CPAP Machines.

[foo on patrol]

Well, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, hmmm about 5yrs ago and due to financial constraints, I could and would not get a machine for a trial.
Anyways I finally got into a position where I could rent one for a trial and have been using one for the last 5wks. This week I charged off at 1.45am
Monday morning and left the top to the machine at home and so I couldn't use it all week in the truck. I have felt like crap every morning this
week, when I have woken up and now that I'm home am just struggling to stay awake.

So the the thing that I want to say to those that don't sleep well is..go and get sussed out for apnea and if possible, do a trial on a machine.

I have spent close to 28yrs of feeling like crap every single morning/day and not sleeping well. I just (well used to) wake up of a morning and feel like I'm
hung over and would struggle to keep awake all day but always managed to overcome it through sheer will power.

What I'm trying to say is, if you are not sleeping any good, go to a sleep clinic and do the test for apnea and then do the trial, if financially able.

Hop this made sense.

Foo

[find_bruce]

I'm with you foo - I too resisted & i don't like sleeping with a mask but the improvement in life when i am awake is worth the expense & inconvenience

[foo on patrol]

Yep, just an incredible difference and I may make 70 or even 80yrs of age now but I still have a long catch up to feeling my age.

Foo

[Jesmol]

Agree wholeheartedly with this, diagnosed with severe sleep apnea (AHI of 99) a few years ago, used to have to drive to work with the window open to make sure I didn't fall asleep.

Got the machine and haven't looked back, found energy again, have lost weight and no longer snore with the machine on. (During the test my dB level was measured at 72dB which is the same as an idling whipper snipper apparently)

Well worth getting checked out.

[Dr_Mutley]

Well said... Big risk factor for heart disease as well as just making life tough...

And don't think it's just a fat old persons problem.... Kids who snore like trains, with big tonsils also commonly suffer from it (OSA)... A very common, and reversible cause of a ratty kid!

[WestcoastPete]

Have seen many lives changed by these things through my work.

Glad to hear it's worked out for you Foo

[sogood]

Good story! Now just need to downsize to a mobile unit for those 10+% climbs. I am sure it'll work a treat.

[foo on patrol]

If I get slack and don't use it in the truck ie; only grabbing 3-4hrs or I forget to pack it in, then I notice the difference big time and it makes me wonder how I lived
like that for so many years without one.

Foo

[sogood]

Q: Have you and your doc considered whether you are a candidate for any of the surgical options? May be a better longer term solution if suited.

[foo on patrol]

A: No have not talked about that and I have my tonsils and adnoids taken out already.

Foo

[Jesmol]

Q: Have you and your doc considered whether you are a candidate for any of the surgical options? May be a better longer term solution if suited.

I'll think you find they consider surgery as a last resort these days , last time I looked into it there were concerns over permanency, efficacy and post surgery pain

[g-boaf]

Yep, just an incredible difference and I may make 70 or even 80yrs of age now but I still have a long catch up to feeling my age.

Foo

I have a colleague at work who has the same symptoms that you have. And we are all incredibly worried about him - because of the symptoms of dozing off. Plus he's not real healthy at the moment anyhow, but the sleep apnea symptoms scare us. We sometimes wonder that when he dozes off, if it's just the sleep apnea or something else. It'd be the worst thing if it was something else and we couldn't wake him up. When it's someone you work with closely all the time, they become like part of your extended family.

Poor guy, he hasn't got the money to afford the machine.

[find_bruce]

If surgery meant I didn't have to look like a fighter pilot every night, I would have lept at it.

In the opinion of my specialist, while surgery could can significantly improve my snoring it wasn't an effective cure for my sleep apnea.

I have an APAP machine (Autotitrating Positive Airway Pressure) which records the maximum pressure required each night & I have noticed a reduction of the last 2 years , which I attribute to losing weight & exercising more (ie cycling & swimming). My weight has stabilised a bit of late so I need to make some diet changes to get it dropping agan.

I have a colleague at work who has the same symptoms that you have. And we are all incredibly worried about him - because of the symptoms of dozing off. Plus he's not real healthy at the moment anyhow, but the sleep apnea symptoms scare us. We sometimes wonder that when he dozes off, if it's just the sleep apnea or something else. It'd be the worst thing if it was something else and we couldn't wake him up. When it's someone you work with closely all the time, they become like part of your extended family.

Poor guy, he hasn't got the money to afford the machine.

Sleep apnea isn't the only cause of dozing off - best thing you can do is encourage him to see a sleep specialist - all of the major hospitals have sleep clinics & the facilities to do a sleep study, but unfortunately like most public health in NSW the waiting list can be long

[sogood]

I'll think you find they consider surgery as a last resort these days , last time I looked into it there were concerns over permanency, efficacy and post surgery pain

You are right to an extent in that for some sufferers, they won't correct their existing contributing causes eg. Obesity, or other uncorrectable problems eg. Neural, and the problem will come back. However, there are cases where surgery can be highly efficacious. A blanket "last resort" consideration is not wise. Further given that most cases are primarily looked after by physicians, the very latest surgical option and considerations are not at the top of their mind, a patient may not have had the opportunity to review those. Given foo's younger age, chronicity and severity of the problem, it would be nice to not have to lug a noisy CPAP machine for the rest his life. So I think an ENT consult is warranted, especially one who has special expertise in this area.

[foo on patrol]

Yep, just an incredible difference and I may make 70 or even 80yrs of age now but I still have a long catch up to feeling my age.

Foo

I have a colleague at work who has the same symptoms that you have. And we are all incredibly worried about him - because of the symptoms of dozing off. Plus he's not real healthy at the moment anyhow, but the sleep apnea symptoms scare us. We sometimes wonder that when he dozes off, if it's just the sleep apnea or something else. It'd be the worst thing if it was something else and we couldn't wake him up. When it's someone you work with closely all the time, they become like part of your extended family.

Poor guy, he hasn't got the money to afford the machine.

I never dosed off because I worked really hard at staying awake. I'm renting my machine and the cost is $90 a month for 6mths and $80 or $82 for 12mths.

The consultation is covered by Bulk Billing, so all you need is the referral from your Dr.

I did my study through SNORE Australia.

Foo

[foo on patrol]

I'll think you find they consider surgery as a last resort these days , last time I looked into it there were concerns over permanency, efficacy and post surgery pain

You are right to an extent in that for some sufferers, they won't correct their existing contributing causes eg. Obesity, or other uncorrectable problems eg. Neural, and the problem will come back. However, there are cases where surgery can be highly efficacious. A blanket "last resort" consideration is not wise. Further given that most cases are primarily looked after by physicians, the very latest surgical option and considerations are not at the top of their mind, a patient may not have had the opportunity to review those. Given foo's younger age, chronicity and severity of the problem, it would be nice to not have to lug a noisy CPAP machine for the rest his life. So I think an ENT consult is warranted, especially one who has special expertise in this area.

The new machines are very quite now and emit a very very low woosh sound.

Foo

[sogood]

The new machines are very quite now and emit a very very low woosh sound.

Yes, I am familiar with the technology out there, esp Resmed. Anyway, it's still a piece of hardware, harness and noise. At the end of the day, if that's something you are happy to have for the remaining years, then so be it. A personal choice.

[wayneo75]

Good to hear it works well for you.

I too have sleep apnoea and was recently on a clinical trial with the CPAP machine, after 4 month using the machine, i unfortunately felt no difference and the stats the machine kept showed that in those 4 months i only once slept longer than 4 hours without waking up!

Apparently only around 40% of peole are successful with the machine. Off to teh ENT to see if it is my sinuses casuing the lack of bonding with the CPAP.

[Jesmol]

The new machines are very quite now and emit a very very low woosh sound.

Yes, I am familiar with the technology out there, esp Resmed. Anyway, it's still a piece of hardware, harness and noise. At the end of the day, if that's something you are happy to have for the remaining years, then so be it. A personal choice.

It depends I suppose on whether you're need for the machine is related to weight or not, I've noticed that I can sleep much much better now I've dropped nearly 15Kg , I'm hoping if I get around 80 or below I may be able to get rid of the machine ....

[find_bruce]

Wayneo75 I had similar issues with CPAP, which is contstant pressure, which is why I had to go to APAP where the pressure varies according to whatI need. I have lost around 10 kg & like Jesmol noticesd the improvement in my sleep. The other advantage of APAP is that the improvement is quantifiable.

At least in my experience you are striking a balance between the disturbance to your sleep caused by sleep aponea and the disturbance caused by the machine & most importantly the mask.

Sogood, following on from your comments, it seems there have been some significant surgical developments since I last saw my specialist, such that, at least for sime patients, it can address not just the snoring but also the underlying sleep aponea. Seems like it is now time to do the rounds of specialists again.

[sogood]

Sogood, following on from your comments, it seems there have been some significant surgical developments since I last saw my specialist, such that, at least for sime patients, it can address not just the snoring but also the underlying sleep aponea. Seems like it is now time to do the rounds of specialists again.

My point is not pushing for surgery but to ensure you have examined all the latest possibilities. That's the only way to make an informed and wise decision. Good luck!

[foo on patrol]

Good to hear it works well for you.

I too have sleep apnoea and was recently on a clinical trial with the CPAP machine, after 4 month using the machine, i unfortunately felt no difference and the stats the machine kept showed that in those 4 months i only once slept longer than 4 hours without waking up!

Apparently only around 40% of peole are successful with the machine. Off to teh ENT to see if it is my sinuses casuing the lack of bonding with the CPAP.

I don't sleep any longer than 2-3hrs in one hit, oh to go more than 4hrs in one go but it is the better quality of sleep, that is the difference.

Foo

[Hamster]

I was on a CPAP machine for several years and the difference it makes is incredible. Then I lost weight, bought a bike (actually several) and now there is no need for the machine.

If you're snoring (anything above gentle lady-like snoring) and wake up feeling awful consider getting a sleep study done - it might change your life.

[AKO]

I was diagnosed about three years ago. My employer paid for the sleep study and $1500 towards the APAP machine. Not sure I could have afforded it other wise. At first I didn't think it was working. Then like foo, I left the lid at home one day and spent 5 days without it. Noticed the difference then. The symptoms that I related to was the constant waking, snoring and daytime tiredness. I normally request a fly by from the tower most nights.

[V17L]

G'Day,
Had a sleep test a few weeks ago, and have been advised that I will join the CPAP fighter squadron. I have a test this friday to determine the correct settings.

I was wondering what the difference between the constant flow and the adaptive CPAP machines is.

I am thinking in terms of general usage, I know the adaptive is more expensive, but is it worth the money or just stick with the constant flow unit.

Is it best to hire a unit for 3 months to see what unit I like?

I am really looking forward to giving this a go, as I have really had problems in the last few years with energy and go juice, or lack there of.
cheers
steve