Sleep apnea
 

Yup - I've got it. Anyone else? One of the many reasons I'm back on the board and back on plan.
Has anyone reversed it after losing weight?
My father snored like a rhino (if they snore, they probably don't, but you get the picture) and lived to 96. I occasionally snore but it's never really loud but I'm told I have moderate to severe apnea.
Bummer.

Who told you you have "moderate to severe" apnea? Not really overweight and only occasionally snores doesn't sound too severe to me. But what do I know?...though I question the "Sleep Centers" out to make a buck.

Here's a good book, check all the reviews and summaries:
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, PhD. A summary of the main ideas: https://www.memosmine.com/the-mine/...hew-walker-phd/

Thanks Janet. My dentist, who is a nuero-muscular specialist works with a sleep MD as well. She feels a lot of things are interconnected. I'm having massive TMJ/TMD issues (long story). I used their at home sleep test system so not a sleep center.
Thank you for the link. I'll read that later tonight for sure. Good to see you are still around the board !!!
And thanks regarding your "not really overweight" comment. My frame is small. Definitely carrying a bit more than I should be.

My ex had terrible apnea and weighed in your range. If he went over around 152 it got really bad. Dentists who work on this stuff are usually very smart, so I would believe it.

Thanks Jschwab. So if he kept his weight down, he was ok? Did he have a test? If he just stopped snoring that may not be enough, evidently. It's like that with my partner. Under a certain weight he doesn't snore but after talking with this dentist and having my test not sure an absence of snoring means you're doing okay, since I wasn't really doing a lot of snoring. Taking it all in. Trying to figure things out. What a pain.

I was diagnosed last June. I'm very focused now on setting myself up for 7-9 hours of sleep a night, and keeping my AHI (Apnea–hypopnea index) well below 5. This morning it was 2.3. I also keep an eye on my leaks (L/min) and of course sleep time. Definitely read Dr. Mathew Walker's book Why We Sleep. If I had read that way back when I don't know that I'd work so many late shifts that I did (sometimes there's a choice).

I wear blue blocker glasses at least 2 hours before sleep, and have f.lux installed on my PC. No electronics anywhere near my bed, and the temperature is always cool.

Since I've extended water only fasts to my daily TRE, my caffeine is stopped well before it could affect my sleep. Hard to avoid naps, but they are kept to a minimum.

I haven't used an alarm clock in a very long time, and don't oversleep.

I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea about 8 years ago. I went strict low carb, lost weight, and in a 6-month follow up, I no longer had it. Good suggestions here, and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight along with getting a good night's sleep were keys for me in correcting the apnea. I still have to watch it closely, but knowing it can be managed has made all the difference. I would go to a sleep specialist who can prescribe a device for an at-home sleep study to confirm. Much better than going to a sleep lab for one night. I could never get to sleep in those environments.

s93uv3h - Could you elaborate on how you keep track of AHI and what do you mean by your "leaks"? Are you using a Cpap or some other device at home? Thank you for the links. I'll be ordering the glasses today.

GRB5111 - I did do an at home test not a sleep lab. I'm glad you managed to get it under control. My plan is to lose some extra weight and retest.

Yes - no more machine 4 me :) I am thankful. Definite possibility.

Yes, he had the at home test and was"borderline". I'm sure it's worse now. It's been 4 years since I left and we don't talk. His mother hasn't been overweight a day in her life and uses a cpap. His dad, too. Like a lot of things that are blaned on weight, it's not always the case.

That great Thud!!

I agree JSCHWAB - a young woman at the office is thin but has apnea and uses a cpap.

Correct - CPAP connects online and I check the website every morning and get those three readings; sleep time, AHI, and leaks. From my understanding, leaks are from one of a few possible things; mouth breathing, getting wrapped up on the hose, or equipment needs replacing.

Hey thanks S93. I didn't realize it connects on-line and keeps track of all of that. Do you think you will be able to ditch the cpap in the future?

Good question - I certainly hope so. I have my 6 month appointment to take in my data disc and I'll ask the sleep doctor then.

As far as I know I do not have sleep apnea. I do have sleep issues due to a chronic pain condition. To maximize my sleeping I too wear blue light blocking glasses at night, have flu.x on my computer and have installed red light night lights in my bathroom and kitchen, purchased a bulb designed to minimize blue light for my bedroom light and in general minimize the use of lighting at night. I have a few refillable oil candles that I light at night instead of electric lights. I've come to like this dimmer light in the evening and now find most lighting too harsh.