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Sleep Apnea can kill you. There, I said it. I didn't want to say it, because I prefer to emphasize the positive aspects of treating Sleep Apnea rather than dwelling on the negative consequences of not treating it. But some among us will only respond to fear, so for their benefit, I'm putting this stark message "out there."

What's the proof that Sleep Apnea can kill? The study published by Terry Young, Ph.D. and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin at Madison is particularly convincing and ominous. Back in 1988, Dr. Young rounded up a large group of randomly selected Wisconsinites (about 1,500 people) who agreed to be tested for Sleep Apnea. Dr. Young recorded not only whether they had Sleep Apnea, but also if they did, the level of Sleep Apnea severity. Dr. Young asked this group, known as her "Wisconsin Cohort" group, to agree to be tracked over the years, and they agreed. Fast forward to 2006, when Dr. Young checked in on them. After 18 years, some had passed away, some were still as healthy as they were back in 1988. The key for our purposes is that, controlling for all other factors, the folks who were identified as having severe Sleep Apnea and who did not get treatment for it were three to four times as likely as the others to die from something . . . anything, and five times more likely to die from stroke or cardiovascular disease.

So for those of you who need fear to motivate, are you afraid yet? I would be if I weren't paying attention to my treatment.

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Comment by The SleepGuide Crew on August 2, 2009 at 10:51pm
from Susan McCord -- "I read this article on here about death from sleep apnea. THAT'S startling.....scary.....for me, on my side is that I'm already a heart patient so I'm getting regular care there and my weight is really close to normal range now. Plus, now I have you guys......

Scares me nonetheless. People don't take apnea seriously. At all. At least not many people I know."
Comment by Brenda J. Smith on July 2, 2009 at 3:19pm
Thanks for your comment Banyon. I am very worried about my condition. It's been at least a year and a half since I had the sleep study done. I've actually lost 60 lbs. since then and that's one reason I thought things had improved. I normally sleep on my left side most of the time and very rarely on my back. I got used to this years ago when my husband complained about my snoring especially when I was on my back. My snoring has also improved. I also used to wake up at times with my heart beating quickly which they said at the sleep clinic that was due to my sleep apnea. That hasn't happened in a long time either. I just convinced myself that having lost the 60 lbs. had helped my sleep apnea enough that I didn't need that CPAP machine at all. Guess I was very wrong. I'm still looking for the booklet that I got when I purchased my machine. I know I have it here somewhere, but even if I find it, I'm not sure it has the imformation in it that I need for the settings. They were done at the place I bought the machine.
Comment by Banyon on July 2, 2009 at 3:02pm
How long has it been since you had a sleep study? Have you gain weight since then? You may need a new study because to check if your pressure requirements have changed.

Until you can get CPAP working, sleep on your sides but definitely not on your back. Sleeping on the sides helps reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea for 40% of patients. Note that this is not a cure and does not help at all for 60% of patients.

It sounds like you understand how dangerous this condition is if untreated.

Good luck.
Comment by Brenda J. Smith on July 2, 2009 at 1:06pm
Thanks for your answer Judy. After reading more info online about death and sleep apnea and now your advice, I have decided to start using my CPAP machine again. However, I think I may be in trouble. The model of my CPAP machine is REMstarPlus but that's all I know. I unplugged my machine so long ago that all the settings are now erased. I know I got a booklet at that time with information about the machine but for the life of me I can't find it. I'm usually pretty good about keeping up with important papers so I know I didn't throw it away. I know the pressure setting was really high but I don't remember anything else. I have no idea how to reset my machine. I haven't been to the actual doctor that sent me to get the machine in over a year so it would be difficult to find out anything from him. I've just got to keep looking for those papers. As soon as I find out more (hopefully very soon), I'll give you the information you asked for. Thanks again for your help.
Comment by Judy on July 2, 2009 at 11:25am
This time keep in mind that PATIENCE, determination and a good sense of humor will go a long way to helping you overcome the problems you encounter w/CPAP therapy and becoming successful w/it.
Comment by Judy on July 2, 2009 at 11:24am
Get out that CPAP and that mask. During the day, remove the humidifier tank so you don't spill any water into the CPAP, and take your CPAP into the living room or wherever and put that mask on, turn the CPAP on, and work a crossword or jigsaw puzzle, read a book or magazine or the newspaper, match socks, crochet or knit, whatever it takes to take occupy your mind w/something other than "I've got to get to sleep". Get used to wearing that mask and feeling that pressure when there are other things going on to occupy your mind so that you get acclimated to wearing and using that CPAP and mask.

I take it w/all that extra weight your CPAP is set to a fairly high pressure to stop the apneas? What brand and model CPAP do you have? We might be able to offer some more suggestions if we know that. What is your pressure setting? If you don't know that you need to find out. Do you have a copy of the doctor's dictated results from your sleep evaluation and titration (1-2 pages each) and the full scored data summary report w/condensed graphs (5+ pages each)? They may well give some insight into what your problems may be. If you don't have them ask for them. They are part of your medical records and you have a legal right to them under HIPAA. How many sleep studies have you had done? You would want the above reports from each one.

Think back to when you were trying to use your CPAP. What kind of problems were you having? If we know that we may be able to make more suggestions.

AND, by the way, GOOD ON YOU for be willing to tackle sleeping w/CPAP again! This time keep in mind that patient, determination and a good sense of humor will go a long way to helping you overcome the problems you encounter w/CPAP therapy and becoming successful w/it.
Comment by Brenda J. Smith on July 2, 2009 at 11:04am
I have severe sleep apnea. When I was at the sleep clinic, they said at one time I didn't breathe for a full minute. I've tried and tried to use my CPAP and can't. I can't sleep with it at all. I have been back to the doctor more than once telling him about my problem, and he gives me sleeping pills to take which only help some. I haven't used my machine now for over a year. The other night I think I stopped breathing long enough that I might have been close to death. I felt this wonderful feeling of being surrounded by love and security. I didn't want to quit "dreaming" but now I'm afraid of what that was. I am afraid to go to sleep. I don't know what to do. I am extremely overweight (323 lbs.) and trying to lose the weight but it's a slow go. I have pre-diabetes and high blood pressure. Does anyone have any suggestions that could help me?
Comment by Judy on June 13, 2009 at 11:26pm
My sympathies to you and your family, Laurie. What a tragic experience! I can't begin and don't want to imagine life w/o my husband!
Comment by Laurie Strenkert on June 13, 2009 at 9:19pm
Hello, My husband had obstructive sleep apnea. His cpap psi was set at 16 and he wore the full face mask. He died on Jan. 9, 2009, I am now alone with 5 kids.
My husband had his mask on faithfully every night since diagnosed. Yes, we fought with the insur. comp. too for long time before we got his tests and machine.
The night he died was so tragic. I went to bed a 1/2 hour late that night. I was in bed for 5 minutes and heard one loud choke sound and snoring. I thought his masked had slipped. I called his name and no responses. I got up and ran to him yelling his name and said whats wrong? He said back, "I don't know". Those were the last words he spoke. Our 9 yr old daughter wanted to sleep with us that night and i told her no, go down stairs to sleep with your sister. We live in old house and her room is right next to ours. My older daughter 16 yrs. heard my screams and called 911. They told us to move ime from the bed and he ended up right next to my daughters bed, the one I sent down stairs. Three of my kids and I carried him, he was 6'5" and 310lbs. I couldn't do it alone. My 2 older kids and I did cpr for approx 15 to 20 minutes. We live in a rural area. One emt showed up and started to bag him while I continued the compressions. Then the house was full. They worked on him almost an hour naked on the floor of my daughters room. All my kids but one saw, the one I sent down stairs. She was daddy's girl always on him playing. They defibralated him the entire time and tried to entibate him. They finally took him out to ambulance still naked and left. I was about 10 minutes behind ambulance and he was dead when I got there. He was extremely bloated in the stomach and purple and blue in the face. He had vomited in his tubes aswell. He was only 39 years old, he was the love of my life!
They did an autopsy and said his death was natural due to complications of sleep apnea. He had a heart attack but having no air killed him. They told me even if emt was standing right next to him they still could not have saved him. I am struggling with the loss of him and really can not fathom how lightly the doctors speak of this illness. They never checked his heart and it was enlarged from the apnea. He had been on cpap for approx. 5 to 6 years. Right after he died the company that supplied his equipment called and I asked them if their clients die alot and he said yes. I had never heard any of this in all the years of having it.
Please get checked out and make sure you get to see pulmonologist and cardiologist. Please ask questions no matter how stupid!
Laurie
Comment by RockRpsgt on May 22, 2009 at 11:52pm
My grandfather died at 62. He never knew my brothers or our kids. I listened to his apneas for years without knowing what they were. He had a massive stroke.

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