squirtdad

just finished a week long road trip with my son.......listened to an interesting podcast on sleep and it's impact on overall health......not strictly weight related, but interesting

the researchers book is Why We Sleep | Book by Matthew Walker | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

the podcast is Joe Rogan (so the f-bomb is dropped on a regular basis if you care) with Matthew Walker

Junkbeast

So get this, due to my job I have a terrible schedule and I never get good sleep. I'm certain it is a contributing factor to various health concerns. However, I hold a medical certification to work so I have to be fairly healthy to pass. But, I think it's slowly kills us. I'll check this video out.

Here's my typical schedule. I average about 5 hours of sleep per night but after that Sunday night midnight shift I sleep about 3 hours Mon morning when I get home.
Thu: 1445-2245
Fri: 1315-2115
Sat: 0615-1415
Sun AM: 0530-1345
Sun PM: 2145-0615 (Mon)
Tue: day off
Wed: day off

travbikeman

Very interesting. I beg to differ that this is a weight related. Some people, myself included, before realizing they were having sleep issues, would eat a lot and drink lots of soda's or coffees to try to stay awake, not realizing they have a problem.

It is amazing the difference one night of good sleep an obese person can have after using a CPAP or BIPAP can have. It woke me up basically to realize that I kept trying to solve a problem my body was having in an incorrect manner, thus creating an obese issue. It also makes me look back at so many years I had this issue, not realizing what was happening that I was basically in a fog.

The year before going on sleep therapy, I would be in bed a good 12 hours a day with off and on sleep, nod off while talking to people, nod off at work, at home playing with the kids. Never realizing that I was doing this. I always thought it strange that family would say you just nodded off on us while talking. I would literally start a sentence, nod off, wake up and end the sentence.

Anyone else that has this kind of problems, needs to seek therapy. It helps!

europa

Falling asleep at traffic lights is fun too. I love my CPAP machine, though I'm less impressed with the modern masks, everytime they bring out a new one, the fit and security is worse than the previous.

Stormsedge

Milton Keynes

I was close if not already needing a CPAP before I started losing weight and cycling a lot. I was a heavy snorer who had to sleep on my side, if I got to snoring too loud my wife would poke me and make me turn over to my other side. But after losing the first 40 pounds I became able to sleep on my back without snoring. I still have to keep my head tilted to one side or the other when sleeping on my back or else I'll snore lightly, but it's also just much more comfortable to turn my head slightly. At any rate, my wife doesn't poke me in the middle of the night telling me to roll over any more, and I do think that I get better sleep since I often wake up before my alarm goes off.

europa

Snoring and sleep apnoea isn't necessarily associated with being overweight, being overweight simply makes it worse. I've been skinny all my life (until the last half dozen years) and had a very physical job. Yet I've always snored badly. I believe I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea about 20 years too late. Of course, now that my weight has soared, it's all got worse - being overweight doesn't necessarily cause it, but it does make it worse.

KraneXL

You ain't seen nothing yet. As time passes you will age considerably. In fact, the majority of people with the condition are overweight.

Signed, chronic insomnia.

travbikeman

I too am not impressed with the newer modern masks. The sleep study I go to has tried to get me to use the nose mask. I took a look at it and said NO! I'm still using the older full mask that covers mouth and nose. I'm not changing what works and am comfortable with.

Moriarty

I've been thinking about asking for a full face one next time I get a new mask. Not sure the nose pillow masks are helping me as much as I want them to. It's amazing how much more awareness there is of sleep apnea now. While large people like me are definitely more prone to it, I know some rail thin people who also need CPAPs at night. Of course, I also know a couple of people who likely should be using CPAPs but refuse to get checked out of fear and/or laziness. One guy told me he wouldn't get checked because he's 'always been a stomach sleeper'. I replied that I'd been a stomach sleeper, too, but the prospect of breathing through the night caused me to reconsider. He remains unconvinced.

travbikeman

After being on the BIPap for nearly 5 years now, I don't know if I would ever be comfortable enough now to get off it if and when I lose enough weight. The thought of going back to the way I used to be is scary.
I've been using the Resmed Mirage and have been happy with it.
But have been considering trying this:
Resmed ComfortGel
I need to read up on this and am curious if the cushion would last longer.

KraneXL

Been using sleeping pills to fall asleep all week. Decided to go cold-turkey and try sleeping sans pharmaceuticals. Fourteen hours later got out of bed and still feel like crap. Woke up every 2 hours on the hour (mostly due to shoulder/back pain) mind racing and thinking about every item on my agenda for the month of June. Doctor's appointment isn't until the 15th and I don't know if I can make it until then.

Brehobit

I've had the mind-racing thing from time-to-time--generally when I'm really stressed. I have found that listening to a self-hypnosis/sleep thing helps a lot. I generally can sleep well for 4 hours, wake up, then do it again.

I use "relax and sleep well" by Glenn Harrold which is free for what I use it for. I'm sure there are other equally good options. Something to try at least...