to move out of the bedroom. I am trying to think of solutions before I even know if there will be a problem.

Best Regards
Bill

This sounded too familiar so I have to post my story:
I can empathize with the last thread and those preceeding it. I found myself in a very desperate situtuation - for me cost was not a consideration because I thought I was going to die! I have sleep apnea and was CPAP intolerant. Having been a paramedic for eight years prior I understand quite a bit about the airway and breathing but just could not acclimate myself to the CPAP. After a few terrifying episodes in the night I knew I had to find an alternative. It was then I met Dr. Jonathan Greenburg in Valencia, California. I had not compared different devices and thought that at the time that CPAP was the only thing out there. Fortunetely, Dr. Greenburg's device has been a Godsend. I too was told that my device would be covered 50% by insurance and they were right. The important thing though was that I had less than 10 minutes of actual "face time" with my original sleep doctor, a CPAP that was ineffective, night episodes that had me fearing for my life, and a family to raise - I was in real trouble. Dr. Greenburg and his staff spent an extraordinary amount of time and testing on me. I immediatly realized I was in the hands of professionals. Interestingly, I also have some TMJ issues including a jaw click when I yawn. The Full-Breath Solution doesn't seem to affect it. I've been using it for about one year now and I am completely convinced that it has saved my life.

Yes, I am a real person and this really is my story. I would be happy to talk to any one of you if you want to know more so let me pass this info on to you: I have been invited to participate in a teleconference this Wednesday, November 7th 2007, at 7pm. I will be sharing my experience and I have been assured that those who sign up for the call will be able to submit their individual questions and address them to me or to Dr. Greenburg. At the risk of sounding too much like a commercial, all I can say is that I know there are many of you out there like me who are desperate for a solution. I am extremely grateful to have found one. <link removed>

Again, I am not knocking the CPAP because apparently it is effective for many people. It just didn't work for me. You may not be in such a critical situation like I was. Still, if you care about your health or the well being of those you love, you owe it to yourself to at least get the basic info about any new advancements. Like the previous poster said, there's not a lot of info out there.

<link removed>

One last thing, I'm interested in getting some feedback after the tele-seminar. I've never had the opportunity to give my testimonial in this fashion and I'd like to know that all interested participants get their questions and concerns answered. My name is Jon and I can be reached at fastracker@roadrunner.com  I hope this info is helpful.