I had it when I was heavier. Losing weight cured it.

Hmmm ... I read that, but I'm not really overweight. Well, maybe 5 pounds more than I'd like to be, but I'm about 122 and 5'3".

Weight can be a cause..I know someone that is about your size and has been using a Cpap for years..

You will need the sleep study to find out what type of apnea you have..it will give you the answers and solution you need.

Thanks, Terri. I understand that and will be doing so, as I mentioned. And I know that it's not always associated with being overweight. I am just looking for others' experiences with it, from those that have it.

My brother has had it for years and uses the Cpap nightly. It has made such a difference in the quality of his life. He said that before being diagnosed, he was having severe migraine headaches and would wake up feeling tired and that by noon, he could barely function. His headaches went away almost immediately and he found he felt rested and had less confusion mentally. He now has a new machine that he adds purified water to and it helps to keep his passageways from drying out. I recently spent 5 nights with him in a hotel room. I was afraid the machine would keep me awake but it didn't. There was a slight hum but nothing that disturbed my sleep.

I wish you the best..I used to sleep beside a man that used a cpap machine...it actually let me sleep better..because his snoring was muffled and he wasn't constantly jerking..however that man..chooses not to use it any longer..but he's not as bad as he once was..
He's also got insomnia..which was not helped by the machine..he prefers to sleep on his stomach now..and he sleeps better in that position.

I just meant in my previous post that you may not need a machine..maybe just some adjustment to your sleep position and the sleep study will help with those decisions.

I have a friend who got the machine after a sleep study. He was very annoyed to learn his health insurance required some sort of proof that he was using it before they would pay for it. I forget the details.....it was some sort of simple process that involved him sending an electronic printout to their office. He didn't do it.......and he ended up paying $2,000 for the machine.

We both have it, my husband refused to go for the testing and I have not gone yet either. We know we have it and were told that by our doctor who did our colonscopies, he said my husband was really bad, they thought he was not going to start breathing a few times during the procedure and they had a very hard time waking him up after. I am not as bad but I do have it, I don't think I have it enough to use a cpap

My sister does use it and it has helped her tremendously. She has copd and serious breathing problems, has a home oxygen machine. She loves her cpap.

There are procedures where they remove some of the excess tissue in the back of the mouth and throat and soft pallet which can help a lot. Sinus surgery can be helpful if you have polyps or blockage which causes you to mouth breathe. I have some of the sinus issues which contribute to my problem.
My sinus passages are so small and constricted the doctor could not get the tiny scope probe in to look for polyps which he thinks I have. I will not be trying that procedure again with out being asleep, Omg it was painful, even with the numbing spray which did not numb!

Alisand, your friend 's decision to not send in the little electronic data chip was so idiotic! I'm guessing that he wasn't using his machine, too bad. He'll probably never get approved for another sleep test.

Our neighbour who lives below us has a very loud snoring problem. He's gone to the sleep clinic a number of times. Instead us using a cpap machine, he got fitted with a device that fits inside of his mouth. It keeps the air passages open. This has helped him sleep through the night and has helped his snoring. He's also mentioned the surgery that he might have to get as a last resort.

My cardiologist ordered a sleep test for me, due to extreme fatigue, but the blood test showed that I have low sodium...and I hope I do not still need to do the test. In this area, it seems to almost be a "fad"....everyone that I know who has the test, ends up with a mask.

Wow - thank you all; great information. I appreciate it, and I'll keep you posted once I see my doctor (I have an appointment for next week).

DH has had it for several years. He was having a lot of problems before he was diagnosed - headaches, fatigue, falling asleep during the day. He was waking up many times during the night because he couldn't breathe. I also couldn't sleep well because of his VERY loud snoring and because I would lie awake to see if he started breathing again.

The cpap machine has been a huge blessing for both of us. It's really quiet. I'm a very light sleeper and it doesn't bother me. He uses the humidifier in his his & says it helps. He uses the nasal pillows for his mask & likes them.

I had it at one time but I'm not sure whether my situation would be helpful to you.

At night, I would wake up realizing I stopped breathing and needed to take a few deep breaths. It was as if my brain screamed out for oxygen and kicked me to wake up. It only happened once a night and it wasn't nightly but enough to alarm me. I went to my doctor and I was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome, (I had polio at baby's age). Work exhausted my muscles including the lung muscles. I had other symptoms and they were severed enough that I was forced to stop working in order to delay further paralyzation.

So, that's my story. In any case, you should have the doctor check you out. It could be muscle related as it was in mine.

Btw, no, I'm not obese.

I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine. I wouldn't sleep without it. I used to need to sleep 10-12 hours, and would still wake up unrested, and have daytime sleepiness, and want to nod off during my drive home from work. Had a sleep study that confirmed that I have it severely. I hated using my CPAP in the beginning - it was hard to get used to. But I persisted, and now can't imagine not using it. Mine has a heated humidifier that helps keep my nasal passages moist, and it has helped with my allergies. My machine has a 'memory card' in it that I can send to my doctor's office to have it read to make sure my pressures are set correctly and I'm not stopping breathing when I sleep. It's very dangerous to not use a CPAP if you have sleep apnea - you can die in your sleep or suffer a heart attack or stroke because your brain and organs aren't getting enough oxygen. I've worn an oximeter to check my oxygen levels, and mine used to fall dangerously low. I lost a very thin high school friend to it - she had sleep apnea and refused to wear her CPAP mask.

Also, sleep apnea is a physical 'structural' condition. It's when your airway collapses when you sleep. The surgery to open the back of one's throat rarely works, and is very painful. Losing weight can help, but it isn't found in only heavy people. I'm 5'7" and weigh 130 so I'm not overweight.

My DH sleeps with a bi-pap machine, and I sleep with the c-pap machine. No snoring in our bedroom. I've had mine 1 1/2 yrs, and he's had his about 5 yrs. When they do the sleep test, they will tell you how many times you stop breathing during an hour. And it will scare you.

My niece's best friend was found dead in her bed, and the autopsy showed sleep apnea as the cause. And the gal was a nurse.

DH's mask has decreased his hemochromatosis. He only has to have blood drained about 2x a year, whereas before sometimes it was 1x a month. Serious stuff.

Mine has helped my pulmonary hypertension. I thought I wouldn't be able to do the test b/c of claustrophobia, but it was no problem at all. DH"s mask covers his entire face, mine just covers my nose. It takes getting used to, but now I probably couldn't sleep without it. I know DH can't.

As for the guy that didn't send his card in, he is NUTS. Those little cards record everything--how long you sleep with it at night, if you skip a night, etc. etc. Medicare won't pay w/o the proof that you're using it.

Anything you want to know, I bet I know the answer. Did lots of research before doing this, and am convinced of all the benefits. DH proves that, and the no snoring is just wonderful!!! Go for it!!