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This past year I gained about 25 pounds which I am in the process of losing. I’ve always had some snoring issues and such but nothing like I’m experiencing now. I think this is just gonna be another one of these modern era, American diet and lifestyle diseases that people are getting. I’m not buying that It’s just something that people have to deal with. Our ancestors did not have sleep apnea like we see today. It was pretty rare. Random snoring was about as bad as it got. Now we’re literally being choked off and literally dying in our sleep every night and something just doesn’t seem right about the whole thing to me. I decided about a month ago to use the recorder app on my cell phone to record my sleeping and what I heard when I listened back was horrifying. I would stop breathing because I was completely being choked off for between 40 to 45 seconds and then I would gasp for air breathing extremely heavily like someone running wind sprints and then another 40 to 45 seconds , interval of being choked again. This would go on throughout the entire night. With literally no relief. The second I fell asleep I would become completely unable to breathe. Yeah I’ve heard about CPAP and I tried it 10 years ago and there is just no way. Anyone who can deal with that mess I tip my hat to you. What I did do is buy one of those snore RX mouthpieces. I can only use the mouthpiece for about an hour maybe two hours at a stretch and then I would take it out. So my night of “sleep” consisted of three or four hours of good sleep with the mouthpiece, and as I would rotate it in and out , and three or four hours of being choked to death. What was most amazing to me is that despite only getting maybe 2 to 4 hours with the mouthpiece and I felt like I was on rocket fuel the next day. I had all this extra energy. And it made me wonder how used to feeling crappy and sleepy I had become. It was the new normal. Long-term goals of course to get the weight off and I’m trying to do that as quickly as possible and then adjust and be able to adapt using this mouthpiece as it does seem to stop the apnea. Sometimes I’ll still snore with it and maybe occasionally, I’ll stop breathing but overall , all I hear is nice quiet breathing.
So after my long diatribe, my basic questions are anyone else have any success actually getting rid of apnea altogether? I know skinny people can have it so weight loss is not a guarantee and I think I probably snored all my life even when I was a teenager And prime physical condition. I am not some morbidly obese person. I’m just slightly overweight. I’ve always played sports and exercise. Pretty hard most of my life. It won’t take me that long to get back in shape. But something tells me it’s not gonna get rid of this maybe just make it a little better? So I guessing I’m always gonna have to deal with this to some extent. It just seems insane to me that this is such a common problem for people. Breathing. Who would’ve thought? The most fundamental requirement to human life and we’re all being choked off at night while we sleep.
I guess I’m looking for alternative ideas besides sticking a facemask over my face as I’m already tried that and I won’t try it again. So don’t waste your time preaching at me about a CPAP. Lol from everything I’ve read I have the most severe form of it as anything above 20 seconds is considered quite serious. At 40 to 45 second intervals there are doctors out there that will tell me I’ll be dead within a year. So far my blood pressure is still normal, and I don’t really have any heart symptoms at this point.
I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea back when I was 50 years old. From age 45 I began becoming more and more tired every day even with 10 hours of sleep. By the time I was diagnosed, I was falling asleep in an upright sitting position
in the middle of the day, much to the amusement of those around me. Not so amusing, I was falling asleep on the morning commute on the freeway, dozing for a very short time but waking up in the next lane to the left. Getting a CPAP machine resolved the issue.
Back then, I also searched for exercises that would alleviate the OSA. Curiously enough, the common recommendation was to learn to play a wind instrument that taught circular breathing. Learning circular breathing supposedly strengthened the neck muscles and "cured" OSA. The most recommended instrument was the Australian didgeridoo, followed closely by the trumpet. I didn't take up any instruments at the time, so I have no first hand knowledge of the effectiveness of the recommendation.
There was one other thing that seemed to help. I had always ridden a road bicycle, on and off, during my life. Getting back on the bicycle led to significant weight loss. More interestingly, I rode a bike with drop handle bars (the ram's horn type) and used the lower part of the bars for a more aerodynamic body shape. I believe that posture forced me to build up my neck muscles in order to keep my head up and looking forward. After 6 months, I was able to sleep without the CPAP machine and didn't experience the previous issues that I had.
There’s now a surgical procedure that they are doing now to alleviate sleep apnea. I forget the name of it, just Google around for it. It’s just a minor procedure, if I remember correctly.
There’s now a surgical procedure that they are doing now to alleviate sleep apnea. I forget the name of it, just Google around for it. It’s just a minor procedure, if I remember correctly.
Oh, I’ve read all about it, it’s a $55,000 surgery and it’s called inspire. Has about a 75% success rate. However, they put an implant in your throat. And patients on Reddit and other places have described the worst hellish nightmare, coming out of that surgery due to scarring and swelling. One guy had to be put on a ventilator because his throat was swelling. Another developed a condition called keloids where you build up excessive scar tissue closing his throat worse. It’s not a minor procedure. It does work for some people, but most describe 2 to 3 weeks of an absolute living hell Post surgery. Then you still gotta get used to it. Something in your throat. All the time.
I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea back when I was 50 years old. From age 45 I began becoming more and more tired every day even with 10 hours of sleep. By the time I was diagnosed, I was falling asleep in an upright sitting position
in the middle of the day, much to the amusement of those around me. Not so amusing, I was falling asleep on the morning commute on the freeway, dozing for a very short time but waking up in the next lane to the left. Getting a CPAP machine resolved the issue.
Back then, I also searched for exercises that would alleviate the OSA. Curiously enough, the common recommendation was to learn to play a wind instrument that taught circular breathing. Learning circular breathing supposedly strengthened the neck muscles and "cured" OSA. The most recommended instrument was the Australian didgeridoo, followed closely by the trumpet. I didn't take up any instruments at the time, so I have no first hand knowledge of the effectiveness of the recommendation.
There was one other thing that seemed to help. I had always ridden a road bicycle, on and off, during my life. Getting back on the bicycle led to significant weight loss. More interestingly, I rode a bike with drop handle bars (the ram's horn type) and used the lower part of the bars for a more aerodynamic body shape. I believe that posture forced me to build up my neck muscles in order to keep my head up and looking forward. After 6 months, I was able to sleep without the CPAP machine and didn't experience the previous issues that I had.
See you were one of the success stories I wanted to read about. So thank you for your post here. Basically most experts will say once you have sleep apnea it’s for life and even if you’re obese, losing weight will only make it a little better but not ever get rid of it. I don’t necessarily believe that’s the case. I think if you didn’t have sleep apnea and then you gained a bunch of weight and you now have it, it’s kind of obvious what caused it. But nice job getting rid of it. That’s what I’m hoping to do. At least to a manageable point. Because no matter what I can’t wear one of those masks. I used to wake up in the middle of the night thinking Godzilla was trying to snuff me out with a giant pillow. Lol absolute total panic attacks wearing that thing. Because I have sinus passages I had to wear the full mask. It was ridiculous.
See you were one of the success stories I wanted to read about.
I mislead you...I wasn't cured. The change to my lifestyle likely helped resolve the underlying issue that led to my OSA...temporarily.
When I went back to my previous sedentary life style my OSA (and my weight) came right back, just not as bad as before. I did go back on my CPAP machine at that time.
Right now, I'm off the CPAP, but for other reasons. Phillips Respironics was the manufacturer of my machine. It was found out that there was a defect in their devices that led to potentially cancerous particles being dispersed into a patient's airways over the course of a night's sleep. Now Phillips has reached a legal settlement wherein they'll give everyone who had one of their devices a very small cash settlement and where Phillips Respironics will leave the US medical market.
I haven't used my CPAP since I found out about this back in September 2023. I'm surviving, not falling asleep at inopportune/dangerous times, but I do sometimes wake after an 8 hour sleep with a slight headache and a tired feeling.
My neurologist sent in an order for a new APAP machine back in early January, but there's a shortage of devices, probably a combination of supply-chain issues and a major supplier leaving the market. For now, I'm just roughing it out.
This past year I gained about 25 pounds which I am in the process of losing. I’ve always had some snoring issues and such but nothing like I’m experiencing now. I think this is just gonna be another one of these modern era, American diet and lifestyle diseases that people are getting. I’m not buying that It’s just something that people have to deal with. Our ancestors did not have sleep apnea like we see today. It was pretty rare. Random snoring was about as bad as it got. Now we’re literally being choked off and literally dying in our sleep every night and something just doesn’t seem right about the whole thing to me. I decided about a month ago to use the recorder app on my cell phone to record my sleeping and what I heard when I listened back was horrifying. I would stop breathing because I was completely being choked off for between 40 to 45 seconds and then I would gasp for air breathing extremely heavily like someone running wind sprints and then another 40 to 45 seconds , interval of being choked again. This would go on throughout the entire night. With literally no relief. The second I fell asleep I would become completely unable to breathe. Yeah I’ve heard about CPAP and I tried it 10 years ago and there is just no way. Anyone who can deal with that mess I tip my hat to you. What I did do is buy one of those snore RX mouthpieces. I can only use the mouthpiece for about an hour maybe two hours at a stretch and then I would take it out. So my night of “sleep” consisted of three or four hours of good sleep with the mouthpiece, and as I would rotate it in and out , and three or four hours of being choked to death. What was most amazing to me is that despite only getting maybe 2 to 4 hours with the mouthpiece and I felt like I was on rocket fuel the next day. I had all this extra energy. And it made me wonder how used to feeling crappy and sleepy I had become. It was the new normal. Long-term goals of course to get the weight off and I’m trying to do that as quickly as possible and then adjust and be able to adapt using this mouthpiece as it does seem to stop the apnea. Sometimes I’ll still snore with it and maybe occasionally, I’ll stop breathing but overall , all I hear is nice quiet breathing.
So after my long diatribe, my basic questions are anyone else have any success actually getting rid of apnea altogether? I know skinny people can have it so weight loss is not a guarantee and I think I probably snored all my life even when I was a teenager And prime physical condition. I am not some morbidly obese person. I’m just slightly overweight. I’ve always played sports and exercise. Pretty hard most of my life. It won’t take me that long to get back in shape. But something tells me it’s not gonna get rid of this maybe just make it a little better? So I guessing I’m always gonna have to deal with this to some extent. It just seems insane to me that this is such a common problem for people. Breathing. Who would’ve thought? The most fundamental requirement to human life and we’re all being choked off at night while we sleep.
I guess I’m looking for alternative ideas besides sticking a facemask over my face as I’m already tried that and I won’t try it again. So don’t waste your time preaching at me about a CPAP. Lol from everything I’ve read I have the most severe form of it as anything above 20 seconds is considered quite serious. At 40 to 45 second intervals there are doctors out there that will tell me I’ll be dead within a year. So far my blood pressure is still normal, and I don’t really have any heart symptoms at this point.
If modern MD's are correct (and I am not certain they are), Sleep Apnea is very damaging to multiple systems in your body, and is responsible for things like High BP, heart damage, brain fog, etc.
It makes sense as you are depriving your body of O2 and keeping in CO2.
Another way to think of it would be to have a potential employer say, "will you work in a high CO2 and low O2 environment on a daily basis for the rest of your working life, for X amount of pay"?
If the answer is no, then why would you do it for free?
Additionally, try to hold your breath while you are awake for 30-40 seconds, then gasp as much air in as possible for 10 seconds or so, and then continue to do it all day for 6-10 hours.
If you can adapt to that and feel good, more power to you. But if that would be like torture by someone who hates you, why endure it?
What is interesting is that my Dad who use to get elbowed by my Mom for loud snoring until he turned on his side (sleeping on your back is supposedly the worst for those with SA), has been a relatively healthy person his whole life.
When I moved him in with us during Covid, I would hear him snoring in his room, however only in intervals.
I would see his chest rising and falling (with no snoring), but no air was being exchanged. Only when he would let out a loud snore (almost a gasp), would he exchange air with his chest expanding and contracting very fast to get as much oxygen in, and CO2 out, before the process started all over again.
I took him to a specialist, and they did a sleep study on him, and he had SA really bad.
Yet here he was a person who has likely had it most of his adult life, and staying healthy into his golden years.
We got him a CPAP and instead of a mask, they had him wearing a nose piece instead. The machine was much smaller than I thought and was pretty quiet as well (Dream Machine is what I think it is called). He noticed a difference similar to you when you would tolerate the mouthpiece.
More energy, more refreshed, and looking forward to enjoy the day.
Logically struggling to breath for 6-10 hours every night of your life (aside from the lack of a restful sleep), vs. the alternative is not conducive to long term health.
Yet my Dad is beyond the average lifespan of 74 (which of course is antidotal), but makes you wonder why someone who may have had SA for a very long time, can live beyond the average. Also he was mentally superior to most people I know, including myself.
So decide with consultation with your MD and medical specialists, but don't automotacally assume one form of common treatment is not for you.
This past year I gained about 25 pounds which I am in the process of losing. I’ve always had some snoring issues and such but nothing like I’m experiencing now. I think this is just gonna be another one of these modern era, American diet and lifestyle diseases that people are getting. I’m not buying that It’s just something that people have to deal with. Our ancestors did not have sleep apnea like we see today. It was pretty rare. Random snoring was about as bad as it got. Now we’re literally being choked off and literally dying in our sleep every night and something just doesn’t seem right about the whole thing to me. I decided about a month ago to use the recorder app on my cell phone to record my sleeping and what I heard when I listened back was horrifying. I would stop breathing because I was completely being choked off for between 40 to 45 seconds and then I would gasp for air breathing extremely heavily like someone running wind sprints and then another 40 to 45 seconds , interval of being choked again. This would go on throughout the entire night. With literally no relief. The second I fell asleep I would become completely unable to breathe. Yeah I’ve heard about CPAP and I tried it 10 years ago and there is just no way. Anyone who can deal with that mess I tip my hat to you. What I did do is buy one of those snore RX mouthpieces. I can only use the mouthpiece for about an hour maybe two hours at a stretch and then I would take it out. So my night of “sleep” consisted of three or four hours of good sleep with the mouthpiece, and as I would rotate it in and out , and three or four hours of being choked to death. What was most amazing to me is that despite only getting maybe 2 to 4 hours with the mouthpiece and I felt like I was on rocket fuel the next day. I had all this extra energy. And it made me wonder how used to feeling crappy and sleepy I had become. It was the new normal. Long-term goals of course to get the weight off and I’m trying to do that as quickly as possible and then adjust and be able to adapt using this mouthpiece as it does seem to stop the apnea. Sometimes I’ll still snore with it and maybe occasionally, I’ll stop breathing but overall , all I hear is nice quiet breathing.
So after my long diatribe, my basic questions are anyone else have any success actually getting rid of apnea altogether? I know skinny people can have it so weight loss is not a guarantee and I think I probably snored all my life even when I was a teenager And prime physical condition. I am not some morbidly obese person. I’m just slightly overweight. I’ve always played sports and exercise. Pretty hard most of my life. It won’t take me that long to get back in shape. But something tells me it’s not gonna get rid of this maybe just make it a little better? So I guessing I’m always gonna have to deal with this to some extent. It just seems insane to me that this is such a common problem for people. Breathing. Who would’ve thought? The most fundamental requirement to human life and we’re all being choked off at night while we sleep.
I guess I’m looking for alternative ideas besides sticking a facemask over my face as I’m already tried that and I won’t try it again. So don’t waste your time preaching at me about a CPAP. Lol from everything I’ve read I have the most severe form of it as anything above 20 seconds is considered quite serious. At 40 to 45 second intervals there are doctors out there that will tell me I’ll be dead within a year. So far my blood pressure is still normal, and I don’t really have any heart symptoms at this point.
We don't really know that because it is possible Doctors didn't know about sleep apnea back then. People died in their sleep but no one really knew what made them. It was I think most likely chalked up to some other medical reason like old age, congestive heart failure, heart attack in their sleep.
When someone gets a clue and has the cannula tube type to go at the base of the nostrils and blows the air into the nose like the oxygen does when under anesthesia then I will use that. Until then I am not putting that damn thing on my face ever again after what I went through. It doesn't even have to be oxygen since the device they have out now is just distilled water and air that blows into the nostrils.
I am sorry I have only ever heard of one person I know who lost weight and slept better after that she was at the time in her late 50's. Yet she has a family member much thinner than she is who has sleep apnea. I don't know but I'm noticing in my circle the people who have it are older people both thin and overweight.
I actually do not know anyone who took a sleep test and passed it. Maybe you "catch" apnea from the test? I am on my 3rd CPAP machine so that is about 20 years' worth of sleeping without snoring. If I fall asleep now, I will immediately wake up if I start to snore. My wife benefited from the CPAP because of that.
My dad was world-class snorer and did not have a CPAP. He suffered a stroke in his sleep that he survived but was paralyzed on his right side after that. I don't know if his apnea caused the stroke. He had normal blood pressure so that was not the cause.
I have a friend who had apnea but underwent a surgical procedure to remove part of his soft palate. He seems cured after that. I actually don't mind the CPAP but I don't use the full-face mask -- only the nose pillow mask.
Back in the olden days no one had apnea because they didn't have CPAP machines.
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