Holding Breath Whilst Awake?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on January 19, 2012 at 4:09

Mike, welcome, from another male, as Rosemary said try a hose lift it makes a huge difference and mask liners. I think Kath sells both. If the liners work let me know and I show you a cheaper alternative. i took me about 6 months to get it down pat but I love my machine I call 'Silvie' and can't sleep without her anymore. I have got too much energy now, I am back lifting weights at the gym and the last 3 weeks have got back on the treadmill and yesterday jogged 4 kilometres. Tomorrow I'm going to the Australian Open tennis, the last couple of years I have been but was unable to walk around as I was so tired and my head was so foggy.
Good luck and be patient, it is difficult but worth the wait. Kath it is 25c here today and tomorrow, good tennis weather.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike reed on January 19, 2012 at 7:58

I would like to raise a concern i have for the past few early mornings i have woken up around 4am and i am fully aware that when trying to go back to sleep that i stop breathing this is making my chest ache and i tend to end up wheezy is this common with sleep aponia and will i stop having these episodes once i have been to papworth and start using a cpap machine. It worries me more as i have heart problems already.

Thanks for all the kind help i have received from you all.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on January 19, 2012 at 8:07

Mike, Wwhat tpye of machine do you have? I have a Resmed S9 Autoset. There is a feature on my machine called ERP which assists with your exhalation. I used to struggle with this when I first started, you will struggle when you exhale if it is turned down too low. I was also getting chest pains when I first started probably due to the anxiety of waking up with a mask on but in your case with your heart problems I think you should contact your Dr if you are concerned. You may find different things happen to you over time they do take time for you body to adjust but you are better to get it checked out in my opinion for peace of mind.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike reed on January 19, 2012 at 10:19

I do not have anything at present terry that is why i am going to papworth tommorow for a sleep study so they can access me to find out what treatment i require i am sure papworth will advise me on my heart condition and i will also ask them about it to including my AF which i suffer from thanks for your helpfull post terry.

Regards Mike.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on January 19, 2012 at 10:46

I can fully appreciate why you are concerned about this Mike and the most important thing is to mention this at Papworth and they'll check you out properly during the sleep study to see if you are having central apnoeas as well.  It could also be a bit of anxiety creep in now that you know you have untreated sleep apnoea and will be more aware of your breathing.  It's certainly a shock to find out we stop breathing at night, as most of us are unaware of this until we get diagnosed.  You have even more reason to be concerned at this than most of us, due to your heart problems.

Hang in there Terry.  One day to go and then hopefully you'll get full information on your sleep apnoea and get the appropriate treatment. 

Mike reed said:

I would like to raise a concern i have for the past few early mornings i have woken up around 4am and i am fully aware that when trying to go back to sleep that i stop breathing this is making my chest ache and i tend to end up wheezy is this common with sleep aponia and will i stop having these episodes once i have been to papworth and start using a cpap machine. It worries me more as i have heart problems already.

Thanks for all the kind help i have received from you all.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rosemary Kemp on January 19, 2012 at 10:48

Hi Mike,

You need to be patient and don't let yourself get too worried about the difficulties you are suffering over the sleep at this point. You are doing the all the right things by going to Papworth. All being well they will give you a cpap machine but they usually make you wait even then because they need to order the machines in.

Once you have your own machine, you will know that you are being treated correctly. It may well be a difficult process to adjust to wearing a mask and getting it seal properly but the liners are indeed a help. People also get sore faces from wearing masks but the liners really help to prevent this too. I don't use liners now because my face has toughened up sufficiently and the mask seals much better now that my face is thinner. It has all taken time. I've been on cpap for 3 years.

Just take it all one step at a time. I am sure that things will improve for you. The body is a clever thing and when you have stopped breathing in your sleep up until now, you have always woken up in the morning haven't you? That is because the body has woken you up and that is when you have jolted awake and probably made a loud snore in the process. It isn't good for you of course but you are hopefully going to get good treatment really soon.

When I think back to all of the things that were wrong with me prior to starting treatment, I am really grateful to the brilliant person who invented cpap. Kath put a post up about the inventor a few weeks ago. He has saved and will continue to save lots of lives. Yours and mine included. You'll get there!

I am in remission for most of what was wrong with me but some things are always going to be lurking there as damage was done before I was diagnosed. My life is now masses better and I can even manage gym equipment, which is extraordinary because I couldn't have even gotten up onto a cross trainer before. My first attempts to use the cross trainer a year and a half ago lasted for less than 60 seconds at a time. Now I go for ages and ages. It's all good for the heart but I recommend having supervision from a qualified gym trainer. My local leisure centre is wonderful in this way and inexpensive!

See if you can find Rock's posting on this site about how we can improve our lives with exercise and how it prolongs our lives better than anything else.You need to get your cpap first though and your doctor's advice.

Best wishes, Rosemary  

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on January 19, 2012 at 11:06

Good to hear of your improvement with your migraines Vera since you've been on CPAP and I hope your words "I Love My CPAP" come to the attention of people who've just started out on theirs and may be having difficulties.  Our treatment's not always plain-sailing, but the benefits to our health and energy levels far outweigh this!

It certainly sounds like you full face mask is the best option with your sinus problems, but perhaps you can get help for your sinuses too!

Vera said:

I love my machine,  my hubby love my machine too..

I have noticed reduced number of migraines since I started using it. I've been using mine for 2 years this July I believe. I was having Migraines 2-3 times a week for several years. After I started using my machine I might have one or two migraines a month now. I am less irritable, tired and stressed.. The only thing that annoys me is my sinuses but they have always been bad.  Because of bad sinuses I  sometimes  end up taking my mask off in my sleep but that's seldom.  I noticed when I got a complete face mask one that covers my face from above my eyebrows to below my chin I don't have as much of an issue.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on January 19, 2012 at 14:46

Oh dear, no wonder you're against surgery.  Have you tried the sinus irrigation systems, like neti pots?  I found them helpful after my nose operations.

Vera said:

I hope so to dear.  I take all kinds of stuff for my sinus issue. I will forgo surgery, I almost lost my mom due to a sinus surgery that had her at deaths door months after the surgery was preformed due to outright negligence of her doctor/surgeon.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page