Opinions Please

Bob Newman wrote:
| (This note was also posted to a sleep disorder newsgroup)
|
| I am a long time diabetic (diet & exercise controlled) who
| has recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have a
| couple of questions please. I spent a night in the
| hospital having the apnea test (no mask). Then they said a
| needed one so I went back for another test with the mask.
| In the morning they said that I did great and their
| equipment said I slept much better. I felt that I slept a
| very restless night and did not sleep well at all. I'm
| afraid if I go through with the mask & equipment I'll wind
| up paying lots of money for something that gives me no
| benefit.
|
| QUESTIONS, (PLEASE see complication below):
| 1. Is it possible that even though I didn't realize I had
| a better night's sleep, medically I did and I would
| receive significant benefit?
| 2. Can I rent a machine or get a loaner for a trial time
| to see how well it works with me?
| 3. I understand there are different machines and masks of
| different features and qualities. How is it possible to
| find the right one without of course spending a fortune
| on the process of elimination?

Bob,

Obstructive sleep apnea can have a great impact on your
general health, cardiovascular health as well. The amount of
impact depends upon the severity of the apnea and the amount
of time left untreated. Were you told your apnea "score" or
the severity of your desats?

You will not recognize the benefit of CPAP while in an
unnatural place like a sleep lab. It may take a few days
until you adjust to sleeping with the contraption and
keeping your mouth closed as well. Well fitting and
comfortable equipment is a must or you will surely toss it
before you see the benefits.

Once you get used to it the worst part is waking up with a
backache because instead of waking, tossing and turning all
night you stayed in one spot too long 🙂

If you have to pay for the machine yourself then consider
one that self adjusts and will record the pressure settings.
A BiPap like that will be worthwhile in the long run and may
be more livable especially if you require higher pressure
settings. The added benefit is that the machine is useful
for self studying your pressure settings without having to
return to a sleep lab.

The Breeze headgear using the "Adams" pillows is one of the
higher recommended models. A heated humidifier is a must in
most climates.

If you have insurance the DME provider will most likely try
to provide you the lowest cost equipment. Oftentimes you
will offered a flimsy original Adams headgear, the cheapest
CPAP, and a passive humidifier. You can get what you want if
your Doc will support you and you fight for it.

Claim that the passive humidifier setup is drying your
sinuses and irritates you even if it doesn't right-away.
This is how you can get a proper heated humidifier so that
you will have it when you do need it (winters most often).

Kevin

Bob,

I highly recomend Joe Guilford for advice and equipment
needs @ cpapman.comcpapman.comOpen ↗ Joe was very helpful to me.

This is also a great place to visualise the equipment and to
compare prices.

Bob Newman said:

(This note was also posted to a sleep disorder newsgroup)

I am a long time diabetic (diet & exercise controlled) who
has recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have a
couple of questions please. I spent a night in the
hospital having the apnea test (no mask). Then they said a
needed one so I went back for another test with the mask.
In the morning they said that I did great and their
equipment said I slept much better. I felt that I slept a
very restless night and did not sleep well at all. I'm
afraid if I go through with the mask & equipment I'll wind
up paying lots of money for something that gives me no
benefit.

QUESTIONS, (PLEASE see complication below):
1. Is it possible that even though I didn't realize I had
a better night's sleep, medically I did and I would
receive significant benefit?

Possible but unlikely.

Quoted message said:

2. Can I rent a machine or get a loaner for a trial time
to see how well it works with me?

That is best asked of the vendor.

Quoted message said:

3. I understand there are different machines and masks of
different features and qualities. How is it possible to
find the right one without of course spending a fortune
on the process of elimination?

The folks who conducted your sleep study should be able help
you with this question.

Quoted message said:

NOTE: ***IMPORTANT COMPLICATION*** I received the sleep
disorder diagnosis about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Last week
out of the blue I had to have emergency quintuple
cardiac bi-pass surgery and got home from the
hospital this week, needless to say so far that
rehab has not been the most pleasant thing. Should
the mask be postponed until the rehab is further
along? OR IS IT POSSIBLE that the apnea put a lot of
extra strain on my heart in the 1st place and needs
to be taken care of ASAP for better surgical
recovery and future health in general?

Folks with obstructive sleep apnea generally do better post-
op when receiving CPAP.

Quoted message said:

I realize that this is a lot and most of you are not
doctors (although some are) but any help you could give
would be greatly appreciated.

--
Thanks in advance...

You are welcome, Bob.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

**
Who is the humblest person in the universe?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

What is all this about?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Is this spam?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Bob Newman said:

(This note was also posted to a sleep disorder newsgroup)

I am a long time diabetic (diet & exercise controlled) who
has recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have a
couple of questions please. I spent a night in the hospital
having the apnea test (no mask). Then they said a needed
one so I went back for another test with the mask. In the
morning they said that I did great and their equipment said
I slept much better. I felt that I slept a very restless
night and did not sleep well at all. I'm afraid if I go
through with the mask & equipment I'll wind up paying lots
of money for something that gives me no benefit.

QUESTIONS, (PLEASE see complication below):
1. Is it possible that even though I didn't realize I had a
better night's sleep, medically I did and I would
receive significant benefit?

They were probably just referring to the length of time
spent in REM or the number of REM events compared to
without the mask.

Quoted message said:

2. Can I rent a machine or get a loaner for a trial time to
see how well it works with me?

My insurance covered renting the machine with the monthly
fee applied to the cost of the CPAP if I end up keeping it
long enough. All I have paid so far is the initial set up
which pays for the equipment that you don't rent -- the
mask and hose and in-home training. The insurance has
picked up the rest.

I slept terrible during both sleep studies, in my opinion.
When I use the CPAP at home, I feel much less tired during
the day and I sleep all night without waking. I admit that I
cannot use it every night because sometimes I don't want the
mask on my face. If I am tired enough, that isn't an issue.

Quoted message said:

3. I understand there are different machines and masks of
different features and qualities. How is it possible to
find the right one without of course spending a fortune
on the process of elimination?

When I had the evaluation, the pulmonary specialist made the
recommendation to my insurance company as to the type of
machine needed as far as whether I needed the variable
pressure, humidifier, a data collection feature, etc.

Quoted message said:

NOTE: ***IMPORTANT COMPLICATION*** I received the sleep
disorder diagnosis about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Last week
out of the blue I had to have emergency quintuple
cardiac bi-pass surgery and got home from the
hospital this week, needless to say so far that rehab
has not been the most pleasant thing. Should the mask
be postponed until the rehab is further along? OR IS
IT POSSIBLE that the apnea put a lot of extra strain
on my heart in the 1st place and needs to be taken
care of ASAP for better surgical recovery and future
health in general?

I realize that this is a lot and most of you are not
doctors (although some are) but any help you could give
would be greatly appreciated.

--
Thanks in advance... Bob

I can just relate my own experience, but I had the sleep
study in anticipation of major surgery and the
complications that arise from having sleep apnea and the
use of anesthesia. From what I read about sleep apnea,
any treatment you get for the apnea is beneficial to
your health.

Terri

Quoted message said:

pub219.ezboard.combtinnitusactivismandsupportOpen ↗

Thanks everyone for all your help... Bob

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bob Newman said:

(This note was also posted to a sleep disorder newsgroup)

I am a long time diabetic (diet & exercise controlled)
who has recently

been

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

diagnosed with sleep apnea and have a couple of questions
please. I

spent a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

night in the hospital having the apnea test (no mask).
Then they said a needed one so I went back for another
test with the mask. In the morning they said that I did
great and their equipment said I slept much better.

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

felt that I slept a very restless night and did not sleep
well at all.

I'm

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

afraid if I go through with the mask & equipment I'll
wind up paying lots

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

money for something that gives me no benefit.

QUESTIONS, (PLEASE see complication below):
1. Is it possible that even though I didn't realize I had
a better

night's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

sleep, medically I did and I would receive significant
benefit?

They were probably just referring to the length of time
spent in REM or the number of REM events compared to
without the mask.

Quoted message said:

2. Can I rent a machine or get a loaner for a trial time
to see how well

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

works with me?

My insurance covered renting the machine with the monthly
fee applied to the cost of the CPAP if I end up keeping it
long enough. All I have paid so far is the initial set up
which pays for the equipment that you don't rent -- the
mask and hose and in-home training. The insurance has
picked up the rest.

I slept terrible during both sleep studies, in my
opinion. When I use the CPAP at home, I feel much less
tired during the day and I sleep all night without
waking. I admit that I cannot use it every night because
sometimes I don't want the mask on my face. If I am tired
enough, that isn't an issue.

Quoted message said:

3. I understand there are different machines and masks of
different

features

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and qualities. How is it possible to find the right one
without of

course

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

spending a fortune on the process of elimination?

When I had the evaluation, the pulmonary specialist made
the recommendation to my insurance company as to the type
of machine needed as far as whether I needed the variable
pressure, humidifier, a data collection feature, etc.

Quoted message said:

NOTE: ***IMPORTANT COMPLICATION*** I received the sleep
disorder diagnosis about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Last week
out of the blue I had to have emergency quintuple
cardiac bi-pass surgery and got home from the
hospital this week, needless to say so far that

rehab

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

has not been the most pleasant thing. Should the mask be
postponed until the rehab is further along? OR IS IT
POSSIBLE that the apnea put a lot

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

extra strain on my heart in the 1st place and needs to be
taken care of

ASAP

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for better surgical recovery and future health in
general?

I realize that this is a lot and most of you are not
doctors (although

some

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

are) but any help you could give would be greatly
appreciated.

--
Thanks in advance... Bob

I can just relate my own experience, but I had the sleep
study in anticipation of major surgery and the
complications that arise from having sleep apnea and the
use of anesthesia. From what I read about sleep apnea,
any treatment you get for the apnea is beneficial to
your health.

Terri

Quoted message said:

pub219.ezboard.combtinnitusactivismandsupportOpen ↗