Sleep Apnea Treatment

Question by skye skye: His obesity is ruining our relationship!?
I’m at wits end here. I do love my fiance, but his weight is ruining everything. He has gained 60lbs over the past two years and just keeps gaining more. I think is ridiculous – but it happens. Problem is, he won’t do anything about it. And just to put out there, no he hasn’t gained weight due to any underlying medical issues. He’s simply gained weight due to not leading a healthy lifestyle. (which he lead when we met) In fact, his weight gain is actually CAUSING medical problems. He was a little chubby when I met him – so this 60 lb. weight gain has him tipping the scales of being moderately obese. (according to his doctor) His obesity has caused him to get obstructive sleep apnea, as well as high blood pressure & low testosterone levels. (not sure if the low testosterone levels are specifically caused by him being obese – but the doctor says that weight loss might bring his levels back around normal)Now we are currently waiting to see if he has fertility issues due to the low testosterone levels. To me that is just the icing on the cake. My biggest goal & desire in life is to be a mother. And now I feel like his obesity is starting to invade in our relationship. I’ve just gotten to the point that I’m over him being fat and I’m getting to the point that I’m over him. Him being fat has ruined our relationship! We can no longer go to the beach because he feels self conscious, we’ve had to start buying more food because he eats so much, and not to mention is has completely destroyed our sex life. His low testosterone level has made him uninterested in sex – as well as my sexual advances. In a way I’m happy about this because the thought of him crushing me during sex or having to grab onto his fat rolls simply disgusts me. I’m not claiming to be perfect, so do not take this as me just bashing him. But to get it out there – yes I am in shape, and yes I lead a healthy lifestyle. I have tried everything to get him to follow suit, to no avail. He refuses to go to the gym because he feels like “people are staring at him”, he refuses to walk or jog because it’s too hot outside (we live in FL), he refuses to diet because he says he doesn’t want to be starving all the time, & he won’t go see a nutritionist or dietician because he claimes he works too much to fit it into his schedule. His doctor has given him a CPAP machine to help with his sleep apnea, which he does not use – because “it’s annoying”. And he has refused any help from the doctor in referring him to weight loss programs or the like again to his “busy work schedule”. Simply put – he refuses to do anything about his weight, but expects everyone just to deal with him being fat. I have tried the whole “we can exercise” and “we can diet” – which hasn’t worked one bit. I have tried not bringing junk in the house, he just goes and buys it himself. I have tried everything, nothing has worked. His sleep apnea has caused us to sleep in seperate rooms (due to me not sleeping well next to his snoring), we have no sex life (it has literally been over 4 months), and our electric bill & grocery bill has gone up due to him always being “hot” and eating too much. Our relationship has dwindled… I love him, but I’m ready to give up. Has anyone been through this or have any advice? (serious only) Just to add, we are not married and have no kids.
**And I do agree that if a woman does this same thing she is just as guilty. Anyone (man or woman) who becomes this unhealthy and overweight due to pure laziness is wrong. Those who have valid medical causes (ie thyroid, being pregnant, etc) have some room to stand on. But they’re ailment definitely shouldn’t become a crutch or excuse to continue to be unhealthy.
Before people jump my case for being a cold hearted b*tch. I do love him, if I didn’t I wouldn’t have tried in the first place. I would have left him at the first signs of weight gain. To say that I’ve never loved him or even that I despise him (as one person so kindly put) is ludicrous. What I despise is the fact that he shows a lack of concern for our relationship – and our future. I despise the fact that he’d rather cram a ho-ho down his throat and play video games than do something to make himself healthier. And I despise the fact that there is nothing else I can do. Which is why I’m asking for advice – not insults.

Best answer:

Answer by Sue B
blah, blah blah………….then don’t marry him

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Question by tammer: Anyone had problems with sleep apnea during pregnancy….?
Im 11 weeks pregnant with twins, my dr sent me for a sleep study because I am so tired and have not been sleeping well. They said that when i get into a deep sleep my oxygen level drops in half. Yjey put a c pap on me for the second half of the test and still didnt see much improvment. Anyone eles had this? Really worried about the babies. I have been so stressed like they need anymore stress.
They******************* sorry for any typos

Best answer:

Answer by Crackers
Why it happens
Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by loud snoring and brief, involuntary breathing pauses during sleep. (The Greek word apnea means “want of breath.”)

Sleep apnea sufferers may briefly stop breathing and then wake with a gasp, start, or snort as many as a hundred times a night or more. People with sleep apnea rarely remember these episodes in the morning, although they may wonder why they feel so tired all the time.

Obesity is a major risk factor for sleep apnea, and some experts believe that pregnancy may also make you more susceptible, particularly in the third trimester. The heavier you are to begin with and the more weight you gain during pregnancy, the more likely you are to have trouble breathing at night because of the extra tissue in your neck and throat.

Other factors that make you more likely to snore during pregnancy, such as swollen nasal passages, may also put you at a higher risk for sleep apnea. Higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy contribute to swelling in the mucous membranes lining the nose and can even cause you to make more mucus. Also, the amount of blood in your body increases and your blood vessels expand during pregnancy, which can lead to swollen nasal membranes as well.
What you can do about it
If your partner notices that you’re snoring a lot and making periodic snorting or gasping sounds in your sleep, be sure to mention it to your doctor or midwife so you can be evaluated for sleep apnea.

When you periodically stop breathing, the amount of oxygen in your blood drops temporarily. If left untreated, sleep apnea can take a toll on your health, and some research suggests it may affect your baby’s growth as well. Sleep apnea is also linked to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disorders. And feeling tired during the day increases your risk of falling asleep at work, while you’re driving, or while you’re caring for your other children.

If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may be given a special mouth guard to wear at night to keep your airway open. If the apnea is severe, your doctor may have you wear a mask that’s hooked up to a machine that provides a steady flow of air while you sleep to help keep you breathing normally. Most people are amazed by how much better they feel during the day soon after they begin using this device at night.

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Question by chad_mercure2001: sleep, exersice, enviroment related asthma?
Unbalanced Dysfunctional Breathing disorder, asthma sleep apnea gerds and sleep insomnia I like to get more information about asthma symptom while sleeping and at work and while exercising. polease help about my disorder i have. i have allergy asthma, gerds acid reflex, sleep apnea and insomia. I have breathing problem and gag reflexes get hot flashes dizzy spells extream headaches pounding headache throbbing headache and dizzy spell once a month. headache every day. cough every day i don’t smoke or do any drugs. little over weight and have breathing problem while sleeping please help. i was thining about getting an oxygen machine and mask to sleep with. WHat about falling asleep with a nebulizer and meds please help me understand what Unbalanced Dysfunctional Breathing disorder is. I had a spell yester day morning after a shower i got a hot flash and dizzy spell with headhace dry hacking gaging cough with the burps. I sat down and felt fine. WIth exersice induce asthma can i useoxygen

Best answer:

Answer by HisServ
I’m not sure exactly what your question is, but I did find what seems to be a good website on Unbalanced Dysfunctional Breathing. I’ll post the link: http://www.breathing.com/articles/udb.htm

Also you mentioned something about sleep apnea. This is a disorder in which you stop breathing while you are sleeping for a period of somewhere between 10 secs and 1 min before you breath again. If you want more information about this you can go to the forum:
http://www.cpaptalk.com
and they will help you out.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

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Question by jerry w: My four year seems to have sleep apnea. And she is overweight we are working on all of this?
by trying to help her lose weight and she is going to a sleep study. the doctor will then decide if she needs her tonsils out. My husband has sleep apnea. I am concerned for her to sleep.
How dangerous is this condition for a four year old. Yes we are working on the weight and she is still getting testing done. My question is …is there a chance children can pass away with this?
I may be to worried about something that can be easily fixed with diet and surgery. I find myself going to check on her …thru the night.

Best answer:

Answer by Minileo
It is not unusual for chubby 4 year old, to have large tonsils and adenoids resulting in snoring and short periods of sleep apnea. As the child grows the size of the tonsils and adenoids will also regress. The only problem is, regression to an adult sized tonsil and adenoid is not complete until the child is in her teens.
Short periods of apnea is tolerable, but prolonged apnea lasting more than 15 secs. is a problem, since tissue oxygenation drops as a result of poor lung ventilation. To compensate for this poor oxygenation, the heart has to increase its output by increasing its rate of pumping. If this persist for years, the heart’s size will enlarge, and because of extra work the heart tires and starts to fail.
Keep close touch with your pediatrician and sleep center.

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Question by Pancake Guy: Parents in separate bedrooms?
My parents sleep in separate bedrooms and I don’t know why. My dad snores loudly, but that’s the only reason I could think of. Now has a sleep apnea mask, so he doesn’t snore. So, I don’t see why they don’t sleep together. Should I ask? They’ve been sleeping separate since I was 3 or 4.

Best answer:

Answer by Play nice, children
It’s not that strange. Many couples, especially couples who have been married for many years, sleep in separate beds/rooms.

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