Severe OSA

[Suesouth]

morning all, on top of everything else I have now been diagnosed with severe OSA, which apparently is a contributing factor to AF! I am due for a CPAP machine on 12th April, it scares me when I go to sleep, has anyone else experienced this, good to hear your thoughts

[CDreamer]

Look at this post from a few days ago to which I replied - good info from all.

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

Transformed my life - I would go so far as I probably wouldn’t have survived COVID without it as it kept me at home in a ‘virtual’ ward.

Stopped my nocturnal AF as soon as I was able to wear it for the whole night - which took some time as getting used to the equipment and the treatment requires getting the right support so that you are advised with adjustments to make which is essential to ensure you benefit.

Good luck.

[Suesouth in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you, I already have a machine for my pacemaker! , so this is going to be fun!

[CDreamer in reply to Suesouth]

I have a pacemaker also but monitored by app on my phone. T’other side of the bed is OH transmitter for his pacemaker. Truly a bionic age!

[Suesouth in reply to CDreamer]

Mine is monitored by the hospital, via the transmitter, st Jude medical, hopefully they’ll be ok side by side!

[Threecats]

Hi Sue

Fellow sleep apnoea sufferer here😊 You will have seen my reply on the recent thread CDreamer has kindly linked in her reply to you. Before CPAP I used to get frequent episodes of AF at night and, apart from that would wake in the morning feeling like I hadn’t slept all night when I thought I had. CPAP made a huge difference to both of those things.

It took a good while to get used to sleeping with the mask on and I did struggle at first but it was worth it and now I can’t sleep without it! Never in a million years did I think I’d say that in the early days!

Good luck with it and feel free to ask any questions if needed, TC

[Suesouth in reply to Threecats]

Thank you for replying, I’m so tired cos of being scared to sleep(I do on and off) it’s been quite a rough three years since diagnosis of AF and flutter and then CA and pacemaker, so I’ll be glad to get the CPAP!

[Threecats]

I’m sorry to hear that, you certainly have been through the mill, haven’t you! I hope things begin to improve for you once you start CPAP therapy.

[Suesouth in reply to Threecats]

🤞🤞🤞

[chesson]

What is important when adapting to a cpap machine is the choice of a mask that suits your sleep patterns. Masks come is many designs and from different manufacturers, the main ones being Resmed and Philips. You can get a mask that covers mouth and nose or nose only. There are hard shell versions and soft shell. I tried many sorts and finally found one that I could live with. I sleep mainly on my side so this was a key criteria in the final choice. I ended up with a soft nose mask which allowed side sleeping without major leaks (leaks are a major issue for your partner since the leak makes noise and will probably wake them up...meaning separate rooms or a divorce 😳). Try a few different models and don't give up until you find one that suits you.I settled for a ResMed N30i but Philips also make a similar model. Funnily enough, I no longer use a cpap. I was re-tested a few months ago and the results showed I only have OSA when sleeping on my back - however since I'm a side sleeper, I have almost no episodes when sleeping on my side! So the doctor suggested a test for a few months and I found there was no change to my sleep quality or general condition. So no more cpap - very strange after 10 years but no regrets so far. Good luck with your machine. Peter.

[Suesouth in reply to chesson]

I go for it on 12th April and will be able to test several masks, like you I’m a side sleeper and a widow, so the noise will only affect me and my dogs!😂

[secondtry]

I am planning to start using my CPAP machine tomorrow for the first time. Have had an excellent introduction to it when collecting from the hospital and great feedback and encouragement here so 🤞. As CDreamer suggested I am planning to use it just for a few hours to start and slowly build it up.

[Suesouth in reply to secondtry]

Best of luck, let me know how it goes!

[Qualipop in reply to secondtry]

Both mu husband and son have sleep apnoea. Neither of them could cope with any of the machines or masks they were given; they would just pull them off in their sleep. I couldn't bear the noise the machine made so we ended up in separate rooms. My son,the most recent one diagnosed tried everything up to the very latests ones. In the end the only way for both of them was to lose weight especially around their neck and now neither of them has sleep apnoea. My son couldn't even get a provisional driving licence until he got the all clear from his consultant

[Suesouth in reply to Qualipop]

oh dear, glad they are ok now!

[Qualipop in reply to Suesouth]

I'm glad my husband doesn't keep me awake all night now. His snoring, stopping breathing then the huge snort when he started again was dreadful. He'd asked his GP about the snoring but it was only when I said it sounded as if he'd stopped breathing that he finally got sent to a sleep clinic.

[Ilovedogs12 in reply to Qualipop]

My husband also had sleep apnea and used to snore loudly until he lost weight. What a difference the weight loss made to his health.

[2learn]

Hi, I have OSA and use CPSAP equipment for 5 yrs. I hate it. But wear because OSA without treatment means you lose your driving licence. I hate it because the assumption with the CPAP seems to be a person sleeps on their back, I don't and turning over etc involves manipulating wires, tubes etc. The mask seems to be one size fits all faces and again I don't find that easy. Artificial fibres make my face itch, so good luck. Oh and I still feel knackered on a morning.

[Suesouth in reply to 2learn]

I’ve lost my licence anyway because of AF AFlutter CA etc 🤞I’ll be able to cope!