[amante]

I just got diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, I'm overweight, anyone have this issue and find way to help it other than the CPAP machine at night to sleep. I take Ambien CR to sleep also at night.

[ruffy]

I dont have sleep apnea, but as a nurse I treat many patients who do. I dont know of any particular medication on the market for this disorder but the CPAP and BIPAP machines on the market now are very quiet and my patients seem to be comfortable with them. I think its just a matter of getting used to having something over your nose. Have you googled sleep apnea. I do believe you will find some support groups out there and be able to communicate with people who have the same disorder.

[sunrise]

I am going next week for a sleep study as I think I have it too. My doctor is very keen that I get it under control as she said it is very stressful on the heart and can contribute to high blood pressure. She also said I would feel better because I would be better rested. So I'm going to give it a try. I read in a magazine about a sleep apnea treatment where they treat your throat tissues with radio waves, or something like that. And it causes your throat tissue to shrink, so it won't close up your throat when your muscles relax when you fall asleep. I asked my dentist if he had heard of this (I just happened to be seeing him that day and was making conversation), and he said he had heard favorably of this treatment. Still, if I am diagnosed with apnea, I would try whatever is standard first, because my insurance is incredibly picky about reimbursing for any treatment that has not been around for at least 20 years--or so it seems. I have also heard of oral appliances a person can wear, with no CPAP machine. The appliance repositions your jaw to help open the airway. I'm not sure if it would be worse to have a CPAP machine or an oral appliance. They both sound unappealilng, and I wonder if my compliance would be poor with the machine. Do you put the machine in bed with you or what? It just sounds really awkward.

Of course, my doctor tells me the best treatment is to lose weight.

[Yoda]

I know of no other way to manage my sleep apnea than my CPAP machine. I sleep comfortably with it usually. Worst part of sleep apnea is a sleep study costs $2000 so I cannot afford to have my uninsured son do a study.

[ECHOES]

I used a CPAP for years. It was a relief to get restful sleep finally.
Then I lost weight and didn't need it anymore. Grateful as I was for it, it was wonderful to get that thing off my face.

[Amanda_1981]

I went for a sleep study test about 2 years ago and the doctor said that even though at that time I didn't stop breathing during the night, my symptoms of chronic fatigue and gasping for air seemed to point that I have sleep apnea, so he told me to get a cpap machine and I think it's on level six which is kind of on the lower side I think. However.. my sleep/insomnia/chronic fatigue has worsened over the past two years, and I admit, I haven't really used my cpap machine much at all this past year alone, so I went for another sleep study a few weeks ago to see if I really do have sleep apnea (cause I'm thinking a person shouldn't use a cpap machine if they don't need it right?.. maybe it could do some harm? I dunno but I thought I better go back to a different clinic and get a second opinion. I really hope I don't have it because due to my constant allergies I have to wear the full face mask and it feels hard to breathe with it on and makes my skin break out. I will find out on the 21st of April what my results are (I do have all the signs of sleep apnea.. being overweight, my dad and grandpa and two of my uncles have it, I snore wicked loud and I gasp for air sometimes at night and I'm always tired 24/7).. but the only symptom which is a major one for sleep apnea that I don't have is that I can't fall asleep right away.. even when I'm super tired and exhausted. It always takes me at least 3 hours to fall asleep, sometimes I don't sleep at all until the next day, even when I'm so tired and I'm immune to pretty much every sleeping pill. So... I don't know if I have apnea or not, I just want to know if I need to start using my cpap machine again.

Good luck with your apnea, and I'm not sure of what else helps aside from the cpap machine.. hopefully you will be able to adjust to it soon If you ever have any questions about anything to do with sleep, feel free to pm me, as I also have many sleeping problems and know what you are going through

[amante]

thanks everyone for the responses, I appreciate your advice and tips. I think it will really help if I get some serious weight loss going, but that's always easier said than done. I should get my CPAP machine some time in the next few weeks.