Sleep apnea

[tatorhog]

Does anybody have this? My doc is telling me I have it, and I need to go get a sleep study done. Apparently my spo2 number takes a LOT of dips with some pretty severe ones mixed in. So I thought I would ask here to see if anybody has this and if they have any advice or insight. He told me to anticipate a CPAP after I see the pulmonologist, but that's still a ways off before I can get in there.

I tried antifreeze, but that just turned my tongue a greenish color.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

It's crucial. You cant set or change it at home. We are creating pressure inside your lungs that could easily be damaged. The minimum must be used to keep your airway open.

You cant just use your aunts old machine and try to save some money.

I've had three sleep studies since 2008.

After the first sleep study, the doctor advised that I have my tonsils, adenoids, nasal turbinates and uvula removed. Unfortunately, the surgery was not a success.

I had a second sleep study in 2015 but I was stuck in a really uncomfortable room with a bed next to a filing cabinet, so I didn't sleep well and never hit REM sleep. A few weeks later, I did my normal routine at the time, which included having a few vodka/sodas before bed to wind down, then Uber'd over to the sleep facility.

That time, I was able to hit REM sleep, so they set up my machine, which I've used every single night without exception since 2015 and I've never felt better in my life. Instead of falling asleep mid-afternoon and being groggy all day, I only need about 7 to 7.5 hours of sleep per night to feel rested and full of energy.

It's a life-saving device.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 007

Pretty sure I need one but I can't justify the expense. My insurance doesn't cover it. The other problem is finding out of you will be able to handle having it strapped on your face all night. It's a lot of money to throw down and then find out you can't do it.

I never failed to get someone fitted for CPAP. But, by the time they were seeing me they were very motivated to feel better. They had a 6 month wait at the time. Willing to try anything, tolerate anything.

Most of its in your head. Getting use to it. Its different. The nasal pillows are the less restrictive and easiest to use. The thing that trips people up is you have to sleep with your mouth closed and the exhale takes getting use to.

The masks don't have that issue but its a lot bigger thing on your face and typically takes a lot longer to get use to.

Unless people have reached that "I have to do something", I want to feel better point, most will reject the CPAP. Find reasons that have nothing to do with the apparatus of CPAP.

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by 007

Pretty sure I need one but I can't justify the expense. My insurance doesn't cover it. The other problem is finding out of you will be able to handle having it strapped on your face all night. It's a lot of money to throw down and then find out you can't do it.

that is a croc by the insurance company


so is the 3-6 month wait. Mine was at least 4 between the study and meeting with the doc.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by displacedinMN

that is a croc by the insurance company


so is the 3-6 month wait. Mine was at least 4 between the study and meeting with the doc.

I was the only one qualified in the hospital and the pulmonary doctors group to perform and score the sleep studies. Of course the pulmonologist has the final say but they never corrected anything. It’s pretty obvious to score after the 1st month what the readings are. But...... getting certified to do it ain’t easy.

I suspect the wait in 2020 is probably still a lack of qualified staff than an insurance company trying to **** people over. The pure economics are obvious to the insurance company, getting the patient on CPAP is cheaper for them than dealing with the deteriorating effects of sleep apnea.

[BigRedChief]

For those who can’t handle the mask, have you checked into this option?

https://www.inspiresleep.com/ PR stuff on their page


Inspire works inside your body while you sleep. It’s a small device placed during a same-day, outpatient procedure. When you’re ready for bed, simply click the remote to turn Inspire on. While you sleep, Inspire opens your airway, allowing you to breathe normally and sleep peacefully.

[Tribesman]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

For those who can’t handle the mask, have you checked into this option?

https://www.inspiresleep.com/ PR stuff on their page


Inspire works inside your body while you sleep. It’s a small device placed during a same-day, outpatient procedure. When you’re ready for bed, simply click the remote to turn Inspire on. While you sleep, Inspire opens your airway, allowing you to breathe normally and sleep peacefully.

Yes, I have. And thank you!
I was seriously considering it until the pandemic. I haven't verified yet, but heard most procedures like this are on hold due to covid. That is, those considered elective or noncritical. Regardless, I will check into this.

[tatorhog]

After starting this thread, which I forgot about I ended up with the nasal pillow mask, which isn't much of a mask at all. Covid nonsense added some levels of difficulty in getting everything scheduled, etc. But after having the cpap for a few months now, its made a huge difference. It took my nose a week or so to toughen up to having the pillows pressed against it overnight, but once that ran its course, sleeping is actually restful again.

[displacedinMN]

tator-good for you. and I am sure your partner appreciates it too. The changes over the next few months will be grand.

[tatorhog]

Originally Posted by displacedinMN

tator-good for you. and I am sure your partner appreciates it too. The changes over the next few months will be grand.

its been a difference maker for sure.

I had shoulder surgery a while back and just now feel comfortable enough to lift again (mental aspect of it, weird I know), so I'm slowly starting back into that. I ordered a rowing machine because I really liked using one before, and this one comes with a subscription to some cool online resources and trainer led routines. So if I can drop and maintain 25 or more by New Year's I'll be back around the upper end of my normal range anyway/ I think I'll be doing a lot better then. Most people think I weigh 40-50 pounds less than I do, but even though its not visibly noticeable I feel heavy and it sucks.

But man, just getting good rest again has been huge.

And yeah, my wife doesn't wake up with that "I want to kill you" look in the mornings anymore. Apparently when I would quit breathing at night, it was a pretty dramatic scene and would wake her up immediately and she would have a hard time going back to sleep afterwards.

[displacedinMN]

think about the amount of oxygen you are now getting into your body compared to before.
I stopped breathing 12 times an hour and am down to 3-
I am not doing the math on the positive amount of oxygen I am getting.

[Couch-Potato]

Read Breathe by James Nestor.

[tatorhog]

Originally Posted by displacedinMN

think about the amount of oxygen you are now getting into your body compared to before.
I stopped breathing 12 times an hour and am down to 3-
I am not doing the math on the positive amount of oxygen I am getting.

lol My number was WAY higher than that. With covid happening I couldn't do an on-prem sleep study, so they sent me home with a device to give a watered down equivalent of what they would learn in the study. It was bad enough they didn't need to have me sleep overnight, they just said I had severe apnea and got the ball rolling.

None of that is anything to brag about, but like you I'm down to sub 3 per hour now. While I'm against most invasive things in the home, I do like the fact that my cpap has a modem built into it, and the doc can just pull records straight from it.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by tatorhog

After starting this thread, which I forgot about I ended up with the nasal pillow mask, which isn't much of a mask at all. Covid nonsense added some levels of difficulty in getting everything scheduled, etc. But after having the cpap for a few months now, its made a huge difference. It took my nose a week or so to toughen up to having the pillows pressed against it overnight, but once that ran its course, sleeping is actually restful again.

Nasal pillows are the way to go. It's tougher at first but in the long run you'll be more successful. Glad its working out for you.

[tatorhog]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Nasal pillows are the way to go. It's tougher at first but in the long run you'll be more successful. Glad its working out for you.

The air pressure was a weird sensation at first. Took me a while to fall asleep because I kept focusing on it and how I breathed. Then the rims of my nostrils chapped from the pillows, but using a little triple antibiotic ointment during the day fixed that quickly.

Now, its just nice. Once I got adjusted to it, I go to sleep and I stay asleep. I would recommend it to anyone. It was pricey, but well worth it.

[MahiMike]

I'm scheduled to do the test in October.