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I have a non-cranky question (yeah, I know, about time!!!)
The guy I'm seeing is trying really hard to understand all this apnea stuff. He's been on SG, doing internet research, asking good questions of me, etc. Yesterday he told me that a male friend of his, who has sleep apnea, told him that he didn't like CPAP and quit. He's thinks the problem is that he was sleeping on his back, so now he's "treating" himself by propping himself in bed with pillows that prevent his sleeping on his back and keep him on his side. He claims that it's done the job.
MAN, I'd love to think that's a solution.......
My question is: my HIGHLY-educated guy, after all this research he's been doing, and knowing I'm diagnosed severe, said to me that he wondered if this would "cure" me. With nothing but good, caring intention. I hardly knew what to say, except that I was pretty sure that wasn't a solution for me, considering I've been having sx for 35 years at least. (didn't know I was having sx nor did any MD I ever saw), and that I'm a heart patient in active care. He also asked me if I'd ever consider asking my doctor if I could try that and see if it works.
I'm surrounded by devoted, loving family, friends, and partner, none of whom really seem able to get a clue about how dangerous apnea is. How do we go about educating our loved ones without sounding like whiny, pathetic people???
Susan McCord
MAN, I'd love to think that's a solution.......
My question is: my HIGHLY-educated guy, after all this research he's been doing, and knowing I'm diagnosed severe, said to me that he wondered if this would "cure" me. With nothing but good, caring intention. I hardly knew what to say, except that I was pretty sure that wasn't a solution for me, considering I've been having sx for 35 years at least. (didn't know I was having sx nor did any MD I ever saw), and that I'm a heart patient in active care. He also asked me if I'd ever consider asking my doctor if I could try that and see if it works.
I'm surrounded by devoted, loving family, friends, and partner, none of whom really seem able to get a clue about how dangerous apnea is. How do we go about educating our loved ones without sounding like whiny, pathetic people???
Susan McCord
Views: 28
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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ok, there's a slim (very slim) possibility that he's actually right: in the event that your sleep study shows that the apnea/hypopnea events stop occurring in the side-sleeping position, then you may have something called positional apnea, which could theoretically be treated by sleeping on your side. problem is, the data from the sleep study has to back up that theory and also it's very difficult to make sure you stay on your side all night long -- we move around a lot and have little recollection of what goes on while we sleep.
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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on
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I didn't know that positional apnea thing, Mike. Thanks. The way I understand this guy's situation is that he was Rx'd CPAP, didn't like it, and just stopped and started using his own "technique" for treating apnea.....kinda scary. He has a daughter who's been on CPAP for years.....
McCord
Mike said:ok, there's a slim (very slim) possibility that he's actually right: in the event that your sleep study shows that the apnea/hypopnea events stop occurring in the side-sleeping position, then you may have something called positional apnea, which could theoretically be treated by sleeping on your side. problem is, the data from the sleep study has to back up that theory and also it's very difficult to make sure you stay on your side all night long -- we move around a lot and have little recollection of what goes on while we sleep.
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that's what i was afraid of. sounds as if i was giving him more credit than he deserved with the whole positional apnea thing.
susan mccord said:I didn't know that positional apnea thing, Mike. Thanks. The way I understand this guy's situation is that he was Rx'd CPAP, didn't like it, and just stopped and started using his own "technique" for treating apnea.....kinda scary. He has a daughter who's been on CPAP for years.....
McCord
Mike said:ok, there's a slim (very slim) possibility that he's actually right: in the event that your sleep study shows that the apnea/hypopnea events stop occurring in the side-sleeping position, then you may have something called positional apnea, which could theoretically be treated by sleeping on your side. problem is, the data from the sleep study has to back up that theory and also it's very difficult to make sure you stay on your side all night long -- we move around a lot and have little recollection of what goes on while we sleep.
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here's an article on positional sleep apnea
Mike said:that's what i was afraid of. sounds as if i was giving him more credit than he deserved with the whole positional apnea thing.
susan mccord said:I didn't know that positional apnea thing, Mike. Thanks. The way I understand this guy's situation is that he was Rx'd CPAP, didn't like it, and just stopped and started using his own "technique" for treating apnea.....kinda scary. He has a daughter who's been on CPAP for years.....
McCord
Mike said:ok, there's a slim (very slim) possibility that he's actually right: in the event that your sleep study shows that the apnea/hypopnea events stop occurring in the side-sleeping position, then you may have something called positional apnea, which could theoretically be treated by sleeping on your side. problem is, the data from the sleep study has to back up that theory and also it's very difficult to make sure you stay on your side all night long -- we move around a lot and have little recollection of what goes on while we sleep.
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That's a VERY interesting article (with comments re: positionng. Thanks. Again. You're the best!
I'm done!! (complimenting you)
McCord
Mike said:that's what i was afraid of. sounds as if i was giving him more credit than he deserved with the whole positional apnea thing.
susan mccord said:I didn't know that positional apnea thing, Mike. Thanks. The way I understand this guy's situation is that he was Rx'd CPAP, didn't like it, and just stopped and started using his own "technique" for treating apnea.....kinda scary. He has a daughter who's been on CPAP for years.....
McCord
Mike said:ok, there's a slim (very slim) possibility that he's actually right: in the event that your sleep study shows that the apnea/hypopnea events stop occurring in the side-sleeping position, then you may have something called positional apnea, which could theoretically be treated by sleeping on your side. problem is, the data from the sleep study has to back up that theory and also it's very difficult to make sure you stay on your side all night long -- we move around a lot and have little recollection of what goes on while we sleep.
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To answer your question about educating loved ones, what I do is the following. I will tell people the facts about sleep apnea and its effects on the body: typically, that the tissue in the airway collapses when you sleep, causing an obstruction so that the body can't get the oxygen it needs through the bloodstream, sending a fight or flight signal to the brain, which in turn sends all sorts of chemicals/hormones coursing through the veins, putting strain on the heart and other parts of the body. Usually they're with me on that part so far. Then I tell them that it's completely treatable if you use the device I use, which is the gold standard of treatment -- a mask you breathe through at night connected to a flow generator. At that point, I'm sure some people tune out. So then I also mention other treatment options: dental device, surgery, etc., which usually gets people interested again. And then I kind of offer myself up to discuss further, and let it go. At the end of the day, if someone doesn't want help, you can't give it to them.
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That's helpful, Mike. Now if I can just get their eyes to stop glazing over......lol (well, not so loud)...not really) It can be a distancing thing at times......
Susan McCord
Mike said:To answer your question about educating loved ones, what I do is the following. I will tell people the facts about sleep apnea and its effects on the body: typically, that the tissue in the airway collapses when you sleep, causing an obstruction so that the body can't get the oxygen it needs through the bloodstream, sending a fight or flight signal to the brain, which in turn sends all sorts of chemicals/hormones coursing through the veins, putting strain on the heart and other parts of the body. Usually they're with me on that part so far. Then I tell them that it's completely treatable if you use the device I use, which is the gold standard of treatment -- a mask you breathe through at night connected to a flow generator. At that point, I'm sure some people tune out. So then I also mention other treatment options: dental device, surgery, etc., which usually gets people interested again. And then I kind of offer myself up to discuss further, and let it go. At the end of the day, if someone doesn't want help, you can't give it to them.
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Permalink Reply by Eric Thayer on
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If I was in a snarky mood I might say that I'd rather trust a sleep specialist and a sleep study than a claim from someone who says he's built an uncrushable wall of pillows that keeps him on his side which has eliminated his apnea. But you probably don't need to say that :-)
If I was not feeling snarky, I'd probably ask him how his friend verified that he was cured of the apnea since many people aren't even aware that they are having breathing problems during the night unless someone else happens to notice it.
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I'd probably be snarky, Eric!! I haven't heard that word for a gazillion years!!! Thanks for the reply AND the humor!!
Susan McCord lol :-)
Eric Thayer said:If I was in a snarky mood I might say that I'd rather trust a sleep specialist and a sleep study than a claim from someone who says he's built an uncrushable wall of pillows that keeps him on his side which has eliminated his apnea. But you probably don't need to say that :-)
If I was not feeling snarky, I'd probably ask him how his friend verified that he was cured of the apnea since many people aren't even aware that they are having breathing problems during the night unless someone else happens to notice it.
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