View Full Version : Apparently I have sleep apnea...
Ultralight
9-18-15, 7:58am
My doctor says I am exhibiting the symptoms of sleep apnea. She is sending me to a sleep study.
What she said that was of particular interest is that if I lose 25 lbs. then the apnea will probably go away...
Anyone else have this? Thoughts?
It is true that significant weight loss removes the pressures from the throat area that can cause sleep apnea. This is a very real and significant thing in our country.
I know DH has it and has for more than 10years. He didn't want to go the eval and CPAP route so did his own research. He ordered one of these. It has changed BOTH our lives. He didn't know he was sleeping poorly until he had used this for a week. We are both much happier and better rested!
https://goo.gl/B6JmQy
I have sleep apnea. just diagnosed about 4 months ago. My sleep study revealed that I stopped breathing something like 162 times a night (I believe 10 is normal). I got the machine and it has helped a lot.
I don't know about costs for the machines and gear as I'm in Canada and thus far it has all been free. The toughest part has been finding a mask that fits properly and doesn't bug me.
Ultralight
9-18-15, 9:15am
My plan is to drop the pounds. But I will do the study and, if needed, I will use the machine in the meantime.
My doctor says I am exhibiting the symptoms of sleep apnea. She is sending me to a sleep study.
What she said that was of particular interest is that if I lose 25 lbs. then the apnea will probably go away...
Anyone else have this? Thoughts?
What kind of symptoms do you have?
I'm a little concerned that so many people have "sleep apnea" these days.
I've been using a cpap machine for about 7-8 years now. I think it can be pretty common to start (for women) during perimenopause, since our muscles start to get lax.
My family members would tell me (before cpap) that I would struggle to breathe and even stop during the night. I had a sleep study and it showed moderate obstructive apnea.
Actually, I had a sleep study a couple years before that......done by a sleep specialist neurologist. I slept only about 2 hours, yet he told me it was all normal. :(
The second one showed the apnea (done by a different doctor). I refused to have a "titration" study, because, for me, sleep studies are torture and not at all like sleeping in your own bed/home.
I found a sleep doc who let me get a cpap prescription without the titration study. But I did wear a recording finger oximeter that showed that my oxygen saturation did go down a lot during the night.
UA.......why don't you ask her about a recording oximeter for a couple nights. I've even heard about new in-the-home sleep studies. Sleep studies in the labs are expensive.
But I am curious what your symptoms are, that made the doc think you needed cpap. Does your girlfriend hear you snore/stop breathng at night? How old are you?
I find using a cpap is really odd..........Why do so many people need them? Is it mostly a weight problem? A what-we-eat problem? A style of life problem?
But.....I have to say, it has improved my quality of life considerably. I hate wearing it, but it's worth it to have a better life.
I think if I were you, I would try a few other things first.......like maybe those nose strips. And a fair amount of people feel that eating a lot of carbs......especially in the evening, make their numbers worse the next morning.
I had an at home sleep study.
What kind of symptoms do you have?
I'm a little concerned that so many people have "sleep apnea" these days.
I think that the medical community is just better at diagnosing the issue these days. I can think of a lot of individuals from when I was younger that probably had sleep apnea but it was never identified. t hey were just 'loud snorers' or 'light sleepers' or 'snarfled in their sleep'.
Ultralight
9-18-15, 9:29am
What kind of symptoms do you have?
I'm a little concerned that so many people have "sleep apnea" these days.
I've been using a cpap machine for about 7-8 years now. I think it can be pretty common to start (for women) during perimenopause, since our muscles start to get lax.
My family members would tell me (before cpap) that I would struggle to breathe and even stop during the night. I had a sleep study and it showed moderate obstructive apnea.
Actually, I had a sleep study a couple years before that......done by a sleep specialist neurologist. I slept only about 2 hours, yet he told me it was all normal.
The second one showed the apnea. I refused to have a "titration" study, because, for me, sleep studies are torture and not at all like sleeping in your own bed/home.
I found a sleep doc who let me get a cpap prescription without the titration study. But I did wear a recording finger oximeter that showed that my oxygen saturation did go down a lot during the night.
UA.......why don't you ask her about a recording oximeter for a couple nights. I've even heard about new in-the-home sleep studies.
But I am curious what your symptoms are, that made the doc think you needed cpap. Does your girlfriend hear you snore/stop breathng at night?
I find using a cpap is really odd..........Why do so many people need them? Is it mostly a weight problem? A what-we-eat problem? A style of life problem?
But.....I have to say, it has improved my quality of life considerably. I hate wearing it, but it's worth it to have a better life.
Well, obesity has reached epidemic proportions. So I think this is why apnea has also reached epidemic proportions. Doctors are also not likely to be like: "Sir, you are a giant fat guy. So you need to lose a zillion pounds to cure your apnea. They'd rather just give someone a machine. Fortunately my (new) doctor listens to me.
I told her I have a few cardinal rules for healthcare in my life:
1. Not getting on pain pills
2. Not living on a machine (unless there really, truly is no other option).
3. Not living in an old folks home if I live to be old (I'd rather throw myself in an icy lake! haha).
So she leveled with me, looked me right in the eye, and said: "You have put on a lot of pounds in the recent past. If you lose those pounds your apnea will probably go away."
She wants me to go to the study to to be certain and to get a sleep machine in the meantime.
In college I weighed about 150 (I looked like David Bowie!) and now I weigh 200 and had "dad bod" -- which I am not cool with. I am not even a dad!
My symptoms are, when laying on my back, I stop breathing (it feels like my throat and such just closes off) during sleep. Then I wake up, breath in, and then I have to fall asleep all over again. And then this repeats itself. If I sleep on my side, this does not happen (or happens rarely or I do not detect it). This all started within the past 6 months (I have put on some pudginess in this time).
Well, since your weight gain is fairly recent, I would definitely try to lose weight first. And don't eat in the evenings, especially carbs.
I am overweight too, and have struggled with it (up and down) my entire life. I've often said the only way I'm ever going to lose weight is to get cancer..........
I feel pretty addicted to the cpap machine. Probably for good reason. I would just hate for you to go on it, when it might be a little premature. Do you think you could lose some weight in the near future?
Yes, there are fairly bad consequences to obstructive apnea........cardiovascular, etc. And actually, the stress of not breathing well at night can increase your cortisol and make you really hungry in the day.
If you find it impossible to lose some weight fairly quickly.......then the cpap is worth trying out.
Dinah.....tell us about your in-home sleep study. I've been wanting to buy a recording oximeter for awhile. I think it would be a good adjunct to the cpap.
A really good forum for learning about cpap stuff is cpaptalk.com
Ultralight
9-18-15, 9:40am
Well, since your weight gain is fairly recent, I would definitely try to lose weight first. And don't eat in the evenings, especially carbs.
I am overweight too, and have struggled with it (up and down) my entire life. I've often said the only way I'm ever going to lose weight is to get cancer..........
I feel pretty addicted to the cpap machine. Probably for good reason. I would just hate for you to go on it, when it might be a little premature. Do you think you could lose some weight in the near future?
Yes, there are fairly bad consequences to obstructive apnea........cardiovascular, etc. And actually, the stress of not breathing well at night can increase your cortisol and make you really hungry in the day.
If you find it impossible to lose some weight fairly quickly.......then the cpap is worth trying out.
Dinah.....tell us about your in-home sleep study. I've been wanting to buy a recording oximeter for awhile. I think it would be a good adjunct to the cpap.
A really good forum for learning about cpap stuff is cpaptalk.com
But I love carbs!
I have identified a handful of bad habits I have regarding food. So I am going to address those. I can elaborate if needed... haha
my sleep study was easy-peasy. the day of I went in and got a little training session on how to hook everything up. They took some measurements too. I don't know what all the fancy names for the instruments were...but there was one for the finger clip, one for the nostrils, there was a strap that went around my chest, and 1 or 2 other things that I can't remember now. The machine would record my sleep patterns. They sent the equipment home with me and I did the study and returned it the next morning. about 3 or 4 weeks later I met with the doctor to go over the results.
much quicker than doing the sleep study at the lab, which I've heard is like a 2 year wait here. They did say that if I didn't feel comfortable doing the study at home for whatever reason that it was okay and that I would just go on the wait list for the lab test.
I have sleep apnea. just diagnosed about 4 months ago. My sleep study revealed that I stopped breathing something like 162 times a night (I believe 10 is normal). I got the machine and it has helped a lot.
I don't know about costs for the machines and gear as I'm in Canada and thus far it has all been free. The toughest part has been finding a mask that fits properly and doesn't bug me.
I am in Canada and did not get a free machine. How did you manage that please?
I am in Canada and did not get a free machine. How did you manage that please?
I don't know. I live in Manitoba. Maybe our provincial health care funding is different? What province are you in?
eta: I also have very good insurance through my work...so maybe that was it...but I don't recall them ever asking to see my card. I tried googling for an answer for you but google is not being my friend.
Ultralight
9-18-15, 11:22am
I wish I was Canadian. Free healthcare, ice fishing, polite people.
So dreamy! ;)
Teacher Terry
9-18-15, 12:06pm
I have severe sleep apnea mainly because I have a very small mouth, air passage, etc. I feel so much better with it. I was overweight & the doc said I would have it even if I lost weight. I lost 30lbs & still have it. She did say that for many people when they lose weight it goes away.
Ultralight
9-18-15, 12:15pm
I have severe sleep apnea mainly because I have a very small mouth, air passage, etc. I feel so much better with it. I was overweight & the doc said I would have it even if I lost weight. I lost 30lbs & still have it. She did say that for many people when they lose weight it goes away.
I've got a big mouth, so I think it is just the weight. ;)
:D
DH lost about 50 pounds and his sleep apnea did indeed go away. He went from "obese" to what is still considered overweight but I think is perfectly normal, 6'1 and about 195.
More Fish, fewer Fritos!
Ultralight
9-18-15, 12:27pm
:D
DH lost about 50 pounds and his sleep apnea did indeed to away. He went from "obese" to what is still considered overweight but I think is perfectly normal, 6'1 and about 195.
More Fish, fewer Fritos!
I don't eat Fritos! lol
I beer batter and deep fry my fish -- part of the problem. haha
I am 5'9" and 197 lbs. So clearly I have an issue of weight!
Yes. More bass less batter. :(
And Leo Babauta (of Zen Habits) advice is good. His Diet Plan: Move more and eat a crapton of vegetables. his answer to basically every question was, "eat a crapton of vegetables." Can I have steak? Yes, but first eat a crapton of vegetables. Can I have fruit? Yes, but first eat a crapton of vegetables. Can I eat potatoes? yes, but ...
http://zenhabits.net/healthy/
Ultralight
9-18-15, 12:41pm
Yes. More bass less batter. :(
And Leo Babauta (of Zen Habits) advice is good. His Diet Plan: Move more and eat a crapton of vegetables. his answer to basically every question was, "eat a crapton of vegetables." Can I have steak? Yes, but first eat a crapton of vegetables. Can I have fruit? Yes, but first eat a crapton of vegetables. Can I eat potatoes? yes, but ...
http://zenhabits.net/healthy/
Leo's answer to everything is actually "Breathe! ;)
I think he's updated that to "breathe a crapton of vegetables."
Ultralight
9-18-15, 12:48pm
I think he's updated that to "breathe a crapton of vegetables."
lol!
Teacher Terry
9-18-15, 1:06pm
When I was young I could lose 30 lbs in 2 months. This time it took 10. I bought a Ftibit & walked 10,000/steps/day with at least 30 of it being fast. I limited my calories to 1600/day. I feel & look so much better. Now I am committed to maintaining.
Yeah.....I remember being able to lose 15# in a couple weeks! Now, it seems impossible. I can eat fewer calories for awhile, but then my appetite comes back with a vengeance. Also.......my knees/feet/hands are fairly bad with arthritis, which makes even walking very much a challenge. I'm going to be skinny in my next life, and be able to say at 4p.m. in the afternoon "Oh.....I forgot to eat yet today." haha Oh, and I'm going to have a much bigger bladder. :~)
Ultralight
9-18-15, 3:09pm
I know that being a middle aged man is going to make losing 25 lbs. a monumental challenge. This is especially true because I dislike the taste, texture, and smell of vegetables and I don't like working out at gyms. lol
I know that being a middle aged man is going to make losing 25 lbs. a monumental challenge.
Something I've noticed about the heavy people where I work is that they rarely get up from their desks and mostly just to go to the restroom or retrieve their lunch. If going to another floor, they take the elevator rather than use the stairs. They park as close as they can. So...as a start...how much do you move at work? I make myself climb the four flights in the morning to my office, park at the far end of the parking lot, take a long walk in the morning outside. I can't stand sitting so it is easy for me but has allowed me to maintain an even weight (I think) all these years as a desk worker. The bad snacks at work are rare but I don't eat them - chips, bagels, sweets, etc. Oh don't tell, but once in a while I'll eat a brownie which I can't resist. When the weight comes off, it is pretty certain your apnea will go away. I know when DH was in his late 30s, he began putting on the weight and his snoring really increased.
Ultralight
9-18-15, 4:27pm
Something I've noticed about the heavy people where I work is that they rarely get up from their desks and mostly just to go to the restroom or retrieve their lunch. If going to another floor, they take the elevator rather than use the stairs. They park as close as they can. So...as a start...how much do you move at work? I make myself climb the four flights in the morning to my office, park at the far end of the parking lot, take a long walk in the morning outside. I can't stand sitting so it is easy for me but has allowed me to maintain an even weight (I think) all these years as a desk worker. The bad snacks at work are rare but I don't eat them - chips, bagels, sweets, etc. Oh don't tell, but once in a while I'll eat a brownie which I can't resist. When the weight comes off, it is pretty certain your apnea will go away. I know when DH was in his late 30s, he began putting on the weight and his snoring really increased.
My work is all in front of a computer. I am sitting all day. Truth be told? I hate it! I sometimes wonder if I would be happier and healthier if I was doing physically active work for less pay.
Teacher Terry
9-18-15, 5:45pm
I do many of the same things as Pinkytoe to get my # of steps for the day. Also 1 day a week I eat what I want which keeps my body confused so it does not think it is starving. A doctor & fitness trainer both told me to do this.
I've had an inordinate number of physical labor-type jobs. I remember tidying up outside the library, muttering "liberal arts major" to passers-by. I never noticed that I felt better, weighed less, or was more fit when I was climbing ladders or stocking shelves. I'm sedentary by nature, and I have to really push myself to counteract that. Or I should, lest I become ossified.
Lol. I'm waiting for the day they decide that for a certain genome (mine), statue-like poses for hours on end, preferable in a semi-reclining position, are recommended.
ApatheticNoMore
9-18-15, 7:02pm
I think I'm pretty lazy, but if there is one thing that will motivate you to need to get up it's having to sit at a desk all day! But then there's nowhere to walk to unless you leave the building and go outside which I do but it takes 10 minutes just to get outside (anyone sticking to a 15 minute break isn't). I guess I kind of alternate being lazy lying in bed reading half the day and then spontaneously having taken 5 short walks that night or something just out of a need to move.
I've always said that the only thing I like better than sitting is lying down. I used to do a lot of walking though--and swimming when I had access to a pool.
I think I'm pretty lazy, but if there is one thing that will motivate you to need to get up it's having to sit at a desk all day! Well that is true, I remember how fondly I looked forward to a sloowwww walk up the stairs to the coffee machine and back ... occasionally three or four times in an afternoon.
When I am in the office I make a point of never calling anyone else in the office. We have about 300 people spread across two floors. Anytime I need to talk to anyone I get up and go to their office. It's nice to get up and move around, plus it usually means a longer conversation and occasionally useful discussions. (Admittedly sometimes it means hearing about someone's commute, or other semi pointless topic, but not always.)
Teacher Terry
9-20-15, 12:27pm
I read an article by a doctor that said "Sit yourself into an early grave." The premise was that if you didn't walk 10,000/steps/day you would die earlier & then the list of reasons, etc. That really got me motivated.
Ultralight
9-20-15, 2:51pm
I read an article by a doctor that said "Sit yourself into an early grave." The premise was that if you didn't walk 10,000/steps/day you would die earlier & then the list of reasons, etc. That really got me motivated.
I am guilty of sitting on ass all day at work. It is the nature of my job. Which sucks, obviously...
I had a doctor who says, "Sitting is the new smoking" in terms of the level of damage it can do to you.
freshstart
9-20-15, 10:42pm
I didn't read all replies, sorry, but you can be very thin and still have it. Is the common cause weight related? Probably. But what if you do not have the test, which might have shown you are getting little REM sleep and stop breathing hundreds of time a night, and then you are sleepy during the day, don't realize it and have a terrible car accident?
Even if you lose weight, I would at that point ask your doc if it is still necessary to get checked or just get it done now, if it's positive, ask if losing wt should take care of it? I had it done and I think I was the first person ever that did not have sleep apnea, lol. My ex worked in our sleep center a lot and when he would tell me how little REM some people got and how many times they stopped breathing, I was shocked, how are these people functioning?
Since everybody and their brother now has cpap, I have to say they've said they cannot believe the difference, they lug that thing on trips, unwilling to go without it. They responsibly send in their data card for the center to read, go once a year and get checked. And some have lost wt because they realize the connection. Then you see the 82 lb 90 yr old who has one, is never gonna use it, has a terminal diagnosis and the primary thought sleep apnea even mattered anymore?
I think apnea is pretty big for menopausal and post menopausal women. Indeed they may have become fleshier in the neck, but my dr. also told me about muscles just getting weaker.
freshstart
9-20-15, 11:28pm
I had a doctor who says, "Sitting is the new smoking" in terms of the level of damage it can do to you.
do they send out MD talking points or something? My primary said this, the three docs at work said this just conversationally. Time for the scary PSAs.
Sleep apnea is also a vicious circle. Before I got my machine I could barely make it home and eat supper before I was falling asleep. Doing something as simple as making supper and cleaning up was impossible (I could do 1 but not the other). I was falling asleep before my 10 year old!
Now that I have the machine (and am working on sorting out some other health issues) when I get home from work I feel like I can actually do things! I am spending about an hour every other night at the dog park walking up and down (small) hills. If you had said 6 months ago that I would be doing that I would have laughed in your face.
Ultralight
9-21-15, 9:32am
I didn't read all replies, sorry, but you can be very thin and still have it. Is the common cause weight related? Probably. But what if you do not have the test, which might have shown you are getting little REM sleep and stop breathing hundreds of time a night, and then you are sleepy during the day, don't realize it and have a terrible car accident?
Even if you lose weight, I would at that point ask your doc if it is still necessary to get checked or just get it done now, if it's positive, ask if losing wt should take care of it? I had it done and I think I was the first person ever that did not have sleep apnea, lol. My ex worked in our sleep center a lot and when he would tell me how little REM some people got and how many times they stopped breathing, I was shocked, how are these people functioning?
Since everybody and their brother now has cpap, I have to say they've said they cannot believe the difference, they lug that thing on trips, unwilling to go without it. They responsibly send in their data card for the center to read, go once a year and get checked. And some have lost wt because they realize the connection. Then you see the 82 lb 90 yr old who has one, is never gonna use it, has a terminal diagnosis and the primary thought sleep apnea even mattered anymore?
I am going to play it safe the whole way. I am going to a sleep study. I am going to use the machine. When I lose the lbs. I will go back for another study. If they give me the all-clear then I will return the sleep machine. If the apnea does not go away I will keep using the machine and consider additional treatments or whatever the specialists think might eventually get me off the machine.
Let us know how it goes, UA!
freshstart
9-21-15, 2:42pm
I dreaded the sleep study, ex still had friends there, I had pictured it like a lab with a one way mirror with everyone able to see you. I was having insomnia and thought how the heck am I going to fall asleep, snore and my ex's friends would all see? It was not like a lab at all, it looked like a normal bedroom, there must've been cameras, I don't remember. But I did fall asleep, it wasn't bad at all. Since I didn't have apnea, I didn't have to go back. I think if you do, you go back another night to try cpap? So I snore when I never snored in my whole life, no apnea, so I can conclude it's having gained weight. Crap, it's something I can fix but i don't wanna, lol
I'm glad you're going, good choice.
Ultralight
9-21-15, 2:46pm
I think they can do surgery that sometimes makes the snoring less loud or even go away.
When I had the sleep study done about 18 months ago it was like staying in a fairly nice hotel. They woke me up after about an hour and 1/2 to say I was having significant sleep apnea and to start the cpap machine.
There are about 50 wires........one of which is up your nose. For me, I just couldn't get comfortable. I just couldn't get to sleep. In my second study, they let me have a xanax, which helped a lot........hopefully it didn't affect the information.
Just curious with all of you who have had the study.......did it cost you much? I think I ended up paying around $1,700 for it. Can't remember for sure.
And I wasn't allowed to sleep on my side......which is about the only way I sleep.
I'm not trying to scare you UA..........maybe we shouldn't talk about our negative experiences............like you shouldn't talk about labor at a baby shower. hahaha
Ultralight
9-21-15, 3:17pm
There are about 50 wires........one of which is up your nose. For me, I just couldn't get comfortable. I just couldn't get to sleep. In my second study, they let me have a xanax, which helped a lot........hopefully it didn't affect the information.
Just curious with all of you who have had the study.......did it cost you much? I think I ended up paying around $1,700 for it. Can't remember for sure.
And I wasn't allowed to sleep on my side......which is about the only way I sleep.
I'm not trying to scare you UA..........maybe we shouldn't talk about our negative experiences............like you shouldn't talk about labor at a baby shower. hahaha
I hope my insurance covers it...
Teacher Terry
9-21-15, 3:55pm
The surgery only works for people with milder sleep apnea-not for severe. I know someone that had the surgery-said it was so painful afterwards & then only worked for 2 years before he was back on the machine. I take mine when I travel. I can't live without it since I feel so bad if I don't use it. My insurance paid for all except a small co-pay. I didn't have anything up my nose just lots of wires everywhere. They gave me a sleeping pill to fall asleep. If you have apnea they wake you up & put a mask on you once they have enough data.
Ultralight
9-21-15, 4:04pm
I wonder if the machines stop the loud sound of snoring that some people have.
Teacher Terry
9-21-15, 4:32pm
Mostly but sometimes not completely.
I wonder if the machines stop the loud sound of snoring that some people have.
Yes......and if it doesn't, then your pressure isn't high enough. Doctors vary as to how much they like their patients messing with their machine setting, but I've done it and my doc seems to accept it. There is also some software you can download in order to see all the aspects of your night's sleep. And some (ignorant) docs, put their patients on cpap and never check it again. :(
Some people use "APAP"........which means the pressure is variable and kicks in when you need it. I started out on that, but it kept waking me up all the time, so I changed it to straight "cpap".......which is just staying at the same pressure all night long. There are other options, based on what you need.
It's hard to get used to. But you have to view it as your friend, not your enemy. I started out using it while I was awake during the day......sitting up in a chair, watching TV or reading. Then you go at your own pace for a week or so........because you want this to work. Sometimes it takes a few tries at different masks. A big problem people have is with leaks, and you have to figure out how to stop them. But if you end up needing cpap.........just try to be patient and stick it out. It's well worth it.
I hope my insurance covers it...
I think insurance companies vary........but I'm thinking a lot of them "rent" the machine to you. You pay a monthly amount (depending on your insurance) and then when you've reached the insurance company-accepted cost, then you own it.
But you also have to change parts of the machine and your tubing/mask, etc. every so often. Don't let them make you think you have to change anything monthly.......everything lasts a lot longer than that.
I think I mentioned this, but cpaptalk.com is a great place for info.
I find that interesting that they wont let you sleep on Your side for the study. Snoring usually stops when a person is on their side. Seems suspicious .... Like inducing increased snoring by making you sleep on your back so they can sell more cpap machines.
freshstart
9-21-15, 10:12pm
I think they can do surgery that sometimes makes the snoring less loud or even go away.
they can but insurance won't cover as it isn't essential, if it was contributing to sleep apnea, they would. I don't care, I don't hear it, doesn't seem to bother the dogs and I am way too sick to get back on the dating market, so if the dogs aren't complaining, I'm letting it go! lol
freshstart
9-21-15, 10:32pm
I think insurance companies vary........but I'm thinking a lot of them "rent" the machine to you. You pay a monthly amount (depending on your insurance) and then when you've reached the insurance company-accepted cost, then you own it.
But you also have to change parts of the machine and your tubing/mask, etc. every so often. Don't let them make you think you have to change anything monthly.......everything lasts a lot longer than that.
I think I mentioned this, but cpaptalk.com is a great place for info.
ex was respiratory therapist, he said while you don't have to change the equipment monthly, you have to be super diligent about the cleaning of the tubes since pooled water sitting in them breeds bacteria. He told patients that if their insurance did not charge much for the tubing and all that, then change it, why take a chance? Most people I know do not change it monthly but I had patients who also never cleaned it (they were too sick to bother) and the tubing was full of mold and they were breathing that! My dad is ex-Army, if you are supposed to clean it, you clean it. So he does his and my mom's and I think they don't always change it monthly because they have a good supply of unused stuff.
their insurance and mine did the rent to own deal. I did not have a tube down my nose during the study. I was told to sleep how I always sleep, which is on my side. The did put a tube threaded down my nose with a camera at my first appt, they use lidocaine, not painful. We did these all the time when I worked in Radiation Oncology and I cannot for the life of me remember what that scope is called, grrrr. Endoscope, maybe? I am telling tales out of school, but make sure they put a clean sheath on that scope, they are expensive but also a health violation if they don't cover the scope, just "clean" it. The nurse was doing that in radiation oncology, I would not participate in one until they bought sheaths, that is just disgusting.
Off to google, isn't there some saying about having forgot more than you ever learned or something like that? That's me.
I was highly motivated to get used to my cpap, as my Dad died of a stroke and I have disk at risk, which is where the optic nerve does not have much room coming into the eye ball. It is a hereditary thing that increases the risk of blindness especially when associated with sleep apnea. I am usually kinda fussy about things but got used to this right away and have slept with it every night since the day I got it.
Regarding changing gear. My insurance copay is a whopping $7/mo. I worked as an allergy nurse for 23 years. You do not want to be breathing mold into your lungs. There are people who have done that who are very crippled for life because they did that. I change out the tubing as directed and wash the nose pillow and rinse the tubing daily and let air dry. I am frugal, but not cheap. They rented the machine for the first year($25/mo) and now I pay nothing.
I was sleeping 12 hours a day and falling asleep at movies and was still tired before I got the cpap. My Dr down played and put off my having a sleep study, said it was all in my head... Now I feel rested with 8 hours of sleep. It is a world of difference.
I find that interesting that they wont let you sleep on Your side for the study. Snoring usually stops when a person is on their side. Seems suspicious .... Like inducing increased snoring by making you sleep on your back so they can sell more cpap machines.
I think they don't like you sleeping on your side because it messes the wires/sensors up.
ex was respiratory therapist, he said while you don't have to change the equipment monthly, you have to be super diligent about the cleaning of the tubes since pooled water sitting in them breeds bacteria. He told patients that if their insurance did not charge much for the tubing and all that, then change it, why take a chance? Most people I know do not change it monthly but I had patients who also never cleaned it (they were too sick to bother) and the tubing was full of mold and they were breathing that! My dad is ex-Army, if you are supposed to clean it, you clean it. So he does his and my mom's and I think they don't always change it monthly because they have a good supply of unused stuff.
their insurance and mine did the rent to own deal. I did not have a tube down my nose during the study. I was told to sleep how I always sleep, which is on my side. The did put a tube threaded down my nose with a camera at my first appt, they use lidocaine, not painful. We did these all the time when I worked in Radiation Oncology and I cannot for the life of me remember what that scope is called, grrrr. Endoscope, maybe? I am telling tales out of school, but make sure they put a clean sheath on that scope, they are expensive but also a health violation if they don't cover the scope, just "clean" it. The nurse was doing that in radiation oncology, I would not participate in one until they bought sheaths, that is just disgusting.
Off to google, isn't there some saying about having forgot more than you ever learned or something like that? That's me.
It's funny.........on a very large cpap forum I sometimes frequent, the respiratory therapists that show up have so much different info than the patients who actually use the stuff. I used to change the water in my humidifier every night...........now I change it maybe once every few months (but I do add water to it every night). When you use distilled water, nothing tends to grow in it. I also clean my hoses at the same time, and have never had anything grow in them. And I've never had a respiratory illness in the 7-8 years I've been doing this. Of course, it's always good to err on the safe side..........but what the Lincare and other respiratory people say is just much too excessive......and adds to the hassle of being on a cpap. Like the USDA canning rules (making the rules based on the stupidest canners out there)..........I think the respiratory people feel they need to address the most ignorant users of cpap.
SteveinMN
9-22-15, 10:32am
For me, I just couldn't get comfortable. I just couldn't get to sleep.
Same with me. I prefer to sleep on my side and front. They let me sleep on my side, but not my front (as if I could with that 10-pound box and wire harness on me). They also made me (try to) sleep on my back. I don't sleep on my back. I didn't sleep that way that night, either. When I got home in the morning, I took a nap. On my side and front. :~)
Just curious with all of you who have had the study.......did it cost you much?
Standard lab co-payment, IIRC. I didn't request the study, which may have made the difference.
Tussiemussies
9-22-15, 10:40am
My husband has very severe sleep apnea and didn't mind going to the sleep study and is outfitted with a mask that is comfortable for him. he was always exhausted and it also can effect your moods. He has gained a lot of weight and has a tendency to gain it in his neck area. I have also gained a lot of weight which I am in the process of losing now. Not only can extra weight cause sleep apnea but can also cause diabetes...good luck...if it was me, I would also have to have the home study too!
Ultralight
9-22-15, 10:53am
My husband has very severe sleep apnea and didn't mind going to the sleep study and is outfitted with a mask that is comfortable for him. he was always exhausted and it also can effect your moods. He has gained a lot of weight and has a tendency to gain it in his neck area. I have also gained a lot of weight which I am in the process of losing now. Not only can extra weight cause sleep apnea but can also cause diabetes...good luck...if it was me, I would also have to have the home study too!
Your husband gained weight from using the sleep machine?
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