CPAP ruined my life

Hazardous · Jun 28, 2017

I have lost about 60lbs since we started driving. We eat egg whites, corn tortillas and very low/no sodium food. Once a week (on Saturdays) we park and maybe go out to eat somewhere. We try, and usually succeed, leading a healthy road lifestyle. I am, unfortunately, a "big boy". Luckily they use the BMI for majority of test. The standard by which every professional sports player is morbidly obese.

I know a lot of people that a CPAP has greatly help. They said within the first week of using it they felt like a million bucks. They do help some people, but not me...I feel like absolute garbage. Honestly the only time we get sick is when we get out of the truck, since we spend 3 months locked up in there at a time.

Hazardous · Jun 28, 2017

Through years of bad decision making in my youth, my septum has been broken numerous times which makes me need the full face mask. I will definitely look into the fast thing. I have had it for about 3 months now and I feel like I want to die. I can't go more than 1 night without using it in a 7 day cycle or we will be shut down for 72hrs...thanks Schneider.

Like I said...I've known a lot of people who needed it and it works very well for them. This is not my case. Glad to hear you are doing well

scottied67 · Jun 28, 2017

Can it not be worn during downtime say like watching TV or reading a book before bedtime? This couple hours would count toward the 4 hours requirement? Who says one has to be asleep for it to count?

Hazardous · Jun 28, 2017

scottied67 said: ↑

Can it not be worn during downtime say like watching TV or reading a book before bedtime? This couple hours would count toward the 4 hours requirement? Who says one has to be asleep for it to count?
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Indeed, and this is how I usually finish my hours. But it sucks having to sit in the passenger seat with this thing strapped to my head like some from Alien. If I can get rid of it, then I will try whatever. Looks like the first step is getting a real inlab sleep study

tucker · Jun 28, 2017

Hazardous said: ↑

Indeed, and this is how I usually finish my hours. But it sucks having to sit in the passenger seat with this thing strapped to my head like some from Alien. If I can get rid of it, then I will try whatever. Looks like the first step is getting a real inlab sleep study
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I just read an article about a trucker that had the surgery to get rid of his SA, and he lost a bunch of weight,his doctors even said he didn't have it anymore, but he couldn't get his medical card unless he used his cpap.

I can't find the story

vavega · Jun 28, 2017

is there a possibility you have GERD (gastric reflux)? that will also wake you. i bought a fitbit flex 2 that tracks my sleep and found exactly how many hours i got a night and how many "restless" periods i had. it will open your eyes to how well you actually sleep vs what you think you do. one course of generic prilosec (omeprazole) and my sleep greatly improved.

KillingTime · Jun 28, 2017

White Dog said: ↑

Seem's to me like once a doctor deems you necessary of the apparatus, takes an act of Congress to get another one to disagree.
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In large part why I'll never get a clinical diagnosis. I'd rather not have that tag (and stigma) follow me around.... I can live with being a bit crazy. Lol.

OP, good luck. I'm on the lighter side (190lbs) so I've never even been considered for sleep study..... I'll admit tho, I've snored louder than a Corn Thresher and woken myself up before. That might indicate an issue, but I'm not asking questions about it.

Ridgeline · Jun 28, 2017

I offered advice about this before and was ignored.

SO listen carefully.

Get a script for a new machine, tell the doc who wrote you the first one to give it to you so you can get a spare machine for the house.

Then look for a supplier (there are a lot of them) who will sell you a machine that only tracks the usage - nothing else. no pressure readings, no flexible use tracking or anything like that.

I have a few remstar plus C-Flex units with just the logging card and use these only. My doc has been trying to get convinced to get a new one but I told her that as long as I sleep, I don't care. I get a sleep study now every four years.

OK sorry I digress.

You can find these all over the place like even craigslist (I just found four of them under $300 with supplies in my area), but not Ebay. Check some of the medical supply places, I bought two of mine in Elkhart for $100 and $150 refirbs.

Anywho once you get this unit, then use that and only that machine.

I don't have to explain what "use that" means ... do I?

born&raisedintheusa · Jun 28, 2017

scottied67 said: ↑

Can it not be worn during downtime say like watching TV or reading a book before bedtime? This couple hours would count toward the 4 hours requirement? Who says one has to be asleep for it to count?
Click to expand...

not a bad idea at all

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

tscottme · Jun 28, 2017

Lepton1 said: ↑

There's another way to look at this. I've never been a "big boy", but I did quickly gain 45 lbs when I started trucking again five years ago. Even before then I knew I had sleep issues, stopping breathing and waking up at night.

It was when I got really sick and went to a doctor shortly after starting driving that the extent of my health problems slapped me in the face. It wasn't just the weight gain, I was prediabetic. My blood pressure was also creeping up to danger zone along with cholesterol. Then my brother got cancer.

THAT'S when I started altering my diet. I dropped that excess 45 lbs in six months. I went back for a check-up. The doctor that had wanted me to get on a drug regimen to control my blood pressure and prediabetic condition was amazed. I told him the diet I went on, and his response was he wished more of his patients would do the same, but he also understand that it was an impossible dream.

Basically I eliminated all sugar from my diet. I haven't been sick in over four years, not even a runny nose. I pull flatbed, working for hours on load securement in extreme weather and I am north of sixty years old.

My latest DOT physical was passed with flying colors. I weigh the same as when I graduated high school. My blood pressure is 110/60. My resting heart rate is 58. I am in the best health I have been for decades.

Google the following: sugar addiction, human microbiome, sugar detox, or plant based diet. I still eat meat, but only a few times a month. My very sense of taste has changed. I can't STAND sweet things anymore.

OP the bottom line is CPAP isn't ruining your life, YOU are ruining your life.
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I want to be like you when I grow up. Really I do.

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