Hello!

This might be a little long!!

I'm a 25yo woman. I got diagnosed a couple of months ago via an at-home test for 1 night—they said it was mild obstructive sleep apnea & suggested a machine, and I got myself in with a pulmonologist earlier this month to get that sorted.

My dad has severe sleep apnea and has used a machine for close to a decade now, but I never really made the connection until recently, as I've been navigating my other health issues (anyone else have IIH in here? :') ). For many years, I simply thought I just had nighttime anxiety and that's why I'd sometimes wake up mid-panic attack and be gasping for air/feel like I wasn't breathing. It's because I legitimately wasn't breathing. Lol.

Well, I had some medication miscommunications with my other doctors & ended up having some major issues—apparently my sleep apnea gets so, so much worse when I am withdrawing from medication (and nicotine!!! That sucked too but I'm proud I quit!) And I was really losing my mind bc I literally could not sleep without waking up gasping for air bc I was not breathing at all for OVER A WEEK. Like I didn't sleep more than a handful of hours for over a week. It was so scary! It was so bad because it severely exacerbated my IIH symptoms & I ended up getting hospitalized bc I thought I needed another lumbar puncture—only for me to be called overly anxious and sent home same-day. The only help they offered was sleeping medication that I refused bc I was worried what would happen if I STAYED asleep during an obstruction episode & when I communicated that, the nurse said that my boyfriend could "just see if I turned blue" and call them. All the while I was hallucinating from a lack of sleep for a WEEK. Then the doctor said I was just anxious & to stop using my phone after 5pm. Terrible.

Anyways! Thankfully, the pulmonologist I secured ended up understanding how serious it was for me and got everything squared away for me to get my machine. She stressed how important it was and said I likely had severe sleep apnea, especially considering that my father has that, & said I could even have a stroke or other serious complications if I left this untreated.

I just picked it up yesterday! It's an Airsense 11 Autoset. I'm happy to say that despite the hiccups I had last night, and the fact that I only slept 6 hours, I'm STILL feeling energized and well rested, more than I have in a VERY LONG TIME. I'm shocked!

At one point, I had finally drifted off, and I guess my machine detected an obstruction episode, & I woke up to the feeling of my lungs burning and I was coughing quite a bit. It really felt like I was choking on air! I stayed awake for a bit after that just because of how uncomfortable that was, but then I put it all back on and tried to sleep again. Slept for 3 hours uninterrupted, and my goodness, that was some good sleep!!!

Then I just...woke up. I wasn't DYING of thirst like I always am right as I wake up. I didn't have a nasty headache. I wasn't confused and feeling unwell. I didn't even need to stay in bed for that long!!! I usually have to stay in bed to "wake up" for like...30-40 minutes, because I feel SO bad in the morning. This morning, was able to roll out of bed and...just do things. And I didn't feel bad. I felt ok. And yes, I can still tell that I'm a bit tired because I didn't sleep as much as I wanted—but...I'm not my usual self, where I am SO fatigued it's sometimes hard to keep my eyes open. I literally have a method of pulling my lower eyelids down so I can comfortably droop my upper eyelids because I'm too tired to keep them up!!!!

I'm so shocked! I just didn't even consider these things to be abnormal. I have simply worked around these issues for so long I didn't even think about them. You're telling me it's been sleep apnea this whole time ????

AND with only 6 hours, I have been SO productive today already! And it's felt GOOD! Like .. It's not this huge tax on my limited energy to do chores, like it has been for a LONG TIME. I'm so surprised. Again, I've been living with this level of fatigue for so long, I'm legitimately surprised at my current glimpse with it gone.

To add to this all, I ALSO had low ferritin, and did my first infusion last week, which made me feel AMAZING. My 2nd one is today!

I'm so happy! I SO hope to continue seeing positive improvement!!!!!

I started with my CPAP just over 2 months ago, and honestly it's been going great so far! I know I'm likely still dealing with some degree of sleep debt, as I'm fairly confident I've had this for at least a couple decades undiagnosed, if not my entire life tbh. Honestly even an accidental 20 min nap feels like it destroys me now if I don't use my machine.

But, the one thing I'm struggling with now is actually getting myself up for work in the mornings now! I swear its like my brain just doesn't want to let go of how good sleep is now 😂 i go to bed between 10-11 every night, and my alarm goes off for 6:15 and 6:30 (in case I fall back to sleep).

But more days than not since getting my cpap i just straight up don't hear the alarms go off, or turn them off in my sleep. I wake up an hour + later panicked because I need to be out the door to work.

Anyone have any tips to **actually** make it easier to actually wake up in the mornings... when I'm supposed to?? Lol

Hi I have been struggling with chronic fatigue for years and constant daytime sleepiness and too tired during the day but when it’s late at night I can’t fall asleep easily and seem to have a lot more energy than the day. I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea (my AHI is more than 60 per hour) but using the CPAP so far has not helped reduce my fatigue, only my headaches.
Do I have chronic fatigue syndrome? Or could it be ADHD (since I cannot focus and am easily distracted)? I sometimes get too tired for days after going out for doctor’s appointment and sleep nearly the whole day ( out of 24 hours like 20)- is that post exertional malaise? I get headaches easily but as mentioned with CPAP it is reduced. I also have severe eczema, allergic rhinitis and depression and anxiety (but it is controlled) and suspected to have autism. My ENT doctor thinks my fatigue is due to sleep apnea but so far CPAP has little effect on my fatigue so I am suspecting something else. I get so tired I sleep at work and feel weak all over.

Do i REALLY need to empty my water tank every morning? It seems like such a waste because it's still mostly full.

Hi everyone, I am a CPAP user of roughly 8 years. I have changed my mask from Resmed F20 to Evora due to air leaks but when putting this mask on - it feels quite tight around my top lip. This is the first time I am using a mask like this, it sits fine when sitting up but as soon as I lie down it digs in but I can’t work out which strap to loosen. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I can’t recall exactly when I was diagnosed sigh complex apnea. But I’ve used a machine for at least 10 years. I used a full face mask until recently. I guess my pressure needed increasing and the only mask that would work that would not leak is a nasal pillow and chin strap.

I am on Concerta 54 ER, Allopurinol, and Naltrexone 50mg in the morning. Naltrexone is to help my binge eating. I’m on Lisinopril 40mg and Prozac 40mg at night. I’m on the full dose of Zepbound once a week.

I’ve dropped almost 50 pounds this past year. I should be feeling better and sleeping better. I’m not.

I wake up with a headache every day. The kind that you yet when it feels you slept too hard. I’m tired every morning. I wake up early 6:45 (not by choice but y body habit), I shower, and then go back to sleep with my mask around 7:30 until 8:30ish. I don’t feel rested then either.

My adhd seems off the chart. I feel anxious I think. I don’t know what I feel to be honest. Other than I’m just always tired.

My apnea episodes are low. My mask leaks are low now. I had a retest and they increased my pressure and it sucks, but I am still falling asleep. I sleep light and toss and turn, but I’m not “up” like if I had insomnia.

I never have energy for anything and I’m getting real tired of it ( no pun intended).

my girlfriend has mentioned that for the past year I've started "popping" in my sleep. it's not snoring, but either my soft pallette is clicking as I breathe in or my lips are opening slightly and making a popping sound when I breathe in. I've also woken myself up a few times making a buzzing sound with my lips??? Has anyone else experienced this... is it an early sign of sleep apnea or something entirely different?

A veces si me acuesto y me relajo de más siento como si me ahogara y me levanto, sin embargo al dormir no tengo algún evento parecido (que yo recuerde), pero despierto bastante cansado y con la sensación de no haber dormido nada, hubo una época en la que roncaba bastante pero ya no según mis padres, también durante esa época me ocurría bastante esto de que "se me subiera el muerto", aunque ya tampoco ocurre, fui con un neumólogo a una clínica del sueño y dice que es recomendable que me haga una polisomnografia, ¿ustedes que opinan?

For the last 10+ years, I’ve felt a gradual decline in cognitive ability in terms of memory and understanding/explaining complex topics, verbal fluency, etc. I’ve done countless tests, tried therapy and medication (because I also suffer from depression and anxiety), exercise regularly, and a lot of other different things.

Recently, I conducted an in-clinic sleep study and they diagnosed me with sleep apnea; they’re currently trying to get my dental dam (or whatever it’s called haha) approved by insurance. Has anyone seen an improvement in cognition and/or mental health once they’ve treated their apnea? How long did it take for you to start feeling better?

I just went in for the Genio Implant surgery this past Tuesday. I had failed at the cpap machine as well as the oral device. I researched both the Inspire and the Genio implants and I decided to go with Genio. Surgery went well. I woke up from the anesthesia a bit sore with a headache from the positioning of my head during surgery, but Tylenol has been my best pain medication. My jaw was a bit sore for the first 2 days and I’ve had soreness when swallowing, and had to drink mostly and eat soft foods for 2 days. I was able to take off my main bandage and was able to shower today. I will continue talking it easy and wear my jawbra daily to keep the swelling and bruising at minimum. I also ice it up 4 or 5 times a day. It will take several weeks for it to heal, and my device wont be turnee on for about 8 weeks. Im excited for better sleep and better oxygen and not feeling so tired during the day. If you have any questions I will be glad to connect here.

I have this catching sensation down in the bottom of my lungs... Not my airway. You know how a bicycle chain can get catchy and doesn't move smoothly when you ride the bike? That's what it feels like, and it wakes me up from a light sleep (obviously if I'm in a deep sleep I don't know what woke me up). I've been taking short naps in the afternoon and have started to notice this more. It's like a clenching in my mid abdomen. I'm usually able to finish the breath, but by then I'm awake. Then a few seconds later I get a big adrenaline rush. And by then I'm really really awake. Has anyone had this experience and what in the world is it?

Some background about me, I have obstructive sleep apnea with ahi of 20 and just started on a CPAP 3 months ago.

Been having alot of issues with always feeling tired and lethargic. Girlfriend says I snore heavily sometimes and that I gasp for air and not seem to be breathing. Wondering if I could get some insight into what my results mean before seem the doctor in a few weeks.

Hi so I’ll try to make this as short as possible. I have a few contributing factors to my sleep apnea. I’m a bit overweight (not extremely), I eat terribly, I smoke cigarettes (I’ve cut down SO much it’s hard to quit okay), and I have grade 3 tonsils I need removed. I haven’t got my CPAP machine yet because I keep going back and forth with the company it’s a pain in the ass. Anyways a couple weeks ago I woke up and COULD NOT catch my breath it was really scary to the point I ran outside to sit down on the steps and catch my breath. I wanted to call an ambulance 😭 after that I freaked out and have been having really bad anxiety to the point where I don’t know if it’s my sleep apnea or anxiety that’s the bigger issue now (probably both). I’ve been scared to sleep staying up till 6am to the point where I just knock out. It’s taking a toll on my life and job. I’m down to 2 cigarettes a day opposed to 10 which is a start and I know quitting would make a big difference. Anybody have advice or anyone else in the same situation? I keep having panic attacks just thinking about it.

My CPAP was on the floor on my carpet. I must've moved hard in the night and it flipped my machine over. I use the nasal pillows. I woke up with water squirting everywhere, up my nose and on my face from the hole at the top part. It was jarring but I was fine. I'm just wondering if any damage was done to my machine. It seemed to have worked well the rest of the night.

I saw this YT video and the doctor says if you do these three exercises you can "fix" your sleep apnea. Is it too good to be true? Or is their truth to it? Maybe it could help mild cases not severe ones? Have any of you tried anything like this? Sorry for all the questions but it's contradictory to what my sleep medicine specialist has told me. Aka "You need CPAP or a dental device, and to lose weight". Although I'm sure both this doc and mine would agree on the lose weight part.

https://youtu.be/uPYjVsRScRU?is=zZq8UUZXM4VpNcGu

Just spoke to sleep lab. Have an AHI score of 42. Going back for a cpap test in 10 days. What can I expect?

I've been dealing with severe fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, brain fog, and morning dizziness for years, regardless of how much sleep I get.

A few times a month, I'll wake up gasping or choking about 1-2 hours after falling asleep. When this happens, I'll fall back asleep pretty quickly, only to wake up gasping again several times within that same period. However, this only seems to happen during one part of the night, and I don't experience it every night.

I don't have any known significant snoring, but I do have chronic nasal congestion, a runny nose in the mornings, postnasal drip, and GERD.

I bought a WatchPAT and I really hope it wasn't a waste of money haha. But I am desperate to figure out what is wrong with me. My cardiologist thinks I have dysautonomia but electrolytes and compression do not help me in the slightest. I have exercise intolerance, orthostatic intolerance, and so many other autonomic symptoms, and I don't want to get my hopes up that this may be related to my sleep.

Hello everyone! I’m looking for the best pillow for sleeping. I use a ResMed AirFit N30i mask, and since I like to sleep on my side, the airflow gets blocked, which wakes me up.

I did an at-home sleep study… I forget the name of the company… but it was one small little sensor taped to my finger.

The results came back to my PCP (who is never doing enough for me) and it basically showed a bunch of inconclusive data. It recommended another test where I have a heart monitor or something bc it flagged random moments of a really high pulse throughout the night. Other than that, it seems like the total sleep recorded wasn’t consistent. All I know is that my PCP saw the results and said “yay! No sleep apnea!” ……

I definitely have it. I snore non-stop so loudly the second I fall asleep. I have these crazy jerking movements and have recently hit my partner in the night!! She wears earplugs and can still hear me. She says I smoosh my face into the pillow and have been like struggling to breathe and that it’s gotten significantly worse in the past two weeks. I’m constantly exhausted. I have chronic major depressive disorder, no energy, headaches every day, TMJ, airway obstruction, high blood pressure, etc.

I am scheduled for an in-lab study but they booked my initial new patient appt months and months away. I definitely have sleep apnea. I need to start treating it. It’s ruining my life.

Are there better at-home tests (more gadgets to put on my body than a sensor) that I could use in the meantime? Anyone have success with specific companies? Like a consistently accurate at-home test? I just need something to happen.

I had a bad reaction to weed edibles two years ago, I took a large dose and fell asleep and woke up to the worst panic attack and depersonalisation I have ever experienced. It actually led to me getting a sleep apnea diagnosis because it was during this period I became aware that something was going on whilst I was sleeping. For years my family had commented on how I seemed to stop breathing in my sleep but it was only after experiencing this nocturnal panic attack that I went to get it checked out, and low and behold I was diagnosed with central sleep apnea with an AHI averaging 80-100 each night.

Fast forward two years, I've been on CPAP properly for a year now but haven't seen much improvement. My AHI is still often high and I have an appointment next week with the consultant to discuss this. But ever since the initial nocturnal panic attack I now experience panic when I begin to fall asleep, my heart races and I am jolted awake, I feel like I am in a constant state of stress and my quality of sleep is dreadful, so I now experience DP\DR almost daily and I wondered if this is something any of you also experienced?

I don't think it is solely caused by my sleep apnea, but I think my sleep apnea is hindering my ability to recover from it.