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Original poster

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea - tell me it gets better!!!

59 replies

PermanentlySleepyZzz · 11/08/2025 21:23

I have been completely exhausted for what feels like forever, but is more like 18 months and after a sleep study they have confirmed OSA. This explains why I am so tired and sleeping all the time and I am getting a CPAP machine soon. Has anyone been through this that can give any advice or manage my expectations on whether this will improve things/how long to notice a difference? I’m desperate.

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Original poster
PermanentlySleepyZzz · 13/08/2025 22:10

Stoufer · 13/08/2025 15:53

@MsJinks you can get your consultant to confirm with you if you need to advise DVLA. Re: getting a cpap (and unwillingness!), do you know what your oxygen levels drop to when you have a desaturation? We bought a viatom checkme wrist pulse oximeter (approx £130), like the hospital uses for home sleep studies, and we were shocked to see that the worst drops were down to 69%… even though there weren’t that many drops per hour, on average. Apparently if your oxygen levels drop below 80%, that’s when organ damage happens (presumably cardio-vascular mainly, but probably others too..). So don’t delay starting treatment, as it is not just for feeling more refreshed etc. Sorry to be such a voice of doom - it is a complete pain, but a very worthwhile investment of time and energy getting it sorted!

Does the CPAP machine tell you those levels? Someone mentioned checking at the start or us this something else. I have my appointment to talk about the ha hind tomorrow so fingers crossed and thank you to everyone that has taken the time to respond, it has been soooo helpful.

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Original poster
PermanentlySleepyZzz · 13/08/2025 22:12

MsJinks · 13/08/2025 17:35

Thank you @Stoufer- no I’ve not looked at O2 drops, though as I’m under respiratory anyway for something else I probably should have been more interested in this.
I’m just being mardy tbh - even not sure what dates will think 🙈though doesn’t even matter as I don’t bother any more 🤣 - guess it makes me feel old and unfit though I appreciate it’s not to do with that. I am a bit bothered if it will stop me going to sleep on my front though, that really annoyed me when pregnant or in hospital - hope I can still manage my starfish!
I have had so many referrals to different depts in last 3 years I got bored of it - sometimes irrelevant referrals and sometimes find something - and actually like I said my tired has been improving so it was also a surprise really.
I was fine with coeliac and other stuff, but very fed up with getting readers in my 40s - strange what hits you - need to get over myself!
Thank you again - I am wondering if it might bring my inflammation markers down - that I’m under rheumatology for as they keep rising with Ltd apparent reason (coeliac and mild RA) so under monitoring in case something else pops up, but be good if this helped - otherwise the seaside helped that once so I might need to move!

Don't feel bad, this is not age related, children can have it too, but do progress it, you might find it helps with sone of your other symptoms too.

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elm26 · 13/08/2025 22:22

No experience myself but my Dad was diagnosed with sleep apnoea about 10 years ago, he got a CPAP machine and it drastically changed how he felt. Took a while for him to get used to sleeping with it on but he felt energised and refreshed again, he said it literally changed his life. He actually lost 8 stone over the last 18 months and now he doesn’t need the machine at all (not saying yours is caused by being overweight!)

Stoufer · 13/08/2025 23:59

PermanentlySleepyZzz · 13/08/2025 22:10

Does the CPAP machine tell you those levels? Someone mentioned checking at the start or us this something else. I have my appointment to talk about the ha hind tomorrow so fingers crossed and thank you to everyone that has taken the time to respond, it has been soooo helpful.

Show quote history

The cpap machine collects data from each night, and then it gets downloaded by the hospital, so you don’t really get to see it in detail.. and there are lots of very detailed types of measures. The hosp I am at tends to give annual appts with a sleep physiologist, who downloads the data, reports on it, and sorta out equipment issues. You can specifically ask to see some of the results at these appointments - although these are from the cpap in use, so oxygen levels won’t really be dropping very much at all.

Original poster
PermanentlySleepyZzz · 14/08/2025 08:59

elm26 · 13/08/2025 22:22

No experience myself but my Dad was diagnosed with sleep apnoea about 10 years ago, he got a CPAP machine and it drastically changed how he felt. Took a while for him to get used to sleeping with it on but he felt energised and refreshed again, he said it literally changed his life. He actually lost 8 stone over the last 18 months and now he doesn’t need the machine at all (not saying yours is caused by being overweight!)

Lol, it’s definitely a contributing factor 🤦🏼‍♀️

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Original poster
PermanentlySleepyZzz · 14/08/2025 09:00

Stoufer · 13/08/2025 23:59

The cpap machine collects data from each night, and then it gets downloaded by the hospital, so you don’t really get to see it in detail.. and there are lots of very detailed types of measures. The hosp I am at tends to give annual appts with a sleep physiologist, who downloads the data, reports on it, and sorta out equipment issues. You can specifically ask to see some of the results at these appointments - although these are from the cpap in use, so oxygen levels won’t really be dropping very much at all.

Show quote history

Ok, will ask at appointment today for indie from study

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LlamaNoDrama · 14/08/2025 19:19

My dh has just contacted his gp re his snoring and I'm sure he has sleep apnea. They want him to go for blood tests first though. Does anyone know why? Thanks.

Original poster
PermanentlySleepyZzz · 18/08/2025 18:26

LlamaNoDrama · 14/08/2025 19:19

My dh has just contacted his gp re his snoring and I'm sure he has sleep apnea. They want him to go for blood tests first though. Does anyone know why? Thanks.

They had me do the same thing. My doctor explained that they have to rule out any other causes before referring to the sleep clinic otherwise they can reject the referral.

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Original poster
PermanentlySleepyZzz · 18/08/2025 18:30

I just wanted to say thank you to all who responded to my post. I have now got my machine with the ‘pillows’ rather than a full mask and have used for 4 days. It is taking getting used to as I wake up thinking it’s fallen off or worried I’m going to turn over and pull the tube 🤪 but it’s getting easier now. All your advice really helped so thanks for taking the time xxxx

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