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Welcome to the Sleepguide Community!
Hi! Ready to Rock This Forum?
Thank you for visiting the SleepGuide discussion forum. We are committed to allowing freedom of expression for our members, and that includes maintaining a safe space for people with opposing views to express themselves. We get posts from patients and pros all over the country and even the globe, so needless to say, people come with different viewpoints on Sleep Apnea. We see this diversity and variety as a real strength-- dialogue and debate are an integral part of the educational process, as well as an important tool in exploring different sides of complex issues.
SleepGuide Code of Conduct
Okay, I know we said we want you to have the freedom to express yourselves. And we do. But a few rules never hurt, right?
• Be nice! No flaming. Many posters come here for information, not to be called names.
• Please respect the different backgrounds and education of posters—especially when it comes to diverse perspectives on Sleep Apnea from patients and pros alike.
• No one needs to hear you correct them on proper grammar and spelling. Let’s talk Sleep Apnea, not the difference between affect and effect.
• Wanna talk about religion and race? Well, we don’t. We wanna talk about Sleep Apnea.
• Don’t gang up with other posters against one person. It’s not nice!
• Did I mention you should…talk about Sleep Apnea? Cool! Now get to it and have fun!
Thank you for visiting the SleepGuide discussion forum. We are committed to allowing freedom of expression for our members, and that includes maintaining a safe space for people with opposing views to express themselves. We get posts from patients and pros all over the country and even the globe, so needless to say, people come with different viewpoints on Sleep Apnea. We see this diversity and variety as a real strength-- dialogue and debate are an integral part of the educational process, as well as an important tool in exploring different sides of complex issues.
SleepGuide Code of Conduct
Okay, I know we said we want you to have the freedom to express yourselves. And we do. But a few rules never hurt, right?
• Be nice! No flaming. Many posters come here for information, not to be called names.
• Please respect the different backgrounds and education of posters—especially when it comes to diverse perspectives on Sleep Apnea from patients and pros alike.
• No one needs to hear you correct them on proper grammar and spelling. Let’s talk Sleep Apnea, not the difference between affect and effect.
• Wanna talk about religion and race? Well, we don’t. We wanna talk about Sleep Apnea.
• Don’t gang up with other posters against one person. It’s not nice!
• Did I mention you should…talk about Sleep Apnea? Cool! Now get to it and have fun!
Views: 1804
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Melba Cooper on
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Karen Moore said:Hello there,
My name is Karen and Sleep Apnea has changed my life in ways I had no idea it would.
I was diagnosed 5 years ago when I had a series of really not very intelligent thoughts. I went to my primary care physician who has known me for 19 years and said, "I am not this stupid, what is wrong with me?"
He asked some smart questions and CPAP was the end result.
I started CPAP and immediately had some minor issues, like strap marks. I made a pad for my straps, used that set for almost a year and then thought perhaps others had a need for the padding on the straps too. I looked online for the solutions and found nothing. SO then I did a bit of market research, did some design work, did some patent application writing and then brought them to market. A business was born.
4 years after that the PAD A CHEEK products are world wide in distribution and although we are still a very small company, we are growing. I absolutely love helping other sleep apnea patients sleep more comfortably. My mission continues to be to help people with sleep apnea sleep more comfortably and not to grow to be a huge business.
Now my brain is working because of CPAP.
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I just begin to add pads to my straps to solve the problem as well. Would love to see your products. Do you have a website? melba
Melba Cooper said:Karen Moore said:Hello there,
My name is Karen and Sleep Apnea has changed my life in ways I had no idea it would.
I was diagnosed 5 years ago when I had a series of really not very intelligent thoughts. I went to my primary care physician who has known me for 19 years and said, "I am not this stupid, what is wrong with me?"
He asked some smart questions and CPAP was the end result.
I started CPAP and immediately had some minor issues, like strap marks. I made a pad for my straps, used that set for almost a year and then thought perhaps others had a need for the padding on the straps too. I looked online for the solutions and found nothing. SO then I did a bit of market research, did some design work, did some patent application writing and then brought them to market. A business was born.
4 years after that the PAD A CHEEK products are world wide in distribution and although we are still a very small company, we are growing. I absolutely love helping other sleep apnea patients sleep more comfortably. My mission continues to be to help people with sleep apnea sleep more comfortably and not to grow to be a huge business.
Now my brain is working because of CPAP.
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Hi there. I am Melba. I was diagnosed three months ago after a seeming lifetime of restless sleep and insomnia. I am 62. A retired secondary art teacher. I thought it was normal for teachers to be exhausted and crash into a state of comatose at the end of the school day. ......and worry all night about students. I now work as a teaching artist designing lessons with academic teachers that integrate art and subject standards to raise test scores in low performing No Child Left Behind Schools. I love this job and now I really love having the consistent energy all day. Naps are rare for me now. I have so much more mental and creative energy. I am pretty much adjusted to a nose cup mask after lots of experiments and this wonderful supportive group of pappers. I live in the Smokey Mts. in Western Carolina but am in coastal SC for two weeks out of each month with my job. I love going from the mountains to the coast and enjoying the natural beauty unique to both environs. I am glad that I can now drive the distance without worrying about falling asleep. My husband of 39 years is too! He has been amazed at how much improved I am and happier with myself and with him as well. Life seems so much more positive and my memory and cognitive functions are rapidly improving. I think he enjoys my company. We are grateful for this life giving treatment. melba
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Permalink Reply by Dave Hargett on
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Hi, I'm Dave.
I live just about 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago Illinois. I have been a diagnosed sleep apnea patient (severe obstructive apnea with an AHI of 82) since the early fall of 1994. Knowing what I know now, I suspect that I had sleep apnea at age 20 when I graduated from college, but it took another 25 years before I saw daytime symptoms bad enough to force me to the doctor.
I have been a CPAP user since September of 1994 and virtually 100% compliant every night (excluding power outages!).
I started attending an A.W.A.K.E. sleep apnea support group in 1995 and wound up becoming the coordinator of the group in August. From there I got involved with the American Sleep Apnea Association, eventually joining the board of directors and becoming Chairman.
I consider myself a sleep apnea activist and advocate and I have run two support groups (the 2nd in Naperville IL, the first in Elk Grove Village, IL) for a number of years. I also do public speaking in the Chicago area and have been interviewed on national radio and internet radio.
I currently also serve as the public member of the Board of Directors of the BRPT, the group that issues the RPSGT credential to sleep technologists who pass the 200 question exam that assesses their training and knowledge.
Sleep well and use your CPAP or oral appliance every night!
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Karen Moore said:Hello there,
My name is Karen and Sleep Apnea has changed my life in ways I had no idea it would.
I was diagnosed 5 years ago when I had a series of really not very intelligent thoughts. I went to my primary care physician who has known me for 19 years and said, "I am not this stupid, what is wrong with me?"
He asked some smart questions and CPAP was the end result.
I started CPAP and immediately had some minor issues, like strap marks. I made a pad for my straps, used that set for almost a year and then thought perhaps others had a need for the padding on the straps too. I looked online for the solutions and found nothing. SO then I did a bit of market research, did some design work, did some patent application writing and then brought them to market. A business was born.
4 years after that the PAD A CHEEK products are world wide in distribution and although we are still a very small company, we are growing. I absolutely love helping other sleep apnea patients sleep more comfortably. My mission continues to be to help people with sleep apnea sleep more comfortably and not to grow to be a huge business.
Now my brain is working because of CPAP.
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Permalink Reply by Karen Moore www.padacheek.com on
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Hello to those who have questions about my PAD A CHEEK products. My website is www.padacheek.com I would love to help you sleep more softly and more comfortably with your CPAP masks.
Let me know what I can do for you.
Karen
And I think to myself, what a Wonderful World............
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Permalink Reply by Dan Lyons on
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Welcome to SleepGuide! Each and every person who visits this site has one goal in mind and that is to increase their knowledge base and find or share answers to questions or problems. I am no different. Never be afraid to ask the question.
Anyway, my name is Dan Lyons. I reside in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, about 60 miles west of Washington, DC. I have had OSA for about 7 years, undiagnosed because of my own stupidity and pride. I didn't see that I had a problem. A little over a year ago, at the suggestion of a co-worker, I contacted an area physician and started the process. After studying extremely hard for the testing, I failed with flying colors, and boy was I delighted.
The night of the sleep study was the first nights sleep I had had in years. I didn't want to leave the lab, but they threw me out. If they had left me alone for just a few more minutes, I would have had that machine.
During the next week, I learn just how screwed up the DME industry in my area was. Absolutely no one stocked a *PAP machine. Everyone said they had to order them and it would take a week + to get the one I would decide on. No such thing as being able to visually look, evaluate and then select. They didn't stock masks either. Everything was special order.
I ended up driving 60 miles away to a DME who actually stocked units and masks. I was in seventh heaven when I finally had my machine as I was finally going to sleep - again.
The one thing I did do right, by accident, was I copied every sheet of paper the physician's office gave me. Those papers, the sleep study and script, have allowed me the freedom to chart my own therapy course and see just how screwed up this industry is.
Anyway - Great to be in such good company.
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Permalink Reply by BPLink on
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Hi. I'm BP. Not a real great writer, I'm more of a reader. I have more questions about apnea than answers. My pressure is 20/14, I'm using a Respironics BPAP w Auto and a Mirage Quattro FF. I'd also like to say that this is by far the friendliest, most helpful forum and I'd like to thank all who have cared enough to answer my questions, I deeply appreciate that.
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Permalink Reply by amott1973 on
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Hi! I'm Angela, and I've probably had sleep apnea for a really long time. I finally went to be tested after my mother in law, father in law, and mother were all tested and found to have sleep apnea. At this time I was starting to wake up to full consciousness after dreaming that my cat was sitting on my chest keeping me from being able to breathe. Of course it was the OSA doing that though.
I was dx in 2005 and once I finally got my hands on a machine about a month later I have used it nearly every night and nap!
Recently I started snoring with my mask ON and found myself practically delirious with exhaustion during the day. Turns out my mask was leaking and so now I'm waiting for a new one to be shipped. I have rigged up my old one with plastic wrap to improve the seal, but can't wait for my new one to arrive! It should be here this week.
I'm happy to share experiences and hope everyone can experience success with their chosen method of fighting OSA. These last few weeks have shown me vividly what hell it was before my dx and I can't imagine going back to that now that I know what it's like to sleep well!
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Permalink Reply by Anne Pf on
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Hi all,
I am Annie. I live in New Hampshire. I have fibromyalgia and my doctor suggested I might have sleep issues, but I pretty much blew him off until my husband noticed that I stopped breathing several times when in a deep sleep. I had my sleep study back in Feb of this year. I've been on CPAP a little over a month. Not seeing much of a difference, honestly, but it's early days yet. My husband thinks I am sleeping better.
I use the respironics data capable machine and the swift LT for her nasal pillow mask.
Anne in NH
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Hi, I'm Steve in Milwaukee. I have sleep apnea, myself, and am the executive director of the Reggie White Sleep Disorders Foundation. I'll look forward to participating in the discussions.
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Permalink Reply by April Reeves on
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Hi, everyone! I'm April from Dallas. I don't have sleep apnea, but for the last several years, I've worked for a company that deals with sleep and sleep issues, and have heard stories pretty much every day about apnea. And then as luck would have it, I married a guy who snores fog-horn style..and what we sell isn't helping him because he's overweight. I found this link for SleepGuide and had the bright idea that if I can get stories from people who have the same sort of problems, maybe he'll listen! He's a knucklehead but I love him.
I also want to learn more about CPAPs and BiPAPs. I mean, when someone comes in and says they're blowing 9, I'd really like to have specific information on what that means. Love this forum!
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