YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Hubby going for to sleep clinic for apnea!!

RowdysMom · 04-19-2010, 04:23 PM

My husband has been diagnosed with sleep apnea for 10-12 years but he's only been able to use the machine, CPAP, for the past 5 months. He was never able to tolerate the mask because he is a mouth breather, he can't breathe through his nose, his passages are too small even after two nasal surgeries.

So, if you can't breathe through your nose, the only option used to be a full face mask that covers your nose and mouth. My husband has heart failure and pretty significant asthma, so the full face mask just made him feel like he was smothering. He said it felt like he had a bag over his head. He wore nasal oxygen at night while sleeping to keep his oxygen levels from dropping dangerously low due to the apnea episodes - but oxygen does nothing for the apnea.

A few months ago the nurse practitioner at his pulmonary doc's office told him about a mouth piece that goes into your mouth, like a scuba or snorkeling mouthpiece. There's nothing over your face or nose, just inside your mouth. Guess what! It worked for him. Now, he still HATES the machine, but he can tolerate it and sleep with it. Even though he denies it, he wakes more refreshed and requires less sleep. He is quiet in the bed - yep, I know what it is like to have the person you sleep with "wiggle" all the time due to apnea episodes - it's not pretty!

Also, for those of you who have sleep apnea or know someone who does and does not use the machine - there is a strong connection between sleep apnea and heart failure. Some research suggests sleep apnea causes heart failure - of course they can't be sure. But sure enough, my husband developed heart failure of unknown origin (it is usually caused by a heart attack - but he did not have a heart attack). So, my husband's heart failure might have been caused by his sleep apnea. Of course, we can't be sure - but since he has been able to use the machine, his heart function has improved and he is feeling much better. We also changed some of his heart meds, so maybe that is part or all of it, we just don't know.

The point is that treating sleep apnea is very very very important!!!

04-19-2010, 04:23 PM	#10
RowdysMom Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,624	My husband has been diagnosed with sleep apnea for 10-12 years but he's only been able to use the machine, CPAP, for the past 5 months. He was never able to tolerate the mask because he is a mouth breather, he can't breathe through his nose, his passages are too small even after two nasal surgeries. So, if you can't breathe through your nose, the only option used to be a full face mask that covers your nose and mouth. My husband has heart failure and pretty significant asthma, so the full face mask just made him feel like he was smothering. He said it felt like he had a bag over his head. He wore nasal oxygen at night while sleeping to keep his oxygen levels from dropping dangerously low due to the apnea episodes - but oxygen does nothing for the apnea. A few months ago the nurse practitioner at his pulmonary doc's office told him about a mouth piece that goes into your mouth, like a scuba or snorkeling mouthpiece. There's nothing over your face or nose, just inside your mouth. Guess what! It worked for him. Now, he still HATES the machine, but he can tolerate it and sleep with it. Even though he denies it, he wakes more refreshed and requires less sleep. He is quiet in the bed - yep, I know what it is like to have the person you sleep with "wiggle" all the time due to apnea episodes - it's not pretty! Also, for those of you who have sleep apnea or know someone who does and does not use the machine - there is a strong connection between sleep apnea and heart failure. Some research suggests sleep apnea causes heart failure - of course they can't be sure. But sure enough, my husband developed heart failure of unknown origin (it is usually caused by a heart attack - but he did not have a heart attack). So, my husband's heart failure might have been caused by his sleep apnea. Of course, we can't be sure - but since he has been able to use the machine, his heart function has improved and he is feeling much better. We also changed some of his heart meds, so maybe that is part or all of it, we just don't know. The point is that treating sleep apnea is very very very important!!! __________________ Rex & Rowdy's Mom