New guy with question

SleepyGuy · Post by **SleepyGuy** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 9:13 pm

Hi,

I'm new with severe obstructive sleep apnea (80 interruptions per hour). I don't have my CPAP machine yet, but should be getting tested for one in the next week or two.

I really appreciate this forum. I was wondering if this thing would really work and feel encouraged after what I've read.

My question is this. I have a good friend that has similar problems to my own. His wife says he does snore. Is there anything else they can do to tell if he might have sleep apnea? Can she watch to see if his breathing is interrupted? Or is it tough for another person to tell?

Thanks.

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:57 am

Yes, a sleeping partner can tell if a person stops breathing. They will hear the snoring and then it will abruptly stop. There will be silence for several seconds and then the snoring will start again.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:05 am

I agree with Hawthorne. A spouse is often the one who gets a person headed toward a sleep study. I'd add this: I think anyone who snores at all (whether the bed partner notices breathing cessations or not) should be tested - either a full PSG in a sleep clinic or an "at home sleep study."

People can have sleep apnea without snoring at all, but snoring is such an obvious symptom - no one should ever regard it lightly. It's too bad that the popular view of snoring is, "Well, it's an annoyance, but a lot of people snore...no big deal." Even without full apneas, the snorer is having some kind of obstructed, limited air flow and is likely putting a strain on the heart with every snoring breath. Just my non-professional opinion.

If the partner can't convince the snorer of the importance of having a sleep study, I've heard of some who set up a camera to videotape the snorer all night. Seeing (and hearing!) oneself struggling for air hour after hour can be a real eye-opener....no pun intended.

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:21 am

Yes, I should have added that. Anyone who snores all the time should be tested for sleep apnea. Except for someone who may be like my husband. My husband snores when he gets on his back sleeping (happens only seldom) and only after he has had a alcoholic drink or two in the evening. I don't think a situation like this requires sleep testing.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:40 pm

I agree with rested gal, Quote:

"I think anyone who snores at all (whether the bed partner notices breathing cessations or not) should be tested"

The problem is that as long as being diagnosed requires one or more $2000(+) sleep studies, insurance companies will not agree to such wide spread testing.

I don't understand what the harm is in sending a suspected apneatic home with an event recording auto-pap for a few nights and see what happens. This could be accomplished for less than $300 including the office visits to your doctor.

I tried to get my doc to do this after my sleep lab wrongly decided not to hook me up for the CPAP half of my split night study. I ended up with months of request/denial/appeal/approval for a second $2400 sleep study.

Seems like such a waste of money

On a more positive note: As of Saturday 10/23/04 I have my prescription and insurance preapproval for an auto-pap which I will be ordering first thing monday AM.

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:20 am

Hi WTTM,

Well, I guess wading through the muck paid off finally. I am on Autopap like Rested Gal and I love it much better than CPAP. I hope you will too and keep us posted what you think of it after a few nights.

Hip Hip Hooray for you finally getting it.

Judy

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:29 am

Judy,

Thanks for your well wishes!

I just placed my order this morning (with cpap.com). If all goes well I should have it tomorrow and become a hosehead like the rest of you.

I'm proud to join

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:49 am

WTTM,

Hey welcome aboard. The boat is never to full to have one more "Hosehead" aboard.

Don't you just love that name? I got the biggest kick out of it when I first heard it.

Judy

loonlvr · Post by **loonlvr** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:31 pm

whats the difference between cpap and autopap. also, i wear a respironics full face mask. Why don T they sell just the membrane around plastic instead of the whole thing? any ideas besides $ grubbing?

SleepyGuy · Post by **SleepyGuy** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 10:41 pm

I'll let my friend know that his wife might be able to help diagnose this.

It's ironic. My old girlfriend complained about my snoring, but we broke up about two years ago. My fatigue has really made it difficult to have much of a social life since then. I'm sure it's gotten worse in that time.

robertjoy · Post by **robertjoy** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 11:57 am

I have never heard that term before "Hosehead" I like it sort of sums us up, great stuff, from an old hosehead.

Robert

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 11:57 pm

rested gal wrote:
People can have sleep apnea without snoring at all,

You must be referring to Central Apneas? If so, yes, it's true but it's very rare. My sleep doctor says that just because you snore doesn't mean you have sleep apnea, but most people with sleep apnea do snore.

One must not jump the gun and insist on a sleep study just because one snores. The fact is that a certain amount of apneas is considered "normal" in today's medicine. One should go to their doctor if they are concerned. However, if one stops breathing altogether when sleeping for more than several seconds, I would be concerned.

New guy with question

New guy with question

Diagnosing

snoring

Snoring

re: snoring & sleep apnea

cpap vs auto

Thanks for the great information

Hosehead

Re: snoring