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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on February 18, 2011 at 5:51pm

I guess my next step would be trying a dental MMA device from a certified dentist. Another route would be a consult with an ENT for possible surgical intervention.  Also, have they checked for narcolepsy or hypersomnia.  I believe the treatment of choice in both cases is a stimulant such as Nuvigil, Provigil, or one of the older CNS Stimulants.  What are the main side effects of not being successfully treated?  If excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue are the primary problems a stimulant drug may be an answer.

I have heard of sleep apnea that did not respond to CPAP, but never given the rationale that it was because it was mild sleep apnea.

Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on February 18, 2011 at 9:45pm

How long ago was the last sleep test?

 

If the diagnosis was over 20 years ago, how many follow up visits have there been?  One?  Two?  Three?  How long ago? 

How mild is "mild"?  Are there other contributing factors besides OSA? 

It would seem that there are too many unanswered questions.

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on February 18, 2011 at 10:12pm

Im with Carol. We need more info. Twenty years ago they new nothing of UARS or RERAS.

sleepycarol said:

How long ago was the last sleep test?

 

If the diagnosis was over 20 years ago, how many follow up visits have there been?  One?  Two?  Three?  How long ago? 

How mild is "mild"?  Are there other contributing factors besides OSA? 

It would seem that there are too many unanswered questions.

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Permalink Reply by Will on April 18, 2011 at 3:14pm

Mike, I received the same diagnosis just this past month - March 2011.

 

My doctor told me that, even on a bi-pap setting, I had more apneas when hooked up to a machine than without a machine.  To my utter frustration, my doctor's response after she saw my second sleep study was, "Wow, you really don't sleep well!"  Thanks for pointing out the obvious!

Unfortunately, I don't think that the three doctors I've seen about my sleep problems know how to treat persons suffering from mild sleep apnea.

For those of you craving details, I'm 29, 5'11" tall, and weigh 175 pounds - my OSA is not a byproduct of being overweight.  I suffer from mild apnea or between 20 and 30 obstructive apnea episodes a night.  I had a deviated septum corrected when I was 23 but never had my tonsils and adenoids removed.  An ENT described me as having a thick interior throat.

 

I am currently trying to use a bi-pap machine in conjunction with Lunesta but haven't been doing this long enough to determine the the advantages/disadvantages.  I am also considering getting my tonsils and adenoids removed to try and open up my airway and will continue to consult with an ENT and sleep specialist in hopes of improving.

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Permalink Reply by Steven Y. Park, MD on April 18, 2011 at 9:57pm

Studies have shown that people with mild obstructive sleep apnea tend not to tolerate or benefit from CPAP, but that doesn't mean that everyone with mild sleep apnea can't be helped with CPAP. I think the doctor's comments are overly broad. There are a number of reasons why CPAP doesn't work, whether someone has mild, moderate, or severe sleep apnea. I've talked about this extensively in my past posts as well as during my teleseminars. There are always lots more steps you can take with CPAP, but if you want to look at other options, oral appliances can be an excellent option. However, it's important to be able to breathe through your nose properly. With a good endoscopic exam (especially when supine), you can get a pretty good idea where the collapses are happening.

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Permalink Reply by MARIE G. on April 18, 2011 at 10:59pm

I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea two years ago at the best sleep center in the world - Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic in Redwood city.  I had an RDI of 14, all hypopneas.  I was very symptomatic, bed-ridden, ready to quit my job and even suicidal.  I tried cpap at every setting up to 20 cm with some improvement.  I tried cpap and auto cpap and 2 oral appliances, the TAP and Somnodent.  I finally had the MMA surgery 1 year 4 months ago - my lower jaw was advanced 12 mm - I don't know how far my upper one was advanced.  My deviated septum was also fixed.  My post surgery sleep study shows that I still have an RDI of 14!  I do feel about 40% improved.  I am now on bipap which seems to be working although there are some kinks to work out.  My surgeon said I must have a very collapsible airway and that my brain is very sensitive to respiratory events.   My surgeon mentioned that he has met many patients who although have "mild" sleep apnea, are just as symptomatic if not more than those with moderate or even severe sleep apnea.

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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on April 20, 2011 at 7:03am

Margie,
There are a couple more things. If one is underweight or too heavy this too may play a roll in apnea treatment. Take a look at your environment etc. We have had patients be successful using dental device and nPAP in tandem.

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