I received my CPAP on June 14, 2006.

Today is the 5th anniversary of receiving my CPAP machine. My doctor sent a FAX for an APAP to my provider and I have been told that I cannot get a new machine because I had received "the same or similar equipment" within the past 5 years." This is not true. I rented an APAP in Jan.-Feb. this year a...

Here is some material from a post I just made in response to robysue's thread on what to do about chapped lips: You could also evaluate what you are using to wash your face in case it is drying your skin. For the first three winters I was on CPAP I developed unsightly rosacea, which I thought was ca...

robysue, Have you tried a different mask? I also use the FX and find that other than by adjusting slightly at the nares I can't change the direction of air. I also have a Swift II and am able to aim the outflow somewhat. Another advantage of the Swift II is that I can lightly wipe water droplets off...

Since I posted in December I have selected a surgeon and met with him, had cardiac cath, and gotten through all the preop testing. I learned that my stenotic aortic valve is only open to one-quarter capacity. When I was shown the two possible replacement valves (animal tissue vs. mechanical) I was s...

I just received an invitation to participate in a study at Johns Hopkins to determine if treating OSA will improve heart disease risk factors. From the questionnaire, it appears that patients already in treatment for OSA, as well as the undiagnosed, are eligible. What interests me the most is that o...

You may have blepharitis , an inflammation of the eyelash follicles along the eyelid edge, caused by bacterial overgrowth. I've had this problem for over 40 years, starting when I had eyestrain from too many hours of close work (actually, I was editing a book on ophthalmology). Symptoms can include ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/health/24hear.html?th&emc=th "From a Prominent Death, Some Painful Truths" I just found this article and these are the points that struck me: 1. The rupture of the plaque led to "a second catastrophe." It was the abnormal heart rhythm that the rupture triggered that...

See the Southwest Airlines website for their policy regarding customers with disabilities: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/disability.html#wheelchairs "Assistive devices such as walkers, canes, crutches, CPAP machines , etc., that can be stowed in compliance with the FAA safety regulations, a...

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/sleep-disorder-raises-heart-risks-while-flying/ I will be flying from MD to CA in a few weeks and am reading with interest the recent posts on flying with CPAP gear. The link reports on a tiny study from Australia that examined oxygen levels and breathing pat...

I would like to acquire a travel-size CPAP and would like to know if any models come with C-flex. It took months to become accustomed to using CPAP because I felt like it was forcing me to breathe differently (and stressfully) and, now that I am comfortable with it, I hope to find something as close...

You are welcome, Rooster. I have continued to read about this issue and here's something else I found: http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/1435/30998/comments/?ic=4027 I'm always surprised Anonymous Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 03:27 PM If I were a betting man, I'd say that Sleep Apnea is a li...

http://skepchick.org/skepticsguide/index.php?action=printpage;topic=11310.0 Post by: Jayhox on June 13, 2008, 10:18:15 PM I believe his heart attack was caused, in part, by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Pure conjecture, sure, but I see people like him on a daily basis in my office who are prime can...

From a free online newsletter I receive from a cardiologist, here is a recommendation for getting a good night's sleep: "In the wintertime, especially, being barefoot can help discharge electricity that builds in your body—and potentially disturbs your ability to sleep. This also helps to reduce the...