As most of you know, I have been experimenting with myself, and using positional sleep apnea therapy for my obstructive sleep apnea (untreated AHi = 41) for some months now. I have given various updates on this, but the information has been polluted by the usual hijacking and misinformation, so no matter what is posted after this, at least my personal experience will be clear
So I am repeating past information, plus more history, so that it is all in one post.
You may want to check the credentials of my Sleep Centre, which I think is one of the best in the Southern Hemisphere, but I have no comparative studies to prove that, just my opinion
http://www.southernhealth.org.au/page/S ... laboratory
The recent study I posted on positional sleep apnea is worth noting -
http://www.antisnoreshirt.com/v/vspfile ... graphy.pdf
In particular their conclusion -
Positional therapy has the potential to be an effective therapy in a significant proportion of patients with sleep apnea. Rigorous outcome studies evaluating the efficacy of this treatment modality are urgently needed in patients with mild-to-moderate sleep apnea.
and a more consumer oriented overview
http://www.ehow.com/about_5183851_posit ... apnea.html
of which I was particularly interested in this paragraph -
According to the experts at the American College of Chest Physicians in an October 2005 issue of "Chest" magazine, as many as 60% of the people with obstructive sleep apnea experience a lowering of symptoms when they slept on their side as opposed to their back. They estimate that as many as 50% of the people that experience sleep apnea could be successfully treated by using positional therapy.
I have done a lot of travelling in my life, usually by what used to be known as hitch-hiking. So I would normally end up at night in a strange place, and I would sleep out. Given that I never had much money, this became my preferred option when travelling. Although my health is not good, I have not given up on the travelling, and carrying a machine around is not really an option for me.
Reading the threads on this Forum I first came across the Nasopharyngeal Airway
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasopharyngeal_airway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR5jsmGg6e8
and the Oropharyngeal Airway
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oropharyngeal_airway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVlRylzLor0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI9Heh5 ... re=related
Now, next to my favourite Animal Aid Opportunity Shop there is a medical equipment shop. So I ordered a Nasopharyngeal Airway in a couple of sizes. I quickly discovered that, for me, it wasn't going to work. Then I tried the Oropharyngeal Airway in a couple of sizes. Now, someone might be able to make this work, but the gag reflex has to be overcome, and whilst I was about to persist I discovered something else.
I knew from my recliner/napping times that I did not desaturate with my body nearly upright, and my head back; and that I did desaturate if my head was forward, or my body more supine.
I also remembered seeing some Forum posts of the head being moved backwards, so opening the throat. This being cited as a possible help in overcoming obstructive sleep apnea. I also knew about this as I have to do it when I get a laryngospasm. So I bought my first soft cervical collar for $8 from the medical equipment shop, and tried it out.
And that was when my experimenting became testing, as using the collar and sleeping on my side meant no desaturations.
So this is the way it has developed -
The starting point is sleeping on my side - all night. I have also wore an oximeter every night since I started this, and the only time the alarm went off is when I have deliberately turned onto my back and fallen asleep again. I no longer do this.
http://www.the-pillow.com.au/more/side_ ... r_more.php
(I think this also has minimised my plmd, but I will have to wait for the full study results to be sure about that.)
and I still use this most of the time - but possibly no longer need to -
http://www.the-pillow.com.au/more/posit ... w_more.php
and, of course, the soft cervical collar - together with a feather pillow -
http://www.nextag.com/soft-cervical-collar/stores-html
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002674542/ref ... B002674542
http://www.beddingco.com.au/pillows.htm ... 4god13_p-Q
which also has some interesting pillows.
I will add that I no longer use a cervical collar, but advise all those experimenting to start by using one. When using the soft cervical collar I do not use the cervical neck support pillow, I use a feather pillow.
I now use a cervical neck support pillow
http://www.the-pillow.com.au/more/compl ... s_more.php
which keeps my head upright, ( head in the dip and chin resting against the edge,) and serves the same purpose as the soft cervical collar. The pillow has less resistance than the collar, so I believe it is best to use the collar first until one is used to the head being upright in relation to your body when going to sleep.
I am still experimenting with the two inserts, but it works with and without the inserts.
Then, of course, I have my two trusty oximeters - CMS50E and CMC60D.
I was due for this sleep study months ago, and have had to postpone it 4 times due to ill-health. But at last, on Sunday night just past, I had another full diagnostic sleep study at Monash Sleep Centre, using only a cervical collar and thigh wedge support and back wedge.
I do not get to see the Sleep Doctor until the 1st December, but he sent me a message to continue using positional therapy, that I did not need to use the cpap machine.
So there it is. The prescription of cpap machine is easy, it works if successfully applied, and a whole manufacturing and retail industry is supported by it. And I have no argument with that. But for those it does not suit - for whatever reason - taking the steps to find out if positional therapy is for them - may be a step well worth taking
cheers
Mars
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NEW
Here is the summary of my sleep study. It is for those who are interested in the best treatment for themselves, and are interested in facts.
http://www.imagebam.com/image/a6af30164295734
cheers
Mars