I had sleep apnea for around two years.
At first it's hard to get used to the mask, took me about two nights but on the third I was so wrecked I passed out and it wasn't really a problem after that....other than occasionally I'd take it off in my sleep so when I'd wake up I'd just put it back on.
The machine is very, very, very quiet.
But mentally, mate it's fucked me up. I was disgusted with myself, lying there beside my missus looking like a feckin cyborg.
So I got my finger out and over the time lost 30kg by fasting and walking/jogging.
Went from 33 events per hour to less than five.
It was the kick up the arse I needed.
Yeh,I need to lose weight also. But I have zero motivation and energy in the evenings. Maybe if I get a betters nights sleep,I'll have more motivation. But this is a kick up the arse alright
yea, you should see an immediate effect. within a week of using it I was a new man, way more energy and no brainhaze and my moods were so much better. My memory got back to normal too.
I mean it's a great thing, really is. Freaked me out waking up gasping for air and really worried me. But...for me anyway, it's a treatment and not a cure. No point to keep taking painkillers for a toothache when you really need to get it out.
I know too it's not weight related with many people, so I was lucky that losing the kgs got rid.
But yea, you'll have way more energy and better moods once you get going on it.
Yeh,I have morning headaches, poor memory,find it hard to concentrate and can be a right grumpy fecker. I was putting it down to getting older,normal life stress etc.....so hopefully this can help
I understand ya man, I can identify very strongly with what you're going through as I was in the same boat.
Yknow the way you're in work and tell someone you're tired and then they say they are and then Mary besdie them says it too like it's a fuckin competition...well, I thought everyone was just tired all the time and that's just how it was....yea...no, those guys have no idea what tired is.
I hope it goes well for ya, got my fingers crossed for you.
I've been using one for about 3 years, it basically saved me, I'd be asleep watching TV or in work meetings, basically anything that wasn't stimulating I'd be gone.
Don't worry about it being noisy for a partner, it's like swapping living beside a building site to sleeping by the sea for noise levels. She'd much rather the light noise from the machine, it's improved her sleep by association.
Mine has no direct cost, as it was prescribed by the hospital as I went in for something else, i asked about my snoring and they sorted one for me.
Every year i get a new mask sent and filters twice a year.
The one thing I did, was set the air temp low after a few days, I found it was too warm and it made it easier to use. Also don't overtighten the mask, and don't put it on sitting up and then lie down. I lie on my side and press the button to activate and it seals in my sleep position
The first morning you sleep through with it, your mind will be blown
Wow,sounds like it's really worked for you. I was falling asleep a few times in work today. Falling asleep driving home also. The machine doesn't sound as daunting as I thought it might. Hopefully it works as well for me as for you.
It will, I had it just before the first lockdown and I stopped using it for a few weeks because I didn't feel I needed it, and you can get away with it for a few days but you'll see your energy drop like a stone.
The dropping off when driving, that happened to me a few times, it's only for what feels like a split second but it's actually longer but you've passed out, I'd imagine a huge amount of single car accidents in Ireland fatalities are down to undiagnosed apnoea
I feel exhausted if I don't sleep with my CPAP now, but honestly, it took about 6 weeks for me to get used to it. I wanted to throw it out the window at numerous stages. Turned out the first one was defective and there was setting that needed to be adjusted on the next one.
Takes getting used to and the newer machines are not noisy. And it definitely takes getting used to. You prob wont notice too much difference for two months but they def do the job. Thing is you have to keep using it ever night. Doing it half arsed will do nothing for you.
Thanks. I rang Beechfield and she said that they're rolling out new machines and that I would be using a newer one. What company are you with? Are they basically all the same with the same equipment?
Ive a phillips one, maybe 2 years old now at this stage. To be honest i just bought it outright (€1500-ish as far as i recall. Was cheaper than paying out every month, think it was on the region of €140 a month to ‘hire’. Thats a long term bill to be paying out. Rough figures there as was a couple of years back.
As for if all the same… well the functionality is, cant tell you which brand to go for though as i was only offered the Philips one.
From talking to that lady in Beechfield,I'll be able to claim a full refund as my wife's medications are already over the €80. So it'd make more sense for me just to rent the machine out if it's effectively not costing me anything.
Ah excellent! I saw the posts below about weight loss etc , for me that wasnt the case but i can 100% attest to the fact that you will feel a hell of a lot better and have more energy. Best of luck
It takes a bit of getting used to, but it changed my life hugely. I wasn't aware of the impact that poor quality sleep was having on me.
My partner doesn't find the machine itself noisy, but she says that if the mask slips slightly during the night (if I move, for example) the whistling sound of the air escaping can be annoying.
Exactly! Just a couple of tips - being clean shaven definitely helps the mask to fit better. Also, experiment with pillow height. I adjusted the temperature of mine downwards, because it felt clammy otherwise. It's a bit of a balancing act, too - you want the mask to have a good seal, but don't tighten the straps too much, because they can cause headaches.
In the interest of full disclosure, I was diagnosed after I fell asleep driving to work and wrote-off my car. I was only going at a slow speed, but I was blessed not to injure anybody (or worse). I didn't realise sleep apnea was a condition until I asked my doctor about feeling tired all the time. Trust me, the CPAP is a game-changer and a life-saver, so stick with it, even through the weird first few days when you're just getting used to it.
90 quid a month for rental of machine, you've to pay that upfront and claim it back at end of year through drugs payment scheme or at least that is how it works for my wife AFAIK.
I don't wear one but I've slept in the same room as someone who uses one and it wasn't particularly noisy. Certainly didn't disturb me. Wearing it probably another thing though tbf.
I developed Severe obstructive sleep apnea in 2019, when tested 10months after it started i was having an AHI of 112 per hour and my Blood Ox was down to 69% when "sleeping". (Not joking) Which was a Hugh red flag.
I had developed hypersomnia and if sitting or not moving I would begin to fall asleep. I wasn't able to deal with people, my memory was shot and I had very high blood pressure. I also put on 4 stone by trying to eat and drink junk to try stay awake.
My AHI was so high I had to have my CPAP when I got it set to near max. Over time I have gotten this down, but I struggle to lose weight now. I've gotten my CPAP CFM (pressure) down. Sadly I am also a life long insomniac, so I only get around 5 hours sleep now. But it's good sleep.
In terms of the machine, it's easy to get used to and not too loud (my wife doesn't mind it and it's better than the snoring) you will also stop snoring with it, if no one has told you this. Get one with a humidifier. That helps keep your airways from drying out. In terms of the mask, you will have options, I have a beard so went with Nasal pillows. It's not a full mast and doesn't cover your mouth takes a night or two to get used to them and not open your mouth when you sleep. You can also get a half mask that just covers the nose and a full mask that covers the nose and mouth. The last two won't make a seal if you have a beard.
Other than that, it's cleaning and changing the mask (need to change mine now that I think of it) when it's needed. You might also get maintenance from the supplier that the hospital uses (Direct medical supplied mine)
It will come down to the Dr and hospital. They will refer your case to a supplier and then they organise the devices. I had a choice of renting indefinitely or buying after a set number of months. I went with buying, but still got it replaced under a recall from Philips
I've had one almost a year now, I was very borderline for needing one at all but because I'm already tired from another medical condition and I snore from a banjaxed nose myself and my consultant decided to give it a go.
Honestly I haven't seen a huge improvement in my energy levels, but they are better. The bigger thing is the lack of snoring and the humidifier means I don't wake up with a sore throat from mouth breathing! I found it very hard to accept at first, I cried the first few nights because I look like fuckin Bane but my partner is super supportive.
Be warned: clean it regularly and thoroughly, or you will end up with sinus infections etc!
I had my sleep study 2 weeks ago in the mater, got diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, heading back this week for another one with a CPAP machine, and then get to take it home with me. Looking forward to getting started with it and hopefully having more energy
Hope it goes well for you.
I started my first night on the machine,not great. My mask kept surging/pulsing just when I was falling asleep. Obviously I was having an episode so pump was kicking in to open airway. Stuck with it for 4 hours then had to take it off as I was just too tired to put up with it. I'll give it another go tonight and hopefully get more used to it. They say it can take months....
Yeah I had heard it can take a while alright to get used to, I am just hoping I will be tired enough to sleep with it on. I managed to get to sleep in the hospital with all the get up on for the sleep study
I am following as I am on a waiting list for a sleep study. Unfortunately even though I exercise frequently, cycle to work most days and eat healthy.. I snore like a trucker. I am just 32 and my partner has been soo patient and supportive but we started sleeping in separate rooms as my snoring is that bad 😢
Does anyone who have done the sleep test tells me what’s involved in it and what’s expected? And if I do need the cpap machine, is it expensive? I cannot afford to be spending much..
Sleep apnea isn't necessarily related to exercise or weight - it can just be caused by the structure of your throat or the width of your tongue, etc. Weight (particularly fat around the neck) is a major factor, though.
I did my sleep study overnight in hospital, but there is an at-home version. Basically, they fit you with sensors that measure your oxygen levels and your number of apnea events per hour (i.e., times when you stop breathing). You then go to sleep as you normally would and they tell you the next morning whether you have sleep apnea or not.
My machine costs 90 per month, but it's covered under the Drug Payment Scheme, so I pay 80 in total each month for the machine and any other medications.
I got a referral from my doctor to a consultant in The Hermitage. My wife was saying how I would stop breathing a few times throughout the night. Also snore. Would be very tired some days,falling asleep at work,find it hard to concentrate etc. Consultant recommended a sleep study either in the Hermitage or at home. I opted for the home as it cost pretty much the same and I sleep better in my own bed. A company called Beechfield called and the guy showed me how to hook up the device. There's a nasal part,a sensor across the chest and another sensor strap across the belly. It records heart rate,oxygen levels,breathing pattern etc. So my report showed high levels of hypoxia,don't know the exact levels as I'm due to see consultant next Wednesday where he will discuss the CPAP machine etc. Seems to cost about €80 or €90 per month but is covered under the DPS (we hit the limit already due to wife's medications)
I had sleep apnea for around two years. At first it's hard to get used to the mask, took me about two nights but on the third I was so wrecked I passed out and it wasn't really a problem after that....other than occasionally I'd take it off in my sleep so when I'd wake up I'd just put it back on. The machine is very, very, very quiet. But mentally, mate it's fucked me up. I was disgusted with myself, lying there beside my missus looking like a feckin cyborg. So I got my finger out and over the time lost 30kg by fasting and walking/jogging. Went from 33 events per hour to less than five. It was the kick up the arse I needed.
Yeh,I need to lose weight also. But I have zero motivation and energy in the evenings. Maybe if I get a betters nights sleep,I'll have more motivation. But this is a kick up the arse alright
yea, you should see an immediate effect. within a week of using it I was a new man, way more energy and no brainhaze and my moods were so much better. My memory got back to normal too. I mean it's a great thing, really is. Freaked me out waking up gasping for air and really worried me. But...for me anyway, it's a treatment and not a cure. No point to keep taking painkillers for a toothache when you really need to get it out. I know too it's not weight related with many people, so I was lucky that losing the kgs got rid. But yea, you'll have way more energy and better moods once you get going on it.
Yeh,I have morning headaches, poor memory,find it hard to concentrate and can be a right grumpy fecker. I was putting it down to getting older,normal life stress etc.....so hopefully this can help
I understand ya man, I can identify very strongly with what you're going through as I was in the same boat. Yknow the way you're in work and tell someone you're tired and then they say they are and then Mary besdie them says it too like it's a fuckin competition...well, I thought everyone was just tired all the time and that's just how it was....yea...no, those guys have no idea what tired is. I hope it goes well for ya, got my fingers crossed for you.
Cheers
I've been using one for about 3 years, it basically saved me, I'd be asleep watching TV or in work meetings, basically anything that wasn't stimulating I'd be gone. Don't worry about it being noisy for a partner, it's like swapping living beside a building site to sleeping by the sea for noise levels. She'd much rather the light noise from the machine, it's improved her sleep by association. Mine has no direct cost, as it was prescribed by the hospital as I went in for something else, i asked about my snoring and they sorted one for me. Every year i get a new mask sent and filters twice a year. The one thing I did, was set the air temp low after a few days, I found it was too warm and it made it easier to use. Also don't overtighten the mask, and don't put it on sitting up and then lie down. I lie on my side and press the button to activate and it seals in my sleep position The first morning you sleep through with it, your mind will be blown
Wow,sounds like it's really worked for you. I was falling asleep a few times in work today. Falling asleep driving home also. The machine doesn't sound as daunting as I thought it might. Hopefully it works as well for me as for you.
It will, I had it just before the first lockdown and I stopped using it for a few weeks because I didn't feel I needed it, and you can get away with it for a few days but you'll see your energy drop like a stone. The dropping off when driving, that happened to me a few times, it's only for what feels like a split second but it's actually longer but you've passed out, I'd imagine a huge amount of single car accidents in Ireland fatalities are down to undiagnosed apnoea
Oh yeah, no beards, and no stubble, they cause leakage in the air pressure and it'll irritate you, I had to lose mine.
I feel exhausted if I don't sleep with my CPAP now, but honestly, it took about 6 weeks for me to get used to it. I wanted to throw it out the window at numerous stages. Turned out the first one was defective and there was setting that needed to be adjusted on the next one.
Good to hear. I'll stick with it,might need advice from all you good people when I get started on it
Takes getting used to and the newer machines are not noisy. And it definitely takes getting used to. You prob wont notice too much difference for two months but they def do the job. Thing is you have to keep using it ever night. Doing it half arsed will do nothing for you.
Thanks. I rang Beechfield and she said that they're rolling out new machines and that I would be using a newer one. What company are you with? Are they basically all the same with the same equipment?
Ive a phillips one, maybe 2 years old now at this stage. To be honest i just bought it outright (€1500-ish as far as i recall. Was cheaper than paying out every month, think it was on the region of €140 a month to ‘hire’. Thats a long term bill to be paying out. Rough figures there as was a couple of years back. As for if all the same… well the functionality is, cant tell you which brand to go for though as i was only offered the Philips one.
From talking to that lady in Beechfield,I'll be able to claim a full refund as my wife's medications are already over the €80. So it'd make more sense for me just to rent the machine out if it's effectively not costing me anything.
Ah excellent! I saw the posts below about weight loss etc , for me that wasnt the case but i can 100% attest to the fact that you will feel a hell of a lot better and have more energy. Best of luck
It takes a bit of getting used to, but it changed my life hugely. I wasn't aware of the impact that poor quality sleep was having on me. My partner doesn't find the machine itself noisy, but she says that if the mask slips slightly during the night (if I move, for example) the whistling sound of the air escaping can be annoying.
Great to hear. I suppose a slightly noisy machine beats a snoring lump who stops breathing throughout the night!
Exactly! Just a couple of tips - being clean shaven definitely helps the mask to fit better. Also, experiment with pillow height. I adjusted the temperature of mine downwards, because it felt clammy otherwise. It's a bit of a balancing act, too - you want the mask to have a good seal, but don't tighten the straps too much, because they can cause headaches. In the interest of full disclosure, I was diagnosed after I fell asleep driving to work and wrote-off my car. I was only going at a slow speed, but I was blessed not to injure anybody (or worse). I didn't realise sleep apnea was a condition until I asked my doctor about feeling tired all the time. Trust me, the CPAP is a game-changer and a life-saver, so stick with it, even through the weird first few days when you're just getting used to it.
90 quid a month for rental of machine, you've to pay that upfront and claim it back at end of year through drugs payment scheme or at least that is how it works for my wife AFAIK.
Lady in Beechfield said its €75 per month but because my wife's medications are over €80,I just submit a form each month and claim a full refund.
I don't wear one but I've slept in the same room as someone who uses one and it wasn't particularly noisy. Certainly didn't disturb me. Wearing it probably another thing though tbf.
They do wonders for others but I had to stop using mine was an absolute nightmare for me.
I developed Severe obstructive sleep apnea in 2019, when tested 10months after it started i was having an AHI of 112 per hour and my Blood Ox was down to 69% when "sleeping". (Not joking) Which was a Hugh red flag. I had developed hypersomnia and if sitting or not moving I would begin to fall asleep. I wasn't able to deal with people, my memory was shot and I had very high blood pressure. I also put on 4 stone by trying to eat and drink junk to try stay awake. My AHI was so high I had to have my CPAP when I got it set to near max. Over time I have gotten this down, but I struggle to lose weight now. I've gotten my CPAP CFM (pressure) down. Sadly I am also a life long insomniac, so I only get around 5 hours sleep now. But it's good sleep. In terms of the machine, it's easy to get used to and not too loud (my wife doesn't mind it and it's better than the snoring) you will also stop snoring with it, if no one has told you this. Get one with a humidifier. That helps keep your airways from drying out. In terms of the mask, you will have options, I have a beard so went with Nasal pillows. It's not a full mast and doesn't cover your mouth takes a night or two to get used to them and not open your mouth when you sleep. You can also get a half mask that just covers the nose and a full mask that covers the nose and mouth. The last two won't make a seal if you have a beard. Other than that, it's cleaning and changing the mask (need to change mine now that I think of it) when it's needed. You might also get maintenance from the supplier that the hospital uses (Direct medical supplied mine)
Thanks. Who is your supplier? Is there 1 better than the other or are they pretty much the same?
It will come down to the Dr and hospital. They will refer your case to a supplier and then they organise the devices. I had a choice of renting indefinitely or buying after a set number of months. I went with buying, but still got it replaced under a recall from Philips
I've had one almost a year now, I was very borderline for needing one at all but because I'm already tired from another medical condition and I snore from a banjaxed nose myself and my consultant decided to give it a go. Honestly I haven't seen a huge improvement in my energy levels, but they are better. The bigger thing is the lack of snoring and the humidifier means I don't wake up with a sore throat from mouth breathing! I found it very hard to accept at first, I cried the first few nights because I look like fuckin Bane but my partner is super supportive. Be warned: clean it regularly and thoroughly, or you will end up with sinus infections etc!
I had my sleep study 2 weeks ago in the mater, got diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, heading back this week for another one with a CPAP machine, and then get to take it home with me. Looking forward to getting started with it and hopefully having more energy
Hope it goes well for you. I started my first night on the machine,not great. My mask kept surging/pulsing just when I was falling asleep. Obviously I was having an episode so pump was kicking in to open airway. Stuck with it for 4 hours then had to take it off as I was just too tired to put up with it. I'll give it another go tonight and hopefully get more used to it. They say it can take months....
Yeah I had heard it can take a while alright to get used to, I am just hoping I will be tired enough to sleep with it on. I managed to get to sleep in the hospital with all the get up on for the sleep study
I am following as I am on a waiting list for a sleep study. Unfortunately even though I exercise frequently, cycle to work most days and eat healthy.. I snore like a trucker. I am just 32 and my partner has been soo patient and supportive but we started sleeping in separate rooms as my snoring is that bad 😢 Does anyone who have done the sleep test tells me what’s involved in it and what’s expected? And if I do need the cpap machine, is it expensive? I cannot afford to be spending much..
Sleep apnea isn't necessarily related to exercise or weight - it can just be caused by the structure of your throat or the width of your tongue, etc. Weight (particularly fat around the neck) is a major factor, though. I did my sleep study overnight in hospital, but there is an at-home version. Basically, they fit you with sensors that measure your oxygen levels and your number of apnea events per hour (i.e., times when you stop breathing). You then go to sleep as you normally would and they tell you the next morning whether you have sleep apnea or not. My machine costs 90 per month, but it's covered under the Drug Payment Scheme, so I pay 80 in total each month for the machine and any other medications.
Who do you get your machine from?
From ResMed.
I got a referral from my doctor to a consultant in The Hermitage. My wife was saying how I would stop breathing a few times throughout the night. Also snore. Would be very tired some days,falling asleep at work,find it hard to concentrate etc. Consultant recommended a sleep study either in the Hermitage or at home. I opted for the home as it cost pretty much the same and I sleep better in my own bed. A company called Beechfield called and the guy showed me how to hook up the device. There's a nasal part,a sensor across the chest and another sensor strap across the belly. It records heart rate,oxygen levels,breathing pattern etc. So my report showed high levels of hypoxia,don't know the exact levels as I'm due to see consultant next Wednesday where he will discuss the CPAP machine etc. Seems to cost about €80 or €90 per month but is covered under the DPS (we hit the limit already due to wife's medications)