Sleep Apnea

I had nocturia so the urologist sent me to the sleep doctor. Obstructive sleep apnea causes one to be oxygen deprived, awaken, snore and many other problems including noctuia.

At the sleep lab I get wired up on my head, face, chest, leg. Oximeter, elastic bands on chest and abdomen. The twelve wires to a box next to me. Video camera monitors where I’m sleeping: side, prone, supine & how much. I can get up to pee carrying the small box. I sleep from 10 PM to 6 AM They said I did have obstructive sleep apnea. It was bad enough I had several episodes of oxygen down to 76%! I returned for testing with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. I had a mask hooked up to a device that supplies pressurized air. I had 5 CWP (centimeters of water pressure) to start but needed 7 cwp to resolve problems. I’m getting the machine end of the month. I’ll post more later.

Anyone else have sleep apnea? Use CPAP machine?

Last week my nose was stuffed and at some point I woke up and felt "oppressed", breathing heavily. I think I had sleep apnea. The situation has improved and I no longer have this issue. It would be very scary for me if it were a chronic issue.

I’ve used a CPAP machine for years. Life changing for sure. It takes a few nights to get used to it but I didn’t realize how poorly I was sleeping until I got the machine. Consistency is key. Now I can’t sleep without it.

For a few years, I was waking up in the morning as tired as I was when I went to sleep. My wife was also complaining about my snoring getting worst and louder. We mentioned this to our family doctor and fortunately, I was able to take a home sleep test. It came back with a diagnosis of severe sleep apnea, so I was prescribed a CPAP machine. It has made a world of difference. I am waking up much more refreshed and the wife says the snoring has mostly gone away. I am fortunate because I use one with just a breathing unit located below my nose and not a full face mask like many people have to use. My father also uses a CPAP machine but it is a full face mask and he doesn't think it helps much. Maybe sleep apnea is hereditary?

Sleep apnea has a prevalence in the population of 9-38% depending on various studies (find on google)

It seems like a benign condition, meaning nothing bad happens if you don't use the machine. For me: get up fewer times peeing at night ( now up to four times and a liter of pee) Fewer naps. Staying awake as driver or passenger; staying awake for plays & musicals.

I was referred by the urologist to reduce the night urination.

However if I never got treated, nothing bad would happen.

Heredity: My daughter has sleep apnea and used machine 3 years. Maybe I got it from her