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Sleep Apnoea and CPAP
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Hi all, just thought I'd share my story on this great thread particularly for those who may suspect they might have sleep apnoea and are thinking about doing something about it. A little bit about me, I'm a 38 year old male with no significant health issues. I'm in decent shape, ex rugby player and do a fair bit of gym work so despite a fat % well within the acceptable range, I'm over a 100 kilos and at 6 feet tall this is probably on the heavy side. Definitely have a bigger neck that most people, getting a shirt that fits my neck but isn't way too big everywhere else is always an issue! I've also broken my nose several times and can't breathe clearly thought it. I don't drink a huge amount. So while the broken nose, being a bit heavy and a big neck might point towards a possibility sleep apnoea, hardly in the high risk category....or so I thought.
I've always been a very heavy snorer, I've terrorized several ex girlfriends and my partner now has to sleep in a separate bedroom. One important note though, none of them ever observed me gasping for breath, though they did say that it would seem like I had stopped breathing for short periods. I also never wake up gasping for air or similar. Anyway over the last few years I've noticed that I felt progressively worse in the mornings, never feel like I'd had a good sleep and a lot of the time I would feel extremely anxious in the mornings. Sometimes even light headed but almost always generally just feeling like absolute crap. It also takes me ages to 'come to' in the mornings, at least an hour before I felt even somewhat alert. Despite all of the above though, I never ever doze during the day or take naps and never nod off watching TV etc.. For this reason I never considered I could have sleep apnoea, to me that was something for overweight people in their fifties who fall asleep driving to work. And I mean no offense by that comment I'm just trying to explain my thought process, and also my ignorance.
Around January of this year I started getting severe heart palpitations and my anxiety went through the roof. I ended up going to the Beacon rapid access cardiology clinic (highly recommended) and after getting every test known to man, everything was normal. The consultant was sure exhaustion, stress and anxiety were the cause. I didn't feel tired, but he said I looked absolutely shattered!
Long story short I ended up back with the GP and after trying and failing to get to the root of the stress and anxiety she suggested a sleep study (after we talked about how I feel most anxious in the morning) and referred me to St. Vincent's private. I got the appointment very quickly but to be honest I wasn't too impressed with the consultant, seemed very old school - he took my height and weight asked me a few questions then proceeded to rattle off a load of waffle about sleep apnoea that I had already read after a quick Google beforehand and that was about it. To be fair to him, the sleep study I'm sure is the only way to diagnose sleep apnea so not sure what I was expecting but I left feeling thoroughly unimpressed after paying €200 for a 10 minute consultation! Anyway, he referred me to have the polysomnography.
After a very long wait (pandemic wouldn't have helped) of 6 months I went in to have the sleep study in mid August. I was still fairly skeptical that I had sleep apnoea (also I'd since done the epworth sleepiness quiz and not scored particularly high) so when they hooked me up to all the electrodes and machines etc. and told me to go to sleep I seriously considered walking out! Don't get me wrong, the staff were absolutely brilliant and the room was great, it was just I couldn't imagine sleeping a wink with all that gear in me! Thankfully I got over myself, accepted my fate, and surprise surprise I did in fact sleep. In so far as my body allows me to sleep as the results revealed.
The results came back a week or so later and lo and behold I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. I averaged 61 apnea / hypopnoea events per hour with a minimum oxygen desaturation of 78%. According to my doctor and supported by doing a bit of reading (and this thread!) those numbers firmly put me in the severe category.
So despite all my skepticism and not really ticking a lot of the boxes I ended up with those results. And now with the benefit of hindsight after I got over the initial shock and I really thought about it, I have felt like crap for a long time. Anxiety, depression, no interest in doing things that I used to enjoy, demotivated, feeling physically ill a lot (but not actually ill), the list goes on....... All symptoms of exhaustion. And just because you don't fall asleep a lot doesn't mean you are not exhausted.
So finally I would implore anyone who can relate to any of the above, go to your GP and get yourself tested!! Don't leave if for years like I did! I am going in early next week for the CPAP trial, no guarantees it will solve all of this and I know it takes getting used to but I am very optimistic life is about to get at least a bit better
P.S I'll post my experiences about the CPAP trial if people are interested.0 -
Interesting story ruairin. Keep us posted.
See below....
Went to Vincents Private for the CPAP trial last Tuesday. Once again the night staff were excellent, my only criticism would be the bog standard hospital beds, surely investing in a more comfortable option would be more conducive to an easier nights sleep and therefore better results!?
Anyway after being given a lot of info and making sure I was comfortable they put me on an APAP Resmed machine with a nasal mask. I had advised I had a lot of trouble breathing through my nose but they were adamant I avoid a full face unless really necessary. I found the mask to be very uncomfortable and I couldn't breathe properly and kept having to open my mouth which is unpleasant with the pressure going through your nose at the same time. Eventually it emerged the mask was a bit too small but unfortunately it was the only one they had. However after much adjustment and some nasal spray I was finally comfortable and managed to sleep for probably 2-3 hours.
To be honest I didn't have any much issue with the pressure coming through the nose or exhaling (although this was with the EPR turned on, I can't imagine not using this feature)and if they had a larger mask I'd say I would have sailed through and slept most of the night. So quite positive for me after reading how difficult some find it, especially at the start.
Next morning the consultant came by and advised that my AHI was down to 1 (from 61 on the night of the study!). Great result albeit only based on a few hours sleep. He said his staff would set me up with a rental and immediately started to leave, I kept asking questions but he literally backed out of the room, though he did tell me my prescription was for an APAP with a pressure between 4 and 15. I must say again I really do not like this consultant however at the end of the day I am in no doubt as to the quality of the sleep analysis and the staff who look after you on the night.
His staff came in then and advised that I had to rent a machine from an approved supplier so sleep data could be exchanged with the consultant. I said I wanted to buy one and renting didn't make sense given that its about €100 a month and they basically said I can't. I didn't argue as I don't mind renting for a few months to make sure I like the machine and that the therapy is doing something for me before I invest. I went with the Philips Respironics with Humidifier from Air Liquide at total cost of €105 for month with a free mask.
The very next day I got a call from Air Liquide and they had someone available the next day to come out with the machine (Thursday). The person that came was lovely and took their time explaining everything. They arrived with a Philips 'Wisp' nasal mask which thankfully had 4 different sizes so I was able to find a much more comfortable fit. These masks are a hell of a lot more comfortable in general than the ones in Vincent's.
So night one, in my own bed and I found that I was still able to sleep in my preferred position which is on my stomach with my head turned to the side with no problems. It took me a good bit longer to get to sleep than normal as I kept having to adjust the mask to find the right balance between comfort and leaks. Once I got this right I was fine and only woke up once when the pressure had increased to 14.0 and the air was causing a burning sensation in my nostrils. I pressed the ramp button to lower the pressure and went back to sleep. I used the machine for 8 hours and AHI following morning was 2.5 with minor leakage.
Night two I used the machine for 6 hours and again only woke once when the pressure was at 15 and again was causing a burning sensation in my nostrils, maybe this is because I use a nasal spray to clear congestion....does anyone else experience this? Also the bridge of nose was quite sore so I ended up removing the mask and sleeping for another hour or two without it. AHI was 1.3 and again minor leakage.
I haven't really felt much better since I started using it but I definitely look less tired and its early days yet. Reading this thread I am encouraged my many saying that it takes a few weeks to feel better and that its a gradual process. Main thing is thankfully I am tolerating CPAP quite well and don't see myself having to quit any time soon.
I'll post back again with an update when I have been using it for a few weeks.
I am experiencing a good bit of irritation around the nose from the silicone, I wonder has anyone on here tried the memory foam masks from Resmed? Also if anyone has had the burning sensation at high pressure please let me know if you were able to resolve it!
Cheers!0 -
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