Completely NWR: Sleep Apnea

Its all happening again because he's started taking the mask off in his sleep. He wakes up every morning with it across the room lol He contacted his doctor and the doctor said there's nothing to do about it, he just needs to get used to the mask.

Well, he WAS used to the mask for a few months. I googled, and everything I read said to tape it to his face. Because then if he DOES try to take it off, he'll feel it. But he is extremely hairy and we tried all kinds of tape, and he STILL took it off in his sleep, but he woke up with big red marks where he pulled the tape off lol

So anyway.. Do ANY of you ladies know any resolution to this problem? Any advice.. I'm getting desperate. I've called 2 doctors and they all said the same thing. And his grumpiness is really interfering with our relationship, AND he's constantly making us late for appointments and such because he can't wake up! (frustrates me to know end, ugh. and we don't live together so its not like I'm there to wake him up)

Okay sounds like it was doing fine before than did a freak out about it... I wouldn't have picked anxiety and clastrophobia as the cause since he used to be doing fine but the fact that he is snatching it off despite the tape suggests that it might be. Here are five steps to help eliminate claustrophobia and anxiety when you use a CPAP mask:

1. Wear the mask at home while awake for one hour each day.

2. Attach the mask to the CPAP device, and switch the unit "on". Practice breathing through the mask for one hour while watching TV, reading or performing some other sedentary activity.

3. Use the CPAP during scheduled one hour naps at home.

4. Use CPAP during initial 3-4 hours of nocturnal sleep.

5. Use CPAP through an entire night of sleep.

Remember to advance by one step after each five days, once the step can be carried out without anxiety.

Great advice, Luta! My FIL has a cpap machine too. Would your FS want to shave his face to help him from pulling the tape off?

My H had sleep apnea and used the mask for about a year. He had gained a lot of weight due to medications and we found out that that was the reason for the SA because as soon as he lost the weight he was fine. Is your FH overweight at all?

After he the AP stopped I noticed that there is a new attachment for the CPAP. It is not a mask but, a device that goes inside the mouth. I have no idea if it works but, it might be something to research. I'll look to see if I can find it for you.

SA is scarry - I can understand your concern.

Wow Luta, thank you so much! I never considered it claustrophobia-related, because like you said it was fine for months, but I'm definitely going to get him to try it!

Jenn- even when he shaves it doesn't work. It actually hurts less without the hair, so it doesn't wake him up at all.

Artisicveil- Yes, he is overweight, and the original doctor would not refer him to a sleep study at first because he said all he had to do was lose weight; however, his tonsils are EXTREMELY large. the doctor called them "kissing tonsils" and after seeing them he decided that the weight thing wasn't really the cause. its because when his throat relaxes, it obstructs the air. We were thinking the next step might be to remove his tonsils all together, although doctors don't do that very much anymore.

Http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/mask.htm

http://www.cpap.com/productpage/bravo-nasal-interface.html

http://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisherandpaykel-fisher-paykel-oracle-452-nasal-cpap-mask.html

The first link is general info, the second a new one on me and the third is the one I mentioned before. I hope this helps.

They might take his tonsils out in this case. I wish my DS had his tonsils out bc he snores like a bear! But he does need to lose some weight, too. He said that when he was in basic training (and obviously fit) that he would wake up with everyone's boots around him bc they threw them in the night bc of his snoring!

I would also get a second opinion, too, bc you just never know.

Oh docters around here still take the tonsils out and thank goodness because mine caused me alot of problems.. Go see and ear, eyes, nose, and throat doctor. Those are the ones that do it.

Eew - I had my tonsils out when I was 36 - not any fun at all. They told me after the surgery that it's much easier when you are a kid - Thanks a lot!

Good luck I hope it all works out for you.

Sounds like he needs to visit a DENTIST to obtain an oral appliance to help the situation. He is"cpap intolerant" for insurance purposes. The dentist makes an impression of his mouth and then the appliance is custom made. My honey had trouble sleeping and now wears a Somnomed (there are several availabe)appliance (from the dentist) and I sleep better too....no snoring. He can even kiss me while he is wearing the appliance so we can enjoy our life a little more Much easier than any surgery and way cheaper. visit www.ihatecpap.com for more information. Good luck!

Well, thanks for all your advice ladies. FS went to the sleep doctor today and she got him a different mask that will be hard for him to take off. She also suggested that he get his tonsils removed.. She said it would probably nip the problem in the bud, but that he might have to worry about getting sick more often. So she left the decision up to him and said she'd give him a referral to an ENT if he wanted. So we're going to talk it over. Thanks ladies for all your help!

I seriously need to do sleep study - KK, did his insurance cover it?

I'm exhausted all the time, I snore (badly according to Rick) and I wake up gasping for breath about 3 times a week.

Yes, Sharon, you do! I'm not sure if his insurance covered it (we aren't on the same insurance yet so I didn't even think to ask) but I know his doctor referred him to the sleep study, which I'm assuming was for insurance reasons.

The doctor told him today when he was there that at his first sleep study he slept 6 hours, and stopped breathing over 120 times. Scary!! What's really scary is that I've actually HEARD him stop snoring plenty of times, but never knew it was because he stopped breathing.

Sharon, you probably stop breathing more than you know. I'd do the sleep study. He was seriously a different person once he got it under control. Now with this new mask I'm HOPING he'll go back to being my pleasant, NON grumpy FS lol

My ex brother in law has sleep apnea, he had the same machine. It terrified my nieces to death when they were little. His wife works for a doctors office and I guess had asked for advice since my ex bil didn't like sleeping with the mask on and they suggested getting his tonsils removed, after he got them removed, he no longer needed the machine, they did a sleep study on him... he sleeps fine now. And I am thankful because even tho he is my ex bil, he has always been like a brother to me and he is an awesome daddy. (Well, it took some time for him to become an awesome daddy, but he still is, nonetheless.)