r/SleepApnea

I've been searching about non obstructive sleep apnea and found no clear answers, does anyone know why it happens? Any theories? I would love to hear all of it!

I think CPAP is great to improve your sleep but there has to be a more natural way right? I really want to figure out why my body stops breathing each night.

My theories are it has something to do with overthinking and/or ADHD, I often notice my body stops breathing when I am deep in thought about something, and the same thing could happen during sleep, maybe the way to fix it is by meditating and stop the use of social media? what do you guys think?

fyi I don't use steroids or drugs and I am not overweight

I was recently diagnosed with mild sleep apnea- 8.3 events per hour. So i am looking into ways to keep me sleeping on my side to lower the amount of events. The problem is whenever i do sleep on my side for extended amounts of time i wake up with moderate to severe shoulder pain (in the socket part) on the side i sleep. How do i reduce this or negate it entirely? Another problem i have when sleeping on my side is my ribs feel like they're digging into my side. I can kind of negate that one by repositioning but its touch and go.

Its my first night , trying to sleep but turning & tossing , feels so weird to sleep with this. Has anyone felt better after the first night?

Hello everyone,

This is probably a bit different from the usual posts here, but I could really use some support or reassurance from anyone who has gone through polyp removal surgery.

My boyfriend (24) is scheduled for the procedure next month after struggling for a long time with severe nasal blockage, poor sleep, and sleep apnea. Right now, his nasal polyps are so bad that even his CPAP machine isn’t working properly because the airflow is blocked.

I’ve been reading a lot online, and honestly it’s made me pretty anxious - especially since he also has some pre-existing heart issues. I’m from another country, so I’m not very familiar with the healthcare system in the US, and not being able to be there for him during the anesthesia and recovery makes me even more stressed.

If anyone here has had this surgery, could you share how it went for you? Was the recovery manageable? Did you experience any complications, or did things generally go smoothly?

I’d really appreciate hearing some real experiences. Thank you so much. <3

Was stuck at AHI 4-5 with CA's never going below 2 in 7 years of CPAP therapy. Never felt rested or restored, but my doctor was basically leaving me to fend for myself on that front since the AHI numbers were to her satisfaction.

Just wanted to shout out u/midmod4 for suggesting tweaking EPR as something to try, I changed mine from 3 to 2 and was shocked how immediate the impact was. Both AHI and CA's basically halved overnight, from ~4 AHI to ~1.8 and ~2.00 CA to 1.15. It's only been a handful of days so I'm hoping the trend continues, but already I'm recalling dreams and waking up not feeling that heavy-eyed fatigue, both of which are huge for me.

It's crazy that such a simple change can have such huge implications. I'll be testing EPR 2 for another week to see how things go, and then testing EPR 1 to see if things improve further.

Really grateful for this community, this is the most optimistic I've felt about CPAP in my 7 years of usage. I'm glad to have a doctor to check in with but the degree to which I was kind of left on my own to figure things out has been really discouraging.

Hi everyone.

I was wondering what methods or ways you all had to try and fight the fatigue before being treated?

Currently on 7 months since my diagnosis, 2 months on BIPAP, and awaiting oxygen. I'm hoping supplemental oxygen is the final push that I need, but the process so far has been so long and I've been sleepy and drowsy every day I have been on BIPAP.

Unfortunately, my choices are limited as I am on stimulant and hypertension medication as well and thus my old flame, C4 energy drinks, must be kept away. Temperature shocking is also a bit risky because of my blood pressure, but I'm going crazy right now from it.

I 32F finally was able to see an ENT earlier this month after waiting some time. The consultation and scoping showed that i have a deviated septum, a collapsed nasal wall and a decent sized adenoid in my left nostril. The doctor, while kind, was also somewhat not greatly helpful in the apnea questions I had. I've been dealing with chronic tonsillitis for some time now and have multiple thyroid nodules that are big enough to be causing me a great deal of discomfort. She said that I should use Nasacort and Flonase spray and that a tonsillectomy wouldn't improve my sleep apnea. I am considering getting a different opinion because I am increasingly becoming more frustrated and struggling with the APAP machine. I have sensory issues with things on my face, nose bleeds often and waiting for a biopsy to be done on my thyroid cysts. I am 200lbs and stand 5'8", but my sleep issues have been occurring long before I became obese in the doctor's words. But when I've tried telling this to specialists, they just dismiss it with a "huh." Or "ok."

I'm tired of this, grandpa.

So I’m a fairly new user, been on CPAP for about six or seven weeks

And didn’t have any huge issues until last week where I started getting a breathless sensation during the day after taking Taking off my CPAP.

Like it literally started last week within minutes of taking my CPAP off and lasted for maybe 40 minutes or so before it went away. Also got it the next day, but it went away faster. Ever since then it just kinda comes and goes, it's really wierd, only thing that's kept me from really freaking out initially is that I have a fingertip O2 sensor that says my pulse/oxygen level levels are fine.

Just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this, how long it lasted for them, and if I should be concerned at all! Cause even though it’s not seriously affecting me as far as I can tell (did a 5K on Sunday no problem). it’s been a week of this and I’m really starting to get a little nervous about how long this is gonna last or if I've got some kind of lung infection from the cpap or whatever. (my anxiety is not helping)

This is probably all in my head but looking for some opinions. I’m a newbie to using my CPAP and it was pre loaded with my settings off of my test. The humidifier and ramp are both on auto. The last couple days I feel like I’m drowning in my own body after waking up? Feels like there’s fluid in my lungs and I can’t be comfortable and coughing after slight strenuous activity. I know I’m not getting sick and I’m wondering if it could be because of the auto humidity instead of a specific setting? I know this is probably dramatic but the company who I was prescribed through didn’t give me any information on the machine itself. Looking for what more experienced users use regarding the humidity level?

Hi everyone! I recently had a home sleep study after a few years of increasing issues with sleep. I'm exhausted during the day, I wake up often at night, my husband has witnessed me gasping at night occasionally.

The home sleep study stated the overall REI of 7.4/hr, and I was diagnosed with mild OSA. The lowest my SpO2 went during sleep was 92%. The report stated that they recommended a CPAP with pressure range 5.0 to 15.0 cmH2O, with a target AHI of <5/hr.

Since the goal is just to get my occurrences to less than 5 per hour, and I'm currently at 7.4 per hour, I'm conflicted on whether a CPAP would actually be beneficial. There is a note on the report though that numbers could be underrepresented.

Anyone else here with numbers like mine and had a good result with CPAP? My primary physician is open to ordering this for me, but he also referred me to the sleep specialist since I was on the fence. Thing is, the sleep specialist is booked out until late December. So I guess at this time I'm considering whether I should just tell my primary to get things going with the CPAP, and then visit the sleep specialist after a few months. Or, don't start CPAP yet until I see the sleep specialist.

Thanks for reading and for any advice or insight here!

Flair due to depression and all.

I'm 21 years old. I've gotten my diagnostic of 75 events/hour, mostly Obstructive Sleep Apnea. I've been using my CPAP for almost 6 months now and I don't understand why I still feel so terrible.

My AHI is good. I have near zero events now since 5 months ago. I have my Restless Legs Syndrome controlled too. Yet, I still have sleep attacks, I still feel drowsy in the morning, I still feel HIGHLY depressed.

Pulmonologist told me I'd start getting better around 6 months. I've been writing to him and my neurologist to get another sleep study because, well, I feel so sleepy and non-functionnal that I get passively suicidal at times. They refused, saying they saw no narcolepsy traces in my last MSLT and sleep study.

I exercice (never before bed), I don't drink caffeine (I don't feel its effect at all), I take at least an hour of sun every day. I see people, I eat well.

What should I investigate so that I stop feeling so sleepy all the time? They already said my CPAP has the right settings and the results are good (even in OSCAR and Sleep Head). I'm at loss. I'm depressed.

I went in for a totally routine doctor visit and casually mentioned that I snore a bit. I honestly expected the conversation to end with “lose a few pounds and sleep on your side, buddy.” Instead, my doctor suggested an at-home sleep study “just to check.”

Well… shit.

The home study came back with:

• AHI 77.6
• oxygen down to 70%
• about 74% of events classified as central/mixed apnea instead of straightforward obstructive apnea

Meanwhile, I feel… basically fine?

No excessive daytime sleepiness. Blood pressure is normal to low. Good exercise tolerance. I hike/camp regularly at altitude in Colorado and generally feel functional and healthy. Honestly the biggest stress so far has been navigating the medical admin circus itself.

One wrinkle that may matter: I live at about 7,800 ft elevation and regularly sleep/camp around 9–10k ft. From what I’m reading, altitude can apparently contribute to central apnea / periodic breathing in some people.

At this point I’m trying to push for a proper in-lab split-night polysomnography + titration study instead of just blindly getting thrown onto auto-CPAP. My understanding is:

• CPAP/APAP is usually for classic obstructive apnea
• ASV may be more appropriate if the central apnea component is truly dominant
• home studies are not always great at accurately classifying central vs obstructive events

Curious if anybody here has had:

• severe home-study results that changed significantly on full PSG
• altitude-related central apnea
• experience with ASV vs CPAP
• or generally similar “you should feel terrible but somehow don’t” situations

Also curious whether people think an altitude lab is worth pursuing in my case versus a normal Denver-area lab.

Trying to approach this rationally without either ignoring it or turning into a full-time sleep apnea hypochondriac. Appreciate any thoughts from people who’ve been down this road.

General question. Bilateral cleft lip and palate and I feel I’ve never had deep sleep in my life. There has been a total of three nights that I woke up thinking is that how normal people sleep. Twice with a cpap but I can’t get it again after many months. I’ve always struggled with attention and concentration. Anyone else have anything similar?

Hi all. I had a sleep study on the eighth and I got the results today, not a lot was said besides what I included in the title. I decided to get an at home sleep study because I suffered from excessive daytime sleepiness and I never could sleep for more than like five hours straight and that was lucky. I kinda figured I had it so I’m not surprised.

However, I am so nervous now to sleep. My next appointment isn’t for 3 weeks, assuming i get fitted for cpap then if insurance covers it. Just wondering how you guys dealt with the waiting period? Thank you

English is not my first language but i hope my writing is understandable enough to give me advice.

(I dont know all medical terms by name perfectly).

Not even a year ago i (23M) got told i have severe sleep apnea (50-60).

I wasnt too surprised but the doctor told me i would never sleep without a cpap ever again.

The doctor never gave the advice for me to go get my airways checked out. I had to do this all on my own.

I proceeded to get it checked.

For me not being able to sleep without a cpap completely destroyed me, I love camping, sleeping outside in the woods, just being mobile on where i sleep in general.

I got it checked, doctor says I have cat 3-4 tonsils.

And a slanted septum.

I already got my nose "fixed" they made it proper straight and did some other things to give me better airflow (the difference that i feel from it is already fantastic).

My tonsils are up next and getting removed in July.

They will also trim the roof of the mouth and or my uvula (not sure what that surgery is called).

I have absolutely no indication on how well this surgery will help reduce my sleep apnea.

I used to have a bmi between the 33-35. But was already on 28 when i got my sleeptest.

I know I've mostly got very prominent obstructive sleep apnea.

What are you guys experiences with these surgeries?

I know even if these dont do enough i will never give up finding a way to get rid of the cpap.

I experience the amazing result that the cpap gives first hand but its mostly physical not mental. I still struggle a lot with anxiety and it honestly only got worse with my cpap.

These are more statements than questions, this is more of a rant. I just really had to let it out.

I personally, really just dislike my cpap and making me not able to do the things i enjoyed so much in life.

I am extremely happy for the people who have great experiences with their cpap, I'm simply just not one of them.