Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Serious question: Do any Clydes suffer from sleep apnea?

Between 2007 and November of this year I gained 30 pounds. Eating became my friend as I was dealing with some personal issues. During that time I have developed sleep apnea per my wife's observation. I know weight loss will help solve this issue, but in the mean time do I take this seriously and get on one of those machines? I have read about the possible results of ignoring it. Just wondering if any of you clydes have dealt with it or are dealing with it. It seems to affect my energy level during the day which is affecting my cycling. I began cycling again in early November and have begun to lose weight again, but not enough to cause the apnea to go away. Just curious.:(

I don't know if I suffer from Sleep Apnea or not. I do know I snore like a freight train and wake up several times during sleep. Combine this with working deep nights and trying to get quality sleep during the day light hours leaves me feeling tired most of the time.

Any time I have time off my sleep schedule is all kinds of whacked out. Any time after about noon time and my body feels like it wants to go to bed. I also struggle with falling asleep really early in the evening and waking up in around 3:00 AM when I'm taking time off work.

Check wiht your doctor. I they diagnose it and prescribe one of those machines your insurance should help cover the cost for a rental machine. After you've lost enough weight and improved enough so that the apnea is not a problem then you simply get your doctor to agree and you stop using it.

Yes, it is serious, you could die. And as you say, it is affecting your energy level and your efforts to lose weight. That alone makes it very serious.... In addition to the death thing.

^^ Yeah, the "death thing" caught my attention.

when my doctor told me i probably had it several years ago, he told me, don't worry you can't die from it or anything! all i know is that i weighed about 270 then and i weigh about 215 now. i sleep a lot better. i have heard that those machines work wonders if you can get used to sleeping with one.

good luck, mike

when my doctor told me i probably had it several years ago, he told me, don't worry you can't die from it or anything! all i know is that i weighed about 270 then and i weigh about 215 now. i sleep a lot better. i have heard that those machines work wonders if you can get used to sleeping with one.

good luck, mike


Thanks Mike. I think I am going to see how my weight loss goes this coming season. If I still have the same weight (250) this fall as I do now I will go get checked. I don't remember having that problem when my weight was closer to 200.

I have massively sever apnea and my doctor was shocked I was still alive. He told me that 60% of the people have some form of apnea, some worse than others and it's not just a weight thing. Mine is actually genetic based on how my throat and tongue are built. And yes, you can die, but not from the apnea, but from the heart attack you have from when you quit breathing for 45 seconds out of every mins. Brings on a lot of stress on the body.

If you are having issues you need to have it checked out. I waited for 10+ years cause I was stupid and now realize the best thing I ever did was get a sleep test. I have been using the CPAP for almost 3 years now and it was one of the best thing I ever did.

I have sleep apnea and have been using the CPAP for about 12 years.

I love it.

I was diagnosed at a sleep clinic, which is actually the worst part. You have to spend a night being observed while you "sleep". You are hooked up to various wires and watched all night.

Apnea is serious! I think that now you don't have to go to a sleep clinic anymore. They give you a "diagnostic" machine that monitors your sleep at home and then you return it for the diagnosis. If you need a CPAP or a BiPAP machine you will not only save your life but will sleep like a baby!

I know I have been on a BiPAP machine and it saved my life!
Go get evaluated.

I'm not a Clydesdale: I weigh just 135lb, but I do have obstructive sleep apnea (my airway collapses at the end of exhalation during sleep). I had to quit cycling for several years until my problem was diagnosed and treated. Major health hazards result from the chronic stress imposed upon your body caused by lack of oxygen to vital organs (especially the heart). Right now, you may not be feeling anything, but those degenerative effects are accumulating, nevertheless. Weight loss may reduce some of the stress and risks involved, but will not eliminate the underlying problem. Sleep apnea has no cure; it doesn't go away. There are, however, a number of effective treatments, including surgery, dental inserts for use at night, and the CPAP (which is what I use). Despite the mask discomfort, I now swear by it; using it has changed my life. Don't ignore this condition, or try to treat it on your own; consult your health care provider.

Here are a few informative sites:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sleepapnea.html
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/SleepApnea/SleepApnea_WhatIs.html
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sleep_apnea/sleep_apnea.htm
http://www.sleepapnea.org/info/index.html

Matt RN

I used to. I also used to snore. Mine was caused by the weight, though I expect there is a genetic tendency as my dad has a CPAP machine of some sort.

When I lost weight, it went away.

I'm another with Apnea. I've got the whole schmear with apnea and restless leg both. I take a pill for the restless leg and have a machine for the apnea. The machine works pretty well most of the time, and I have no complaints. I will note that my machine is a Bi-Pap (Bi-Level Continuous Positive Air Pressure), as opposed to just a Cpap. The difference is that a Bi-Pap uses one pressure (higher) for inhalation and another for exhalation.

I was also diagnosed by a clinic that specializes in sleep disorders. They had me come in for an overnight stay to begin. They hooked me up to a bunch of monitors and told me to go to sleep. Once they had a baseline, they tried a couple of different machines and levels on me. After my doctor got the results, she wrote out a prescription for a machine, which was covered 100% by my insurance. I now go back to her once every 6 months or so.

Sleep apnea can be a real problem. More importantly to me on a daily basis, though, is the fact that I get a better nights sleep, meaning that I only fall asleep when my wife or boss is trying to have a "meaningful conversation" :)

There is a side benefit to using a cpap, at least for me there is. I have had mine about 4 yrs and I dream like crazy. Every night is like going to the movies! I guess it's the result of spending more time in rem sleep. I hardly ever got there before. During my sleep study I had hundreds of apnea episodes in 7 hrs.

I use a BiPAP as well. Best thing I ever did.

I have severe sleep apnea and COPD, diagnosed last year. The doctor told me that I was about as serious as you can get, I had 30 apneas within the first hour of my sleep study! I also work 3rd shift so I've had a hard time adjusting because my sleep patterns are so erratic.

I would definately get it checked out because it can kill you or at the very least make your life miserable. A good nights sleep is an amazing thing.

Wow. Great feedback and I thank you for taking the time to respond. My dad had it, but never did anything about it. He did die of a heart attack, but not sure it was related since he smoked. We have a sleep center here in town. I am going to make an appointment this week.:eek:

My wife told me repeatedly that when I was around 300 lbs. I would stop breathing for long periods of time followed by a massive snore.

Now at just under 190 she says I don't do it anymore but that I do snore if I've been drinking. No more stopping of the breathing.

Mine seemed to have been weight related. I used to feel awful all day every day and never felt refreshed waking up. Now I sleep like a rock for 6 hours or so, and here the past couple weeks for 8 hours for some reason and feel like a champ when I wake up.

John

My wife told me repeatedly that when I was around 300 lbs. I would stop breathing for long periods of time followed by a massive snore.

Now at just under 190 she says I don't do it anymore but that I do snore if I've been drinking. No more stopping of the breathing.

Mine seemed to have been weight related. I used to feel awful all day every day and never felt refreshed waking up. Now I sleep like a rock for 6 hours or so, and here the past couple weeks for 8 hours for some reason and feel like a champ when I wake up.

John

I did not have it when I weighed 200 or less, so I am hoping mine diagonsis will be just that. I hope it is temporary, because I really want to lose the weight.

you probably still have it, but it was not as exposed when you had less weight on you neck area. I think Bridgerider said it the best.

I work in a clinic and have friendly banter from time to time with staff in our sleep lab. Research indicates that a lot more people than you would ever realize are suffering from sleep apnea, and it isn't just people who are overweight. There are a lot of treatments for the condition, but the lead pulmonologist is a huge fan of the CPAP machines. His opinion is that other methods can sometimes work for people with minor symptoms, but the CPAP machine works on almost everyone.

It isn't a trivial undertaking though. I went through the lab testing (spend the night hooked up to over a dozen sensors while being recorded and filmed) and subsequent prescription a couple of years ago, and as a result I have a CPAP machine. It is different for different people, but I adjusted to it quite quickly. I didn't really think it was helping, but my wife loves it because I don't snore any longer.

After losing 75 pounds, I got re-tested and it was determined that I still needed it at the same setting as my original weight. I don't have more than 25 more pounds or so to lose and I will be at a pretty ideal weight. I will presumably still need the CPAP machine even though I will no longer be overweight.

The health benefits of proper sleep are huge, as you already have researched. You should discuss this with your doctor. At the very least that conversation should result in a sleep study being scheduled. After that, you will know for sure. You will probably be amazed how many times you are shaken out of REM sleep each night (your study results will show in amazing detail).

I use a machine; it helps; I can barely hear it, and my fiancee comments that she desn't know if it's on unless she checks. It wasn't hard to get used to.

Thanks for the encouraging words. I will keep you posted. I called today and am scheduled tomorrow to sit with a nurse to complete some forms/surveys. There is no doubt I have it. I even scare myself sometime when I wake up fighting just to breathe.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 6 years ago. Went to the sleep clinic, the whole 9 yards. I sleep with the CPAP machine, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I didn't realize the poor quality of sleep I was getting until I started using the machine. Get yourself tested if you think you may need the machine. It's a great help if you do. Good Luck.

HI,
Most people love the CPAP after they get thru the adjustment period. My problem was made worse when I put the mask on to tight, it can and will bruise your face if its to tight.
I found that after some practice you need to learn how to pull the mask away from your face after attachment the air pressure to flair the seal this allow the mask to work better.
My cpap test was so bad the tech came in and put a mask on me, he said I was scaring him when I stopped breathing 29 times and hour.:innocent:
No wonder I was so tired all the time and that question about falling asleep at a red light was very true for me..
Doug

I was drinking two pots of coffee a day to function.and my wife sleeps better now she loves that I don't snore anymore..
psps My work was shocked how much my personality improved being tired does make you snappy and grumpy.

I will add to all the raves for the CPAP. I was surprised how easy it was for me to adjust to having the mask on my face. It helps me get better sleep, helps with the "death thing," and has probably kept my marriage together as well (snoring). Sometimes, when I go out of town and forget to bring my machine, I notice how much less rested I feel the next day.

Went in for my initial consult and they had a cancellation for the night test so I will be spending the night in a strange bed with wires attached to everything. I easily could be one that they wake up early. I just have that feeling. What I found interesting that apena produces a chemical that slows the metabolism as well as ******* any effort to lose weight. Also I am hoping my resting pulse and blood pressure drops as a result. This has really opened my eyes. I only wish I had done this a couple of years ago when the symptoms began to appear.

Good luck. I lost 10 lbs within 2 weeks of using my CPAP and my doc said that is normal.

Good luck. I lost 10 lbs within 2 weeks of using my CPAP and my doc said that is normal.

I hope that is the case with me.:thumb:

Good Luck GW! Hopefully it brings about a solution!

I've found that I can't sleep without my BiPaP! I was tested about 3 years ago after I was spending more time in meetings asleep than awake and I almost go to the point that I couldn't drive more than 20 minutes before I was a Zombie.

I have a double whammy, I have to sleep with a chin strap too. My fly catcher drops open and causes severe dry mouth along with a really strange sound from the BiPap. Tooks me longer to get used to the chinstrap than anything.

After the first three or four nights, I felt like I was 10 ft tall and bullet proof!!!

I'm trying to figure out how to tour with one!!!

I too am a cpap user, it works well. If you are diagnosed with apnea use the machine. A truck driver in my area was diagnosed with it and never used it and one day he had an accident and caused a death and the first thing the insurance co. did was pull his smart card from his machine and it showed he was not using it. I think he was convicted with man slaughter. So use it if you need it.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about six years ago and went onto a CPAP machine the next week,It took me about three nights to get used to the thing but I noticed a diference the first morning.About three years ago I went on a hunting trip and was not using it thinking that it would be all right not to use it for a week or two as there was be no power in camp Big mistake I woke up in the middle of the third night with a very irregular bounding pulse and made my way into the hospital an hour and a half later(yes we were that far out in the bush),spent the rest of the night in the emergency room wired up for sound and what have you,took all night to get back to a regular pulse and normal blood pressure.After passing a stress test the cardiologist released me on the condition that I would behave myself and use my machine. The next fall I had a battery powered machine and have had no problems since. The machine is the AEIO Everest. The battery is good for eight to ten hours.The unit is very portable so one should be able to tour with it and recharge the battery when you get a chance.

I have sleep apnea. I found myself falling asleep during the day. What a terrible feeling. I was told that if I lost a goodly amount of weight I could "probably" stop using the machine.

I feel a lot better knowing that I am not alone. I hope that does not sound too selfish on my part. In any case the hardest part is finding the right face piece and using the cpap on a regular basis. I use soap and water as well as white vinegar to clean the tubing and stuff. I do as once a week!

I had the tech take a camera phone pic of me all wired up prior to getting into bed. If I could figure out how to transfer that photo from my phone to the web I would post it here. Anyway they told me going in that if I had 30 events per hour or more they would have to stop the test and wake me up and install the CPAP. Well, about 12:30AM they woke me up. I was having 50 apnea events per hour. Once they put the CPAP mask on me I slept like a baby until the 5AM wake up call. Cannot wait to get mine here at the house. Hopefully in the next week.

Damn, welcome to my world. Your score will be pretty high up, around 80-105. Mine was 103 and I did the same, woken up about 1:30 as they rolled in the crash cart as I was making them panic. :lol:

Well, the good news is there is a solution.

For the record, this thread has really been thought provoking. I snore like a freight train and have a lot of the awake time tiredness many have mentioned. I work deep nights and have pretty much always used that as a rationale for the tired feeling, even though I know it could be more serious.

I think it's time for a check up.

Thanks to everyone who posted real life experiences.

Is snoring a common or sure sign of apnea. I don't snore and I work continental shift and some days it's all I can do to stay awake. I should mention when I was over 300lbs I snored like a frieght train and would often wake gasping for breath, I also smoked then to. As stated i no longer snore or smoke but I never feel totally rested. I'm always blaming work' and the amount of exercise I do. I'm due for a physical in January so may be time to talk to the doc about this.

Without being tested you cannot determine how many apnea events you have during a night. Your % of oxygen in the blood goes way down. Snoring is one symptom. Being 50 years of age and old is another, having a neck size greater than 17 inches is another. Feeling tired when you wake up and a hypertension and a higher than normal resting pulse is another. I thought I was only have about 2-3 apnea events a night. I was tested having 54.1 per hour. >30 per hour is considered severe. I will be on my machine Friday evening. There is also a chemical that results from apnea that ******* the weight loss process.
I just know when they can in and woke me up at 12:30am and had by regulations put me on the CPAP (pronounced see-PAP) machine the remain 4 hours were as peaceful and restful as I can remember. I have gone so long this way I have forgotten what a good night sleep is really like. I have to confess my pride kept me away from getting tested, because I saw that as something I could correct on my own.
It would never hurt to get tested. If nothing else a peace of mind that you won't have a stroke or heart attack in bed. By the way the machine got rid of my snoring too. My wife will be happy.

I used to snore and have sleeping issues before I started dropping weight. No issues now.

I don't know yet what I have but I don't sleep worth a darn. Maybe 4 to 5 hours a night and I repeatedly wake up usually about once an hour. I stay sleepy all the time and feel mentally burned out. It has definately made it harder for me to ride my bike since I stay so worn out. My wife says I snore really loud when I sleep and she says I also sound like I am choking in my sleep. I plan on going to my doctor in the next couple of weeks because it is getting worse and I just can't stand it anymore.

I love this thread. If this discussion has helped people who may have Apnea to get evaluated then I think it should be considered a real success.

If after an positive diagnosis for Apnea you should know the difference between an CPAP and a BiPap machine. I am on the BiPap (which changes air pressure on exhalation and inhalation). I had trouble adjusting to a CPAP (which delivers one level of air pressure at all times). I was given a choice. I don't know how MD's are doing that now, nor do I know what CPAP users think about their system.

Best of luck and if you start using the machine as prescribed you will have your life changed. As I said I totally believe that it saved my life.

Happy New Year!

Is snoring a common or sure sign of apnea.

Snoring is a partial airway blockage caused by the tongue; the noise is air forcig it's way past the tongue. Apnea events are full blockages, where the tongue blocks the airway enough that the lungs don't manage to force air past the tongue. Sleep apnea is thus basically a more serious form of snoring, for most practical purposes.

I do electronics repair on a sleep recorder that is used in the home to collect the data for sleep doctors to analyse. So, I'm in close working proximity to a doctor that has specialized in sleep apnea for 30 years. His inventions have changed the way the world treats sleep apnea.

What I noticed is just in the last 2 years, my boss is talking about the connection between sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. And, he's not just talking about an indirect connection from weight gain. He's making reference to a new study that was recently published.

Lets not forget about the increased risk of automobile accidents, or getting fired on the job due to sleeping or impaired performance.

Everytime a new study comes out, or old data is reviewed by a medical association, the severity and risks from sleep apnea are revised. It has already become one of the nasties that increases your risk for other nasties, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, etc.

BTW, it's not just a symptom of weight gain. Toronto clinics have data that show extreme sleep apneic patients that are able to sleep without respiratory disturbances for hours at a time. This leads them to investigate the chemical feedback system in your body....ie what is causing apnea some of the time?yet the patient breathes well some of the time?

the results are interesting(at least to me), they are able to treat obstructive sleep apnea with a 'low flow' CPAP. the low flow CPAP doesn't pressurize the throat like other CPAPS, instead it regulates how much of your breath gets washed out of the mask....ie your are breathing into a slightly fancier paper bag. What does this do? it changes your bodies chemical feedback system and the patients don't experience respiratory disturbances.

a few more things I'd like to add.

obstructive sleep apnea happens in the throat. It's not just a matter of excessive tissue like some overweight people may have been told. It's actually a combination of the cavity size established by bone and cartilage, AND the amount of loose tissue, too. This is why sleep apnea can occur ( or not occur) in a wide range of people that have a wide range of BMI.

just one more thing before I stop my rant - LOL

I have obstructive sleep apnea, too. I stop breathing 120 times per hour. That is considered to be pretty severe. I was diagnosed in 2001, and I have no doubt that if I was left untreated that I would have already suffered a heart attack or a stroke.

I also have high upper airway resistance in my sinuses, which makes me a mouth breather.

I use a CPAP every night, including any naps. My treatment is so effective and so dramatic, I feel better and more energetic at 380 lbs than I did at 220lbs when I was much younger and putting on weight.

I also have type 2 diabetes. high cholesteral. high blood pressure. water retension in my legs(early signs of congestive heart failure?).

Of all my conditions, the CPAP is the most effective and least risking treatment. And, it leads me wondering if I could have been healthier, if in my 20s, the medical community was more aware of high upper airway resistance and obstructive sleep apnea. I'll never know.

I had another miserable night sleeping. Since today is New Year's Day I have to wait until Friday to get fitted for my CPAP machine and mask. So last night and again tonight I will have to go through the multiple apnea events and wake up exhausted. The good news is I should sleep like a baby Friday night.
Our little group that meets at the LBS is going on a 30 miler later this morning and I already feel like I have riden 20 miles. Being 55 I sure which I had gotten checked when I turned 50 when the weight gain and apnea began to show its ugly head. Better late than never, so I am excited about Friday night and future sleeps.
I am glad this thread had stayed active and others have joined in with their experiences and expertise as well as others now questioning themselves to go get tested. A very postive topic and thread.

I did an overnight pulse oxymetry and the pulmonologist has said a sleep study might be in order. I guess I have to bite the bullet and do it.

It's real encouraging to read the rave reviews for Cpap/Bipap here. I sleep so lightly I was real concerned that having a mask on would make it very difficult to sleep at all.

Looks like for many of you the very opposite was true.

One of the concerns about CPAP usage for mild or moderate cases of sleep apnea, is compliance. About 2/3 of the patients do not remain in compliance of treatment. They find the mask is very claustophobic type experience.

My condition is so severe, I would never dream of taking the mask off in the middle of the night, but some people do this.

There are dental appliances that can be used as an alternative to a CPAP. However, the dental appliances aren't effective for all patients, so its important to be properly evaluated to see if it will work for you. Now that sleep apnea is considered more than just a 'quality of life' issue, a responsible doctor will insist on proper tests instead of just taking your word on how you feel.

I had another miserable night sleeping. Since today is New Year's Day I have to wait until Friday to get fitted for my CPAP machine and mask. So last night and again tonight I will have to go through the multiple apnea events and wake up exhausted. The good news is I should sleep like a baby Friday night.

Our little group that meets at the LBS is going on a 30 miler later this morning and I already feel like I have riden 20 miles. Being 55 I sure which I had gotten checked when I turned 50 when the weight gain and apnea began to show its ugly head. Better late than never, so I am excited about Friday night and future sleeps. I am glad this thread had stayed active and others have joined in with their experiences and expertise as well as others now questioning themselves to go get tested. A very postive topic and thread.

I agree, I know that when I was tested an had the CPAP on for those 4 hours, that by far was the best rest I'd had in years and then I had to wait a week to get my machine and fitted for the mask. I called my docs office to see if I could rent one until I got the OK, from my insurance. I never sleep without it and as a prior post mentioned, low to mod apnea patients will not wear theirs, my wife is an example of that and then complain about not sleeping good.

Some side notes:

I have found when I have a stuffy head, that my CPAP actually forces the sinus to open a little since I no longer breathe through my mouth, so you might feel sore throats more often in those cases as the drainage may go down your throat when you are using it. I tried the warm salt water up the nasal passages thing to clear them out, lets just say, never again :notamused:. Also, when you are sick, make sure you wash the mask with soap and water. I will wipe mine down with baby wipes each day normally, but when I am sick, it's soap and water.

I shaved the beard and mustache off. I had those for 20 years, my kids and wife never new me without them and since it was all grey anyway, I look younger now :lol:, but it really did help keep a better seal.

Your skin will need to get used to the mask and you might get some irritation from where it sits at first. I had some rubbing and raw skin right at the base of my nose where it meets my upper lip. Was really sore for about 2 to 3 weeks until it cleared up. I thought I might have the mask too tight so I loosened it up, and that made it worse.

Mine has a function to heat the water, I think all the new ones have this, I found that if the heat is up to high, it really creates condensation in the tubing at night when room is cold during the winters. Then as I turn or reposition myself, I was having water run into the mask from the tube. I turn the heat down to a fairly low temp, just enough to take the edge off the tap water.

Finally, lets talk water. If you have a water reservoir, they will tell you to put bottled or distilled water in it. My doc told me that if you have good tap water, it is fine, but if it is hard, you will find some hard water build up in the reservoir, you will just need to clean that up a little. I have a water softener, so I don't get that, but I know someone that uses one of those britta's water pitchers as she has a well for her house. It removes a lot of the stuff from their water an she refills her tank with that each night.

I agree, I know that when I was tested an had the CPAP on for those 4 hours, that by far was the best rest I'd had in years and then I had to wait a week to get my machine and fitted for the mask. I called my docs office to see if I could rent one until I got the OK, from my insurance. I never sleep without it and as a prior post mentioned, low to mod apnea patients will not wear theirs, my wife is an example of that and then complain about not sleeping good.

Some side notes:

I have found when I have a stuffy head, that my CPAP actually forces the sinus to open a little since I no longer breathe through my mouth, so you might feel sore throats more often in those cases as the drainage may go down your throat when you are using it. I tried the warm salt water up the nasal passages thing to clear them out, lets just say, never again :notamused:. Also, when you are sick, make sure you wash the mask with soap and water. I will wipe mine down with baby wipes each day normally, but when I am sick, it's soap and water.

I shaved the beard and mustache off. I had those for 20 years, my kids and wife never new me without them and since it was all grey anyway, I look younger now :lol:, but it really did help keep a better seal.

Your skin will need to get used to the mask and you might get some irritation from where it sits at first. I had some rubbing and raw skin right at the base of my nose where it meets my upper lip. Was really sore for about 2 to 3 weeks until it cleared up. I thought I might have the mask too tight so I loosened it up, and that made it worse.

Mine has a function to heat the water, I think all the new ones have this, I found that if the heat is up to high, it really creates condensation in the tubing at night when room is cold during the winters. Then as I turn or reposition myself, I was having water run into the mask from the tube. I turn the heat down to a fairly low temp, just enough to take the edge off the tap water.

Finally, lets talk water. If you have a water reservoir, they will tell you to put bottled or distilled water in it. My doc told me that if you have good tap water, it is fine, but if it is hard, you will find some hard water build up in the reservoir, you will just need to clean that up a little. I have a water softener, so I don't get that, but I know someone that uses one of those britta's water pitchers as she has a well for her house. It removes a lot of the stuff from their water an she refills her tank with that each night.

Thanks Jaxgtr. Great tips. I slept so badly last night I could not finish my 30 mile ride today. The group left me at 8 miles as I headed back to my car. I had no energy. Tomorrow I get my machine. I know I am not expecting a miracle, but if it can help me sleep then I am all for it. I have a beard, not a heavy one, I trim it fairly short. The mask they used at the sleep center did fine even when I went over to my side. So, maybe I can keep mine, but it will come off if need be.

Has anyone used the CPAP Pro mask? Just curious. You never know about the testimonials on the internet, but my nurse practiconer said the ones at the sleep center who have purchased it have liked it. Seems like it might be a good alternative to the mask. Dunno.