Sleep Apnea......Anyone have it?

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: randypj
I'm talkin' bout the real thing.....not just insomnia. The thing where you may slightly wake up numerous times in a night, in fact, even several hundred times is possible. You don't get quality sleep, because you get very little REM sleep.

Reason I'm askin' is that I am being tested for it tonight. I go in and get electrodes attached, then sleep. They do it in the epilepsy center of my hospital. I'm almost sure I have it because I wake up and feel like I haven't even slept, and, often as I'm falling asleep, my uvula gets caught, and I wake myself up. BTW, definition of uvula: "A small, conical, fleshy mass of tissue suspended from the center of the soft palate." Also known as "that hangy down thing in the back of your mouth."

Anyway, I'd be interested in knowing who's been tested for it, and what they did to relieve it. I know there is the positive airflow mask, and, I think, a mouthpiece, and even surgery.

I've demonstrated to my ENT how much better I can breathe if I jut my lower jaw forward. What really convinced him, was when I told him I could lay my head down on his desk, be asleep in 10 minutes, and be dreaming 5 minutes later. I know you don't normally dream that quickly, cause you don't go to REM that fast. But, I do. He said it was my body forcing REM ASAP, because I was REM deprived.
--Randy

Hmm, I dream when I sleep for like 10 minutes too.
And I always feel tired
And I wake up a lot.
And my dad has it.

Hmmmmm. Maybe I should get checked. Good job randypj

 

[tcsenter]

Yikes, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure devices cost a lot! Hell, and another couple hundred for a mask!

The Remstar portable unit I tried was $210...just to rent for 30 days. RENT! And that was still lower than what an insurance company would have paid. I got one of the really good masks + headgear, though.

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Yikes, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure devices cost a lot! Hell, and another couple hundred for a mask!

The Remstar portable unit I tried was $210...just to rent for 30 days. RENT! And that was still lower than what an insurance company would have paid. I got one of the really good masks + headgear, though.

insurance companies decide what they will pay,:disgust: if it's not enough the patient usually has to come up with the difference.

BTW I only know of a couple masks that are over $200.00 most should be $85-150
what models were you looking at?

Ornery: that model you linked is a bilevel device, MUCH more expensive than a CPAP, BIPAP is only used when people can't tolerate CPAP, or need some assistance on their airflow.


this is a very nice one

but very expensive.

if you can afford it many people like heated humidifiers. but obly if you pressure is moderate to high

 

[tcsenter]

insurance companies decide what they will pay, if it's not enough the patient usually has to come up with the difference.

Well I had no insurance, this was a cash deal, and so they rented it to me for what Medicare/MediCal would pay, which was less than any private insurance.

 

[mcveigh]

whoa!

what they tell you is usually what they BILL insurance, not necessarily what they pay, sometimes my lab loses money on patients, but usually the ins. pays enough.

looking at your old posts... they want to treat any sleep apnea before looking for other sleep disorders, the reason is that OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) kinda "overpowers" other disorders. we've had several pt's w/ narcolepsy and OSA, but you have to get the OSA under control first before you can find other problems.


tcsenter: do you remember any details of your studdies? AHI (apnea hypopnea index), number of apneas, O2 desat levels?

 

[tcsenter]

what they tell you is usually what they BILL insurance, not necessarily what they pay, sometimes my lab loses money on patients, but usually the ins. pays enough.

As I said, this was a cash deal, I have no insurance of any sort. Now that you mention it, the guy said that $210 was what they would bill Medicare/MediCal, but that it was still less than they would have received from most private insurance carriers.

Oops, I am looking at my receipt and it was $180, not $210. I don't know where I got $210 from. But, anyway, I'm sure it would have been less, but they insisted on coming to my house for drop-off/pick-up and gave me a little inservice on how to use the thing. I couldn't just go get the thing and carry-out.

Though, the reimbursement and coverage for Medicare and other public health plans aren't some closely guarded secret, they're freely published information, as are any private insurance coverage plans.

 

[Linux23]

doesn't CPAP devices cause dry throat, and some throat cracking due to that chronic dryness? i've read about this a while ago.


also, i have chronic sleep paralysis where if i have my mouth closed while sleeping (always sleep with my mouth open) i would suffocate. my entire body shuts down and it is impossible trying to break free from the dead feeling. is there something that would help people who suffer from paralysis?

 

[Corn]

I suffer from chronic obstructive sleep apnea.

My life has greatly improved since my diagnosis. Like you Randy, I would wake up feeling like I had not slept at all. I was tired most of the day and the wife complained of my snoring. I tried the C-PAP machine and could not tolerate it. I just couldn't sleep with it on and the daily maintenance required was a pain in the ass. Here's what I ended up doing to get my live back to normal.

I lost weight.

I went out and bought a rock hard mattress and now sleep on my side.

I had surgery to correct a deviated septum. This surgery basically did nothing for me.

I sleep using a Breathe Right strip. For me, these things really work.




Basically, you do not want to breathe through your mouth when you sleep. You might be able to find a chin strap at your local pharmacy to help force the issue. Good luck.

 

[Viper GTS]

My dad has to sleep using a C-PAP machine, it made a big difference for him when he got it.

I don't have it myself, but it definitely a noticeable difference when he got it.

Viper GTS

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: Linux23
doesn't CPAP devices cause dry throat, and some throat cracking due to that chronic dryness? i've read about this a while ago.


also, i have chronic sleep paralysis where if i have my mouth closed while sleeping (always sleep with my mouth open) i would suffocate. my entire body shuts down and it is impossible trying to break free from the dead feeling. is there something that would help people who suffer from paralysis?

the dryness comes from more air than you are used to being put through your sinuses, humans were designed to moisturize then air volume they breathe on their own, through the mucus glands in the nose and mouth. When using a CPAP, you are getting more air, and your body can't keep up with it. that's why I reccomended a heated humidifier earlier. thaty also make non-heated ones called passover humidifiers.

That sleep paralysis you described usually isn't asociated with sleep apnea, but is a separate problem. I would reccomend finding a good sleep specialist in you area to goto.
question: sometimes when you try to wake up do you feel that you are awake but can't move no matter how hard you try?

 

[aimn]

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea.........had the UVVVP surgery and have lost 110lbs.......dont need the cpap anymore. If you have any questions, pm me and I can tell you what I know.

 

[propellerhead]

I have mild sleep apnea. During the sleep study, they recorded about one apnea episode per 15 minutes. I almost always wake up with a dry mouth and throat. However, I have lost some weight since and quit smoking.

It has helped a lot.

 

[teddymines]

All you with sleep apnea: do you sleep on your back or side? Seems like sleeping on your stomach would prevent that "hanging thingy" from triggering the closure.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: randypj
Seth--Thanks for the info.

My otolaryngologist has already had me try some things:

1. Eat at least 4 hours before bed.
2. Switch from Flonase to TriNasal spray.
3. Take Aciphex daily.
4. Raise the head of the bed about 4".

Doing the above does seem to have helped some. I don't have the "sore uvuala" feeling as often. But, I still feel like I have a hunk in the back of my throat. He said the acid reflux appeared to have swollen it about 25%. He said my uvula is larger than normal, but not so much as he wants to get out the knife (whew......) I hadn't realized that acid reflux would have as much effect on it as it seems to. I wouldn't mind a CPAP device at all.

Linflas--I know the feeling. "caught in the back of the throat". Don't they have something they can do for the night leg kicking?
--Randy

The doctor had me on some kind of anti seizure medicine and wanted me to try prozac if I recall correctly to stop the kicking. I would rather deal with the kicking than take that junk. If it was life threatening that would be one thing but I do not want to be on a daily regimen of drugs just for that.

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: randypj
Seth--Thanks for the info.

My otolaryngologist has already had me try some things:

1. Eat at least 4 hours before bed.
2. Switch from Flonase to TriNasal spray.
3. Take Aciphex daily.
4. Raise the head of the bed about 4".

Doing the above does seem to have helped some. I don't have the "sore uvuala" feeling as often. But, I still feel like I have a hunk in the back of my throat. He said the acid reflux appeared to have swollen it about 25%. He said my uvula is larger than normal, but not so much as he wants to get out the knife (whew......) I hadn't realized that acid reflux would have as much effect on it as it seems to. I wouldn't mind a CPAP device at all.

Linflas--I know the feeling. "caught in the back of the throat". Don't they have something they can do for the night leg kicking?
--Randy

The doctor had me on some kind of anti seizure medicine and wanted me to try prozac if I recall correctly to stop the kicking. I would rather deal with the kicking than take that junk. If it was life threatening that would be one thing but I do not want to be on a daily regimen of drugs just for that.

there are other drugs than prozac, but most are in the same family, ritalin is also commonly used.





teddymines: while it is easier to breathe on your sides and stomach, the apnea occurs further back in your airway. actually the places where it occurs varies during the night.

 

[randypj]

Corn--Good point about the BreatheRight strips. I may give them a try. Can't hurt. And, I could stand to lose 30#. Never should've quit playing racquetball.

I had my overnight polysomnography study last night. Very interesting. Seth, you were right......lotsa wires. I do mean lots. I imagine some people have trouble sleeping with that many hanging off 'em. It took me a little longer to get to sleep, and back to sleep after I woke. Maybe 15 minutes vs. instantaneously. No biggie. It was very interesting. I wouldn't say it was unpleasant. It is held in the hospital I work for, and the environment was quite conducive to sleeping.

The tech had to come in a couple times and wake me, because something had come undone. I think it was the thing that went around my chest. I sleep on my side. I pretty much had a sleep similar to what I would have at home.

I asked the tech's opinion, and she said I did hit REM, and that I did quit breathing a few times. She felt like I was borderline, and it would be up to my Dr. She said the doc might even want me to come back and sleep with CPAP one night.

So....now, I make an appt. with my ENT. Thanks for all the comments in the thread guys.
--Randy

 

[mcveigh]

did they make you sleep any of the night on your back?

they should have.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: randypj
Corn--Good point about the BreatheRight strips. I may give them a try. Can't hurt. And, I could stand to lose 30#. Never should've quit playing racquetball.

I had my overnight polysomnography study last night. Very interesting. Seth, you were right......lotsa wires. I do mean lots. I imagine some people have trouble sleeping with that many hanging off 'em. It took me a little longer to get to sleep, and back to sleep after I woke. Maybe 15 minutes vs. instantaneously. No biggie. It was very interesting. I wouldn't say it was unpleasant. It is held in the hospital I work for, and the environment was quite conducive to sleeping.

The tech had to come in a couple times and wake me, because something had come undone. I think it was the thing that went around my chest. I sleep on my side. I pretty much had a sleep similar to what I would have at home.

I asked the tech's opinion, and she said I did hit REM, and that I did quit breathing a few times. She felt like I was borderline, and it would be up to my Dr. She said the doc might even want me to come back and sleep with CPAP one night.

So....now, I make an appt. with my ENT. Thanks for all the comments in the thread guys.
--Randy

They tried the CPAP thing as part of my original test. I was amazed I was able to sleep at all with all those wires hooked up to me. When I went back for my post op sleep test they had me all wired up when a phone call came from my wife. She was frantic because she could not find her wallet and wanted to see if perhaps it was in the room where I was. I looked around and it wasn't so then I wanted to go check in the parking lot for it. They disconnected the box and I had to go out through the ER waiting area to get to the parking lot wearing the hospital gown with all the wires attached to me carrying that box. People looked at me like I was some kind of mutant but it was worth it since her wallet was out there laying next to where we had parked with everything still intact.

 

[Electric Amish]

My mother has been diagnosed and is in the process of being treated.


For the rest of you that have it, or have trouble sleeping and are tired all day, here's some advice:

My company makes a drug called PROVIGIL. It is intended to help people with daily tiredness due to lack of sleep, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and shift work. IT IS NOT AN AMPHETAMINE It works on the brain chemistry to help you stay alert during your wakeful hours. It's purpose is to help you through your daily life until such time as a cure for your ailment is found. I would HIGHLY recommend tallking to your doctor about it.

amish

 

[randypj]

mcveigh--Yes. She wanted me to start out on my back. I told her I'd try, but I normally can't sleep on my back. And....with all the wires.... I finally gave it up and told her I just couldn't go to sleep that way. She asked me if I would try it again if I woke up during the night. I did, and may have slept briefly on my back after one of my wakeup times.

Linflas--Good about the wallet. Bad about showing your butt. 🙂 Seriously, we see so much stuff going on at the hospital, that is really nothing odd, especially at night, near the ER. You should see what gets past our ER metal detector....I mean who gets past.... When I first started here, I thought it was the wierdest thing to see patients in gowns outside in a smoking area, bumming cigs, while pulling a portable IV drip bag/stand around.

Hehe....even last night, the tech that was with me had to call security on a patient in an EKG room that was being monitored. Evidently....that patient decided it was time to go home. About 4 security guards showed up quickly.
--Randy

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: randypj
mcveigh--Yes. She wanted me to start out on my back. I told her I'd try, but I normally can't sleep on my back. And....with all the wires.... I finally gave it up and told her I just couldn't go to sleep that way. She asked me if I would try it again if I woke up during the night. I did, and may have slept briefly on my back after one of my wakeup times.

Linflas--Good about the wallet. Bad about showing your butt. 🙂 Seriously, we see so much stuff going on at the hospital, that is really nothing odd, especially at night, near the ER. You should see what gets past our ER metal detector....I mean who gets past.... When I first started here, I thought it was the wierdest thing to see patients in gowns outside in a smoking area, bumming cigs, while pulling a portable IV drip bag/stand around.

Hehe....even last night, the tech that was with me had to call security on a patient in an EKG room that was being monitored. Evidently....that patient decided it was time to go home. About 4 security guards showed up quickly.
--Randy

I am so glad I work in a private lab.....most of the time
:frown:

 

[Drekce]

My dad has Sleep Apnea. My mom would wake up in the middle of the night and would hear my dad stop breathing for up to 2 minutes sometimes. He never had the problem of waking up though, he would just stop breathing. Anyway, he wore one of those positive airflow masks (it was a pretty large and loud machine) for a while, but I think that now he doesn't use it very much. He had to spend a couple of nights at a sleep clinic hooked up to all kinds of machines while they were testing him. There is an operation that can be done to treat it, but he did not want to go through that. If you have any other questions you can PM me.

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: Drekce
My dad has Sleep Apnea. My mom would wake up in the middle of the night and would hear my dad stop breathing for up to 2 minutes sometimes. He never had the problem of waking up though, he would just stop breathing. Anyway, he wore one of those positive airflow masks (it was a pretty large and loud machine) for a while, but I think that now he doesn't use it very much. He had to spend a couple of nights at a sleep clinic hooked up to all kinds of machines while they were testing him. There is an operation that can be done to treat it, but he did not want to go through that. If you have any other questions you can PM me.

this is what a lot of people do, after time they stop wearing the mask. this is why it's important to find one that fits, doesn't leak and is comfortable. unfortunately most labs and medical equipment providers don't spend enough time showing people the various options and have them ACTUALLY TRY THEM ON!!.

 

[Linux23]

That sleep paralysis you described usually isn't asociated with sleep apnea, but is a separate problem. I would reccomend finding a good sleep specialist in you area to goto.
question: sometimes when you try to wake up do you feel that you are awake but can't move no matter how hard you try?

yes, that's how i feel. i struggle and struggle, but i just can't wake up no matter how hard i try. it scared me one time when i was sleeping on my back. it felt like someone was standing on my back holding my arms down, and of course my air passages likes to close up on me in the process. 🙁 i was able to wake up in time, but i woke up gasping for air. I have had this issue when i was a child as well, and i was not big then, but i did pack on a few pounds in adulthood.


i think i have apenea as well, because sometimes, eventhough i slept 10 hours straight, it feels like i never went to bed.

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: Linux23

That sleep paralysis you described usually isn't asociated with sleep apnea, but is a separate problem. I would reccomend finding a good sleep specialist in you area to goto.
question: sometimes when you try to wake up do you feel that you are awake but can't move no matter how hard you try?

yes, that's how i feel. i struggle and struggle, but i just can't wake up no matter how hard i try. it scared me one time when i was sleeping on my back. it felt like someone was standing on my back holding my arms down, and of course my air passages likes to close up on me in the process. 🙁 i was able to wake up in time, but i woke up gasping for air. I have had this issue when i was a child as well, and i was not big then, but i did pack on a few pounds in adulthood.


i think i have apenea as well, because sometimes, eventhough i slept 10 hours straight, it feels like i never went to bed.

try here, you really should get it checked out.
http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/paralysis.html

http://www.nightterrors.org/paralysis.html