Nearly identical path for me last year... very tired, lots of coffee, gave up coffee and realized something wasn't right. I got a test but there was a 2mo wait for a Dr to prescribe it, 3mo after that to get a machine because supply chain. Ended up buying basically unused airsense from craigslist for same price as deductible.
Life changing, but still wonder why it triggered so late in life...
How serendipitous! I booked an appointment with my doctor to explore treatments for my sleep apnea today and I found your article on Hacker News a few hours later. I haven't been diagnosed but my wife has commented on my sleep apnea events for at least 5 years. I didn't think much of it (so I hold my breath sometimes when I sleep, so what?) but I'm 37 and I don't want this to contribute to heart problems or anything else in the future. I clicked on your article because of the "brain fog" keyword. I wouldn't say that I have severe brain fog, but I am having more difficulty remembering certain things like people's names, memories from 10+ years ago, and generally things that are not in close proximity to my day-to-day. I also have a 2yo daughter and have been very over-extended running my own business for the past few years which could be contributing to this. I suspect that I too suffer from CSA vs. OSA thanks to this article. Thanks for sharing your experience!
CPAP user. Glad to learn I can take more control over my life, so thank you for the article.
Separately, I started using a Corsi Box air filter in my bedroom, and after the 1st few nights I found the steady white sound it made not only relaxing but a great help in covering up the noise from the machine, as an additional benefit to much cleaner air. I don't know how much that will help with your newer therapy mode, but passing this along.
Well articulated. The foregone productivity & mindfulness of unaware, undiagnosesd untreated percentage of a significant percentage of the population has long saddened me.
Honestly getting a sleep apnea study done is essential. As well as looking for a diverted septum. Upto 20% of people have these issues and they just destroy your quality of life and sanity.
For those with obstructive sleep apnea EPAP are small valves you stick in your nostrils that use backpressure from your own breathing to keep things open. Good solution for travelling or if regular CPAP use is just not comfy. Not as effective as CPAP but not as clunky either.
> Other source from y combinator gives some more natural solutions as inclined bed, mouthtape.
That will only treat OSA, not CSA (which is condition manifesting from the nervous system). In fact no, its a really stupid dumb idea for OSA as well. The airway becomes blocked, so you treat it by sealing off an entire backup airway. That sounds smart.
> But we want to fix body permanently not pretend we fixed problem becoming dependent on external things.
I went through a very similar process! My sleep therapist(s) tried several different machines but none really made a dent in my AHI. I was struggling hard. I found OSCAR and reviewed my data, read a lot of great posts by Sleeprider, and realized I may need a machine that can treat centrals. Talked to my doctor, got an ASV and now my AHI is 0.0 most nights. It's an incredible machine. I owe a lot to the apnea board and OSCAR for helping me figure this out.
Do you still wake up at night occasionally? I find I still wake up sometimes but can't figure out why, the machine doesn't label any events associated with the wakeups. I should probably post on the apnea board again.
Hey, yep..The withings sleep analyser was great for finding out I had SA. If I had not, it still would have been worth it as a healthware app. It was sufficent for me to get into the UK public health queue, but showing my Doctor (not that I have been treated by them yet).
Nearly identical path for me last year... very tired, lots of coffee, gave up coffee and realized something wasn't right. I got a test but there was a 2mo wait for a Dr to prescribe it, 3mo after that to get a machine because supply chain. Ended up buying basically unused airsense from craigslist for same price as deductible.
Life changing, but still wonder why it triggered so late in life...
How serendipitous! I booked an appointment with my doctor to explore treatments for my sleep apnea today and I found your article on Hacker News a few hours later. I haven't been diagnosed but my wife has commented on my sleep apnea events for at least 5 years. I didn't think much of it (so I hold my breath sometimes when I sleep, so what?) but I'm 37 and I don't want this to contribute to heart problems or anything else in the future. I clicked on your article because of the "brain fog" keyword. I wouldn't say that I have severe brain fog, but I am having more difficulty remembering certain things like people's names, memories from 10+ years ago, and generally things that are not in close proximity to my day-to-day. I also have a 2yo daughter and have been very over-extended running my own business for the past few years which could be contributing to this. I suspect that I too suffer from CSA vs. OSA thanks to this article. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Hope things work out for you!
CPAP user. Glad to learn I can take more control over my life, so thank you for the article.
Separately, I started using a Corsi Box air filter in my bedroom, and after the 1st few nights I found the steady white sound it made not only relaxing but a great help in covering up the noise from the machine, as an additional benefit to much cleaner air. I don't know how much that will help with your newer therapy mode, but passing this along.
I've been using a APAP for about 3 years now, its life changing, no more depression, no more fog (well most of the time). It truly is amazing
Well articulated. The foregone productivity & mindfulness of unaware, undiagnosesd untreated percentage of a significant percentage of the population has long saddened me.
Honestly getting a sleep apnea study done is essential. As well as looking for a diverted septum. Upto 20% of people have these issues and they just destroy your quality of life and sanity.
For those with obstructive sleep apnea EPAP are small valves you stick in your nostrils that use backpressure from your own breathing to keep things open. Good solution for travelling or if regular CPAP use is just not comfy. Not as effective as CPAP but not as clunky either.
Thanks for sharing Luke, had no idea when I saw you at parkrun why you had vanished for so long. Hope you are on the pathway to a better life now
You treat symptoms not the cause 😂
I looked for actual solution of coming back to natural healthy state.
Other source from y combinator gives some more natural solutions as inclined bed, mouthtape.
But we want to fix body permanently not pretend we fixed problem becoming dependent on external things.
> Other source from y combinator gives some more natural solutions as inclined bed, mouthtape.
That will only treat OSA, not CSA (which is condition manifesting from the nervous system). In fact no, its a really stupid dumb idea for OSA as well. The airway becomes blocked, so you treat it by sealing off an entire backup airway. That sounds smart.
> But we want to fix body permanently not pretend we fixed problem becoming dependent on external things.
Like mouthtape?
I went through a very similar process! My sleep therapist(s) tried several different machines but none really made a dent in my AHI. I was struggling hard. I found OSCAR and reviewed my data, read a lot of great posts by Sleeprider, and realized I may need a machine that can treat centrals. Talked to my doctor, got an ASV and now my AHI is 0.0 most nights. It's an incredible machine. I owe a lot to the apnea board and OSCAR for helping me figure this out.
Do you still wake up at night occasionally? I find I still wake up sometimes but can't figure out why, the machine doesn't label any events associated with the wakeups. I should probably post on the apnea board again.
I am still early in, but I do wake up sometimes and can't fathom why.
Knowing what you know now would you still go this route for testing initially
Hey, yep..The withings sleep analyser was great for finding out I had SA. If I had not, it still would have been worth it as a healthware app. It was sufficent for me to get into the UK public health queue, but showing my Doctor (not that I have been treated by them yet).
How do you think this compares to wearable devices like the night owl
The difference between abnormal breathing and trans people just existing is that trans people just existing doesn't affect your health.
Let trans people do their thing and mind your business.
removed hateful comment, I have zero tolerance around such toxicity.
it may affect mental condition of children if they teach though