[onlymedid]

My BF has sleep apnea and he has been really sick with a cold for the last 2 weeks. It is driving me crazy because it keeps ME up all night...which is not a good thing. It makes me really cranky, I resent him, I try to sleep on a 2 seater loveseat (my legs hangover the side), I go to work tired, I get angry and my emotions get completely out of whack. It makes him really upset because there is nothing he can do about it and it causes me to lose sleep and leave the bedroom.

With him being sick and having a stuffy nose, could that make the apnea worse?

He has no insurance, is overweight and doesn't want to use one of those big, loud machines. He and I are both going to lose weight together, but what else can he do? I don't want to have to sleep on the blow-up twin bed in the living room every night. We bought that just for this reason (his apnea).

Also, if this is the wrong area, I apologize if it needs to be moved...I didn't know where else to put it.

BJ

[gramma3]

Hi
I have sleep apnea and it does get worse during a cold . I went for a quieter CPAP machine and it has made all the difference in the world however at this time I am fortunate that I got part of it paid for by insurance . The pressure readings on my machine were lowered as I lost some wt. so good for you and your BF that you are going to work on that area. I would encourage him to really consider the machine due to the serious health risks caused by sleep apnea. This of course is the role of your physician to discuss. Have you tried ear plugs? Good luck to both of you.

[jbug]

I have sleep apnea also and have had 2 machines. My first one was noisy but the one I have now is relatively quiet. It just sounds like one of those white noise machines.

Unfortunately in most cases the only thing that will help sleep apnea is the machine. Losing weight will help a lot but having the machine is best.

Have you tried medicaid or the state sponsored insurance to get the machine? That is how I got my first machine.

Jbug

[onlymedid]

Hi Gramma3, thanks for the info. I have tried earplugs, but he does this thing where if he stops breathing his body shakes and jars him to remind him to breathe....thus waking me. I wish it were just the sound of snoring. It doesn't help that I wake up to just listen to see if he is breathing.


BJ

[onlymedid]

Hmmm, I can handle something that sounds like a white noise machines. In fact, I have a hard time sleeping if there isn't some kind of Air conditioner or fan going.

We haven't talked about Medicaid, yet....but that is a great idea. He works from home and sells his designs at CafePress and Zazzle, so he doesn't make a huge amount of money, but he does make some. He goes to school, too. I am going to talk to him about looking into getting assistance of some sort.

Thank you for the ideas! It really helps!


BJ

[jbug]

Glad to be of help.

Jbug