Sleep Apnea and CPAP Machines

[afnav]

Along with two other chronic medical conditions, I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. It's the central nervous system version, as opposed to the obstructive type that gets most people. Everyone I've spoken with that has started using a CPAP machine says that it helped them immediately. I've used it for three weeks now, and if anything, I feel worse when I get up in the morning. The mask is also knawing a sore on the bridge of my nose. Is there anyone out there that has had the same trouble?

[brickhistory]

Yes.

I used a CPAP for about 15 months before saying f*ck it.

It did help initially; slept better, woke up more rested; wife muchly relieved that she could sleep without either waking me up or leaving for the couch.

Had the sore spot rubbed (sts); loosen the mask (assuming it's a full face type) from the forward upper straps; you've got it too snug. At least I did.

After a while though, the aggravation of sleeping with a mask on grated to where sleep was not being accomplished.

Finally stowed the machine permanently, threw an additional pillow under my melon and pressed. (Lost 20 lbs as well).

Make damn sure that the diagnosis is in your VA paperwork before separating/retiring. It can be at least a 10% or more disability rating.

edited to clarify the VA disability rating minimum in light of M2's maximum given below.

Edited April 30, 2011 by brickhistory

[M2]

I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea shortly before retiring, and have done the sleep study at WHMC. I tried using a CPAP machine to no avail, the one I had monitored how long I wore the mask and I was removing it in less than an hour. I did try several different masks but none really worked for me. That was over five years ago and I guess I've just learned to live with it.

I never really feel rested after a night's sleep, and some days I find it tough to wake up in the morning; but I have found that regular exercise and losing a lot of the weight I gained after retiring (about 30 pounds) made a little difference.

I may go back to the sleep clinic one of these days to see if they have any new innovations that I might be able to try, but I am beginning to accept that it's just something that I'll always have to live with. That sucks, but there it is.

But it can be as much as a 50% disability rating, depending on the severity.

Good luck, I hope you find a solution that works for you!

Cheers! M2

[RASH]

I had very different results than Brick and M2. I went into the flight doc for back problems (common in 17+ year Herk drivers) about a year before retirement, and mentioned to him that the back pain was so bad I was having problems sleeping. He recommended having a sleep study done prior to assigning blame to the back pain. My apnea (obstructive) was so bad, they woke me up in the middle of the night to start testing different masks. My blood O2 levels were dropping down into the low 70% region when they should never drop below ~95%. I found one that worked, came back in a couple weeks for another study with the mask I chose, and haven't looked back. I've worn it every night since Jan '08, and haven't had anything more than minor issues that could easily be fixed by adjusting the straps on the mask. It worked so well, I convinced my wife to get one (she's always snored)...

There's many different manufacturers of CPAP machines and accessories, so don't give up too fast. Keep looking around and trying different stuff--you may get lucky and find one that works.

[afnav]

I have the mask on fairly tight because I was getting leaks around my nose. Unfortunately, their full masks are one size fits all at the local place. I am going back on Monday, and I think I'll take my helmet and mask with me to show them how well it fits. Who knows, maybe they can order something that is more like my flying mask.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a few months ago, which some doctors believe there is a correlation between the two conditions. I'm very grateful that my internal medicine doctor has taken the time to research all of the potential problems I've been having.

It's funny how much a body seems to fall apart right before retirement.

[brickhistory]

Try a band-aide or two over the point of greatest pressure before cinching the straps. That was one way I fixed the air leaks and reduced the irritation prior to getting a better fitting mask.

Cleaining the mask daily also helped with lessening the skin irritation.

Good luck with this, your medical situation, and retirement.

[afnav]

Try a band-aide or two over the point of greatest pressure before cinching the straps. That was one way I fixed the air leaks and reduced the irritation prior to getting a better fitting mask.

Cleaining the mask daily also helped with lessening the skin irritation.

Good luck with this, your medical situation, and retirement.

My wife bought some moleskin that I'm going to try to use. I sure wish it had bayonets on the side instead of this plastic clip that is hard to get off. At least the clip is on the right side, just like where my flying mask came down.

Another problem is that I'm still ripping it off my face in the middle of the night. That motion to the right side of my face is still strong, I guess.

Thanks for the feedback on this subject, everyone. I really appreciate it. I can't wait for my terminal leave in November.

[afnav]

The latest on CPAP...

My wife had insomnia a couple of weeks ago, and watched me stop breathing several times during the night on the CPAP machine. Needless to say, that is not supposed to happen.

It turns out that if you have central sleep apnea, the CPAP machine could actually make your condition worse. They gave me a BI-PAP machine yesterday, and it seems to act just like a CPAP machine - a huge pain in the ass that I ripped off my face at 2 in the morning. They made the mistake of putting the clip to the full-face mask on the same side as the bayonet clips from my mask from my long-past flying days - I can literally pull it off in my sleep.

My word of advice for anyone feeling exhaustion, or any of the other symptoms commonly associated with apnea is to not take any crap from any non-knowledgeable individuals about finding out what is wrong with you. My thyroid hormone levels were only tested at MEPS when I enlisted in '87, and last fall I found out I had hypothyroidism. I thought I was just getting old, and the leadership decided to pound the shit out of me for feeling tired all the time. Synthroid didn't make the symptoms go away, and a sleep study proved I had apnea, too. Now there's talk about sending me to a neurologist. This is all coming up six months before I start terminal leave.

This is not a VA money grab. I didn't start any of this shit. I just wanted to know what the hell was wrong with me. Keep the money. I just want to be healthy enough to see my grandchildren born.

Cover your asses. No one else will. Good luck, everyone.