Sleep Apnoea

[typhoonsmum]

Hi all,

I haven't been on this site in a while and a lot has changed. I split from my childrens father back in april and have dedicated myself to the kids since.
Recently however I have met a new man and he is really nice and great with the kids. My problem arises when he told me the other week he suffers from sleep apnoea and has to wear an oxygen mask to sleep with. I was fine with this till the first night he stayed over (the kids were out with their dad) I couldn't sleep or look at him knowing he had the mask on. I now find myself trying to think of reasons why he can't stay over (when the kids are out)
I do really like him but I'm having difficulty adjusting to the mask. Has anyone any experience of this and any idea how to cope. If I can't get used to it how will the children when he eventually stays over when they are in the house.

"If I can't get used to it how will the children when he eventually stays over when they are in the house."

This line tells me you are thinking ahead and want to get used to it. Talk to him about it, tell him how it makes you feel I'm sure he will understand, he had to get used to it himself.

My dad has just been diagnosed with this and it is very scary to think what could happen, your OH mask is a life saving device and you will get used to it in time, but you need to tell him how you feel.

HTH

DH has sleep apnoea and is on CPAP - tbh, the mask has never bothered me, but since the alternative is him snoring terribly (as well as the health effects for him), it's an easy choice. My ds is totally unworried by it - it's daddy's puff puff (like his inhaler spacer).

Is it a full face mask that he uses ? DH only has a nasal mask, and maybe thats not so intimidating

My FIL has one, and it took MIL a while ot het used to it.

But it is much better then snoring

I've only heard him snore the once. He stayed over christmas night and fell asleep without it and the snoring was quite loud as soon as he put the mask on he was silent. Hardly knew he was there until I turned around.
He has a nasal mask and after I wrote that post I looked it up more on the internet and I see how much of a life saver it is and what health issues it can cause and I feel slightly stupid for even worrying about it.
I suppose if I had been with him a while and he was diagnosed I'd just accept it but to go into a new relationship with it was hard but it is just night time. During the day he is pratically perfect. If his only fault is that he sleeps with an oxygen mask then I should stop complaining really

I'm glad that you are coming to terms with it . If I ever had to go into a relationship again, I'd much rather have a dp with a cpap than a chronically snoring one - in fact I think snoring would be an absolute no no !

Hi, I have sleep apnoea and am on CPAP. My h prefers me wearing the mask (I only have a nasal one) than not because otherwise I am too noisy. If it slips off in the night he wakes me up to tell me to put it on!

Maybe ask him to tell you about it and take it apart it so it dosnt seem to intimidating and you know more about it.

My kids dont have a problem with it- in fact they think its hilarious to switch the machine off whilst I am sleeping so I can barely breathe

dh has a cpap due to sleep apnoea too, I prefer it to his snoring an also if something has happened and he hasn't had the cpap on for long in the night he is unbearable the next day due to tiredness.
DH & I nearly split up because of his snoring but we are fine now that he has more energy with having the cpap machine