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Lee Dryden posted a discussionSleeping with CPAP blog post
Hi,This post is about sleep apnea and blood sugars. Thanks for reading.http://sleepingwithcpap.blogspot.com/See More
ZolliStar replied to ZolliStar's discussion What's the Right Machine?"Thanks for this, Mary.
Worse comes to worse, I'll buy a used machine from Second Wind. First I'm going to see if I can get my doctor to prescribe one.
Maybe this is the final answer. Meanwhile, I'm surely happy to have…"
Mary Z replied to ZolliStar's discussion What's the Right Machine?"Zollistar, I think the ASV is hands down the best machine. It took me four years to get hooked up. Because of lingering depression and continued day time sleepiness with a high AHI my doctor suggested a night in the lab with an…"
ZolliStar replied to ZolliStar's discussion What's the Right Machine?"May I ask two dumb-dumb questions? What do "Dx" and "CSA" mean?
And here is a not-so-dumb-dumb question (I hope!): From your experience, do people sleep better using an ASV machine?
I look forward to your answer.
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RockRpsgt replied to ZolliStar's discussion What's the Right Machine?"You will most likely not be able to get insurance approval for an ASV without a Dx of CSA. I think that saying that an ASV breathes with you is false. ASV does however provide a better breath support and algorithm for auto use. The newer ASV units…"
Mary Z replied to ZolliStar's discussion Beating Sleep Maintenance Insomnia"Zollistar, what a good idea! The music is nice and relaxing on some of them."
ZolliStar replied to ZolliStar's discussion What's the Right Machine?"Thanks for this information Lisa. It really helps.
Anyone else?
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Lisa replied to ZolliStar's discussion What's the Right Machine?"Hi Zollistar, I much prefer using an Apap to a straight Cpap. I changed over a few years ago and found straight away that I had much less of a problem with leaks. Another thing that I have noticed is I used to have ongoing problems with my nose…"
Terry Vella replied to ZolliStar's discussion What's the Right Machine?"He's still going, a bit of a pain sometimes but that's life, thanks for asking."
ZolliStar replied to ZolliStar's discussion What's the Right Machine?"This helps a lot, Terry! Thanks for letting me know.
How is your dog??
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Terry Vella replied to ZolliStar's discussion What's the Right Machine?"ZolliStar, I went straight to an auto so can't really compare but from what I have heard there are two major benefits, first, the comfort factor of not having the high pressure all night and second, it adjusts to what you require, so if you use…"
Mary Z replied to Ginny Edmundson's discussion New "Rant" about DME/Wisp"Ginny, they are probably not doing anything against the law- though it may seem like fraud to us it may be an accepted practice. I would rather change DME's. Have you talked to the manager. They don't want to lose your…"
Ginny Edmundson replied to Ginny Edmundson's discussion New "Rant" about DME/Wisp"It really burns me up that they are doing things like this. Monday I am going to lok up th eMedicare complaint number and give them an ear full.
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RockRpsgt replied to Ginny Edmundson's discussion New "Rant" about DME/Wisp"Companies like this will have to pay in the end. Medicare is taking no prisoners in their effort to reform medicare fraud."
RockRpsgt replied to Mary Z's discussion Symptoms"I had zero symptoms. I was testing equipment one night and fell asleep hooked up. When I woke up my doc said I had an AHI of 10 with 30 second events. I have been on PAP ever since."
Ginny Edmundson replied to Ginny Edmundson's discussion New "Rant" about DME/Wisp"I just use a large rubber band and safety pin to attach i tho the sheet. It doesn't exactly kink, but rather seems to have almost bends that don't quite ever go away. I have one that doesn't but all the others seem to.…"
Mary Z replied to Ginny Edmundson's discussion New "Rant" about DME/Wisp"My light weight tubing does not have a tendency to kink. It just hangs down from the stand and comes back up to the bed. I tried a hose hanger, but bought the cheaper travel model and it just wasn't up to the task."
Ginny Edmundson replied to Ginny Edmundson's discussion New "Rant" about DME/Wisp"I was really surprised when the congestion improved without the humidification. Yes, I use the lighter weight tubing too. Do you have trouble getting the bends and kinks out of them???? I have one favorite that is broken in and I hate…"
Deciding Factor in Seeking Treatment?
What was the last straw or deciding factor that made you decide to seek treatment? Perhaps we could use this information to encourage others with sleep apnea to stop avoiding treatment and to seek help.
Views: 102
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on -
After being diagnosed with Depression(instead of Sleep Apnea)and after the continual uping of antidepressants and sleeping pills with no effect, I was at my wits ends. I alway knew I had a sleep problem since I was a baby but no one put two and two together to make four. When it got to the stage that I was getting 1-2 hours non quality sleep and going to work still drugged up, that was the last straw. Apart from all that, I felt I wasn't far away from dying probably from a heart attack. Sometimes you have to take things into your own hands. Good Discussion Janna and welcome.
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Permalink Reply by Carey on
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There were several straws, actually. I woke up feeling exhausted each morning, kept falling asleep sitting up during the day,felt as though I was in a fog, and couldn't think straight. It got worse and worse over the course of a year or so, and I thought I was losing my mind... until my family physician referred me to a sleep clinic. I will always be grateful to that doctor for recognizing symptoms of sleep apnea. Life is 100% better now!
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Permalink Reply by Kate on
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Wow! Sounds exactly like my case. Exact same scenario. My Docs kept telling me my sleep apnea was caused because I'm overweight. I wasn't overweight when I was snoring at the age of two. Well, now there is a growing realization that sleep apnea CAUSES weight gain. A person gets so exhausted from lack of energy from lack of quality sleep - they look to other sources ( food ) to attempt to bolster their energy levels. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by ZolliStar on -
I went to many, many doctors trying to find out why I was so weary and tired.
I did have a serious candida problem. A decade ago I found an alternative doctor who recognized many of my symptoms and put me on a candida diet. I was on it for one year. Even my alternative doctor was amazed that I was so completely faithful to the regime of no sugar which meant not even eating high-sugar content vegetables. My diet was limited to fish, meat, (low-sugar content) vegetables, olive oil (no butter), and eggs. For the nutrients I was missing, I was on a regime of vitamins as well as an herbal regime to kill off the excessive candida.
I felt WONDERFUL, lost about 30 pounds (which I needed to lose) but...I still didn't sleep well. The alternative doctor had no suggestions about that problem.
I did the rounds of doctors, not one of whom suggested sleep apnea including the doctors at a sleep disorder clinic! (Sleep Disorders Institute in New York City on West 55th Street). DSI "treated" me for insomnia, put me on a sleep restriction protocol and gave me all kinds of sleep hygiene tips and tricks. Needless to say, nothing helped. I concluded that if even the "experts" couldn't help me, there was just no answer.
The person who diagnosed me is a friend with whom I shared a hotel room when we attended an out-of-town event. She knew about sleep apnea; she knew I had it.
I went to Sleep Medicine Associates (East 26th Street in New York City) immediately after returning from the trip. The scheduled overnight revealed a severe case of sleep apnea, a condition that should have been diagnosed -- or at least suggested -- by someone decades ago. So much suffering would have been avoided.
I am very grateful to my friend Myra for her diagnosis. She may have literally saved my life; she has certainly made it much, much better: I'm now awake enough to live it!
And I LOVE my CPAP machine!!! Love it!!!
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Permalink Reply by MZH on
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My husband told me I was snoring a lot and not breathing continually. He told me to go to the doc. The doc - a GP - actually said I should go to a sleep clinic. He set me to the sleep doc to have it set up. It really helps to have someone else notice.
I had also been given the usual anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs. I kept telling them I'm not anxious per se. I was anxious because I kept waking up in a panic and with a racing heart and high blood pressure. But it wasn't a panic attack like they said; it was from apneas. Sheesh.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on -
I simply became unable to stay awake during the day. I could not drive. Would fall asleep in appointments. Before that I was taking four or five hour naps during the afternoon where I was dead to the world. I saw my GP who scheduled me for a sleep study and found out I had OSA.
Mine was mild at that time and I was given a choice of CPAP or wait ands see. I jumped at the chance for CPAP because my sleepiness was ruling my life. After four years I haven't had great improvement with CPAP so I am preparing for a trial of ASV.
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