Question to those that have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine

maldorf · Sep 24, 2009

Just saw a sleep specialist doctor and I will soon be doing a sleep study. Just by looking at my throat though and considering my deviated septum in my nose she is almost certain that I am going to need to use a CPAP machine.
How is sleeping wearing one of those? Is it hard to get used to? Im worried about comfort and then how much sound it produces. I would hate to lower the quality of my wife's sleep because of sound etc. It must not be too bad because I have never heard anything negative, but I would like to hear some first hand experience.
How much did it help you sleep?
I am also wondering if anyone on here has had surgery to help increase airflow. I know I can have my septum fixed up. She mentioned softpalate surgery but did not get into any others. Wondering whats out there.
One of the reasons I looked into sleep apnea is the fact that my hematocrit has been running so high. Sleep apnea can raise that as you become hypoxic during sleep. Ive also seen studies that show that TRT raises the incident of sleep apnea. I think a lot of bodybuilders should have it checked out if they have high hematocrit and trouble sleeping. I am hoping that getting on the cpap machine will lower my hematocrit and get me a much more productive sleep.
As a bodybuilder sleep is one of the most important things for growth and health. I think a lot of us dont give it enough attention.
I will report back once I have results from the test. That should be at the end of October.

DOGGCRAPP · Sep 24, 2009

Lot of questions Maldorf so im going to go thru your quote and reply in it with caps so i can get to all the questions and you can see who is who

maldorf said:
Just saw a sleep specialist doctor and I will soon be doing a sleep study. Just by looking at my throat though and considering my deviated septum in my nose she is almost certain that I am going to need to use a CPAP machine.
I STILL FEEL THIS IS A LARGE PART OF YOUR HEMATOCRIT PROBLEM

How is sleeping wearing one of those? Is it hard to get used to?

IT SUCKED THE FIRST WEEK, i WONT LIE...ABSOLUTELY SUCKED, BUT THEN WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS YOU REALIZE HOW WELL YOU SLEEP WITH IT ON AND HOW RESTED YOU FEEL DURING THE DAY AND IT BECOMES SOMEWHAT SECOND NATURE...IT REALLY IS NIGHT AND DAY AS FAR AS HOW YOU FEEL THE NEXT DAY.

Im worried about comfort and then how much sound it produces.

IM A MOUTH BREATHER SO I HAD TO GET THE FULL FACE MASK, NOSE MASKS DONT WORK FOR ME....THE AIR COMES RUSHING OUT OF MY MOUTH, IVE TRIED THE CHIN STRAPS TO KEEP MY MOUTH CLOSED, BREATHING STRIPS, APPARATUS'S THAT PULL YOUR TOUNGUE FORWARD (VERY UNCOMFORTABLE) YOU NAME IT, IVE TRIED IT---WHEN I GO INTO DEEP SLEEP ON MY BACK MY JAW OPENS AND FALLS BACKWARDS NO MATTER WHAT I DO AND CHOKES ME....I WOULDNT HAVE TO USE THE MASK AT ALL IF I SLEPT ON MY SIDE BUT MY SHOULDERS CANT TAKE THAT. I WENT TO CPAP.COM STUDIED ALL I COULD FOR 2 WEEKS WITH THE REVIEWS AND WENT WITH THIS MASK Mirage Quattro Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear WHICH IM HIGHLY HAPPY WITH AND WITH THIS MACHINE (AUTO ADJUSTING) S8 AutoSet II CPAP Machine WITH THE HUMIDIFIER WHICH I HIGHLY SUGGEST TO GET. APAP'S AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST TO YOUR OWN BREATHING. COMFORT...TAKES A LITTLE BIT TO GET USED TO BUT GOOD TO GO NOW....SOUND...THEY REALLY DONT MAKE MUCH MORE SOUND THAN A SMALL FAN WOULD....I USE A FAN OR AIR CONDITIONER YEAR ROUND ANYWAY TO HELP ME FALL ASLEEP AND THAT DROWNS OUT ANY NOISE FROM THE APAP....THEY REALLY ARENT THAT LOUD AT ALL. CPAP.COM LETS YOU TRY OUT MASKS AND BUY INSURANCE AND SEND THEM BACK IN 30 DAYS IF THEY DONT WORK OUT AND GET MOST OF YOUR MONEY BACK.
I would hate to lower the quality of my wife's sleep because of sound etc. It must not be too bad because I have never heard anything negative, but I would like to hear some first hand experience.
How much did it help you sleep?
TREMENDOUSLY....NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE.

I am also wondering if anyone on here has had surgery to help increase airflow. I know I can have my septum fixed up. She mentioned softpalate surgery but did not get into any others. Wondering whats out there.

ONE OF MY TRAINEE'S DID AND HE SAID IT WAS THE MOST PAINFUL THING HE HAS BEEN THRU....ALOT OF PAIN. THE SUCCESS RATE I BELIEVE IS 40% MEANING IT CAN COME BACK JUST MONTHS LATER IN SOME CASES....AND SOME PEOPLE CAN GET AWAY WITH IT AND ITS GONE.

One of the reasons I looked into sleep apnea is the fact that my hematocrit has been running so high. Sleep apnea can raise that as you become hypoxic during sleep. Ive also seen studies that show that TRT raises the incident of sleep apnea. I think a lot of bodybuilders should have it checked out if they have high hematocrit and trouble sleeping. I am hoping that getting on the cpap machine will lower my hematocrit and get me a much more productive sleep.
I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG PART OF YOUR PROBLEM AS STATED ABOVE.....
As a bodybuilder sleep is one of the most important things for growth and health. I think a lot of us dont give it enough attention.
I will report back once I have results from the test. That should be at the end of October.

Tom · Sep 25, 2009

my 2 cents

Maldorf,
I work as a respiratory therapist and have dealt with countless cpap patients. The single most frequent thing I hear from them is how great and well rested they finally felt after sleeping normally again. As stated by DC and many pateints I've talked to, after the first couple days of getting used to it not one of them would give it up and go back to the sleep apnea. As for surgery unless all else failed and my life were in jeopardy I wouldn't consider it.

NAC · Sep 25, 2009

Maldorf, I agree with everything DC said. It took me about a week to get used to mine. I also breathe through my mouth, I tried the nasal cannulas for about 60 seconds before I knew it wasn't for me. I use a full face mask. I don't even know I wear it anymore. Had it for 6 years. I've even gotten up to go to the bathroom at night and ripped it off my face, I'd forgotten I had it on.

The noise produced is not loud, if fact it's rhythmic and you'll get so used to it you can't sleep without it. Same with the mask, in about a week you'll never leave home without it in your carry-on bag.

I've also heard the surgery was brutal and the success rate is low. To me it's easier to use the mask. Hell I deployed to Iraq as an infantryman with it. I had to get a special adapter made to plug it into a Humvee.

NAC · Sep 25, 2009

Oh forgot to mention, I don't know what position you sleep in but for me I sleep sort of on my side/stomach. For this position I've found the Respironics comfort-gel full face mask to be the best. The top forehead strap is one piece and does not poke into my forehead at all. Other brands use to gel prongs to support the gel pad and the pressure pokes those prongs into my forehead making it uncomfortable.

If you don't sleep in that position just disregard. LOL

Edit: Also, ALWAYS have a spare mask and hose. I've broken my mask a few times and not had a spare. Life was rough for a few day until a replacement came in!

muscle96ss · Sep 25, 2009

I have had severe sleep apnea for years and use Bipap w/nasal pillows. Regarding the possibility of surgery, there are several areas of attack(the palate, uvula, sinus, etc...). A good surgeon should be able to tell by looking at your anatomy whether you are a good candidate and what areas would need to be addressed. In regards to comfort in using CPAP ask your doctor about Bipap, it is much more tolerable. Also try different masks, no matter what you choose it will take some time to get used to. I personally was never able to tolerate a full face mask. Even though I am a mouth breather I was sucessfull in tolerating the nasal pillows and have learned to breathe through my nose for sleeping. Also make sure you get a system with a humidifier, it will make a huge difference in comfort. In the end, if you in fact do have sleep apnea you need to find a way to treat it.

maldorf · Sep 25, 2009

Wow

Great advice and info here. Thanks a lot everyone. I am a stomach sleeper, as far as I know. I will know more after the sleep study. I get the feeling that I flip over a lot during sleep and may end up on my back too. It will be interesting to see how I sleep. Some days I wake up with a very sore neck, and so to me this means I must be tossing and turnging a lot. Sometimes my neck is strained so bad that I have to take a couple of days from lifting to heal it up.
I got the impression from the docs that I saw that the surgery is the last thing you want to do. All of your opinions line up with what they said on that. Hopefully I will not need it. I am a mouth breather too as you guys are. Most of the time my nose is so stopped up that air can barely pass through it. I will be sure to ask aobut the masks mentioned.

lightheavy · Sep 25, 2009

C pap

I took the sleep study and failed big time. My O2 got down into the 70's. I tried the mask with humidty. I never could adjust. I wanted to so bad, all the guys who stuck it out said they feel great. I even tried ambien with it to no avail. I would do the surgrey as a last choice man, it can be nasty and then not much help.

NAC · Sep 25, 2009

maldorf said:
Great advice and info here. Thanks a lot everyone. I am a stomach sleeper, as far as I know. I will know more after the sleep study. I get the feeling that I flip over a lot during sleep and may end up on my back too. It will be interesting to see how I sleep. Some days I wake up with a very sore neck, and so to me this means I must be tossing and turnging a lot. Sometimes my neck is strained so bad that I have to take a couple of days from lifting to heal it up.
I got the impression from the docs that I saw that the surgery is the last thing you want to do. All of your opinions line up with what they said on that. Hopefully I will not need it. I am a mouth breather too as you guys are. Most of the time my nose is so stopped up that air can barely pass through it. I will be sure to ask aobut the masks mentioned.

Yeah, if you end up getting a CPAP or BiPAP you'll adjust quickly. I'm like you and am pretty much stuffed up sinus all the time so a full face was the only real option for me.

You'll find the things that work and the tricks of the mask. Personally for me I don't use a humidifier, I've tried it and noticed no difference. But try it out and see if you like it.

There'll will be things you don't like about the mask of course. Sometimes you'll wake up and the mask will be full of drool!! LOL It sucks but you'll learn how to clean it out with out taking the mask off. There will be times when you toss sleeping and wake up with the hose wrapped around your throat. You'll also become quick at putting it on and off and be able to do it one handed like nothing.

I will say this though with all the masks I've had there is a sort of break in period new masks for 4 or 5 days. The silicone really iritates my skin until some facial oil gets into it. Good luck hope it helps if you need it.

dragonfire101 · Sep 25, 2009

Agree with everything DC said accept I'm one who has not been able to get use to their CPAP machine. I have had it several years and try to use it, but then fail to. I had surgery on deviated septum, but did not help and I hear the surgery for sleep apnea is very painful use as last resort with low success rate.

alan1973 · Sep 25, 2009

I had the deviated septum surgury in the military and not only did it do nothing for me, the AF would not even give me disability for not fixing it properly. Besides it kept me from sleeping almost completely for 2 weeks. (not a mouth breather). Basically I would fall asleep until I choked trying to breath from my nose or my own snoring woke me up (That is why I can't sleep on my back). OH, did I say it hurt like a b!tch!?
Also, I sleep on my stomach so a CPAP would just keep me awake. The fact that I turn from left to right (rolling in the same direction most of the time) would make me a poor candidate for the CPAP)
I must sleep in a 65-68 degree room with the face blowing on my face to sleep properly and that is why I sleep in a different room than my wife....I thought this part would sound strange until I found a LOT of guys don't actually sleep in the same bed or room.
I use a nasal steroid and as long as I don't forget to take it, it works quite well. but it will be a lifetime thing. I also have asthma so I inhale this steroid via a "disc". Asthma loves to kick in as soon as I lay down for some reason.
All these health issues makes it real hard to get big. I gotta work twice as hard as a healthy guy.

BTW, what are nasal pillows?

I highly doubt that unless I use the fan, i can sleep with the rhythmic sound of the machine...I am one of those guys that must have a digital clock cuz a tick tock clock will have me up all night.

But after reading this I will consider to contact my doc....I am trying to avoid the hospital right now cuz my car payments are killing me. the Yen rate is so bad and changing from Dollars to Yen is killing my wallet.

Michael · Sep 25, 2009

I've been using 1 now for about 3 months and I still can't get away with it, I end up taking it off after about 2-3 hours. Wtf, thats why I call it the CRAP machine instead of CPAP! Lol.

Loch Ness · Sep 25, 2009

Best thing ever. Sleep is great. Gains are much better and I am not putting the rest of the world at risk by falling asleep at the wheel anymore.

Pekkerwood · Sep 25, 2009

Maldorf:

I pretty much echo Dante's reply. I have the same machine with humidifier. I bought it a cpapshop.com. I also bought an oximeter to track oxygen saturation. Much, much better with CPAP. I would get into the high seventies without it.

I have at least 4 masks, but like Dante, I'm a mouth breather as many of my past girlfriends have alluded as in "Mouth breathin' Knuckle Draggin, A-hole".
I got the software and USB cable for my machine, and also the codes to enter it into the "clinician" mode so I can control the settings myself.

From our chats I'm sure you will want an auto machine that you can set yourself rather than going into the center to get it adjusted. Some of the sleep clinics are behind with there recommendations for machines because a lot of patients are elderly or not blessed with our uncommon intelligence of professional muscle members and they only recommend a few simple machines. If you ask, however, you may recieve. You may find the software useful as well.

Some insurances who will not pay for the better overnight sleep study, will actually just have you sent home with a Auto Cpap machine and have you bring it back to read it. This is not as effective as an overnight study in my opinion, but it shows you the power of the software readings.

My gf did not like the noise at all for the first night or two, and complained, but the fact is she was asleep quickly and now does not complain.

One problem I had is that I am a side and stomach sleeper when my shoulders are not giving me troubles. Its easier now that I don't juice. When i juiced and slept on my side, my side delts were so massive that it placed me at an almost 45 degree angle.

Seriously, a lot of apnea folks sleep on stomach and side because it reduces apnea incidents for those with obstructive as opposed to central apnea. They make a pillow with cut outs on each side to accomodate side sleepers a bit. I have one and use it at times.

Good Luck

maldorf · Sep 25, 2009

Pekkerwood said:
Maldorf:

I pretty much echo Dante's reply. I have the same machine with humidifier. I bought it a cpapshop.com. I also bought an oximeter to track oxygen saturation. Much, much better with CPAP. I would get into the high seventies without it.

I have at least 4 masks, but like Dante, I'm a mouth breather as many of my past girlfriends have alluded as in "Mouth breathin' Knuckle Draggin, A-hole".
I got the software and USB cable for my machine, and also the codes to enter it into the "clinician" mode so I can control the settings myself.

From our chats I'm sure you will want an auto machine that you can set yourself rather than going into the center to get it adjusted. Some of the sleep clinics are behind with there recommendations for machines because a lot of patients are elderly or not blessed with our uncommon intelligence of professional muscle members and they only recommend a few simple machines. If you ask, however, you may recieve. You may find the software useful as well.

Some insurances who will not pay for the better overnight sleep study, will actually just have you sent home with a Auto Cpap machine and have you bring it back to read it. This is not as effective as an overnight study in my opinion, but it shows you the power of the software readings.

My gf did not like the noise at all for the first night or two, and complained, but the fact is she was asleep quickly and now does not complain.

One problem I had is that I am a side and stomach sleeper when my shoulders are not giving me troubles. Its easier now that I don't juice. When i juiced and slept on my side, my side delts were so massive that it placed me at an almost 45 degree angle. Seriously, a lot of apnea folks sleep on stomach and side because it reduces apnea incidents for those with obstructive as opposed to central apnea. They make a pillow with cut outs on each side to accomodate side sleepers a bit. I have one and use it at times.

Good Luck

I am having a sleep over study done so thats good. I sleep on my stomach mostly and hope that the CPAP still works for me.
I used to have the trouble too of sleeping on my side when i was big. Would wake up in the middle of the night and it felt like a "wookie" had torn off my arm. Now I can sleep on my side just fine since ive shrunk up so much! I cannot sleep on my left side though because my heart beats so hard that I can feel it thump against the bed and it moves my whole body. Terrible feeling. Guess that one part of my heart is beating extra hard now to make up for the rest of it that is now dead tissue. WHOO HOO!

VallhallaOrBust · Sep 25, 2009

Like Dante I use the Mirage Quattro mask. Dante's machine is really good as is the one that I use -- Respironics M Series Auto. If you go with the M Series PM me and I will let you know where to download the software for it. With that and a card reader you can monitor your results.

It is very important to montior your results regularly as you may need to adjust your pressure, sleeping position, or mask as things change.

My initial prescribed pressure only got me to an AHI of 55 (which is still bad, but I was a 97

). By making changes I am now consistently showing AHI's of 2-3 (less than 5 is what you are shooting for).

I also have a pulse oximeter, but amazingly I have never dipped that low oxygen-wise even with a high AHI. My resting pulse rate is higher than it should be, however. I think that is how my body likely adjusted -- pumping blood faster in order to cope with a low oxygen intake.

jeriko1975 · Sep 26, 2009

has anyone had there tonsils taken out? I wake up with a real sore tonsils. I can't see wearing an elephant mask the rest of my life! I will get the surgury, if I am a good candidate

maldorf · Sep 26, 2009

jeriko1975 said:
has anyone had there tonsils taken out? I wake up with a real sore tonsils. I can't see wearing an elephant mask the rest of my life! I will get the surgury, if I am a good candidate

I had mine taken out along with my adenoids when I was about 5 yrs old. Did not seem to help me at all now as an adult.

dragonfire101 · Sep 30, 2009

I think mine is a ResMed VPAP III ST-A BiLevel System and H2i Heated Humidifier with the Mirage Quattro mask.

DatBtrue · Sep 30, 2009

maldorf said:
...I am hoping that getting on the cpap machine will lower my hematocrit and get me a much more productive sleep.

They don't know all the damage that can be done. I had mini-heart attack episodes or rather stoppages and self starts. For me, I was specifically told that if I did not drop below 200 lbs I would die. CPAP was not enough... this was many years ago. Now I can & do run my weight up if I wish w/o taxing my heart and it is because I have been on the CPAP machine for years.

Plus I believe the deep sleep from the GHRH/GHRPs also helps tremendously.

The machine is quiet and should if anything be a soothing sound to your wife. You shouldn't hesitate to use one if you need to. For me it is the difference between life and death.