"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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Denial About OSA?
In normal conversations with friends now, I find myself diagnosing them with OSA over the dinner table, having drinks, etc. Thing is, once I bring it up, they are certain they don't have OSA. Anyone else have this happen to them?
Views: 215
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Eric Thayer on
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If you talked to me before a couple two-by-four-to-the-head learning moments, I would have told you I was sure I didn't have it.
You've planted the seed in there minds tho for when the two-by-four whacks them (i.e. they doze off driving, etc.).
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Permalink Reply by DOROTHY CALDWELL on
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Yes of course. My husband has canceled two sleep studies,because he feels that there is nothing wrong with him. Of course I don't sugar coat the importance of the study. I tell him that he should want to know what's really going on with him,because he could go to sleep and never wake up again. Still no luck!
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Permalink Reply by James Skinner on
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Its very common. My brother-in-law snores so I tested him with my oximeter. He had over a hundred desaturations during the night. I told him he should go get tested but he is not interested. He said he probably just needs to loose a little weight.
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Permalink Reply by maggie ames on
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My husband is in denial. He got the sleep apnea stuff (sorry but I don't know what it is called) but he won't use it. I think it is because he thinks he looks ridiculous with it on.
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Permalink Reply by bonesigh on
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My younger brother is also in denial. His wife says he snores and I know he is always getting migraines. Even when we were visiting there with my older brother (who has OSA and treats it) he wouldn't listen to him either. My family is tired of me telling everyone about OSA, they say it's irritating. I even wonder if my mom might have it. She does not snore but suffers from severe depression and I remember when I was a kid she could never sit down and watch t.v. with me because she always fell asleep. My younger brother takes care of my mom and won't have her tested. It's so sad. If you've got the insurance why not be tested????
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Don't say anything, your better off. If people ask you how your doing, tell them fine. I talk about it if asked but that's as far as it goes. Then you have the people that say you don't have it, after you've been though the testing, etc. Pay no mind to them either. You know they have it, goes back to the old cliche, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't force them to drink".
Have a good nites sleep
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Permalink Reply by Adrian Karl Zacher on
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I agree with Mary. Only the individual can help themself. I think our responsibility as caring friends or partners is to inform, help and support. After that there is nothing more that can be done. "Apnoea - what sleep apnoea?".
*sigh*
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Oh yes, When I am at dinner or visiting friends we sometimes get on the subject of sleep. There is a couple that are my closest friends and the wife is always complaining about her husband's snoring and how he will stop breathing and then gasp for air. She and I have begged him to have a sleep study done but he refuses. He had a heart attack last year. The problem is I don't think he wants to know if he has another medical problem. I told him the heart attack could be connected to OSA. He doesn't believe me. He doesn't think sleep apnea is real. It is very frustrating.
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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My family is in huge denial. At first I think they thought what I did was a joke. I don't push sleep on them. I have been working with my daughter and have helped a few other family members out with just a few small suggestions. The rest of them are starting to take notice.
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Well, here is the deal. The only way to unequivocally know you do not have sleep apnea is to be tested for it and even then sometimes the studies are questionable. One can certainly have suspicion via history and exam but people need to have a sleep study. I many times have the same response that you do and I am a physician. I tell patients that Sleep apnea is no different than any other disease they may take medication for and without a test, they will not know for sure. The reason for the test is to determine if they have the disease and then with the treatment they can prevent further irreversible damage to their heart and lungs which will occur if they leave the apnea unchecked. Beyond that, you just have to let people continue to live in denial. All you can do is share your opinions and them know that you have first hand knowledge. Tell them that you would hate for them to have a serious disease that they ignore.
B Robles
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Permalink Reply by Michael F. O'Brien on
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I have been on the CPAP for about sixteen month and it makes a world of different. I was not in denial, but one of my younger brothers is. If you are a family member or a spouse count the seconds that there is not breath and video the episodes, so they can see what is happening. Men think that real men would not have to wear a CPAP. They; are kidding them selves because real 'Real Men' are smart enough to know they have a problem and do something about it! Amen!
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Permalink Reply by amott1973 on
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Yep. Everyone in my mom's family. Both her sisters, one of whom is thin, and one only slightly overweight, and her brother. And everyone (including himself) knew her dad had it, but he refused to be tested because he said he would never wear the cpap. He has since passed away at a ripe old age from leukemia.
And on my dad's side, he probably has it mildly but hasn't gotten tested. I'm pretty sure his wife has it too, and my dad's sister has it, has a cpap and isn't compliant. Their father died at an old age from brain cancer, lung cancer and Alzheimer's, again without ever being tested or treated for cpap.
No surprise I have it. My younger sister suspects she might and wants to be tested soon. My youngest sister hasn't had symptoms yet, but she'll probably be on the lookout for it. We've pretty much given up on getting anyone other than my mother tested. My mom has it and has cpap but is off and on with her compliance. It doesn't help to have two examples of men in the family who everyone agrees had OSA but they died so old.
But I love my cpap and the way it gave me back my life. I'm like a walking poster-girl for it. Maybe someday it will sink in for the older folks. I'm just glad to influence my own generation.
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