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A year ago I may have thought this was an exaggerated subject, but today I'd have to stress how serious this problem is. I just spent 10 days in the hospital diagnosed with heart failure due to Sleep Apnea. My weight and cronic snoring were symptons of the conditions, but fatique and the need to rest throughout the day, caused by pneumoina, were what brought me to press the Dr. for an answer to why I felt like I did. The blow to my chest around Halloween brought me to seek medical help. The results are at this time - I have an enlarged heart with greatly reduced pumping capacity. I am wearing a life vest, which is a defibulator 24 hours a day until it is determined if a permentant implant is needed. Further sleep studies will be taken Monday. If you feel you may have this problem on someone dear to you may have it, get it taken care of immediently. This is a very serious matter.
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Santo,keep you'r attitude up, everything will work out fine.
One of the hot shots at Letterville & myself have Sleep Apnea. If we can handle it, anyone can.
We have joked about the air breathing machine we have to wear while sleeping,[private joke...caution this machine may cause facial farts]
About your heart...It's only a pump, sounds so simple, right.
11 years ago I had a vieral infection that settled next to my heart.My own bodys imune system attaked the viras & my heart also.
Ended up w/ Idiopathic Cardiomyapathy...yada,yada, my cardiac function was at only 20 percent infraction rate.
Dr. said my heart would never get any better.
I studied up on the heart. Within one year got infraction up to 35 then 55 percent,by taking vit. & suplements.That help make that little pump stonger.
Knock on wood,Three Pacemakers later I'm still here making signs & enjoying life,wife, children & grand children.
-------------------- Kent Moss Greg Moss Signs Posts: 363 | From: Wilbraham, MA / Charleston,SC | Registered: Nov 2003
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Not a "hot shot" but I have has Apnea since 1988.
After treatment, I found other problems were solved. Kent is right. It is serious. Just find a Dr. you trust, and stick by your treatment. It'll work out fine.
[ December 17, 2004, 07:59 AM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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I shared a room with someone using a CPAP machine at a letterhead meet and didn't find it disturbing. I'd heard about it from several friends also. Then that day came when I went in for a sleep study and only stopped breathing 79 times in 4 hours. Been over a year now since I started using that machine and I actually look forward to it so I can get real rest. Part of the test to determine if it is working is when you're asked if you get tired during the daytime and you honestly reply "NO."
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6714 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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My Brother-in-Law recently underwent a double by-pass. While in the hospital, they discovered he had sleep apnea.
They couldn't get him to wear the CPAP, but while was in the hospital...they had to go back in, so he was in there quite a while...he lost over 30 pounds and his apnea reduced so he doesn't wear anything now that he is home.
I feel for those that have to wear anything like that to get a good nights sleep and hope you get better soon.
-------------------- Rove Gratz Gratz Signs 342 Walden Station Drive Macon, GA 31216 rovegratz@aol.com Home Page: http://rove-342.tripod.com Posts: 861 | From: Macon, GA 31216 | Registered: Jan 2004
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Santo, Mee too! I got the machine. Now I know a whole load of people who use one. (I don't have the heart probs tho.)
Got my machine about 2 years ago. Started falling asleep at the office after a full night sleep. Often woke up with bad headaches. Got ear infections. Had all the usual complications.
No more problems now work the entire day without a nap. Its real magic.
One word of experience. Elevate your bed head at least one brick level. The machine pumps air into your face and somethimes it will get into yer stomach while sleeping. Thus, acid could creep up into yer esophagus and cause some problems.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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I use one too. I just got it. I only had one incident of apnea but out of 5.1 hrs of sleep, I only went into deep sleep for 35 minutes. No wonder I was always tired.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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i have apnea, my heart stops over 200 times a night.my son also has it. i exist with very little sleep. i am on 24 hour 0/2. i cannot tolerate a cpap machine, but my son swears by it. he is a truck driver and before he got his machine,he constantly was falling asleep at the wheel. he has improved immensely. it is a burden, but i am still here, and improving daily. i am taking off weight, that has helped a lot. a lot of people have it. take care all.
-------------------- Faye Welsh (fiddles) 4848 cherry street allison park, pa. 15101 fiddles51@yahoo.com Posts: 259 | From: 4848 Cherry St. Allison Park,Pa. 15101 | Registered: Dec 2001
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I shared a room at the Mazeppa Winter Muster with Donald and Ryan and caught so much grief about my snoring that I finally went and did the sleep clinic study. I've had my CPAP unit since August and my wife doesn't need earplugs anymore.
I was told after the initial study that I stopped breathing 114 times in 4 hours, once for as long as 73 seconds - try doing that while you're awake. If this sounds like you, take care of it before you wind up in the hospital. Thanks, Santo, for bringing this up, hope you're doing better. If anyone has any questions about the sleep clinic or the CPAP machine, feel free to e-mail me.
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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My name is Jed and I have sleep apnea, there I admit it. I'm a closet Darth Vader.... I was diagnosed 4 years ago at age 34, they said I stopped breathing over 50 times an hour.
Now my wife can get a good nights sleep instead of listening for me to stop breathing and smacking me in the arm to get me started.
I use a Bi-Pap it allows you to exhale without as much resistance. The mask I use is a C-pap Pro C-PAP PRO WEB SITE , it uses a bite guard with nose pillows. Nice thing is that it allows you to roll over onto your side without dislodging the mask.
You don't realize just how much sleep you are missing untill you get a full night without running low on O2.
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My wife bought me this sling-thing (doesn't work - don't waste your money) that I nicknamed "the head panty". I think it would be much coole to be Darth Vader.
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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I was diagnosed 4 years ago at age 34, they said I stopped breathing over 50 times an hour. 
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