Darth Vader had one, and look what it did for his sex life

[the_blue_fenix]

The possibility exists that I may be recommended a CPAP machine for sleep apnea sometime in the next month.

So I pose the question to any people who have one, had one, or were supposed to get one -- is it worth it?

Comments

[selenite]

I got one. Did me a lot of good. I don't fall asleep during parties any more, I'm more alert in the mornings, I don't have to wire myself up with caffine to function. There's several different styles of face mask so you may want to experiment to find what works best for you.

I'll occasionally skip nights with it, either because I fell asleep before putting it on or don't want to bother taking it with me while traveling. I still do better because I'm not carrying such a burden of sleep debt.

wiring with caf. to function

[the_blue_fenix]

Now that you mention it, I *do* sometimes wonder if my daily two liters of diet soda before 9 a.m. is a good cornerstone for my life style.

Re: wiring with caf. to function

[selenite]

I've cut my caf intake to zero most weeks. Last time I sought out a cola in the morning was a military briefing after a CPAP-less night. And I feel no shame in needing a wake-up for that.

[jomadge]

Cat Conrad uses one, and I know it's made a positive difference to him.

[kyryn]

I've got at least four friends who use them and swear that they've made an incredible difference.

[balthrop]

It absolutely has been effective for me. It did take some time to get used to, but I do sleep better and no longer snore.

[the_blue_fenix]

Spouse feels (from experience sharing rooms at cons) that he could never, ever get any sleep in the same room with a CPAP.

I do in fact get it that this is not MEANT as an intimacy-withdrawing ultimatum. In the same way that my desire to get rid of sleep apnea is not meant as a his-sleep-withdrawing ultimatum. Neither one of us wants to feel thrown out of our very own bed.

Maybe one of the dental appliance things is an option.

[celticdragonfly]

I must tell you, I originally thought that I could never, ever, get any sleep with a CPAP.

I'd been used to sleeping in the same room with them, sure. The old ones made a lot of noise. Miles' new one was so quiet. No louder than having a fan going.

But then after the Ramsay-Hunt, I went from "maybe there's a little mild sleep apnea but not enough to seek treatment" to "OMG I wake up choking every few minutes and I'm so tired I keep having mini-naps while driving". Doctor said it was one of the worst sleep studies she'd ever seen.

While we were waiting for the study, Miles hooked me up with his for a nap. Thought I probably would be unable to sleep. Went to sleep, had a refreshing nap.

I have come to LOVE my cpap.

After my tonsillectomy late last year, things have improved - I *can* sleep without the cpap now. But I definitely sleep better with it. I LOVE my oxygen-while-sleeping machine!