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LenNY, I think your idea of losing weight if possible is a great one. I lost almost 50 lbs, and I found that the pressure from my CPAP became uncomfortable. The pressure setting was able to be reduced a lot, which suggests that losing the weight helped me breath better. I also had experienced the gasping, usually preceded by a dream about swimming underwater and not being able to get to the surface. Don't have those any more, even with a cat sleeping on my stomach.
I am 66 and was diagnosed 10 years ago. I had been having dreams of drowning or being unable to breath for years, but decided to do something after falling asleep in the movie Phantom of the Opera. I did think it might be just the latest fad, and no medical provider had ever suggested it, and I don't think I viewed being tired as a medical problem. My father always had trouble sleeping, and my younger brother who died at 58 had sleep apnea. My son also has sleep apnea but has refused to accept treatment because he doesn't like the confined feeling from the mask. When I was first diagnosed, I was told I also have restless leg. I use the CPAP regularly and it helps a lot, though I can't say I actually feel refreshed after sleep. As I get older, the restless leg seems to be getting worse and often need to get up to stretch my legs. Have been prescribed Requip but had augmentation; Neurotin but became suicidal, and Valium which seems to help some, though kind of hazy in the morning so don't take it all the time. It would be wonderful to really get a good nights sleep sometime. I think I have had two nights in the last 15 years where I had a good sleep.
