Who has Sleep Apnea?

[Old Hippie]

I've had Sleep Apnea since I was 19, but it has been real bad for about 12 years. About 10 years ago I had a sleep study and my blood saturation was 76 -- but only moderately better with a CPAP.

I had three surgeries (UPPP, Septoplasty, Terminents) -- but they didn't help.

I've tried CPAP and can't take more than 10 minutes of it. I can't sync my breathing with the mask that goes over the nose and mouth (Claustrophobic),and the one over the nose only, dries out my nose to where I feel like I have the flu.

Well this study I had last night says that I only reached REM for a total of 6 minutes and my saturation dropped to 56. I'm falling asleep everywhere and my heart can't take the low sat level (blood is already settling in my swelling legs) -- so I need to do the CPAP, or a permanent trake (which isn't happening).

Is there anyone out there on a CPAP that has tried different machines and masks that can offer a suggestion on brands of CPAPs and masks?

[snook]

I use a CPAP with a nose mask and add-on humidifier - no problems and I sleep just fine. The humidifier is the key, it keeps the nose and throat from drying out - get one. The humidifier sits under the cpap and you fill it with tap water every 4-5 days. I use an old ResMed.

[PapaG]

My wife has had it for years. She says she does not get the flu feelings. Her machine uses heated water, it has it's heater for the humidifier. She has had the nose one only. It does cause her mouth to open every now and then for a breath or 2.
She is on her 2nd machine, this one is only a couple of months old. The humidifier went out on her old one. She uses filtered or distilled water. That may be what they all use, I buy the water sometimes for her.

She really likes her new mask.

Comfortgell mask w/ headgear -s (small)
# 1009041

ResMed H4i

She said they also have the tub like thing that goes up your nose like they use to give oxygen in the hospital and those portable oxygen.

She says it is unusual for a woman to have Sleep Apnea they told her when she went through the sleep study. She does not remember her
saturation and other measurements..

HTH

[histoy]

I have a Remstar CPAP unit from Respironics. It sits on its own humidifier that uses distilled water. I have the Nasal-Aire II from InnoMed Technologies instead of a mask. It inserts into your nose, as PapaG described. My biggest problem has been going to sleep with the air blowing into my nose or mouth. I'm bothered by the noise in my ears. In order to get to sleep I take 2 tablets of Walgreens Sleep II ( Diphenhydramine HCI 25mg) about 1 1/2 hours before bedtime. Been doing this for about 7 years now. Works for me.

[bonedoc33]

Everyone pretty much beat me to the punch on this one. Most patients on CPAP that I have experience with prefer the nose mask with a humidifier. You just have to get used to the noise and having the mask on your face. For most people, getting used to the machine beats the alternative.

Not to sound like a broken record, as I am sure you have been asked this a hundred times, but have you tried losing weight? While it most likely won't get rid of your apnea, it will help to decrease the severity.

[SmokeTester]

This may not help you, but for those who have only mild Sleep Apnea, like I do.
Try Breathe Right strips.
I never sleep on my back without a nose strip. (Unless I am just getting a quick power nap in a recliner.)

I got a CPAP years ago and slept good. Problem was it kept the wife up, so I tried the strips.

They work for me and might help others.

Good luck with the humidifier Hippie.

Lee

[PapaG]

Bonedoc33

My wife's new one is a lot quieter that the old one. She says it is so quiet she does not know it is on and has to check it to keep her piece of mind that it is on. No on -off switch. It sense's when she takes her first breath, and goes from there. She says it is a gradual build up, so no big blast of air at once.

I can can't hear it. I told her old one sounded like Darth Vader. May the force be with you Luke

[bonedoc33]

Originally Posted by PapaG

Bonedoc33

My wife's new one is a lot quieter that the old one. She says it is so quiet she does not know it is on and has to check it to keep her piece of mind that it is on. No on -off switch. It sense's when she takes her first breath, and goes from there. She says it is a gradual build up, so no big blast of air at once.

I can can't hear it. I told her old one sounded like Darth Vader. May the force be with you Luke

The Darth Vader ones are the ones I have experience with because they are the ones our hospital uses for inpatients. CPAP stuff is beyond my scope of practice and I know very little about the details of them. The vast majority of my patients do not use them. I generally try to stay out of other specialists' way.

[Old Hippie]

Originally Posted by bonedoc33

Everyone pretty much beat me to the punch on this one. Most patients on CPAP that I have experience with prefer the nose mask with a humidifier. You just have to get used to the noise and having the mask on your face. For most people, getting used to the machine beats the alternative.

Not to sound like a broken record, as I am sure you have been asked this a hundred times, but have you tried losing weight? While it most likely won't get rid of your apnea, it will help to decrease the severity.

I have a new doctor as my blood pressure has been running 165/110 and my old doctor couldn't get it down. For the last few years I've been taking more freaking pills a day that you can imagine -- and in addition to costing me $500 a months that my $4500 a month insurance work cover -- and I feel worse instead of better. Working on my car in the pits on a hot day make me near faint.

I know I need to lose weight but the problem is I've worn out my body. 15 years ago I weighed 170 lbs, wore a 56 coat and a 31 waist pant. I'd buy athletic cut suits and have to take the paints for a complete tear down to make fit. I've the same person -- just been captured by a body that has started giving up. I've had 7 surgeries in 5 years and 12 in the last ten years.

I went from playing softball five nights a week (4-6 games a night), lifting weights at lunch every day, and basketball 3 days a week in the morning from 5AM-7:30AM. But after three shoulder surgeries and being told I need a joint replacement, three knee surgeries, and told I need a joint replacement, and a horrible case of arthritis has made virtually all cardio and weight exercising painful. I can't swim because of the right shoulder, I can't tread mill because of the back and feet, I can't cycle because of the knees.

On Wednesday I had a Korr Metabolic test -- and my results were:

Measured REE = 8.08 kJoule/day
Predicted REE = 10.90 kJoule/Day
Estimated TEE = 10.50 kJoule/day
VO2 = 279 ml
FeO2 = 15.72 % expired oxygen
Minute Volume = 6.69 ml
Tidal Volume = 607 ml
Respiratory Rate: 11.3 Breaths / Min

Which means my metabolism is Slow (-26) compared to a typical person of similar, sex, age, height, and weight. The absolute bottom of the graph. I have the metabolism of a sloth right now and will gain weight if I take in more than 2000 calories a day. I eat a bowl of cereal in the morning, a sandwich for lunch, and have 1 meat and two vegetables for dinner. No fast food, no drinking, no snacking - yet can't lose weight.

My doctor says that the out of control Sleep Apnea is the main cause of the metabolism and blood pressure problems -- and the Apnea needs to be fixed first -- and the other problems will be easier for her to treat, as much of it corrects when I stop being dead from 6 minutes a night of REM sleep.

I've been fighting my doctors for years -- and going to give this one a chance. The bottom of my legs are turning purple and are swollen -- and I'm now a believer that my not treating the Apnea has been killing me.

I have to try to find the most comfortable CPAP and get the discipline to use the damn thing before I do anything else. It looks like I need to insist on a nose unit and heated distilled water.

[bonedoc33]

Quite frankly, I am surprised you can function at all on 6 minutes of REM sleep. That is the kind of stuff that drives people crazy and carries a high suicide risk. I am really glad you decided to follow the doc's advice on this one; your health and well-being will greatly improve with your apnea under control. Some of the stuff we have our patients do really sucks, but it we always do it for a good reason; we don't intentionally try to torture our patients.

Good luck with finding a CPAP that works for you. Like I said, I don't know much about them, but the one PapaG's wife uses sounds like a good one since it is quiet and humidified. From what I have gathered in my limited experience with them, the noise and dry air are the two main complaints patients have. Get well and keep us updated on your progress. I think you will feel like a brand new man after only two or three really good nights' sleep.