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Mike
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- Sleep Apnea Articles -- Updated! (36)
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Mike's Groups
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UK Sleep Apnoea Support…
3 members
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Sleep Apnea Book Club
28 members
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Manhattan A.W.A.K.E. Sle…
35 members
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Sleep Disorders & Childr…
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Losing Pounds Sensibly &…
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Mike's Discussions
CPAP Gave Me My Life Back
Why I'm a "Sleep Apnea Evangelist"
For as long as I can remember, I struggled with feeling tired all the time, without any energy to do much of anything. I chalked it up to a diagnosis of depression and having a stressful workday that left me beat. But in 2007, I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. A couple of days after having a CPAP drop-shipped to my house by a durable medical equipment provider, I got frustrated with the therapy and gave up.
Months later, a friend of mine who i learned also has OSA told me about a new machine on the market that might be more comfortable to use --- an auto-adjusting CPAP device. After using it one night, the difference was like night and day. For the first time in years, I woke up feeling refreshed and energized... ready to take on the day. It was a life changing experience. If it weren't for reaching out to another person who happened to have OSA, I would still be in the rut I was in.
In no other pursuit in my life have I been able to help myself and help others to turn around their lives, often literally overnight. It is for this reason I have made it my mission to learn as much as I can about this disorder and my therapy and share it with others. I am a corporate lawyer and journalist by training. My news articles have appeared in The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune. I run the New York City A.W.A.K.E. Sleep Apnea Support Group, and am founder of this site, SleepGuide.com, as well as the online CPAP supplies store ApneaLife.com. I live in New York with my wife, Melinda and chihuahua-border collie-terrier puppy dog, Maggie.
Months later, a friend of mine who i learned also has OSA told me about a new machine on the market that might be more comfortable to use --- an auto-adjusting CPAP device. After using it one night, the difference was like night and day. For the first time in years, I woke up feeling refreshed and energized... ready to take on the day. It was a life changing experience. If it weren't for reaching out to another person who happened to have OSA, I would still be in the rut I was in.
In no other pursuit in my life have I been able to help myself and help others to turn around their lives, often literally overnight. It is for this reason I have made it my mission to learn as much as I can about this disorder and my therapy and share it with others. I am a corporate lawyer and journalist by training. My news articles have appeared in The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune. I run the New York City A.W.A.K.E. Sleep Apnea Support Group, and am founder of this site, SleepGuide.com, as well as the online CPAP supplies store ApneaLife.com. I live in New York with my wife, Melinda and chihuahua-border collie-terrier puppy dog, Maggie.
Profile Information
- My Interest in Sleep Apnea
- I have Sleep Apnea, Someone I care about has Sleep Apnea
- Treatment Being Used, if any
- Auto-Adjusting CPAP
- If Machine Being Used, What Type? (e.g., Respironics M Series with A-Flex Auto-Adjusting CPAP)
- Philips Respironics System One APAP
- If Mask Being Used, What Type? (e.g., ResMed Activa Nasal Mask)
- ResMed Activa Nasal Mask
Latest Activity
First, let me say, Thank you for going to bat for us. I think you are doing a fantastic job in spreading OSA awareness and providing us with OSA a place to go for support. Apparently there is no connection between a college degree and intelligence,…
You hit the nail on the head. I had a similar experience last year with another organization, The Alzheimer's Association. I ask for permission to pass out a flyer, "Does Sleep Apnea Cause Alzheimer's Disease?," at one of their annual meetings regar…
Then she should say that... Say anything other than the falsehood that the connection between OSA and heart disease isn't sufficiently proven.
Maybe you should be the communications director for the AHA ;-).
I believe that individuals should be free to make decisions for themselves. This goes for the patients and the providers. The patient is free to decide what to do and who to pay for what services. The provider is free to decide what services he offe…
by no means am i suggesting that this one person believes one thing or another. rather, she is the director of marketing and communications for the AHA. it is her job to communicate the organization's viewpoints to the public, and that's what she wa…
HEY, I read the funny e-mails! HAH, I'm heading north tomorrow...
Ah ha, BirdShell!!! You can ignore me, but we managed to lure you out of your hiding place w/this thread, eh??
Too bad too. Danielle, Ashley, Nicole and I are all meeting at La Placita in Saginaw for lunch tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you!!!! Nico…
Mike's Photos
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Mike's Videos
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CNN Reports on Oral Appliance
Added by Mike
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Mike's Articles
State Sleep Societies List
State Sleep Societies (Randy Townsend, a Sleep Tech, compiled this list):
Alabama Association of Sleep Professionals http://www.aasp.us/
Arizona http://ww… Continue
Alabama Association of Sleep Professionals http://www.aasp.us/
Arizona http://ww… Continue
Posted on May 17, 2010 at 7:25am —
Tracheostomy for Severe Sleep Apnea
A doctor I spoke to last night argued that severe sleep apnea should be treate… Continue Posted on March 18, 2009 at 2:30pm — 9 Comments
The Silent Majority of People with Sleep Apnea
If you're reading this, you can pat yourself on the back. You're part of the elite, the "Top Gun" of those with Sleep Apnea. How? Largely just by virtue of knowing that you have Sleep Apnea -- ninety percent of those with Sleep Apnea remain undiagnosed. Moreover, not only are you in the top 90th percentile of the "Sleep Apnea Class," but because you're educating yourself about the disorder and trying to improve your life by actively seeking treatment, you, the members of this forum, are more lik… Continue
Posted on March 9, 2009 at 11:30pm — 13 Comments
Is Changing CPAP Settings on One's Own Machine Illegal?
I don't know. And that's the point. While never likely to be enforced, this article is to highlight that there is confusion over whether it's legal to change the settings on one's own CPAP machine. The CPAP community seems divided on the question of whether changing the settings should be legal, with most doctors, respiratory therapists and Durable Medical Equipment providers feeling we patients shoul… Continue
Posted on March 8, 2009 at 9:30pm — 7 Comments
Sleep Apnea Disability
Is Sleep Apnea a disability? The question of whether Sleep Apnea is a disability is a legal one concerning state and federal anti-discrimination laws. The short answer to whether Sleep Apnea is a disability: maybe. The Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and related state… Continue Posted on March 4, 2009 at 8:30pm — 15 Comments
Latest Activity
Yup, if you've got insurance, your insurance dictates which local DME providers you can use.
Just because you bought your CPAP elsewhere does NOT mean that your insurance contracted providers can't or won't provide your masks and other accessories.…
Linda, thanks your your help. When I call Apria, I wil ask them why they did not offer me a payment plan.
Good luck!
Hi Candace,
Apria is giving me a payment plan for 10 months, after that I will buy it if I still need it. In the mean time, all of the folks here are so helpful they told me the best cpap to get and low and behold, Apria did not give me a newer mode…
Linda, I read your question re: CPAP Machine and Apria. I also am not impressed with them. I have Kaiser and Kaiser will not pay for my equipment. Apria says that I have to pay all costs up front. Are you on a payment plan with Apria. I have severe…
First, let me say, Thank you for going to bat for us. I think you are doing a fantastic job in spreading OSA awareness and providing us with OSA a place to go for support. Apparently there is no connection between a college degree and intelligence,…
You hit the nail on the head. I had a similar experience last year with another organization, The Alzheimer's Association. I ask for permission to pass out a flyer, "Does Sleep Apnea Cause Alzheimer's Disease?," at one of their annual meetings regar…
Then she should say that... Say anything other than the falsehood that the connection between OSA and heart disease isn't sufficiently proven.
"Respironics recommends that new patients purchase their devices, masks and initial accessories from a homecare company that can provide an individualized patient equipment set-up, clinical and after-sale support, and a program to assist patients wi…
Maybe you should be the communications director for the AHA ;-).
I believe that individuals should be free to make decisions for themselves. This goes for the patients and the providers. The patient is free to decide what to do and who to pay for what services. The provider is free to decide what services he offe…
I'M NOT A 100% SURE OF THE NAME OF MY MASK I THINK IT'S CALLED A PROFILE LITE IT HAS A THICK GEL CUSHION ON THE FORHEAD PIECE AND THE ALL AROUND THE MASK. I STILL END UP WITH RED MARKS ON THE BRIDGE OF MY NOSE AND FOREHEAD BUT THEY FADE IN AN HOUR O…
by no means am i suggesting that this one person believes one thing or another. rather, she is the director of marketing and communications for the AHA. it is her job to communicate the organization's viewpoints to the public, and that's what she wa…
HEY, I read the funny e-mails! HAH, I'm heading north tomorrow...
I received my machine in March with a nasal pillow mask. I switched to a full face mask because I was breathing thru my mouth.I was struggling with getting used to wearing the mask, finally got to the point of wearing it every night.I could not get…
Ah ha, BirdShell!!! You can ignore me, but we managed to lure you out of your hiding place w/this thread, eh??
Too bad too. Danielle, Ashley, Nicole and I are all meeting at La Placita in Saginaw for lunch tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you!!!! Nico…
I agree with your advice,Mike.Once I was treated for a sinus infection,I had replaced everything .Also, it is a good idea to use saline to cleanse the sinuses at least twice daily . You may look into the use of a Nettie Pot,,,,that can throughly cle…
I tried wearing a band aid on the bridge of my nose the other night and it helped, but not enough. Most of the "solutions' that I've found end up causing to much air to leak. I started wearing the bandana (folded in several layers and tied like a he…
I have to comment! I ran Jump Rope for Heart (JRFH) activities/fundraisers in my classes for years. (For more information: http://www.aahperd.org/jump/ and http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2360 This is a good condensation of t…
I've beeb using Sleep Strip for years. It's a good screening test that correlates pretty well with formal sleep studies. It won't give you a number, but rather ranges from none, to mild, moderate or severe. You still need a doctor's prescription. Ty…
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I have a vague memory of someone working on a CPAP that you wear like a shirt, but can't find any more references at the moment. Thanks.
As to the content of my site that indicates how patients can be benefited by this therapy, I am caught between a rock and a hard place. The rock is the dental board and the hard place, the medical board. Try as I can, I am unable to confine the benefits of OSB therapy to the head and neck where my practice license allows me to treat :-) I have to be really careful about what is posted on my website and may have already gone past what is permissible.
For example, this therapy can dramatically effect MS patients. One of the videos posted on my site is of a patient with MS. (The video of the guy on the couch with his wife talking about his numb hand is the one I'm talking about.) Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLMoBQfa4mY and look at another video of this patient. This is an unlisted link. Please use discretion if you share this link with others. I knew this patient was incontinent much of the time. During the initial appointment when the orthotic is placed patients drink a fair amount of water. He excused himself about an hour into the appointment to go to the restroom and made a comment when he got back that "that was different". I didn't question him further about what he meant until a follow-up appointment 6 months later. I videoed this appointment and the clip is shown at the private link above. This clip is not appropriate for my website.
I could go on and on about this therapy and what it does. So far my best approach is to let the patients speak for themselves through the video clips. I started doing the video clips because it was clear to me that no one would believe what I was finding without this kind of documentation. The time has come to unveil this therapy to the world. Maybe your site is the place where this can start.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/SleepDisorders/21402?utm_content=GroupCL&utm_medium=email&impressionId=1280305398377&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=mSpoke&userid=249096
I just got what seems to be a private message from you so I'm responding. I joined your group some time ago and have not participated but periodically check out the posts. There aren't enough hours in the day....
I have been obsessed with a little known therapy that is more than helpful for many sleep breathing disorder patients who also have head and neck pain called Oral Systemic Balance. Please check out http://www.centerforsoundsleep.com/blog/oral-systemic-balance/ and let me know what you think. There is a huge correlation between sleep breathing disorders and swallowing problems/head and neck pain. I would really appreciate your thoughts after viewing this information.
Mack
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