To MACK A.

Mack A - You responded to a 3 yr old thread, but I'll reply in this one, because...

You said..

"Ive got OSA, it took doctors 8 yrs to figure out what's wrong with me. Though i must say that i didn't have many of the tipical risk factors. After being treated for a year i still felt like shit all the time. It turns out im allergic to dusts mites and my nasel Air way closes off during the night. I go in for surgery in just over a month. hoping this will improve quality of life a little more. Currently im getting under 3 hours of treatment on cpap. My doctor put me on a drug called modafinil. Night and day difference between quality of life. Highly recommend it for anyone who has sleep apnea and still feeling tired. this drug is the only stimulant on the market that isnt habit forming. Improves my memory abilities to function and my enjoyment of life"

Many people have not had proper advice and help from experienced, knowledgable 'others' (not necessarily doctors by a long shot... unfortunately very many of them have some of the science but know very little about the eqiupment). You said you're going in for surgery - what specific type may I ask? If it's UPPP (palate and/or uvula reduction), tonsil removal, or other types of anatomical work aside from e.g. nasal turbinate reduction, you may want to learn more about those before going ahead with them... they are all too well known to not only be ineffective within a few months after surgery, but in fact the changes carried out then make it more difficult to start or return to Cpap afterward, leaving you with no way to deal with your OSA.

I don't know what machine you use, but would be most interested to find out, as all the newer ones have one and/or two small, inexpensive filters that deal with dust, allergens and more each time you use them, again something surgery cannot, in fact, give you protection from.

What is your prescribed pressure, btw? Are you using straight Cpap or Auto? Do you use software to track your progress, and what type (there is very good new stuff downloadable free from the forum). It will help very much in finding out just what's really going on with you so you can make an educated decision on your own health and treatment.

And please let us know what mask (and type) you have, because masks are usually the #1 problem with Cpap - badly fitted and/or the wrong type for you. There is so much we can help you with (as patients ourselves) I urge you to give us a chance before you submit to something undo-able that could cause you to be worse off in future than you may feel you are now.

And I'm someone who's spent their working life in big teaching hospitals, not an anti-med/surg nutcase.

Do get back with all the info. and see if we can help you.

Julie: Good you spotted that ... above and beyond the call of duty.

Surgery will not cure a dust mite allergy.

Janknitz wrote:Surgery will not cure a dust mite allergy.

but a hypoallergenic filter should treat it