“Big Mike” Katz was a force to be reckoned with. In his day, he was a ripped bodybuilder who pumped iron and showed off his muscles in international bodybuilding competitions – he was an intimidating figure indeed. In fact, you can catch a glimpse of “Big Mike” in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1977 documentary “Pumping Iron.” As Katz got older, some of the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea started to become painfully obvious – specifically chronic fatigue. He was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea ten years ago and since then he does not go anywhere without his CPAP. Just recently, “Big Mike” fielded some questions for “CPAP Talk – Live!” – a weekly virtual support session for sleep apnea sufferers. Here are some of the highlight questions and responses.
Can Sleep Apnea Be Cured?
This has always been a tricky question, because CPAP can have curative affects. To respond to the question, host of the session Eric Cohen – who is the president of National Sleep Therapy – chimed in to let the caller know that sleep apnea is a treatment and not a cure, per se. He also went on to say: “It’s critical to resolve your apneas, regularly check your sleep records, and stay in touch with your sleep doctor.” Indeed, it may also be important to sign up for a program like myAir, which is an app that allows you the opportunity to closely monitor your CPAP data, so that you can better comply with treatment.
I’m On CPAP and I Still Can’t Sleep!
If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that veterans should not have to suffer through sleepless nights. During the support session, a 64-year-old Vietnam vet that suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder – on top of obstructive sleep apnea – asked, “I’ve used CPAP for 5 years but I still can’t go through a full night’s sleep and I’m always tired.” “Big Mike” responded by saying that the caller should visit his doctor to have the pressure setting adjusted on his CPAP. “Big Mike” also mentioned that he has had his own pressure setting adjusted many times over the years. In our opinion, the patient could also invest in an automatic CPAP, like the S9 AutoSet, which adjusts the pressure setting automatically based on minute differences in breathing and body movements.
How Do I Make CPAP More Comfortable
A lot of people start CPAP and realize that they aren’t comfortable. One caller dialled in wondering how she can make her CPAP mask and equipment more comfortable. Eric Cohen – the moderator – responded with some smart advice: you should try different masks until you find one that has the right fit and seal. Sometimes it can take a while to get into your CPAP groove. Also, keeping your CPAP clean is incredibly important, which is why you may want to invest in the SoClean 2, which will remove 98% of bacteria and germs. The truth is that clean CPAP equipment will offer a much more comfortable CPAP experience.
Today, “Big Mike” Katz is virtually sleep apnea symptom free and living a happy, healthy and well rested life. He owns five fitness centers and he travels the world as a judge for bodybuilding contests. According to Katz, “I learned I was having almost 50 apnea episodes per hour and my oxygen levels were dropping dramatically.” If you feel like you are in the same boat at “Big Mike,” you definitely want to get tested for obstructive sleep apnea. In the end, CPAP may be difficult to get used to at first, but if you just hang on and take measures to make therapy more comfortable, you’ll be able to reap all the amazing benefits.
