Sleep Apnea and CPAP machine

[Chrisandgary]

Hi! I was wondering if anyone has sleep apnea along with a mechanical aortic valve. My hubby (36) has a St.Judes 10/00 and a coumadin user. Over a year ago he has put on weight, now weighing in at 260 and 6' tall and he began snoring out of control. He also has major congestion in the morning. He was diagnosed with mild/high sleep apnea and now is finishing his first week on the cpap machine. I AM FINALLY SLEEPING!!!
Does anyone else have similar issues and/or anyone with a lot of congestion in the morning? My hubby swears it is the coumadin giving him this trouble!
Thanks
Christine
(I know the beer he drinks or the cigar he smokes doesnt help but he claims after 2 open heart surgeries he is going to die happy)

 

[tobagotwo]

It doesn't sound like the coumadin, but I have no direct experience with it.

Weight gain can bring on apnea by causing obstruction of airways in certain sleep positions. Cigar smoking, especially if he inhales at all (or smokes in a closed room), can bring on mucousy mornings.

But you knew that.

Best wishes,

 

[catwoman]

Christine:

I know lots of people w/ sleep apnea who have CPAP machines who aren't valve patients or on Coumadin. My husband is one of 'em. And isn't it great to finally be able to get some sleep w/out having to punch your husband to "wake up and quit snoring!" He's had the CPAC machine for 6+ years.

The CPAP machine does dry out the nasal passages. Our PCP recommended that John use something called Ocean Nose Drops. John gets a generic at Sam's. Combats the stuffiness.

I have some drainage upon waking. But I also had it before I went on Coumadin, so I would not blame it for the drainage problem.

 

[Ross]

It's not the Coumadin. It has nothing to do with sinuses, drainage, or any of that.

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Well, I meet all the above. I am on the c-pap machine too! But my husband needs it more than me. I have to wear ear plugs to get sleep.I never had any of the systoms but a little snoring. But my husband fall asleep driving,standing up, sitting at thee commuter. When he was still at Ford motor co. he rode a bike around the plant aaand I was told he would fall asleep on it too! Have tried & tried to get my husband go in for the sleep study before he kills himself or GOd fobid anyone else.

 

[BoogieMan]

Hi! I was wondering if anyone has sleep apnea along with a mechanical aortic valve. My hubby (36) has a St.Judes 10/00 and a coumadin user. Over a year ago he has put on weight, now weighing in at 260 and 6' tall and he began snoring out of control. He also has major congestion in the morning. He was diagnosed with mild/high sleep apnea and now is finishing his first week on the cpap machine. I AM FINALLY SLEEPING!!!
Does anyone else have similar issues and/or anyone with a lot of congestion in the morning? My hubby swears it is the coumadin giving him this trouble!
Thanks
Christine
(I know the beer he drinks or the cigar he smokes doesnt help but he claims after 2 open heart surgeries he is going to die happy)

I'm a recently-diagnosed CPAP user (mild apnea). My fiancee finally gave me an ultimatum re: my snoring so I went and had the tests, and sho'nuff, I got the machine. The one I have has a distilled water steam/moisture aspect and I find I am better in the morning (no coughing and less congestion) than I was without the machine, and I feel better rested in the late afternoon and evening as well. It isn't very convenient to sleep with a vaccuum attachment coming out of your face, but it does help you sleep, so there are pros and cons

As far as cigars, I enjoy a good cigar here'n there along with a glass of port, but I do so outdoors because a) my fiancee would not wait for me to die of natural causes if I stunk up the apartment, and b) being outside on the terrace makes it much nicer than sitting inside and smoking.

Assuming his body has settled into a coumadin/CPAP routine, hopefully he will begin exercising and lose the extra weight.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Meet Another Person who uses CPAP!!!!

Meet Another Person who uses CPAP!!!!

Hi There Boogie Man,
I also use a CPap machine for Severe Sleep Apnea (I stop breathing 82 times an hour) and I also find having to go to bed with an octopus on your face is inconvenient. I have tried the headgear with the nose buds, but alas, they irritate my nostrils, so I am on the mask. I have been told that by being on the CPap machine, it helps the heart out. (I don't know to what extent though) I am glad that your getting used to the machine as that is one more hassle that a person in our position doesn't need. I am used to mine and I rest sooooo much better. Take Care, Harrybaby666 P.S. The Picture attatched represents me BEFORE I started my CPAP...LOL LOL

 

[Nan]

Hi, to those of you who do use a CPAP machine....how do /did/ you get used to it? Any hints would be greatly appreciated. I have just been diagnosed with mild/moderate sleep apnea and one try with the mask made me feel panicky, as I couldn't breathe out against it.

We are now thinking about going to a special dentist for a mouthpiece that might help. But it sounds as though that is really hard on the mouth/jaw and may in fact permanently pull one's jaw forward. But I don't have all the info yet, either.

Take care.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Welcome To The Sleep Apnea Club.....Rotten Ain't It? LOL

Welcome To The Sleep Apnea Club.....Rotten Ain't It? LOL

Hi There Nan,
I was diagnosed last year with severe sleep apnea (I stop breathing 82+ times an hour) and I had a hard time at first getting used to the machine. The first thing you should do to help yourself get used to the machine is make sure that the machine that you get has what they call a "ramp" feature. What this does is this: Say they put your Titration Level (The amount of air pressure they put into you via the machine without waking you up) at 13. If you push the "ramp" button, it will lower the starting Titration Level to about 6 and slowly build you up to your proper level. By this time you should be sleeping so it's not noticeable. The second thing I would do is this: If they give you head gear that has only nose buds (goes into the nostrils of your nose), make sure your comfortable with that...If not, SPEAK UP to the sleep lab technician and ask for the nose/mouth facial mask. I had to ask for the mouth and nose facial mask because I just cannot tolerate the nose buds up my nose..and with the head size that I have, it couldn't adjust itself out far enough without the head gear disassembling itself, which is the second reason I opted for the mask.

It does get monotonus to have to clean the hose and mask on a daily basis, but it is necessary, and you should replace the head gear or facial mask and straps that hold it on every 6 months. I am getting ready to switch mine this month. You will find that if you go with the facial mask/head straps, that at the 6th month mark, the straps get stretched out, but this is a small price to pay for comfort instead of having the irritating nose buds. I hope this helps you..Oh and one more thing...Sleep Apnea is a very serious illness, just like our heart problems, so don't hesitate to get help from the sleep technicians, or your pulmonary doctor, because Sleep Apnea does contribute to heart problems and it can kill you if not properly treated. I don't mean to scare you, but I have to tell you this because it's not something that any doctor should just brush aside or blow off talking to you about-I hope this helps, and if you have any other questions, please feel free to either pm me, email me, or yahoo me. Take Care Harrybaby666

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

I have been using the c-pap machine for yrs. I just recently switched to the nose one and I like it a whole lot better. The mask made me feel like I couldn't breath through it.Either way it is a pain in the butt. But you have to do what you have to do!!!!

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

Harry, easy on Rochester, NH.!!!! How can any town in the Seacoast be the worst town in NH? Plus, Rochester has one of the best youth hockey programs in the state, that's my standard for measuring towns here in "The Live Free or Die" state.
Actually, I think Franklin NH has the lowest standard of living in the state.

 

[Harrybaby666]

I Was Wondering when NH valvers would notice...LOL

I Was Wondering when NH valvers would notice...LOL

Hi Shine On,
I was wondering when other NH people would notice...LOL. I grew up in Portsmouth, and let me tell you, there is a BIG difference. I have lived up here since 1991, and I have found that the people in this town are very unfriendly, and very rude, and unfortunately, I really do feel this way about the town, and I am hoping that If I get my Social Security after my hearing this week, that I will be buying a mobile home or something somewhere near dover/somersworth area or if I can't find anything affordable, I will try near Augusta, Maine. I have tried to be friendly with the people in this town and all I get is one rude comment after another....I will try and not complain too much about this "Lovely" (Yukkkkk) Town...Sorry for the negative post, but it's like I said, I have tried, and it didn't work....Harrybaby666

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

Harry I just got my Golden 2004 Reunion T-shirt in the mail today. It's awesome. You'll be able to spot me around the seacoast.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Well........I Dunno...LOL

Well........I Dunno...LOL

I might have an easier time finding you if you ran over me while trying to cross the street here in town....Let me tell you, I have the Worst time trying to cross South Main Street, and I end up spewing some not so pleasant terms at those who don't watch out for pedestrians.....which is 95% of the time...so if your ever in the vacinity of Rochester Commons, Just look for the very slow walker who is crossing the street by Varneys Cleaners and that's me...I don't get down to Portsmouth too often right now, because I have no car (due to waiting on SS.) So much for excitement....Oh yeah, I wish I could Ice Skate and Play Hockey, I think the game is an absolute riot...LOL Take Care, Harrybaby

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Hey Harry, I just got my Denver t-shirt. I think I can wear it for a dress. How much is it going to shrink? It is a cool shirt! Thanks
Sherrin