Sleep apnea

Mr.Gadget

Old Mossy Horns
Wife went in a week back.
Said she kicks at night no other problems, never stopped or held her breath and never had an O2 drop.
They said she was fine and no problems.

She gets a call this week saying she has sleep Apnea. WTF
They said based on he form that she is tired in the day time she has mild sleep Apnea and they wanted her to com in and get set up with a Cpap...
What a load of BS, called her doc to look over the report and the doc said BS, and they would talk it over in 6 month when she goes in next time for meds update....

I feel the same about my test them telling me that nothing really then I get a call a few weeks later to say I had it and it could kill me and so on, they wanted me in for another test and it did nothing other then keep me up all night long.
They tell me I need brand X and they will call me to come get it after insurance.
Weeks later I get the call to come in, they wanted 750 or more from me and wanted me to rent for 2 months first.
I looked it up on line and found it for 325, same Mod and all.
Wonder what they billed the insurance? or would have.

Still have not done anything and it just pissed me off...
Why not lone or rent me one for a week or two to make sure it will work or give me the facts behind the testing as they would not tell me anything really said I need to talk to my doc and have him read the info to me...... BS...
 

dc bigdaddy

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
if you have a cold, do the sinus rinse before you go to bed. that'll help open you up and then the pressure will help keep you open. after I started using mine, I noticed a decline in nose junk that would come out of my nose in the morning.
 

NCST8GUY

Frozen H20 Guy
What exactly does the CPap Machine do?

Gave me the gift of actual rest. Apparently if your breathing pressure isn't right, a lot of your body reacts during "sleep". It is supposed to kind of equalize that pressure I believe.


And then I just read MR Gadget's post :(

Now I'm wondering mine is all mental? The guys at my clubshouse would disagree though
 
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Mr.Gadget

Old Mossy Horns
Gave me the gift of actual rest. Apparently if your breathing pressure isn't right, a lot of your body reacts during "sleep". It is supposed to kind of equalize that pressure I believe.


And then I just read MR Gadget's post :(

Now I'm wondering mine is all mental? The guys at my clubshouse would disagree though

I don't know what to do.....

THey came out and told me on one if the your are going to die calls you need to come in that my O2 was at 72 % and I have a problem with that....
THe first time I was in, they really did not do anything, they let me sleep. They told me if my O2 drops or I stop breathing longer then X they will wake me and put me on Cpap.
THey never did, I ask and they said I was ok, did fine and maybe mild to any...
THen I get the you are going to die calls because your O2 is at 70%
I ask why they did not wake me, I ask how they could get that reading on the second time when I was on Cpap the full time if that is going to help me.... THey did not knew and said if I had questions I could call my doc, I ask about the Doc running the testing and there was none, just techs that run it and tell you that you are going to die....

I said F it I guess I'm going to die..... Ask what happens if the power goes out, do I die then also......
I really think they do not like talking to me.
 

bellabarrie

Eight Pointer
I just got my CPAP machine on Tuesday and I'm already noticing a difference. My sats only got into the 80s, so not as dire as yours, MG. If you're truly going into the 70s, that's not good.

Who did your study? Mine was thru Rex Pulmonary Specialists and I've been happy overall. I'm using Apria for the machine and supplies. I used them a lot for Tabitha's supplies before she passed and they have always been excellent.

Part of my issue is retraining my brain and body how to fully rest again...because of Tabitha's medical problems, I slept lightly the past 18 years so I would hear her if she started having a seizure or something. I thought I had been doing a decent job of sleeping this past year until I had the two studies done. It was scary how little deep, restorative sleep I've been getting.

Don't give up on this! Keep pushing until you get some answers and you feel confident in what you're being told. I KNOW it's a pain in the tail to follow up on this stuff when it seems to be run by a group of non-caring simpletons at times, but you are the best advocate you have. Sending prayers and happy thoughts!!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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GrizzlyBear

Old Mossy Horns
I had similar experiences from my docs. They wouldn't answer the phone and didn't have appointments available in a reasonable time. They did not give me a choice of suppliers.

Anyway. I won't use them again.

Tried twice last night with the mask. Heart rate climbed and got a little panicy. Couldn't gtg enough air through my Nose. At least that's what it felt like. I'm confident it was working and that it was just in my head. B
 

GrizzlyBear

Old Mossy Horns
Ok so last night was a lot better. Worked my tail off yesterday and was pretty beat. In the evening I wore the mask while watching tv to try to get used to the constant pressure on my lungs. Got a bit more comfortable after an hour or so. That seemed to have worked.
 

gremcat

Twelve Pointer
When I was at the ENTdr they did say that with allergies your glands can become swollen making it harder to breath through your nose. Maybe that is why you had a hard time breathing through your nose.
 

GrizzlyBear

Old Mossy Horns
When I was at the ENTdr they did say that with allergies your glands can become swollen making it harder to breath through your nose. Maybe that is why you had a hard time breathing through your nose.

Astute. My passages are narrow and when I went to the ENT they prescribed Flonase.
 

poppop

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
Wife went in a week back.
Said she kicks at night no other problems, never stopped or held her breath and never had an O2 drop.
They said she was fine and no problems.

She gets a call this week saying she has sleep Apnea. WTF
They said based on he form that she is tired in the day time she has mild sleep Apnea and they wanted her to com in and get set up with a Cpap...
What a load of BS, called her doc to look over the report and the doc said BS, and they would talk it over in 6 month when she goes in next time for meds update....

I feel the same about my test them telling me that nothing really then I get a call a few weeks later to say I had it and it could kill me and so on, they wanted me in for another test and it did nothing other then keep me up all night long.
They tell me I need brand X and they will call me to come get it after insurance.
Weeks later I get the call to come in, they wanted 750 or more from me and wanted me to rent for 2 months first.
I looked it up on line and found it for 325, same Mod and all.
Wonder what they billed the insurance? or would have.

Still have not done anything and it just pissed me off...
Why not lone or rent me one for a week or two to make sure it will work or give me the facts behind the testing as they would not tell me anything really said I need to talk to my doc and have him read the info to me...... BS...


I went the same route you did........I was literally raped by both of the major CPAP/BiPap machine suppliers. Thousands of dollars in rentals and all the associated costs. Buy you one online, you can even find a refurbished one.....they are all sanitized and cleaned. I will never own another new bipap machine again unless its super cheap. Its your choice, you do not have to get what the machine where the doctor is most likely familiar with the company.
 

newlifetaxidermy

Guest
I had a friend get a machine and he lost 45 pounds right off the bat using the machine. He then lost another 25 pounds and he now says he hasn't used the machine in months. Wondering if you just loose weight that you could do without the machine. Is it something about heavier people their neck being enlarged chest heavier that causes sleep issue? Is the machine a sales pitch?

I know folks who are not overweight who have to use CPAP. Being obese does increase the risk of sleep apnea. Losing weight can cause the problem to go away, but not always. The paperwork I got from the doctor said that if I lose 10-20% of my weight, I should have another study to determine if the machine is still needed.
 

newlifetaxidermy

Guest
After reading this, apparently sleep apnea is very common. I went for a sleep study last Sunday night. Looking at the paperwork, it says I quit breathing 60 times in 90min. WOWW! At some point during the night, the sleep study tech put a CPAP on me. I woke up Monday morning feeling better than I have felt in years. I wasn't tired all day Monday. I am anxiously awaiting for the home health people to call me to get me set up with a CPAP to use every night. If one night makes that much difference, I can't wait to see how I feel after a week or 2.

My symptoms are very typical:
Sleepy during the day
Have trouble concentrating when sitting at my desk
Irritable and sometimes downright mean (that is NOT me)
Fall asleep watching tv if I sit there for more than 30min.
Wake up feeling sleepier than I did before I went to bed
Cannot ride in the car without falling asleep
Snoring
Wake up feeling like someone is strangling me

From all my research, this problem has serious health consequences. The main thing is that it has a bad impact on your heart.
 

ArmyMutt

Eight Pointer
I supposedly have sleep apnea. I'm still waiting for the Fayetteville VA to call me back. It's been 3 years since I had the sleep study. Apparently, I snore extremely loud. I don't wake up, and don't really feel tired until the afternoon - and that's mostly from boredom.

ETA: Decided to call the VA. Looks like I have to call back in the morning to schedule an appointment to get an appointment with the sleep office. The time frame to get the first appointment is mid to the end of November. Gotta love socialized healthcare.
 
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Banjo

Old Mossy Horns
I supposedly have sleep apnea. I'm still waiting for the Fayetteville VA to call me back. It's been 3 years since I had the sleep study. Apparently, I snore extremely loud. I don't wake up, and don't really feel tired until the afternoon - and that's mostly from boredom.

You are on the waiting list.........
 

gremcat

Twelve Pointer
This was posted on 24 HCF:
My son passed away about 3:00 this morning. He would have been 41 on Thursday.

It wasn't completely unexpected. He suffered from anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome, APS. It's a uniformly fatal autoimmune disease that causes excessive clotting, and hence pulmonary embolisms and pulmonary hypertension. I think he may hold the world's record for how long he survived after diagnosis: 14 years. So we're thankful for that.

I hope this doesn't make you good folks sad. We're happy for the 41 years we got.

As a side note, if you have sleep apnea, get yourself on a CPAP. Apnea causes pulmonary hypertension. I have a little bit of it myself, from going many years without treatment. If you want to live to be as old as my dad (94), get on your CPAP and stick with it, regardless.
 

Bruce

Spike
I haven't read the whole thread but the whole thing frustrates me. My dad has snored as long as I can remember but always wakes up refreshed and ready to go. He drives a truck for a living and has never had a problem until this past year when because of his neck size he had to go get a sleep study. His primary care doc didn't agree with it but could not overrule it. Well he went and was found to have "sleep apnea". Now I truly believe some do have it, I am in the medical field and have witnessed it. But when he slept he would breathe normally per my mother. Now he has been on the machine for 6 months and even I can tell a difference when he is napping at home. His breathing pattern is irregular and he now truly has sleep apnea. Just like every other condition out there that can be capitalized on I feel the same has happened with sleep apnea. They also told him to leave he machine on "auto adjust" so he did. It was supposed to read his breathing from the start and alter the settings accordingly. Well his readings were downloaded and it pretty much said it stayed on the lowest setting. Meaning he did not have any breathing issues. Well now they changed his diagnosis to him having to wear it every night instead of 70% of the time. I have never been a huge fan of regulations and such but this has really put it in perspective.

Footnotes- guy sent to sleep study bc of next size no other symptoms. Told he needs a machine. Starts wearing and normal breathing during napping gets worse. Follows instructions and is then told his breathing is to good the machine must have malfunctioned
 

HuntinCop

Twelve Pointer
I have had my machine about a month now. I hate the way the mask feels. Mine is set on a ramp where it starts low and builds pressure over about an hour. I can fall asleep fine but wake up later in the night to find that I have removed the mask. I guess it just gets too uncomfortable with the pressure.

It does help the snoring because I've snored my wife out of the room once as compared to it being every night before. I cannot tell a difference in the way that I feel...not one bit.

I have to give it a fair trial for about 90 days though. I have no idea if it is related at all, but I am battling a sinus and ear infection right now....haven't had one in years so I can't believe its just a coincidence.
 

JAMIE V

Guest
I have the same. I sleep with a CPAP every night and once you get use to it you sleep so much better and feel like you are not dead in the morning. It is a dangerous and it is good that you got it under control or should I say on the way to controlling it. Good luck !
 

NWNCmike

Eight Pointer
I have had my machine about a month now. I hate the way the mask feels. Mine is set on a ramp where it starts low and builds pressure over about an hour. I can fall asleep fine but wake up later in the night to find that I have removed the mask. I guess it just gets too uncomfortable with the pressure.

It does help the snoring because I've snored my wife out of the room once as compared to it being every night before. I cannot tell a difference in the way that I feel...not one bit.

I have to give it a fair trial for about 90 days though. I have no idea if it is related at all, but I am battling a sinus and ear infection right now....haven't had one in years so I can't believe its just a coincidence.

If you don't feel better then you are probably removing it during the night. I do the same thing some nights and I can feel it the next day. Then there are nights my machine says I have used it for 5 or 6 hours. Your provider has various masks and it is their job to find one you can live with. For me personally the smaller the mask the better, I just use a small one that fits in my nostrils.
Losing weight(which I have done) helps with sleep apnea and I can sleep on my left side and seem to not snore. But if you roll over on your back without a C-Pap you will definitely snore. I know what what you mean about the sinus irritation. I have that if I run out of water in the machine, you also need to have it checked to make sure the water is being heated. Other than an operation there is no alternative, you can't just do a "trial" run , you have to make it work. Not what you want to hear but it is the truth. Sleep Apnea can kill you. I've lived with a C-Pap for 10 years or more.
 

HuntinCop

Twelve Pointer
Yes, I meant give it a fair trial before opting for surgery. I have discussed all of the options and surgery just sounds aweful
 

bowhuntingrook

Old Mossy Horns
I mean this very seriously, if you suffer from sleep apnea then never ever go to bed after drinking one too many. I know someone who died from the combination of sleep apnea and being drunk. Too much alcohol caused him not to wake up when he stopped breathing from the apnea.

I've responded to a guy in his 40's who I believe had this happen. He was a trucker and staying in a hotel, friends dropped him off in his room because of his intoxication level and checked on him 30 minutes later and he was on his back on the bed, dead. He was a large guy, I remember it well because usually I "justify if you will" the death usually through the scene or patient history. In this instance there was really nothing I could say or do and it was such a surprise to his friends, it has stuck with me.
 
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Banjo

Old Mossy Horns
My doctor is very insistent that I go in for a sleep study. My wife wakes me up several times per night because of snoring and I am as tired as can be.
 

Windrunner

Twelve Pointer
Wife went in a week back.
Said she kicks at night no other problems, never stopped or held her breath and never had an O2 drop.
They said she was fine and no problems.

She gets a call this week saying she has sleep Apnea. WTF
They said based on he form that she is tired in the day time she has mild sleep Apnea and they wanted her to com in and get set up with a Cpap...
What a load of BS, called her doc to look over the report and the doc said BS, and they would talk it over in 6 month when she goes in next time for meds

I did an overnight sleep study and had to stay the next day to do a "nap study" where every 2 hours they ask you to go to sleep then wake you up 15 minutes later. Repeat 4 more times. I fell asleep each time within a few minutes and was diagnosed with hypersomnia. No sleep apnea, I get good rest when I sleep its just never enough.
 

HuntinCop

Twelve Pointer
So here is a good one. For the past 2 weeks I have experienced severe headaches, sinus pain and ear pain. The doctor put me on antibiotics for a week, as well as something for my sinus issues. I went Friday for a physical and my doc gave me a steroid (prednisone) and said that the sinus stuff appeared to need same to kick the issue. I've been on that since Friday and the pains are not gone at all. I have pain behind my eye balls as well. I have this terrible "vacuum" sound in my ear at time. My blood pressure was sky high on Friday, so the doc raised my BP meds to a higher dose. He was scared that the ear pain, headache, etc. was being caused by the BP issues. I think it is reversed....my BP has been under control for 2 years now until I started on this dern cpap.

I feel in my gut that all of this is being caused by the mask / cpap. Has anyone else experienced this type of pain while using cpap? I can't take it.
 

newlifetaxidermy

Guest
Are you cleaning your cpap hose, mask, humidifier, etc as you were instructed? Those things stay wet and warm....two conditions for mold and bacteria. Blowing bacteria and mold spores into your nose can definitely cause sinus issues.

I got my machine last Friday and I can say without a doubt that I feel 110% better than before. I have been using mine for approximately 7 hrs per night. If I start it without the ramp, it sometimes causes my ears to feel like they are popping. I turned the humidity up to max last night and ended up with water in the hose. The bubbling sound of the water when I exhaled woke me up a couple times. Other than that, I love it.
 
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