A cure for sleep apnea?

[TRT]

So as some of you may know already I have been on Testosterone replacement therapy since I was 23. My father was also on TRT at 49. By the age of 54 he had developed sleep apnea where he would stop breathing in the middle of the night and would wake up gasping for air. This was from his TRT treatment. Spoke to his doctor after his death.

Well about a year ago I started to do the same as my dad. Caught myself breathing hard and/or catching my breath in the middle of the night. Seeing as how my dad passed early in life I feel as thought being on TRT I could face some of the same health risk he did. I've done some research and realize I'll need a C-pap machine but are there any other treatments or medicines I could take to atleast help this condition besides stopping my TRT (which is not possible).

Also the C-pap machines are hella expensive but willing to do it if it means seeing my kids graduate high school.

Just looking for some personal experience from the guys here before I embark on this with my doctor.

Any advice is greatly appreciated in advance. This place of knowledge helped me when I first got on TRT and I'm hoping it will continue too. Thank you.

-TRT

 

[Eman]

I doubt that you'll pay anything out of pocket if you're insured. It's in the insurance company's best interest to pay for a CPAP instead of all the health issues that'll pop up if you don't get treated.

 

[Bullet train]

So as some of you may know already I have been on Testosterone replacement therapy since I was 23. My father was also on TRT at 49. By the age of 54 he had developed sleep apnea where he would stop breathing in the middle of the night and would wake up gasping for air. This was from his TRT treatment. Spoke to his doctor after his death.

Well about a year ago I started to do the same as my dad. Caught myself breathing hard and/or catching my breath in the middle of the night. Seeing as how my dad passed early in life I feel as thought being on TRT I could face some of the same health risk he did. I've done some research and realize I'll need a C-pap machine but are there any other treatments or medicines I could take to atleast help this condition besides stopping my TRT (which is not possible).

Also the C-pap machines are hella expensive but willing to do it if it means seeing my kids graduate high school.

Just looking for some personal experience from the guys here before I embark on this with my doctor.

Any advice is greatly appreciated in advance. This place of knowledge helped me when I first got on TRT and I'm hoping it will continue too. Thank you.

-TRT

Sounds like a serious issue. Hope u well...

 

[Slab]

You could have UPPP surgery, no guarantee but works for some. It helped me but I wasn't able to quit using the cpap.
A newish device that went through trials in U.K., USA & Canada https://www.inspiresleep.com/what-is-inspire-therapy/how-inspire-therapy-works/
I'm still waiting for this to be available in Canada.
I'm a good couple years on the cpap and I still hate it!

 

[Evom1]

What is your height, weight, and neck circumference?

 

[Switcher]

I was unaware of a link between testosterone levels or even therapy and sleep apnea. I have it, have had it since I was a teenager. About 2 years ago, I finally broke down and got diagnosed and now own a CPAP. Frankly, it has made my life a whole lot better. Yeah, its a distraction but the sleep is so, so much better.

 

[miketee]

CPAPs nowadays are the shit. They are silent and once you find a mask that suits you, you hardly notice it. I went through about 10 different masks at at least $100 a piece. Even though they say nose pillows are advanced you should start with one. You need to do something about this now even if it means picking up a part time job to afford one don’t do a sleep study as it’s real expensive. You can rent equipment and use it for a couple days and get diagnosed that way.

 

[TRT]

I doubt that you'll pay anything out of pocket if you're insured. It's in the insurance company's best interest to pay for a CPAP instead of all the health issues that'll pop up if you don't get treated.

That sounds about right. Thanks buddy.

What is your height, weight, and neck circumference?

I'm 5'9-5'10, 170lbs 12% and I don't know what my neck size is but 16 1/2 inch shirts are tight on my neck. Too tight in my opinion. I have to unbutton my collar and use my tie to cover it. I'll definitely measure it though.
Why? What do you got in mind?

 

[TRT]

CPAPs nowadays are the shit. They are silent and once you find a mask that suits you, you hardly notice it. I went through about 10 different masks at at least $100 a piece. Even though they say nose pillows are advanced you should start with one. You need to do something about this now even if it means picking up a part time job to afford one don’t do a sleep study as it’s real expensive. You can rent equipment and use it for a couple days and get diagnosed that way.

Fuck the noise I'm all about my health. Haha that shit could be load as hell but after a few days it'll be a lullaby. I'm just ok with noise.

 

[TRT]

I also have to sleep on my back. I can't sleep on my side cause my back is too big. I just crush my arm and it falls asleep and can't be on my stomach either. When I sleep on my back I put a small round pillow behind my neck to open my airway and lay my hands down by my side. So if that helps at all or maybe something about that is wrong anything you guys tell me would help a lot.
Also the doctors told me my TRT script can have sleep apnea as a side effect. Never new why or how but I saw my dad get it so I can only assume at this point since I just started doing research to help myself, that it's true.

 

[TRT]

Sounds like a serious issue. Hope u well...

Now, why can't you make more posts like that? Thank you.

 

[Eman]

You can rent equipment and use it for a couple days and get diagnosed that way.

Is this how you did it?

I find this hard to believe... I can't even adjust my pressure without a doctor getting involved.

The studies aren't expensive if you're insured... I spent absolutely nothing out of pocket aside from a few copays.

 

[Docd187123]

I'm scheduled to see a sleep specialist about this in December. My new doctor didn't hesitate to refer me to a specialist bc he understands the importance of sleep whereas my last few doctors basically told me to fuck off in words of more than one syllable.

 

[miketee]

Is this how you did it?

I find this hard to believe... I can't even adjust my pressure without a doctor getting involved.

The studies aren't expensive if you're insured... I spent absolutely nothing out of pocket aside from a few copays.

My sister in law is a NP and sent a script in to a major online dealer. I got an autosense so there is no adjusting. Redmed is the brand I trust and use

 

[miketee]

I also have to sleep on my back. I can't sleep on my side cause my back is too big. I just crush my arm and it falls asleep and can't be on my stomach either. When I sleep on my back I put a small round pillow behind my neck to open my airway and lay my hands down by my side. So if that helps at all or maybe something about that is wrong anything you guys tell me would help a lot.
Also the doctors told me my TRT script can have sleep apnea as a side effect. Never new why or how but I saw my dad get it so I can only assume at this point since I just started doing research to help myself, that it's true.

I roll around in my sleep and never have issues with leakage. I use this nasal pillow. I hardly notice it.
CPAP.com - Swift FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear

 

[Eman]

My sister in law is a NP and sent a script in to a major online dealer. I got an autosense so there is no adjusting. Redmed is the brand I trust and use

You're kind of operating in a legal grey area then as far as health regulations go... Not everyone is able to do what you're doing.

The auto adjusting ones still need to be adjusted to work well.

Makes me happy to hear someone else say you had to go through so many masks... I haven't used mine in a few weeks due to the mask going to shit.

 

[Dr JIM]

So as some of you may know already I have been on Testosterone replacement therapy since I was 23. My father was also on TRT at 49. By the age of 54 he had developed sleep apnea where he would stop breathing in the middle of the night and would wake up gasping for air. This was from his TRT treatment. Spoke to his doctor after his death.

Well about a year ago I started to do the same as my dad. Caught myself breathing hard and/or catching my breath in the middle of the night. Seeing as how my dad passed early in life I feel as thought being on TRT I could face some of the same health risk he did. I've done some research and realize I'll need a C-pap machine but are there any other treatments or medicines I could take to atleast help this condition besides stopping my TRT (which is not possible).

Also the C-pap machines are hella expensive but willing to do it if it means seeing my kids graduate high school.

Just looking for some personal experience from the guys here before I embark on this with my doctor.

Any advice is greatly appreciated in advance. This place of knowledge helped me when I first got on TRT and I'm hoping it will continue too. Thank you.

-TRT

By far the number ONE cause of
sleep apnea is OBESITY!

Nonetheless until such a DX is confirmed via a formal sleep study, what remains is conjecture.

 

[Old]

To get a CPAP, you need a sleep study for diagnosis and the proper settings on the machine. Then you get a script, then the machine.

Sleep apnea is a structural issue (bent or 'clogged' airway) often focusing on the tissue between the month and nasal passage. There are also 'brain' apneas (central sleep apnea) which are normal and not addressed by a CPAP.

TRT has been associated with increased sleep apnea (don't know about brain apnea). Did your doctor offer sleep study?


IMO one does well with chiropractor and physical therapy. But don't be surprised if apnea gets worse as you correct your upper back and neck. I've had lidocaine injections in tendons that resolved apnea for a couple months. Recently had PT for an upper back problem of decades. Apnea got much worse but gradually has got to were it was, however the back spasms for 40 years are now gone.

Am guessing that when one's muscle get more tone with TRT, it changes pressures along windpipe. Nothing like a flacid neck in good position to not obstruct. Think of it like when someone starts serious weight lifting (particularly w AAS), sometimes the muscles grow so fast they start getting pinched nerves or blood vessles causing numbness or other problems in the hand. So T changes the tone and dynamics of your upper back and neck.

When it comes to TRT, they are only going to say the bad new. However low T is also associated with OSA. See Testosterone Deficiency and Sleep Apnea. - PubMed - NCBI and Testosterone therapy and obstructive sleep apnea: is there a real connection? - PubMed - NCBI


At any rate, get your study, get your CPAP, then work on correcting obstruction(s). There is even surgery as already mentioned but it doesn't often completely resolve things and not the place to start.

Your pillow is the right idea - adjusting position to resolve obstruction. All a CPAP does is increase the pressure on the airways to 'push' against obstructions.

There can also be non-positional obstructions such as post-nasal drip or congestion.

 

[Old]

By far the number ONE cause of
sleep apnea is OBESITY!

Nothing like a bunch of fat to push against airways

 

[ronin17]

By far the number ONE cause of
sleep apnea is OBESITY!

Nonetheless until such a DX is confirmed via a formal sleep study, what remains is conjecture.

Interesting. everyone I know who has it and even use the machine, not one of them is obese. Just as I’m sure the people here who have it aren’t obese.