[SuchAPrettyFace]

Anyone got it? I need to hear stories, both good & bad. They think I have it.

It started years ago with the acid reflux, and now I am scheduled to go sleep at the hospital this weekend for a sleep study.

The doctor was explaining to me that when you have it, your body is so tired from lack of sleep that it's too tired to want to exercise and that when you DO exercise, your metabolism can be 30% lower than everyone else's. So I could do the same amount of exercise as my sister & she would burn 100 calories & I would only burn 60!!!

I am not diagnosed yet, we are just in the beginning stages.

So let's hear your stories! Do you use a machine? Do you feel better? Stories about DH's are fine, too.

[PinkHoodie]

I don't know if I PERSONALLY have it, but my dad does. He was always tired, and snored REALLY loud. And they diagnosed him with Sleep Apnea, and gave him an air machine to sleep with at night. He had a lot more energy, and seems more rested. It can be a scary thing when you find out that you have it. It was scary for my family, but it all turned out okay in the end. I hope you find out soon.

[noranoranora]

My hubby has it. I'm menopausal so I don't sleep well at the best of times but his snoring was driving me around the bend. I finally got him talked into going for the sleep study and they set him up with a machine right away. He can't beleive how much better he feels. He used to sleep until noon on his days off, now he's up bright and early and has a spring in his step. I'm still not sleeping but at least , it's quiet now.

[kaplods]

I had it. It played a very big part in my fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue. Sleep deprivation can do absolutely horrible things to the body, even damage the heart. Mine disappeared after I lost 30 lbs.

[redjb7]

My husband and I both have it (and he is not overweight at all) and we both wear machines and have for several years. My dad had it and his sisters, so it seems to be genetic some of the time (although I understand that sometimes it is caused by being overweight and it will go away if you lose the weight). I wear the machine every night and it doesn't bother me at all - it took a few weeks to adjust. I never had too many symtoms, but decided to get tested because of family history. My husband was falling asleep in the middle of the day and he really snored loudly. Surprisingly though, mine was worse than his, even though my symtoms weren't as bad.

I do feel better since I started using it, though - so does my husband.

Good luck, and don't worry about it - just be sure you get a mask that is comfortable if you do have to wear a cpap.

[myvinny]

I also have sleep apnea and have been on cpap since February 2006. It has made a world of difference. I can now drive to work without having to pull over a few times to have a nap. I am currently losing weight and hope that maybe someday, I will not need it. Some people, as the last poster stated, are thin and have it. Time will tell.
All I can say is if you have sleep apnea, there are great online support groups. Just google it. There is one that has a chat group in the evening. All a bunch of friendly people.

[MugCanDoIt]

I found out I had sleep apnea in February 07. I was having heart palpatations and chest pain, found out that was the cause of it all. I now sleep with a cpap at night. I absolutely hated it at first, cried and had anxiety about it. But now it is nothing big really. Nobody knows I wear it unless I tell them. Hubby was real accepting of it and helped me to calm down and just accept it. You will be ok. Just make sure you know the seriousness of sleep apnea and know that it is a life threatening thing if you don't get a cpap machine. The nose pillows work best for me. Good luck!

[kfs151]

I have sleep apnea. I was diagnosed a few years (3? 4?) ago after horrible problems snoring. Turns out I stopped breathing for 10-15 seconds over 400 times a night and didn't know it !!!! My heartrate would drop to 50 beats per minute due to lack of oxygen. I have been on a CPAP ever since. It takes some getting used to but I sleep so much better. Now that I've lost weight I was retested and my settings were lowered and I'm hoping another 50 pounds and I can get rid of it all together.

Definitely get tested - it is a huge deal and often you don't even know you have it.

[jennylou]

DH has it. He has gotten tons better since he got his bi-pap machine. He has lost weight, but I can't say that it's from that or from a combination of that and my diet. And a perk for me, I'm sleeping too!