Sleep Apnea

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Saw this topic brought up in the Lebron thread, wanted to get more info on it from those with experience. My girlfriend, I believe, has sleep apnea as she seems to stop breathing/gasp for air throughout the night.

What are the steps I need to take to get her checked out?

I saw the site CPAP.com mentioned, Is there any info you can provide on certain masks/machines as opposed to others?

Thanks in advance.
 
I have sleep apnea..... she needs to go to a sleep study. They will evaluate her to see if she stops breathing when she sleeps..... how many times per hour she stops and how long she stops breathing for..... Once they have those things figured out they will have her put on a mask hooked up to a cpap machine and see if that helps.... They need to do this in a controlled enviorment like a sleep study lab because they need to adjust the pressure to be just right for her. If its too strong she wont be able to exhale.

In my case I waited so long to have my sleep apnea checked that by the time I went in for the sleep study and to have it looked at I had developed what is called central sleep apnea. Basically a situation where because I had sleep apnea so long that my brain will literally forget to tell me to breath when im asleep instead of standard sleep apnea where an obstruction is blocking the breathing. So I would go anywhere from 10-43 seconds without breathing. (You should breathe every 5 seconds) So I dont use a cpap machine I use a ASV or Auto Servo Ventilaor which looks like a cpap machine but if for some reason I dont breath every 5 seconds it will send air into my lungs via a mask and force me to breathe.

Aside from all the info I will say this. I didnt know I had sleep apnea until my wife video recorded me stopping breathing one day and showed it to me. I went in for the sleep study and they told me I stopped breathing 347 times a night or almost once a minute....... I never would of suspected this. I thought I slept like a rock however alot of the time you wake up and dont even realize your up......However it is killing your sleep. Sleep apnea can be life threatning and can cause death, brain damage from oxygen deprivation and affect your vision. My insurance paid for most of the cost of my asv machine and to be honest it was a little embarrasing when I started using it but 6 months later I cant sleep without it. My energy is easily 10x more then it was before. I no longer want to nap in the middle of the day. I sleep all night easily . No more tossing and turning. All I can recommend is if you suspect this is a condition she may have see if you can get her into a sleep study, You might save her life in the long run. You can buy a cpap on craigslist or online but the truth is they are to be prescribed and need to be calibrated for each person.

Here is the best video on youtube for sleep apnea.....

This is my ASV Machine..... Retails for $6,486.00 however the insurance allows me to pay $120 a month for 10 months and its mine after that......... You wont catch me asleep without it......
http://www.easybreathe.com/-p4386.html

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Do what Pen said. Get her a sleep study. Don't wait. Doctor will set it up. The longer you wait she can be a candidate for heart disease. Can take 10 years off of her life. Sleep apnea is dangerous untreated.

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In most cases this is an issue that can be "cured" via weight loss and healthy lifestyle. If you find a correlation between inactive lifestyle, bad health, weight gain and development of sleep apnea, then its safe to say that addressing those issues will also address the sleep apnea. But either way, you need to get that study done ASAP to determine whats really going on.

Unchecked this can absolutely kill you. Its essentially what killed Reggie White and many other people you never heard of.
 
My brother has it. He's 6'5 275, won't go to doctor because he scared as shit. :confused: Man he stops breathing and is narcoleptic, always tired and don't know how to diet. I may have to bury him soon. Unless I die first. damn:smh:
 
My brother has it. He's 6'5 275, won't go to doctor because he scared as shit. :confused: Man he stops breathing and is narcoleptic, always tired and don't know how to diet. I may have to bury him soon. Unless I die first. damn:smh:
Nothing to be scared of at the sleep study.... they dont do shit but tell you to go to sleep...... and give you a mask over your nose and mouth..... and put about 40 sensors on your body.
 
Nothing to be scared of at the sleep study.... they dont do shit but tell you to go to sleep...... and give you a mask over your nose and mouth..... and put about 40 sensors on your body.

I know but he won't go. :smh:He is terrified of medicine and doctors. He almost died as a child taking my grandmothers heart pills. Dude won't take shit, be sick as hell and sounding like donkey, braying. His fucking brain is fried:hmm:
 
I know of four people with this thingy called sleep apnea

and

the one thing they all have in common,

they eat like shit..fuckin steak and eggs for breakfast

big ass ham and cheese for lunch....

then lasanga for dinner... thats waaaaay too much fuckin eating

and mucous building. all that fuckin mucous has to play a part in

the lack of breathing..

they also all eat diary products.. eggs.. milk and cheese



and worry too much...and never work out....

just my observation.....
 
Folks need to get treated mannnnn! If they family or friends, record them and show it to them...talk to them on the real and let them know....IMO if someone see themselves stop breathing like you do with this DISEASE. ..cuz that's what it IS..it's treatable and insurance will take the hit for you...but you get to live....show them evidence....even if napping in a chair....any footage you can share....bUT if they care about themselves they'll get a study done. ijs...oh and the falling asleep at the wheel is serious....glad I don't do that shit anymore!
 
I was cured in about 3 months.

At one point I was 5'11 around 280 to 285. I was eating very poorly. Typical meal for me was

Breakfast - two sausage biscuit from Bojangles or two bacon an cheese biscuits. With a small sprite. Sometime I would switch it up an eat two bacon and cheese cruisants from Burger king.

Snack - would pull out a sour apple blow pop.

Lunch- wings and fries, fired chicken sandwich, pizza, soda, or juice (lemonade mixed with fruit punch)

Dinner - pasta, steak, Chinese rice and chicken, hamburger, at least two a few glasses of soda. Fried pork chops

Once I started to lose weight not only did my sleep apnea disappear but my high blood pressure and diabetes.

My sleep apnea went away around 240 lbs. Once I got to that weight I was back to slightly snoring.

High blood pressure dropped about every 10 lbs I lost. So I got lower blood pressure almost immediately.

Diabetes- soon as I started exercising that went a way. I went from having to stick myself several times a day, maybe around 6 to about 3. What I noticed is that my sugar lever dropped to about 90 after work outs. As the weight came off my body began regulating my sugar on its on. So I was only diabetic because I was fat.

Now I am about 205 and pretty cut which I was not before.

What I eat now

Breakfast - egg whites and wheat toast. Or oatmeal. Either water or Orange juice depending on how I feel.

Snack - always fruit now. Grapes, strawberries, mangos or some nuts

Lunch- salads, one turkey sandwich or ham n cheese. Instead of chips I eat fruit and a water. If I do go out I get the standard 10 wings in fries but I only eat 4 wings and a few fries. If I eat bad I only do half portions.

Dinner - baked chicken, steak, salad, wild rice, stay away from fried mostly
 
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I got a cousin who had it. One day when I lived in Texas me and him drove to Dallas. I didn't know anything about it and how it affects you. He fell asleep driving on the highway. We were talking and all of a sudden he got quiet and the car started going into the left hand lane. I looked up and grabbed the wheel and yelled his name. After that I drove.
 
Damn. Im glad you made this thread. Im one of those cats that hates going to the doctor. Haven't been in years(except ER for dog bite and urgent care for sciatica. Not real doctor visit) My back is all fucked up. I have sciatic nerve problems.
And I know for sure I have sleep apnea. My ex use to tell me how I would stop breathing, and I would even pop up out my sleep gasping for air because I haden't been breathing. I thought I could just loose weight and all my problems would be fixed seeing how Im 6'3 and 280 lbs.
Fucked up thing is, I dont look fat really. Everybody says...oh, you dont look fat, you look like a football player :hmm: So Ive been lazy on the workouts up until a month ago when I started hitting gym 3 times a week.
Got into a good groove, and here comes my bad back and sciatic nerve fucking up my leg. So I couldn't do gym for two weeks.
I just started back, and I will continue. But I gotta take my ass to the doctor. This thread just might push me to do so.
Thankfully, I stopped smoking cancer sticks cold turkey almost a year ago, and have made diet changes.
 
I was cured in about 3 months.

At one point I was 5'11 around 280 to 285. I was eating very poorly. Typical meal for me was

Breakfast - two sausage biscuit from Bojangles or two bacon an cheese biscuits. With a small sprite. Sometime I would switch it up an eat two bacon and cheese cruisants from Burger king.

Snack - would pull out a sour apple blow pop.

Lunch- wings and fries, fired chicken sandwich, pizza, soda, or juice (lemonade mixed with fruit punch)

Dinner - pasta, steak, Chinese rice and chicken, hamburger, at least two a few glasses of soda. Fried pork chops

Once I started to lose weight not only did my sleep apnea disappear but my high blood pressure and diabetes.

My sleep apnea went away around 240 lbs. Once I got to that weight I was back to slightly snoring.

High blood pressure dropped about every 10 lbs I lost. So I got lower blood pressure almost immediately.

Diabetes- soon as I started exercising that went a way. I went from having to stick myself several times a day, maybe around 6 to about 3. What I noticed is that my sugar lever dropped to about 90 after work outs. As the weight came off my body began regulating my sugar on its on. So I was only diabetic because I was fat.

Now I am about 205 and pretty cut which I was not before.

What I eat now

Breakfast - egg whites and wheat toast. Or oatmeal. Either water or Orange juice depending on how I feel.

Snack - always fruit now. Grapes, strawberries, mangos or some nuts

Lunch- salads, one turkey sandwich or ham n cheese. Instead of chips I eat fruit and a water. If I do go out I get the standard 10 wings in fries but I only eat 4 wings and a few fries. If I eat bad I only do half portions.

Dinner - baked chicken, steak, salad, wild rice, stay away from fried mostly

How long did it take to lose 80 pounds? I'm the same weight and height you were. I do have sleep apnea pretty bad. I have an enlarged heart with high BP controlled with meds. But I never had this shit when I was younger and slim. I'm a slave to this sleep apnea machine. I'm tired of it
 
I was cured in about 3 months.

At one point I was 5'11 around 280 to 285. I was eating very poorly. Typical meal for me was

Breakfast - two sausage biscuit from Bojangles or two bacon an cheese biscuits. With a small sprite. Sometime I would switch it up an eat two bacon and cheese cruisants from Burger king.

Snack - would pull out a sour apple blow pop.

Lunch- wings and fries, fired chicken sandwich, pizza, soda, or juice (lemonade mixed with fruit punch)

Dinner - pasta, steak, Chinese rice and chicken, hamburger, at least two a few glasses of soda. Fried pork chops

Once I started to lose weight not only did my sleep apnea disappear but my high blood pressure and diabetes.

My sleep apnea went away around 240 lbs. Once I got to that weight I was back to slightly snoring.

High blood pressure dropped about every 10 lbs I lost. So I got lower blood pressure almost immediately.

Diabetes- soon as I started exercising that went a way. I went from having to stick myself several times a day, maybe around 6 to about 3. What I noticed is that my sugar lever dropped to about 90 after work outs. As the weight came off my body began regulating my sugar on its on. So I was only diabetic because I was fat.

Now I am about 205 and pretty cut which I was not before.

What I eat now

Breakfast - egg whites and wheat toast. Or oatmeal. Either water or Orange juice depending on how I feel.

Snack - always fruit now. Grapes, strawberries, mangos or some nuts

Lunch- salads, one turkey sandwich or ham n cheese. Instead of chips I eat fruit and a water. If I do go out I get the standard 10 wings in fries but I only eat 4 wings and a few fries. If I eat bad I only do half portions.

Dinner - baked chicken, steak, salad, wild rice, stay away from fried mostly

Good stuff fam. It's rare you hear about Diabetes regressing. How old are you btw?
 
How long did it take to lose 80 pounds? I'm the same weight and height you were. I do have sleep apnea pretty bad. I have an enlarged heart with high BP controlled with meds. But I never had this shit when I was younger and slim. I'm a slave to this sleep apnea machine. I'm tired of it
Actually it did not take long for me to loose weight. I tried many times to loose weight but failed each time. I lost about 80 lbs in 3 months. The bulk of my weight loss came in the 2nd month and tapered off around the 3rd. Around the 3rd month I was at 2lbs a week. By that time I was around 225 to 230. This is when I noticed I started to develop muscle quickly.

What helped me might also help you.

Diet- like me, if you have always ate badly stopping cold turkey is generally not realistic so don't do it to yourself. My mistake was torturing myself. Dieting does not have to be torture. Start adding healthy meals slowly so that you gradually become accustomed to the taste. Fatty foods have a very rich taste that explodes the taste buds. Healthy foods are more bland so getting use to bland foods takes sometime. So add them slowly. Many call it eating clean.

Disclaimer: just like our eating habits were bad and a disorder so is eating clean. Some people take eating clean to a new level. Drinking vegetable juice, ice and a carrot is not living so ignore those people.:lol:You want to eat clean but to be healthy you don't need to go to those extremes. The general rule is this, If you have to force yourself to eat the food then your are being obssessive. There are a lot of healthy foods that taste really well so don't torture yourself on foods that are nasty.

The work out routine I got here on bgol. This was good for me because it was good exercise but not so challenging until I didn't want to do it anymore.
http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-routines/complete-mf-beginners-training-guide-0
 
My sleep apnea machine gives me gas ridiculous. It gets pretty bad

I need to exercise more and work with a better diet. It's really hard because I'm trying to diet and I'm hungry, really hungry all the time and I eat sometimes when I shouldn't.

How long are boiled eggs good for and what is the best way to store them?
 
36 so I was getting to the scary level where I could have died
I have diabetes now too, and am on Metformin. Hopefully I can lose some weight like you did and back off my medication. Right now 5'9" and I'm 245. I was up to 265 last year got down to 235, and gained 10 pounds back.

I need to work this diet better by eating healthier but it's hard
 
All I can add is that everybody snores to some extent as all it is is the flaps a the back of the mouth/top of the throat flapping in the breeze. Sleep apnea is when those flaps are too fatty and they close. Eventually, the brain sends a signal "hey, everybody up" and if that doesn't work, the brain sends another signal "HEY! EVERBODYGETTHEFUCKUP!". As my doctor explained it to me, in an of itself, that's not a problem for the brain or arms or legs, but it's very hard on the heart. For people with severe cases, a brain signal like those every minute is the norm.

When I fell asleep standing up in a conversation one day, it was a simple choice: Get a CPAP and lose weight.
 
Actually it did not take long for me to loose weight. I tried many times to loose weight but failed each time. I lost about 80 lbs in 3 months. The bulk of my weight loss came in the 2nd month and tapered off around the 3rd. Around the 3rd month I was at 2lbs a week. By that time I was around 225 to 230. This is when I noticed I started to develop muscle quickly.

What helped me might also help you.

Diet- like me, if you have always ate badly stopping cold turkey is generally not realistic so don't do it to yourself. My mistake was torturing myself. Dieting does not have to be torture. Start adding healthy meals slowly so that you gradually become accustomed to the taste. Fatty foods have a very rich taste that explodes the taste buds. Healthy foods are more bland so getting use to bland foods takes sometime. So add them slowly. Many call it eating clean.

Disclaimer: just like our eating habits were bad and a disorder so is eating clean. Some people take eating clean to a new level. Drinking vegetable juice, ice and a carrot is not living so ignore those people.:lol:You want to eat clean but to be healthy you don't need to go to those extremes. The general rule is this, If you have to force yourself to eat the food then your are being obssessive. There are a lot of healthy foods that taste really well so don't torture yourself on foods that are nasty.

The work out routine I got here on bgol. This was good for me because it was good exercise but not so challenging until I didn't want to do it anymore.
http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-routines/complete-mf-beginners-training-guide-0

Great info brugh. Thanks

All I can add is that everybody snores to some extent as all it is is the flaps a the back of the mouth/top of the throat flapping in the breeze. Sleep apnea is when those flaps are too fatty and they close. Eventually, the brain sends a signal "hey, everybody up" and if that doesn't work, the brain sends another signal "HEY! EVERBODYGETTHEFUCKUP!". As my doctor explained it to me, in an of itself, that's not a problem for the brain or arms or legs, but it's very hard on the heart. For people with severe cases, a brain signal like those every minute is the norm.

When I fell asleep standing up in a conversation one day, it was a simple choice: Get a CPAP and lose weight.

I fell asleep during an interview for a second ( didn't get the job) then fell asleep standing up during a department meeting. I mean snoring standing up. It was time. I did damage to my heart not knowing for so long. Don't you know I still fall asleep sometimes without putting it on? I hate it, but I know I might not wake up one day if I keep fucking around. Plus I feel so alert the next day when I use it.
 
Good stuff here, fam.
Time for me to finally get checked for sleep apnea, which I suspect I may have.
This could really save someone's life.
 
Yeah I got my results last week and I have moderate sleep apnea. Waiting on my machine now.Reading up on sleep apnea made the light bulb in my head go off after it explained my extreme brain fog and why I couldn't learn new information. I thought I just wasn't that smart(which fucked with me mentally) or that I had some type of exposure to a toxic substance.

And you don't have to be overweight to have sleep apnea because I wasn't.

What type of mask do y'all use?Full mask or nasal?
 
My brother has it. He's 6'5 275, won't go to doctor because he scared as shit. :confused: Man he stops breathing and is narcoleptic, always tired and don't know how to diet. I may have to bury him soon. Unless I die first. damn:smh:
Show him this.

Sleep_Deprivation.jpg

THE EFFECTS OF
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
ON THE BODY

Sleep deprivation can cause damage to your body in the short term. Over time, it can lead to chronic health problems and negatively impact your quality of life.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Body
1.jpg
You need sleep as much as you need to breathe and eat. While you’re sleeping, your body is busy tending to your physical and mental health and getting you ready for another day.

In children and adolescents, hormones that promote growth are released during sleep. These hormones help build muscle mass, as well as make repairs to cells and tissues. Sleep is vital to development during puberty.

When you’re deprived of sleep, your brain can’t function properly, affecting your cognitive abilities and emotional state. If it continues long enough, it can lower your body’s defenses, putting you at risk of developing chronic illness. The more obvious signs of sleep deprivation are excessive sleepiness, yawning, and irritability. Chronic sleep deprivation can interfere with balance, coordination, and decision-making abilities. You’re at risk falling asleep during the day, even if you fight it. Stimulants like caffeine are not able to override your body’s profound need for sleep.

When you’re sleep deprived, the effects of alcohol consumption are magnified, as is your risk of being involved in an accident. According to Harvard Medical School, studies show that sleeping less than five hours a night increases the risk of death from all causes by about 15 percent. Sleep deprivation is dangerous to your mental and physical health and can dramatically lower your quality of life.

Central Nervous System
2.jpg
Your central nervous system is the information highway of your body. Sleep is necessary to keep it functioning properly. During sleep, the brain rests busy neurons and forms new pathways so you’re ready to face the world in the morning. In children and young adults, the brain releases growth hormones during sleep. While you’re sleeping, your body is also producing proteins that help cells repair damage.

Sleep deprivation leaves the brain exhausted, so it can’t perform its duties well. The most obvious effect is sleepiness. You may find yourself yawning a lot and feeling sluggish. Lack of sleep interferes with your ability to concentrate and learn new things. It can negatively impact both short-term and long-term memory. It gets in the way of your decision-making process and stifles creativity. Your emotions are also affected, making you more likely to have a short temper and mood swings. Overall cognitive function is impaired.

If sleep deprivation continues long enough, you’re at increased risk of hallucinations, especially if you have narcolepsy or systemic lupus erythematosis. Lack of sleep can trigger mania in people who have manic depression. Other risks include impulsive behavior, depression, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts.

A side effect of sleep deprivation is micro sleep. That’s when you’re asleep for only a few seconds or a few minutes, but you don’t realize it. If you’re sleep deprived, micro sleep is out of your control and can be extremely dangerous if you’re driving. It can also make you more prone to injury due to trips and falls. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, insufficient sleep has played a part in tragic accidents involving airplanes, ships, and even nuclear reactor meltdowns.

Immune System
11.jpg
When you’re sleeping, your immune system produces protective cytokines and infection-fighting antibodies and cells. It uses these tools to fight off foreign substances like bacteria and viruses. These cytokines and other protective substances also help you sleep, giving the immune system more energy to defend against illness.

Sleep deprivation means your immune system doesn’t have a chance to build up its forces. According to the Mayo Clinic, studies show that if you don’t get enough sleep, it’s more likely that your body won’t be able to fend off invaders. It may also take you longer to recover from illness. Long-term sleep deprivation raises your risk of developing chronic illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Respiratory System
12.jpg
Since sleep deprivation can weaken your immune system, you’re more vulnerable to respiratory problems like the common cold and influenza. If you already have a chronic lung disease, sleep deprivation is likely to make it worse.

Digestive System
13.jpg
According to Harvard Medical School, a few studies have found a link between lack of sleep and weight gain. Along with eating too much and not exercising, sleep deprivation is one of the risk factors for obesity.

Sleep deprivation increases production of the stress hormone cortisol. Lack of sleep lowers your levels of a hormone called leptin, which tells your brain that you’ve had enough to eat. In addition, it raises levels of a biochemical called ghrelin, which is an appetite stimulant.

Sleep deprivation prompts your body to release higher levels of insulin after you eat, promoting fat storage and increasing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Cardiovascular System
15.jpg
Since you’re more likely to gain weight if you’re chronically sleep deprived, you’re also at increased risk of problems with your cardiovascular system.

Sleep plays a vital role in your body’s ability to heal and repair your blood vessels and heart. Sleep deprivation can lead to higher risk of chronic health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. According to Harvard Medical School, for people with hypertension, one night without enough sleep can cause elevated blood pressure all through the next day.

- See more at: http://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body#sthash.iuCdGKIW.dpuf
 
I just got a loaner machine a week ago after putting it off for years. I couldnt take the full face mask (too claustrophobic). I have one that just covers my nose and it's making a difference. And c/s on the importance of sleep. A good nights sleep makes a world of difference.
 
peace

Had a neighbor who needed the generator during the last blackout just to run his machine.

Also have a line bro whose over 300 lbs, 6'4" - he says to sleep upright in a slightly reclining chair if you're not committed to cutting some of that weight.

& I have an uncle who went to the hospital for that overnight test.

Stay active & best of health.
 
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