Anyone Use a CPAP or have Sleep Apnea

[berger034]

I was wondering if anyone uses this device for snoring or have sleep apnea and could give me advice on getting one. I will be recieving medical coverage in the next couple of weeks and want to know about how to get one.

Advice on the best one and how to abouts getting would be really appreciated.
thanks

 

[bockchow]

Greg (Viper GTS) started uesing one back at the begining of the year post , i think that a couple other people here also used them.

 

[Anubis]

mabye i should look into one of thoes

 

[Aquaman]

I used to use it and it worked great........ I had an operation so I don't need it anymore.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[berger034]

bump for daytime responses

 

[Linflas]

I had the surgery for that back in 1997. My wife says I am snoring again but I suspect if I dropped some pounds that would stop. I never tried the machine, I hated it when they tried it on me during my sleep test.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: Linflas
I had the surgery for that back in 1997. My wife says I am snoring again but I suspect if I dropped some pounds that would stop. I never tried the machine, I hated it when they tried it on me during my sleep test.

Yeah I did not like the mask but he nasal pillows did the trick for me.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[bcterps]

If you want a CPAP machine you'll have to go to a sleep study where they can measure how many apneas you have. Based on that, they can determine if you need a machine or not.

 

[Rufio]

what nasal pillows?

i hate my machine. it sits in my closest.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: Rufio
what nasal pillows?

i hate my machine. it sits in my closest.

Like this.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[jyates]

Dang....I've got to start wearing my reading glasses.....

I thought you said "Anyone Use a Crap........"

 

[Viper GTS]

Every night, unfortunately.

There's really not a lot that you'll have direct control over, when I got mine I got what my provider gave me. I ended up with a REMStar Pro BiPAP (two levels of pressure, one for inhale & one for exhale).

You can't just go get one, they're prescription only. You'll have to have at least one night in a sleep clinic, potentially more. My night consisted of a couple hours to determine that I did indeed need one, then the remainder of the night on an autopap to determine the pressure at which the apneas stopped (too much pressure causes central apneas).

Once you get used to it it's no big deal, in fact it doesn't quite feel right sleeping without it.

As for results? I've had mine for about six months, but I think it's been useless. Well, not entirely useless but not nearly as effective as it could/should have been. A couple weeks ago my brother informed me that I had been sleeping with my mouth open & leaking all the pressure out. The g/f confirmed this, so who knows how effective it's been. I purchased a full face mask but got the wrong size. Even with the wrong size I think it's better than the nose only mask, hopefully once I get the right size I can truly get the benefits.

I do know that I felt unusually good after my 1/2 night in the sleep clinic, I have yet to experience that at home. I was using a properly sized full face mask then.

Viper GTS

 

[CFster]

I think there's a lot more people out there using them than you think. And there's a lot of people out there that should be but don't know any better.

I too use a BiPap with a nasal mask. The regular masks suck and I don't know how anybody could wear one. Talk about claustrophobic. The nasal mask is cool - I can sleep on my side, everything.

Yeah, it was a bitch to get used to, but I sleep better now than I ever have. As a matter of fact, I can't fall asleep without it now.

No more falling asleep at the wheel either.

I have to say that my quality of life improved gradually over a year or so. Just ended up being more alert and sharper, and now I run out of steam at 10 or 11, not 6 or 7. My blood pressure dropped too.

I think when my doctor told me that the normal life expectancy of a male is 75 or 80, and that I would be sure not to make it that long I sucked it up and started wearing the mask.

See your general doctor and he'll most likely refer you to a sleep doctor. You'll then have to do a sleep study. No big deal - they stick electrodes all over you and watch you sleep. I got about an hour of sleep the first time - but it was enough for them to get the readings they wanted. They'll probably want you to wear a regular mask - just do it so they can determine the proper pressure you need (its called titrating) - then you can ask for a nasal mask later.

At first it really sucks (I won't sugar coat it for you) - you'll ask yourself how ANYBODY can sleep with air being forced down their throat - but believe me, you get used to it, and wont even notice after a while.

 

[orakle]

Originally posted by: jyates
Dang....I've got to start wearing my reading glasses.....

I thought you said "Anyone Use a Crap........"

 

[CFster]

Oh, and as a previous poster remarked, in some cases surgery helps. There may be an obstruction in your throat or nasal passages. Sometimes they prescribe a dental piece. There are sometimes other solutions.

However, sometimes the surgery doesn't work, or only temporarily. Sometimes it's very painful (recovery) and sometimes it just makes it worse.

And if you end up with a CPAP or BiPAP, be sure and get a heated humidifier that goes between the machine and your mask. A lot of times insurance wont cover that part - they'll just cover a regular passover humidifier, which is as good as useless. The heated humidifier moistens the air so it doesn't dry up your nose and make your sinuses close up.

There's a couple support forums out there I'm pretty sure.

 

[Aquaman]

I went from a pressure of 14 to 10 after my operation......... I had my adonoids that was obstructing my sinuses 80%.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[azncoffeeboi]

If I have super big tonsils, could it lead to Sleep Apnea? I remember a few months ago my mom said I would stop breathing for a while and start again.

Does me drooling excessivly when I sleep have anything to do with anything too?