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Comment by nikkwong | Hacker News Reader

I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea this week after it wreaked havoc on my personal and professional life for the last 6. I couldn't work, couldn't engage in anything. Now I'm pretty much terrified to go to sleep every night as I know I'm probably not going to get any rest and wake up zombified. I heard the surgery was a hit or miss. Would you recommend?

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No opinion on the surgery, but you might try a CPAP machine! I have a family member whose epiglottis was damaged in surgery, and she developed really bad sleep apnea as a result.

It took her a solid year of being a zombie before she figured out what was happening and why. She bought a CPAP, and it's made a huge difference in her quality of life.

So if you're looking to try out a non-surgical fix while you ponder a surgery, consider buying/renting/borrowing a CPAP!

These machines look rather uncomfortable :/

> These machines look rather uncomfortable :/

They are. But when the alternative is surgery to enlarge your nasal passages (which, like any form of surgery, may or may not work), well, forcing oneself to get used to it is the lesser of two evils.

CPAP is usually the first line for sleep apnea. I've been using one for the past couple of months. They've improved the masks so the really only annoyance is being tethered to the machine when you roll over but it isn't too bad.

Another thing I've learned is the CPAP machines now phone home to the insurance company to give them compliance data on how and when you use the machine. Less happy about that.

You have a free market in healthcare, vote with your wallet.

I'd love to but the thing's base price is $800 without hoses or mask. I can't afford that without going through my insurance.

Does yours have an "airplane mode"? You can get an SD card instead of using the cellular.

I know someone who slept like that for over 10 years before I convinced them to get the mask and now they thank me and cant sleep without it

Absolutely 100% get the CPAP machine and give it a few months. I didn't immediately feel better after using the machine, but I'm about one year in at this point and it was life changing for me.

I was also diagnosed with it last week. I'll be buying a CPAP as the night I tested it improved my sleep quality. I've also removed my pillow and that has helped.

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