Ruby

Probably the best thing to do is check with the airline and cruise line for this information. I would bet that each company has a different set up. Interesting question though.

I have nose itches too and wear a full face mask. You could be allergic to the substance the mask is made of so it might be that you could do an allergy test to find out. It could be that you have always had nose itches but before wearing the mask, you didn't wake up when you scratched. Now you have to take the mask off or at least move it which requires you to be awake. Just a thought. Let me know how it goes.

People used to die of "wasting diseases" or whatever a doctor could tag it with because they really didn't know what it was. We also hear more about cancer and other diseases now than in the past. Part of it is because we are more knowledgeable than in the past and part is because we hear more about it on the radio, television, newspapers and social media. I also have Restless Leg Syndrome which has been under attack for years as a made-up disease so the pharma companies and make money on medications. Let me tell you, I have suffered with this LONG before there were any medications available. Do we have to be vigilant about people trying to make money off of trumped up medical problems? Of course, but even more we need to be vigilant towards understanding new health problems and how to treat them.

The question shouldn't be do we think you need a machine, it's what your doctor suggests. If you stop breathing even less than 16 times an hour, it is concerning. Low oxygen levels can cause many problems with your heart, kidneys, and other organs and especially your brain. You need to be asking your doctor about your concerns as well as posting on here. We aren't doctors but we can give you support and let you know our own stories.

As for your wife, I understand what she is saying but it goes a lot further than exercise and being on the phone. It is a serious health risk for you. I'm not saying it is easy to get used to but it goes beyond her discomfort. As for whether the test is valid, they take into account that you will not sleep as well as you do at home. Understand too that many times you wake up at night and don't realize it. The sleep study tracks all that. It is also a possibility that while you sleep better at home, your oxygen levels might be even lower than the sleep study shows.

Do more research if you want, but unless there is a really good reason not to, get back with your doctor and try his suggestion. Best of luck and keep us updated.

The majority of us are not doctors so we really should not try to diagnose you. BUT, it sounds like you have tried everything physically possible to make your sleep situation better. All the things like new pillows, white noise, strict sleep times, etc., were good ways to try to get better sleep. I'm not sure if you had insomnia or had simply "taught" yourself subconsciously to wake up at a certain time. Sometimes when we wake up at the same time for a couple of nights, we worry that it will continue and by golly, it does! We simply conditioned ourselves to wake at the same time. That may not be true for you but then it might.

The worst thing we can do is lie in bed (once we wake up) and worry about getting back to sleep. If you wake up with a specific worry like getting bills paid or getting a project done then ask yourself...can I do something about it RIGHT NOW? If you can, then get up and do it. If you can't, then tell yourself that you will do it when you wake up. It doesn't always work but keep at it and it may help.

As for the sleep study, it is a shame that your doctor didn't go ahead and schedule you for one when you first went to him. At this point, what do you have to lose in doing one? It will either say you don't have sleep apnea or other sleep issue or it will show that you do. If you don't, then look for other reasons. If you do, maybe getting a machine will help. I did not snore either but my breathing went very shallow which caused my oxygen levels to drop. Just because you don't snore or snore lightly does not rule out sleep apnea. Give it a go and let us know what happens. If you are diagnosed, learn all you can about the disease and treatment options. Ask questions of everyone, don't be shy! Best of luck to you.

Reading through these posts just breaks my heart. There are too many people that have no support whether from doctors, clinicians or family and friends. In most of the stories it seems like the person is told they have sleep apnea, given a machine and then they are sent on their way to figure out the rest on their own. That is not right. No wonder we feel like it's all a racket!

The fact is that a properly done sleep study does not lie. When oxygen levels drop because of snoring, slowed breathing or stopped breathing, it affects your brain, your heart and many other vital organs. This is not made up--it is serious business that can cause so many health issues far beyond being sleepy or tired all the time. Think of it this way: why do we hear so much more about cancer today than 50 years ago? Because we have better tests and diagnostic tools. People used to die of "wasting diseases" that were probably some form of cancer. And honestly, for most of us don't we feel like we should be tired all the time? Think about our lifestyles and how busy we are. Because of better medical knowledge, we now understand that there could be other causes for our fatigue and sleep apnea is one huge reason.

The big problem here is that there is no after-diagnostic support. Insurance companies won't pay for us to try different masks or machines. We don't know to ask questions because it's all new to us. Masks are not comfortable, don't fit quite right, are ugly to look at and don't seem to work. It takes most of us quite a long time to get used to wearing them. But there are success stories out there. We don't hear about them because those people aren't looking for answers like we are.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea (or any health issue), start educating yourself about your condition. Learn from a reputable source so that you can ask questions and start taking control of your health issues. Build a working relationship with your doctor. Join a good discussion group to ask questions and lend support to others. I am a success story. I have been using my machine faithfully for several years. Has it been easy? NO! Do I like having to use the CPAP machine? NO! But I need it. My body needs it to help stay healthy. Diabetics don't like having to use insulin for shots but they do it because they need it. Same here. Hope all of you who are having a hard time find someone/some way to make it better. Hang in there. Lots of us understand.

Thanks for your kind reply and suggestions. I'll do some checking!

Thanks for the reply! I do have the same situation if I lie in one position for too long. I have a body pillow that I use for that purpose. Mine is more of a really bad aching in the joints and muscles.

I think lots of people have issues with this at first. When this happens, just put it back on. Eventually you will keep it on all night. It is a nuisance, but one that is fixable.

Does anyone have general body pain when trying to get a good night's sleep? Many people also suffer with fibromyalgia or arthritis but I just wondered how many others with sleep apnea have pain that is not associated with either of the above.