Sleep Apnea Treatment, do-it-yourself?

In article <[email hidden]>,

TimR said:

I think my wife has sleep apnea. Our doctor says it sounds
likely but she can't get treatment without going through a
sleep study, and we can't get in until November.

So, how hard is it to find one of those CPAP machines?
Maybe on eBay? Any harm in trying it? Or is this a really
bad idea for reasons that haven't occurred to me?

A lot of people with obstructive sleep apnea are helped by a
dental appliance that holds the lower jaw a few millimeters
forward during sleep. Call up your local dental society and
ask who fits these things in your area. They are custom
fitted but sometimes the dentist can give you a generic one
to try for a while to see if it works in your case. They
work really well to stop snoring, too.

If you search on "dental" and "sleep apnea" you'll find lots
of sites, many at universities, about this method.

(TimR) said:

I think my wife has sleep apnea. Our doctor says it sounds
likely but she can't get treatment without going through a
sleep study, and we can't get in until November.

So, how hard is it to find one of those CPAP machines?
Maybe on eBay? Any harm in trying it? Or is this a really
bad idea for reasons that haven't occurred to me?

Correct treatment starts with accurate diagnosis.
'Nuff said.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(TimR) said:

I think my wife has sleep apnea. Our doctor says it sounds
likely but she can't get treatment without going through a
sleep study, and we can't get in until November.

So, how hard is it to find one of those CPAP machines?
Maybe on eBay? Any harm in trying it? Or is this a really
bad idea for reasons that haven't occurred to me?

Getting her a CPAP without a diagnosis or titration is a
rotten idea. The diagnosis will determine if she has sleep
apnea and the titration is to measure what pressure level is
needed to keep her airways open if she does indeed have
sleep apnea. Additionally, the masks aren't one-size-fits-
all, and they are rather expensive to buy only to find out
another size is needed. Also, I would be leery of a CPAP
bought from an anonymous bozo on eBay - is it clean? What's
it set at? Using a CPAP set to an inappropriate pressure is
as bad as not using one at all.

In the meantime, she can try sleeping sitting (an easy chair
or recliner is ideal; stacking up pillows on the bed might
work as well). Stomach-sleeping and side-sleeping collapses
the airway somewhat less than sleeping on the back.

YOu might also want to consider asking if another test,
using a pulseox machine that is used at home overnight,
could be done before the sleepstudy. I was diagnosed this
way; the patient takes home a unit, attaches the monitor to
the finger before going to sleep, and takes it back to be
read the next day. It won't detect things like restless leg
syndrome or other sleep disorders, but at least it would
rule in or out apnea, and she could begin treatment earlier.

--
"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner."
- Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather

The best do-it-yourself treatment for sleep apnea is to lose
weight. I bet you wife is overweight or obese.

What do you have to lose? Worked great for me.

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

Quoted message said:

I think my wife has sleep apnea. Our doctor says it sounds likely but
she can't get treatment without going through a sleep study, and we
can't get in until November.

So, how hard is it to find one of those CPAP machines? Maybe on eBay?
Any harm in trying it? Or is this a really bad idea for reasons that
haven't occurred to me?

thanks,
Tim

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

Quoted message said:

I think my wife has sleep apnea. Our doctor says it sounds
likely but she can't get treatment without going through a
sleep study, and we can't get in until November.

So, how hard is it to find one of those CPAP machines?
Maybe on eBay? Any harm in trying it? Or is this a really
bad idea for reasons that haven't occurred to me?

thanks, Tim

Not here yet, but this is coming:

Bill

From Florence Cardinal,Your Guide to Sleep Disorders.
Jun 27 2004

At-Home testing for Sleep Apnea In June, 2001, the Chicago
meeting of the Associated Sleep Professional Sleep Societies
issued the following a press release with information about
the PAT signal: PAT is a newly detected physiological signal
that reflects arterial pulsatile volume changes in the
fingertip. The PAT signal mirrors changes or anomalies in
autonomic nervous system activity; a variety of medical
conditions can trigger this activity, causing vascular
events that can be independent of the patient's blood
pressure, heart rate or ECG changes. Itamar Medical Ltd. has
now developed a technology to use the PAT signal for at-home
testing for obstructive sleep apnea. The technology, called
Watch PAT has received both FDA and CE certification. On
June 7, 2004, the respected Institute for Clinical Systems
Improvement (ICSI) in Minnesota has approved home portable
testing for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as a viable option
for diagnosing sleep disorders.

In a recent press release, Mark Mahowald, MD, Director of
the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center at the
Hennepin County Medical Center, is quoted as saying, "We
have been using the Watch PAT at the MN Regional Sleep
Disorders Center for the past year. During that period, we
have gained confidence in the device's ability to
effectively diagnose Obstructive Sleep Apnea. We have found
that the simultaneous measurement of peripheral arterial
tonometry, saturated oxygen level and heart rate, provides
for a reliable and accurate detection of apneic events,
similarly to results already reported in a number of papers
published in recent years."

Watch PAT can be used in sleep labs or prescribed by
private physicians for at-home testing of patients unable
or unwilling to attend a sleep log for the
polysomnography test.

"This is a non-invasive, patient-friendly technology that
provides immediate, accurate results," said Pat Bohan,
Itamar's VP of Marketing and Business Development. "Since it
is more appealing to patients, they are more likely to agree
to undergo OSA testing with the Watch PAT. When the results
of a Watch PAT study confirm the diagnosis of OSA, the
patient can then be referred to an appropriate therapeutic
provider. Many patients and physicians will choose this
approach over a disruptive split-night study in the sleep
lab." Some people refuse to enter the sleep lab for testing
because of a fear of not being able to sleep with the many
attached wires and the observers. Others, because of health
problems or long waiting lists, have been unable to get into
a sleep lab. Because of the non-invasive technology and ease
of Watch PAT, they may now agree to or be able to take an
at-home test. This could lead to earlier diagnosis and
treatment. It could mean lives saved.

Hopefully, Watch PAT will soon become available country and
world-wide and will help in the fight against sleep apnea.

Griffin <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<2004063000255975249%nospam@herenet>...

Quoted message said:

On 2004-06-29 09:19:13 -0400, [email hidden]

(TimR) said:

I think my wife has sleep apnea. Our doctor says it
sounds likely but she can't get treatment without going
through a sleep study, and we can't get in until
November.

So, how hard is it to find one of those CPAP machines?
Maybe on eBay? Any harm in trying it? Or is this a
really bad idea for reasons that haven't occurred to me?

Correct treatment starts with accurate diagnosis.
'Nuff said.

Well, really not nearly enough said. This aphorism leaves
out multiple implicit assumptions.

For example, are there multiple types of apnea, for which
different treatments are chosen? Are there similar
conditions likely to be mistaken for apnea, which would
require different treatments? Is there any benefit to the
CPAC type machine, given no apnea at all? Any harm?

There are many medical conditions for which accurate
diagnosis is neither cost effective nor desired. When is the
last time we speciated for cold or flu? Normally no extra
benefits acrue. Yet clearly there are many conditions where
the wrong diagnosis would be catastrophic. Is "sleep apnea"
one of these? If not, then not 'nuff said yet.

In article <[email hidden]>,

James E. said:

The best do-it-yourself treatment for sleep apnea is to
lose weight. I bet you wife is overweight or obese.

Except that that's not always the case. When I first
presented with symptoms of sleep apnea, I was told I was
"too young, too thin and too female" to have it. Thin people
get sleep apnea just as well as the overweight.

Additionally, in the case the poster's wife is overweight,
losing weight would not be an effective, immediate
treatment as it takes time to lose weight. Losing weight is
not always especially easy, either; if it were, obseity
would not be a problem.

--
"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner."
- Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather

(TimR) said:

There are many medical conditions for which accurate
diagnosis is neither cost effective nor desired.

Mmm...OK. <plonk

TimR <[email hidden]> wrote:
: Griffin <[email hidden]> wrote in message
: news:<2004063000255975249%nospam@herenet>...
: > On 2004-06-29 09:19:13 -0400, [email hidden]
: > (TimR) said:
: >
: > > I think my wife has sleep apnea. Our doctor says it
: > > sounds likely but she can't get treatment without
: > > going through a sleep study, and we can't get in until
: > > November.
: > >
: > > So, how hard is it to find one of those CPAP
: > > machines? Maybe on eBay? Any harm in trying it? Or is
: > > this a really bad idea for reasons that haven't
: > > occurred to me?
: >
: > Correct treatment starts with accurate diagnosis.
: > 'Nuff said.

: Well, really not nearly enough said. This aphorism leaves
: out multiple implicit assumptions.

: For example, are there multiple types of apnea, for which
: different treatments are chosen? Are there similar
: conditions likely to be mistaken for apnea, which would
: require different treatments? Is there any benefit to the
: CPAC type machine, given no apnea at all? Any harm?

: There are many medical conditions for which accurate
: diagnosis is neither cost effective nor desired. When is
: the last time we speciated for cold or flu? Normally no
: extra benefits acrue. Yet clearly there are many
: conditions where the wrong diagnosis would be
: catastrophic. Is "sleep apnea" one of these? If not, then
: not 'nuff said yet.

People die from sleep apnea.

Emma

REP said:

Thin people get sleep apnea just as well as the
overweight.

In come cases, but it's *way* more prevalent among the
obese.

In article <2004070119215716807%nospam@herenet>,

Griffin said:

REP said:

Thin people get sleep apnea just as well as the
overweight.

In come cases, but it's *way* more prevalent among
the obese.

Can you document this, or are you just talking out of your
ass because you "know" it's so?

--
"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner."
- Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather

REP said:

In article <2004070119215716807%nospam@herenet>, Griffin

Quoted message said:

REP said:

Thin people get sleep apnea just as well as the
overweight.

In come cases, but it's *way* more prevalent among
the obese.

Can you document this, or are you just talking out of your
ass because you "know" it's so?

I'm not interested in "documenting" it for you. Do your own
homework, pal.