Comments on: A Better Treatment for Sleep Apnea

By: stop sleep apnea

stop sleep apnea — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:27:25 +0000

It's amazing how much is being discovered these days about sleep apnea and its effects on health. I think people are only truly beginning to discover how much it adversely affects health and contributes to premature death. Education of both patients and doctors is the key to stop sleep apnea.

By: Lyn

Lyn — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:46:05 +0000

Thanks for posting this Mary!

Diagnosed in Apr07 with OSA with malignant hypertension (225/130 when I used to have 90-105/65-75 *sigh*), & BG >200, I was neither healthy nor happy. All following pneumonia 18 mos. earlier.

Diuetics produced a 7.5 # overnight wt loss, then nothing & no appreciable BP drop during the next 30 days. Got an emWave personal trainer from HeartMath Institure and saw BP drops to 170/80. Started ACE inhibitor and wow, wow, wow, BP dropped to 140-160/70. After weeks of non-stop coughing which only moderated with codeine so I could sleep, I was switched to Cozaar (ARF) which is much better. However, it affects my short-term memory and makes me sorta aphasic as I say words that are close but not the right word — kept thinking there’s gotta be a bettet answer to this while I’m in the worst of this physical mess as I get the weight off.

Started NCPAP 55 days ago and it’s made a huge difference in alertness and unwanted daytime falling asleep. BP is now ranging 130-150/55-70 and my hair stopped falling out (thank goodness!). I’m having trouble retaining potassium and magnesium (and I take 400 mgs/day mag citrate in divided doses!). Eating 1/3 cup dried apricots is just waay too much carb but delivers the potassium I so desperately need! Dropping the diuretic and watching my BP as recommended by my apnea specialist as it might start dropping even more. When diastolic is under 60, I start worrying.

This article makes me hopeful that if I get my mineral levels back up, I can drop the apricots
and start counting carbs again. Seems to me I felt best eating 45-55 gms/day (why does it seem so many of us all gradually eat more and forgetting what a bad decision that is? *sigh*).

Oh, glycolsylated hemo was 7, not great but not the worst. Have no idea what it is now that my #s are getting better and I’m eating less carb each day. Lost 8% of body wt, got lots to go.

Again, that’s for the article!

By: Tess Furden

Tess Furden — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 09:40:20 +0000

Definitely a shame she didn’t mention it, but not at all surprising as for some reason people refuse to see what is right in front of them. A type of blindness called stupidity. When I was obese I couldn’t sleep in a bed. I spent 8 years sleeping in a recliner; it never occurred to me I might have had sleep apnea. 3 years ago it wasn’t mentioned all that much. It was a red letter day when I had lost enough weight to sleep in a bed again and I went out and bought an adjustable one. I also have allergies that make it difficult to breathe. I have now lost 140 lbs and can’t see ever living any other way. Low carb was a life saver for me! Thank you for your wonderful blog. It truely helps keep me motivated and informed and kowledge is a powerful thing. Oh, the recliner sits unused in a corner of my living room now, an ever present remider of my fat days!

COMMENT from MD Eades: Three cheers to you for your phenomenal success in reclaiming your life, not to mention a bed to sleep in once again. Your story serves as an inspiration to all who suffer with morbid obesity and/or sleep apnea.