[Our03z4]

Bought a Galaxy watch and it tells me almost everyday that I basically die at night. Explains why I wake up with headaches and feel exhausted. My O2 level last night for instance dipped down to 75 a few times. Hovered in the 80s. Had my wife use it a few nights and she stayed in the mid 90s so I know it isn't the watch. The snor monitor is freaky to listen to, can literally hear me stop breathing for a bit. My sleep score is in the 50s, terrible.

Question is, do I need to see a sleep Doc or can I just buy a CPAP myself and skip a step. Or is there even a better option? I do have extra weight but don't carry it anywhere but gut so neck compression should be minimal.

Thanks!

[3.0L]

It sounds like you have sleep apnea. Don't mess around with it. My dad had undiagnosed sleep apnea and it killed him at age 55.

[M_Six]

Was gonna say the same thing. You might have The Apnea.

(Hank Azaria reference)

[3.0L]

As I understand it, sleep apnea puts a huge strain on the heart. In my dad's case, an autopsy proved that his heart had enlarged and the muscle walls were very thin. His heart simply stopped beating.

[///MPhatic]

See a doc, this is no big deal in that regard.

The only other thing I'd say is to be really honest with yourself about your weight. No one every accused me of being overweight, but I lost 40 lbs and literally everything improved. Snoring and sleep issues were among the first issues to go.

Fit first, doctor second IMO.

You could always try a 30 day plan to see if it improves your sleep, I've helped a lot of guys with that, so feel free to DM me if you have question about how to lose 15 lbs in 30 days.

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

Bought a Galaxy watch and it tells me almost everyday that I basically die at night. Explains why I wake up with headaches and feel exhausted. My O2 level last night for instance dipped down to 75 a few times. Hovered in the 80s. Had my wife use it a few nights and she stayed in the mid 90s so I know it isn't the watch. The snor monitor is freaky to listen to, can literally hear me stop breathing for a bit. My sleep score is in the 50s, terrible.

Question is, do I need to see a sleep Doc or can I just buy a CPAP myself and skip a step. Or is there even a better option? I do have extra weight but don't carry it anywhere but gut so neck compression should be minimal.

Thanks!

Always answer is sleep doc. But if it's taking too long, you can shortcut, but make sure you follow through.

Shawn

[vreihen16]

You will need to have a sleep study performed, where they will determine what kind of CPAP (or BiPAP) you need and what settings it should be programmed with. I believe that the machines are prescription-only in most states.

One word of caution that I will offer from an in-law's experience is to self-fund the machine as a purchase rather than submit it to insurance. Their insurance provided a machine with remote monitoring as a "free" monthly rental, which tracked their sleep times and usage. If they didn't use the machine for over 90% of their projected sleep time, the insurance company billed them for the entire month's "free" rental costs.....

[Alfisti]

Yeah go through the process, see a sleep doctor, do the test, get it right.

I also agree re. weight, but that will take time, get the machine first. I lost 30 pounds earlier this year and saw my sleep numbers improve but i have stagnated, it is REALLY tough to stick to the eating plan that yielded the lost weight but i gotta get back on it.

[spazzyfry123]

My dad and I went on a camping trip last year that turned real sideways (look up the massive flooding that happened in western N. Carolina). We ended up finally scrambling out of there and found what seemed to be the last hotel room within 50 miles. I didn't get a single wink of sleep that night because I had to share a room with him. Neither of us had any idea that he had sleep apnea, much more just how horrifically bad it was. He went through the sleep studies and all that with them saying that they really aren't sure how it wakes up in the morning with as much as he isn't breathing.

Fast forward to today, now HE doesn't sleep because the machine keeps him up all night. So, no sleep or no waking up?

[Alfisti]

The machine or the mask keeping him awake?

[Tommy-G]

Do as I say, not as I do....
I have SEVERE sleep apnea. Ex-GF told me I stop breathing at night so I went for a test probably back in 2005. Nurse told me after the overnight test that there was no way I have it. I'm not obese, theres no way. Well, I went to get the results and found to have severe. I dont recall the #'s b/c I have theoretically blocked it out.
Got a C-Pap and would tear it off at night and not be able to fall back asleep. After 2 months I gave up. Fast forward 2021, I went and got tested again. This time they give you a monitor to wear at home and get results the following day. Still have it obviously but got a new style C-Pap. Wore it 2 nights and that was it. I can't do it....I hate it, I know it will be the death of me but it sucks for me.

Now they have this Inspire thing that is similar to a pacemaker (kind of) and get implanted under your skin. Going to look at that but that terrifies me also.

Go get tested....try it, many people can function with a C-Pap.
Also DocL has tons of experience with Apnea

[Alfisti]

See i am the opposite, absolutely cannot sleep without it, i keep jolting awake.

[Darth One]

Sleep study first. You’re just thrashing around in the dark trying to self diagnose if you don’t start with a doc. Although if you’re not fit, there are many other reasons to follow the guy’s advice who said get fit/lose weight.

I’m not obese but my sleep apnea was caused by a deviated septum and a palate that was occluding my breathing passageway. Fixed by outpatient surgery and i am fine now without needing a CPAP or anything else. There’s no way i could have figured out what was wrong without the sleep study and a bunch of diagnostics.

Also, don’t fuck around with this. Besides possibly saving your life, when you get your sleep apnea treated it will transform your quality of life. You get used to being chronically sleep-deprived your whole life and you think that’s just the way it is….but once you start getting a good night’s sleep every night, you are going to wake up every day feeling like Superman

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Darth One

Sleep study first. You’re just thrashing around in the dark trying to self diagnose if you don’t start with a doc. Although if you’re not fit, there are many other reasons to follow the guy’s advice who said get fit/lose weight.

I’m not obese but my sleep apnea was caused by a deviated septum and a palate that was occluding my breathing passageway. Fixed by outpatient surgery and i am fine now without needing a CPAP or anything else. There’s no way i could have figured out what was wrong without the sleep study and a bunch of diagnostics.

Also, don’t fuck around with this. Besides possibly saving your life, when you get your sleep apnea treated it will transform your quality of life. You get used to being chronically sleep-deprived your whole life and you think that’s just the way it is….but once you start getting a good night’s sleep every night, you are going to wake up every day feeling like Superman

^^^ This hits the nail right on the head.

During the year prior to my dad's untimely death he was constantly complaining about fatigue and shortness of breath. His lame-brained doctor diagnosed it as allergies, so started treating him for that. Meanwhile, dad started taking more time off from work including shorter days and maybe 4 days a week. That still didn't help - he was tired constantly.

If we had only known...

[Tommy-G]

Originally Posted by Darth One

I’m not obese but my sleep apnea was caused by a deviated septum and a palate that was occluding my breathing passageway. Fixed by outpatient surgery and i am fine now without needing a CPAP or anything else. There’s no way i could have figured out what was wrong without the sleep study and a bunch of diagnostics.

Also, don’t fuck around with this. Besides possibly saving your life, when you get your sleep apnea treated it will transform your quality of life. You get used to being chronically sleep-deprived your whole life and you think that’s just the way it is….but once you start getting a good night’s sleep every night, you are going to wake up every day feeling like Superman

1-I was told .5 to 1 years after surgery I would develop scar tissue which would ultimately be the same as the elongated tongue blocking my airway

2-I wish I could get to this point. You are 100% correct, I have grown to adapt to the issues. High BP, always tired and lethargic, etc etc

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

^^^ This hits the nail right on the head.

My wife was a BEAR to live with, then she got a CPAP.

Now it's only about every other month we get into screaming matches. But I no longer go days without her speaking to me.

CPAP is a pain, no doubt. But much like me needing to carry my testing supplies and insulin, and planning my life around those being available, the alternative is deadly.

Do not expect that you will pick the right face covering on the first try. Give one style a try for a while, then if not comfortable, try another. There are so many variations.

[Our03z4]

Thank you all for your advice, it really is appreciated. I'm going to try the weight loss journey 1st as that seems like the best route.

I'm worried about doing a CPAP as I don't want to become dependent on it.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

Thank you all for your advice, it really is appreciated. I'm going to try the weight loss journey 1st as that seems like the best route.

I'm worried about doing a CPAP as I don't want to become dependent on it.

I wish you the best of luck.

Another thing comes to mind (dad died 42 years ago). Dad started giving me his shirts, claiming they didn't fit anymore. The shirts were polyester, or some synthetic of the time period (they don't shrink). I didn't think much of it at the time, but after dad died we realized his chest had been expanding because of his sleep apnea stressed enlarging heart.

Don't dick around with sleep apnea.

[Bc2005]

Get tested, and get the CPAP if the doctors says it’s needed. Sleep apnea is really bad for your health. I got mine because it lowered my blood pressure without taking any meds.

I have a Dreamwear full face mask because I am mostly a mouth breather. This mask has a hose that comes off the top and over the crown of your head, so it stays out of the way when you sleep. It does not disturb my sleep.

I would not recommend the Phillips Respironic CPAP because their support has been horrible. My machine was recalled last year in May and they are still working on warranty replacements. Luckily, my apnea is not that severe so I can survive without it. However, I sleep much better and feel more rested when i use the CPAP.

[Darth One]

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

1-I was told .5 to 1 years after surgery I would develop scar tissue which would ultimately be the same as the elongated tongue blocking my airway

2-I wish I could get to this point. You are 100% correct, I have grown to adapt to the issues. High BP, always tired and lethargic, etc etc

I'm sorry to hear this. Yeah, my palate was the issue so they cut part of it away. If your problem is your tongue, I can't imagine being able to cut part of that away.

Maybe there is a CPAP out there that could work somehow? I also was given the option of getting fit with some kind of mouth guard/retainer but ended up passing on it

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

Thank you all for your advice, it really is appreciated. I'm going to try the weight loss journey 1st as that seems like the best route.

I'm worried about doing a CPAP as I don't want to become dependent on it.

You're making a mistake. First of all, there's nothing wrong with being dependent on a CPAP machine. You get used to it and it's not what you think it is. You just have to find the right mask and there are 'nasal pillows' that aren't even full face masks.

I read your OP and there's probably a very good chance you have sleep apnea. If it's not waking you up at night (gasping for breath) it's probably not severe yet. But you're waking up with headaches and your tired after a full nights rest. You're AHI is probably in the teens to low 20's if I had to guess.

If you're hesitant about going to a sleep doctor or getting a sleep study done, you can find CPAP machines online without a prescription. I would STRONGLY go that route vs. ignoring and trying to lose weight.

Once you get used to your CPAP (it won't take long) you will wonder how you lived without it.

[Our03z4]

Well I found out I can do the sleep study at home! You wear a device for 4 days then send it back to be interpreted, once you do that then they give you a script. I can then go to a place down the road to get fitted and get the unit. I'm actually excited to get this done, I'm tired of being exhausted all the time. I'm still going to try and shed weight as well.

Thanks again, I'll update how it goes.