Sideffects of CPAP for sleep apnea? And moneysaving treatments for side-effects?

Violetta_2

Some terrible news today LINK I feel terrible for the poor family, I do hope it raises awareness, anyone suffering from tiredness who suspects there is something wrong with themselves, please keep badgering your Dr not just for your own health but for the safety of everyone around you.

mrcow

That's absolutely terrible.

I must say that when my boyfriend was sign off from driving last year due to his sleep apnoea it was such a worry and a pain,but we realised how important it was too. His driving was definitely affectly by his excess sleepiness and now he uses his CPAP machine, the difference in his alertness is so dramatic.

I hope too that perhaps someone will read this thread or the article you've linked and it will encourage them to see their doctor. It's a pain to have to go through the diagnosis process, but once you have, the treatment is so straightforward and the effects are immediate.

Years ago I used to joke about his snoring but it is seriously no laughing matter at all :sad:

BigMummaF

It's about time GPs were made more aware of this too.

I'd been going to the doc for--literally--years & kept being fobbed off as depressive. My friends would think it a huge joke, cuz I was the least likely depressive!

There are SO many things we don't understand about the human body & how it needs most parts to be functioning on an acceptable level to allow other bits to work effectively.....oops! I'm on my soap-box again ain't I:p

frecks_2

My boyfriend was diagnosed with sleep ap a year ago and given a CPAP full mask. He has been using it religiously but despite the pressure being adjusted and another visit back to Sleep Clinic he is actually feeling worse rather than better. Everyday he wakes up with a dry mouth and burning eyes and the rest of the day is just a nightmare. He is constantly tired, dizzy and always feeling like he is going to pass out. This is putting a big strain on our realtionship and affecting his ability to work properly - he is self employed.
He has made another appt to go back to Sleep Clinic (St Thomas' hosp in London) on August 20th, but i was wondering if anyone out there has any advice to offer in meantime as last time we went there they acted as if they thought he was making it all up!

Violetta_2

Hi Frecks, welcome to Berthas buddies & MSE. Sounds like he may need a humidifier on his machine, what I did before I got mine was put a small container ( I used an empty Tlight casing iykwim) with a saturated cotton wool ball (and I mean soaking wet) just under the air inlet vent thingy. This helped keep the air a bit wetter and my mouth wasn't quite so dry. Not sure about whats making his eyes burn though, but sometimes if my mask isn't on right the air escapes out the top and blasts my eyes overnight, feels awful the next day.
I do hope he get's on better at the sleep clinic.

mrcow

frecks wrote: »

My boyfriend was diagnosed with sleep ap a year ago and given a CPAP full mask. He has been using it religiously but despite the pressure being adjusted and another visit back to Sleep Clinic he is actually feeling worse rather than better. Everyday he wakes up with a dry mouth and burning eyes and the rest of the day is just a nightmare. He is constantly tired, dizzy and always feeling like he is going to pass out. This is putting a big strain on our realtionship and affecting his ability to work properly - he is self employed.

Welcome too.

I'd agree about the humidifier. For some people, it takes time to find the right system for them. It soulds like he needs some tweaking on his machine. I know where you are coming from with things being tough. There are so many side effects to sleep apnoea, including stress, anxiety, depression, tiredness, arguments, weight gain....the list just goes on :embarasse

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Can I join your clique too? I've had the Resmed leaf blower wotsit for 9 months now and feel much more human as a result. Have to admit, one of the most comforting things about it is that it's about the only item in my life for which my size is SMALL!

When I had the headband too tight, the mask would shift up too far and leak just under my eyes on the bridge of my nose. A simple thing, but it took me quite a while to realise it, the following nights were trouble free once I slackened the band so I could get a finger underneath it at my temple. I also found that adjusting the forehead dial whilst at full pressure and sitting up in bed helped at other times. I think gravity changes the shape of my face compared to my fitting at the hospital.

So, now, I don't feel that I have any problems really to mention with it - but I had the devil's own machine for the original diagnosis - the pack thing with the nose pipes, heart monitor, breath counter, pulse oximetry, etc - it blocked my nose and I had the worst night of my life fighting to breathe (and I've had pneumonia before, which was much less scary). I had to repeat the test with - nasal lines obtained from the childrens' ward (how embarrassing). But the monitoring was perfect for the whole night after that and I got my machine.

If the flat were on fire now, first out would be my daughters, next would be the cats and third would be me and the leaf blower - the OH would be left to bring up the rear (and his photo of his late dad).

Praise be for doctors getting something right!

BigMummaF

Ooohhh............Newbies! I LIKE Newbies!!!!!:p

Well, I'm glad you've found us, but sorry you had to come looking IYKWIM:o It's frightening how many MEDICAL professionals don't understand SA & how it impacts on so many other areas of your life....

I'm thirding the humidifier for your blokey Frecks, surprising what a difference little pot of water will make.

I think I've a post on the first page, so if peeps would like a number, shall I start a register? I've always fancied doing a roll call a la Sergeant Major style:D so smarten up yew orribul shar!:rotfl:

mrcow

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Can I join your clique too

:beer: Welcome to the thread

Violetta_2

BigMummaF wrote: »

Ooohhh............Newbies! I LIKE Newbies!!!!!:p

I think I've a post on the first page, so if peeps would like a number, shall I start a register? I've always fancied doing a roll call a la Sergeant Major style:D so smarten up yew orribul shar!:rotfl:

Hi BigMummaF looks like your's is the 2nd post of the thread, a roll call sounds like an Idea, didn't realise you were so dominant:eek: .

BigMummaF wrote: »

It's about time GPs were made more aware of this too.

I'd been going to the doc for--literally--years & kept being fobbed off as depressive. My friends would think it a huge joke, cuz I was the least likely depressive!

I've going to the Dr's for years re tiredness, the 1st time when I was 18 I would kip for 12 hrs overnight, wake up go to work come home nap for a few hrs wake up have some dinner then back to bed for the night, was told it was my body's way of dealing with stress. Been fobbed off umpteen times since then the last one I woke up on the loo:o with a burn on my leg from where I'd nodded off with my leg resting on the radiator, Dr said she wasn't really the one to ask as she could fall asleep on a clothes line, luckily a few weeks later I had a hospital app,a follow up thing from nearly dying after I had my dd , my oh mentioned my gasping for breath when I was asleep, finally a Dr took some notice. :j

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Can I join your clique too? I've had the Resmed leaf blower wotsit for 9 months now and feel much more human as a result. Have to admit, one of the most comforting things about it is that it's about the only item in my life for which my size is SMALL!

I've got a Resmed too brill wee thing, course you can join, I'm Violetta and I forget to breathe when I'm asleep:rotfl: