British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

I am encouraged by reading other members stories in the forum and no longer feel alone in my nightmare.
In 1998 while on a hill walking holiday with a friend, we shared a twin room, in the morning my friend who is a doctor informed me that he had witnessed several periods of apnoea during my sleep. He advised me to see my GP and ask for a referral to the sleep clinic. My Epworth score at this point was 16/24.
Following full polysomnography in 1999 I was referred to a maxillofacial consultant who fitted me with a mandibular advancement splint, he took x-rays of my neck and explained that I had narrowing of my nasopharynx and that during sleep my lower jaw relaxed backwards blocking my airway, the splint was designed to hold my lower jaw in the forward position to stop this happening, it did make a difference to my quality of sleep and I could get on with life.
In 2006 I visited the GP who originally referred me to the sleep clinic as my epworth score had increased to 18/24, he kindly agreed to refer me to the sleep clinic, following home polysomnography I was admitted for full polysomnography last year, it was abandoned after only 2 hours, my AHI had exceeded 30 and therefore I required ventilation with CPAP, as I was considered severe I was given a CPAP machine and mask the next morning. I tolerated the new treatment well but found my nose was dry and sore and I had suffered several upper respiratory tract infections requiring antibiotics, I contacted my local sleep clinic and was given a bigger nasal mask and humidifier for my machine. I became more aware of wakening during the night gasping for air and pulling the mask off, I had my pressure increased twice but felt in the end I was competing with the machine to breath, I found it difficult to breath out because of the high pressure, I have not found any benefit from CPAP despite recording a compliance of 6 plus hours a night, my symptoms have returned Epworth now 19/24 on returning to the sleep clinic they gave me a variable pressure CPAP machine to determine the correct pressure for me.
Since the pressure has been adjusted I am beginning to feel the benefit from using CPAP.

Take Care

Stuart

Hi Stuart, welcome to this board!

Interesting story (some paragraph splitting spaces might help reading next time ) but a shame to hear it all took so long and didn't work in the end still!

What makes me wonder is, if your machine records 6 hours of decent sleep and you still feel tired, how is your diet in terms of energy uptake? I heard before where people thought their apnea treatment didn't work only to found out they had shocking eating habits. If no decent fuel goes in, no decent power will come out, that sort of idea.

Dear Bogof,
Thanks for the message.
Sorry about the text, it came from my heart rather than my head!.
I think I have looked at every possible cause, and have always been happy to make life style changes and take responsibility for my own health, increased exercise, stop smoking, balanced diet free from simulants, and yes at times have fell by the wayside either because I have been too tired and just can't be bothered. My BMI is 27.6 so yes 2.6 over the upper limit of normal, I do tend to comfort eat when feeling sorry for myself, but hopefully I will get back on track.
My 3 night study on variable CPAP has allow my machines pressure to be dropped, what a difference, I felt I was completing with the machine to breath, so more than happy to persevere with CPAP.

Take Care

Stuart