Wellness

[hckynut]

Hi CHEX,

I like most of your post, but! While life choices can certainly be a big factor, to say "none can be cured by drugs"? With that I differ with you, and I base this on my own personal life experiences.

[Scooby Doo]

Find out which facility for the test is the most comfortable before you go. The place that I went to was cold, a hard mattress that felt like a cement slab, and I didn't sleep because of that. The place DD went to had a tempurpedic mattress and she was quite comfortable. She was given a CPAP that she says she's addicted to. She won't be without it; even takes it on vacation. The new machines are much different from the older style. If I'm sleeping in the bed next to her I cannot even hear the machine. It's about the size of a DVR and quiet.

[kismet]

My husband had a sleep study and needed the machine. He would sleep for 4 hours and then take the mask off. He never gave it a fair chance. That was probably 8 years ago. He still snores, holds his breath while sleeping and won't listen to me. The machine is packed away and I doubt he'll ever use it. I think you have to want to use it or it's a waste of money.

My neighbor use to fall asleep while on the phone and went for a sleep study. She uses her machine every night and has no problem falling asleep anymore. The machine did make a big difference for her.

I would try it, it would be worth it to get a better night's sleep.

[CHEX]

On 4/5/2015 hckynut said:

Hi CHEX,

I like most of your post, but! While life choices can certainly be a big factor, to say "none can be cured by drugs"? With that I differ with you, and I base this on my own personal life experiences.

You are right, I did exaggerate...there are some cases where there are cures. But if you look at the biggest selling drugs, they are almost always for chronic conditions. I am not saying that they do not help...they really can, but the whole medical machine is not designed to help people get well and they do not tell people when there are things they can do for themselves. It is called Big Pharma and it is a huge money making machine....they want people to use as many of their products as possible forever.

[CHEX]

On 4/5/2015 kismet said:

My husband had a sleep study and needed the machine. He would sleep for 4 hours and then take the mask off. He never gave it a fair chance. That was probably 8 years ago. He still snores, holds his breath while sleeping and won't listen to me. The machine is packed away and I doubt he'll ever use it. I think you have to want to use it or it's a waste of money.

My neighbor use to fall asleep while on the phone and went for a sleep study. She uses her machine every night and has no problem falling asleep anymore. The machine did make a big difference for her.

I would try it, it would be worth it to get a better night's sleep.

Kismet, you are right....you have to decide it is important otherwise it is just a pain! From all the experiences I have heard, it does seem that women deal with this better than men.

[CHEX]

On 4/5/2015 Scooby Doo said:

Find out which facility for the test is the most comfortable before you go. The place that I went to was cold, a hard mattress that felt like a cement slab, and I didn't sleep because of that. The place DD went to had a tempurpedic mattress and she was quite comfortable. She was given a CPAP that she says she's addicted to. She won't be without it; even takes it on vacation. The new machines are much different from the older style. If I'm sleeping in the bed next to her I cannot even hear the machine. It's about the size of a DVR and quiet.

That is interesting about the mattress.

In all the years I have been using the CPAP I have always had a hard time knowing what the options were. The supplies now mostly come from companies by mail and there are tons of different styles of masks, but how can you know what is best for you. My experience is that you are really on your own to ask and figure our somehow what you need. Most doctors know nothing about the equipment side of things. The 1st machine I had was much bigger and louder than the one I have now, although I an not sure it is as quiet as what you described.

[hckynut]

I have had 6 sleep studies done. Five of them were done at the same hospital and 1 was done at a different hospital "My 2nd Home". While it would have been nice to be able to pick which one I wanted? No way was I going to pay "Out of Network" costs. Things changed when I went on Medicare and I could choose where I wanted them done. I slept in a Recliner for all of them as I have not slept in a bed for over 20+years now. When I was able to choose, I went to "My 2nd home", which is the hospital I have spent weeks and weeks as a patient, and it also is a 5 minute drive from our home. The other hospital was 25 miles each way from our home. Since I knew most of the staff at my "2nd home", and I also knew the most comfortable recliners? Much better experiences for me.

[LilacTree]

On 3/31/2015 TootyJane said: My husband's snoring got so bad I seriously considered sleeping in the other bedroom. I wanted him to do a sleep study but he refused. He did, however, see our ENT who suggested he have the Pillar procedure that would help with his snoring. He had the procedure done and he stopped snoring -- for three months. He started snoring again, went back to ENT, and ENT said that the company was now recommending the use of five implants rather than the three he originally had implanted. The ENT told him he would add the two implants for the cost only, so my husband went ahead and did it. Unfortunately, within a couple of months the snoring returned and now it was worse than ever! One night his snoring woke me up and I realized that he was stopping breathing. In the morning I told him that he had stopped breathing many times and that "I" was going to make an appointment for him to have a sleep study done. He wasn't happy about it but he and I met with a sleep specialist. The doctor was very nice, explained what would happen and we set up the sleep study. Unfortunately, my husband was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and was prescribed a CPAP machine which he has been using for three years now. The study revealed that he stopped breathing over 100 times in a one hour period! I'm not going to lie. He had a terrible time adjusting to it and while his snoring doesn't keep me from falling asleep, waking up, etc., the CPAP machine does bother me. It's not as loud as his snoring but as my husband says "You can hear an ant f*rt"! So I started wearing earplugs which work great. I tried using them when he snored but they didn't help then back then. I will say that the CPAP has helped my husband's overall health and wellbeing. He is now getting a good night's sleep. His blood pressure is still up (work-related stress) but it is now lower. Most important, he isn't cranky or moody anymore -- all because he' setting a good night's sleep!! HTH and best of luck to you!

I fail to understand why some married couples will go through awful situations like this and not sleep in another room, or at least a separate bed. It has nothing to do with love or intimacy, after all, it's not as though you live in separate houses.

Maybe someone can explain that to me.

[Annabellethecat66]

I've had 4 sleep studies done. I probably should go and have it updated and get the new machine.

I used to sleep with the one that comes over your face. I didn't have troule adjusting to sleeping with it.

I didn't notice much difference. I have friends who use their's. I have other friends who hate it and don't use it at all.

Each person is different. I suggest you follow your Drs orders. He or she (and you) can then determine what is best for you.

[DottieBlue]

Ford1224: I wonder the same thing.....what's the big deal about sleeping in separate rooms? A good nights sleep is so very important for good health, couples shouldn't think twice about sleeping in a different room if necessary to get good sleep. I think it's silly not to. JMO.