PatientVioletBear0961

Has any study determined whether the weight gain that is seen in CPAP users is due to an increase in fat or an increase in muscle or both? One can imagine the possibility that muscle might increase as a result of feeling more energetic and exercising more.

Were RERAs measured in your sleep study? If not, you should probably get another sleep study at a sleep lab that measures RERAs, so as to get a definitive diagnosis of whether you have UARS. (You could call Stanford Sleep Medicine Center to ask if they can recommend a sleep lab in your area for this purpose.)

Yes, an oral appliance can be effective for treating UARS. (But an oral appliance is usually not a good idea if there is any degree of TMJ joint problems.)

Hi Hope. Have you had the consultation with your new sleep doctor yet? I am curious whether the doctor thinks your symptoms could be caused by UARS.

I just wanted to update this comment because I recently tried the Oxy-Aid nose stent and found that it works better than nasal strips for holding the nostrils open while sleeping.

Good luck to both your husband and you! I hope the CBT-I has a beneficial effect for him. It would be interesting to hear about his results when he has completed the treatment.

On the topic of the wider effects of having a sleep disorder, the effects on one's work performance and career can be substantial too. (There is an interesting episode of the Freakonomics podcast which discusses the economics research showing evidence that people who sleep more/better are more productive and earn more money: http://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-economics-of-sleep-part-2-a-new-freakonomics-radio-episode/).

Hi Hannah. Has your husband sought treatment from a sleep medicine doctor? There may be treatments that could help improve his insomnia.

When a patient does not have immediate success with their CPAP therapy, some CPAP supply companies respond by treating the patient very poorly and viewing them as "non-compliant". Other CPAP supply companies treat the patient well and help to support them in finding a mask that fits and getting past any initial barriers they are struggling with. It is important to the success of your therapy that you utilize a company that supports your success. As wiredgeorge suggested, you should probably contact your insurance provider to find out about all of the CPAP supply companies they are contracted with and switch to a different one. Research each supplier online first to find out anything you can about how satisfied their patients are. I have had a good experience with Classic Sleep Care, which is available in many parts of the US.

Do not try to control your breathing while using CPAP; just breath naturally however you feel like breathing. You should not have to think about your breathing at all. However you breathe, the CPAP machine will sense your breaths and adjust to match them.

Also, you should not not use a computer, smart phone, or other device with a screen during the night (unless you are very careful to protect your eyes from the blue wavelengths of light these screens emit). Exposing your eyes to blue wavelengths of light during the night will make it harder for you to fall back to sleep afterwards because blue light is interpreted by your brain as daylight. You do not want to send a false signal to your circadian rhythm that it is daytime when it is actually night because your circadian rhythm will respond to that signal by making you more wakeful and alert, which is not what you want when you are trying to fall back to sleep. When I am out of bed with insomnia during the night, I usually just read a relaxing book using only the light of a dim, red light bulb. I avoid turing on any light that might include blue wavelengths, such as normal white light bulbs.

Maybe you should mention to your sleep doctor that you are having trouble falling asleep due to anxiety and see if the doctor has any helpful suggestions for you. Some things that many people find helpful in this situation include reducing your time in bed and avoiding naps (so as to build up more sleepiness) and doing various relaxation exercises (such as meditation, progressive muscle relation, stretches or yoga, etc.).

Andy13: You did not mention which nasal pillows mask you are using, but if it is the AirFit P10, then you adjust the mask by separating the two parts of the strap that goes around the back of the head. Put the upper part of the strap close to your forehead and the lower part of the strap close to the back of your neck and this will loosen the tightness of the mask against your nose.