[Kidder]

Yes thanks for sharing.

There is a dedicated sleep apnea thread in this forum. And it was the source of my worst experience on here.

In my mid twenties I noticed I was always tired. Brain felt foggy and my mental acuity was not what it was. I was dealing with some strong depression issues so I kind of had chalked it all up to that, but then I came across the sleep apnea thread on here. The odd time I would share a sleep space I was told I snored in periodic violent fashion, so I determined I was a candidate.

People talking about similar symptoms, and how getting treated for sleep apnea transformed their life for the better. Naturally I was excited, the chance to maybe solve some of my issues and regain my mental faculties. So I went to get tested, which when dealing with the depression felt a monumental task, but also felt worth the effort.

Sure enough I was diagnosed with “mild” apnea. Which still meant waking 14-23 times an hour or something. But I was excited about the diagnoses and the chance for a remedy that others described as life changing. Despite being young and quite underweight I was a little surprised that the solution prescribed was the sleep apnea mask and machine that presumably I’d have to wear the rest of my life. So started the trials, which were out of pocket, sort of like a rent to own situation I think. I did not have a lot of money at the time (depression made it hard to work more than part time) but thought it a worthwhile investment.

The mask was horrible. I went from sleeping long hours and just never feeling rested (before I tried the machine), to barely being able to sleep at all. After a few adjustments, many weeks, and many hundreds of dollars later i abandoned the effort. I think I was left with a consultation with a dentist/specialist for thousands of dollars would fit me for some mouth guard that “could” help but the lack of money and hatred of dentists, I never followed through.

Anyway that’s my contribution. That thread has always left me jaded because I was so hopeful I had found a solution and the experience left me feeling even more lost. I don’t know how much of a factor apnea still plays in my life, but reading your cautionary tale it’s something I might have to relook into in the near future when things normalize.

I’m very sorry for your condition, and I hope you experience improvement from your current state. It sounds horrible.