MAD device alternative?

[MoodyMolly]

My doctor told me MAD devices were expensive, I can't remember how much, but after dentist bills, fittings and everything, Im remembering a cost around $600-$1000. I just came across this website, it claims it should work the same as a mad device :
https://www.vitalsleep.com/vitalsleep-m ... small.html

It's much cheaper than what I was thinking a dentist fitted mad device would cost. What are your thoughts? Think it would work? I'm trying to come up with an alternative to pap therapy for when I go camping... I did well on the night I used a mouth guard, (along with my apap) my ahi was lower than usual.

[Julie]

Molly, you usually get what you pay for... that thing is advertised as an antisnoring device, whatever else it says about sleep. It's not designed to treat apnea in a serious way, more as an afterthought I think. I don't remember your history, but I strongly suggest you go over everything again for yourself and be honest about it all. And then decide for yourself about what to do. Saving a little money now on an untried system (MAD of any kind) may not be the way to go if you really want to get yourself in good shape long term but don't ask strangers on some forum here to decide for you.

[Goofproof]

You have something that works, why try something that doesn't work. Jim

[Pugsy]

How bad/severe was your OSA pre cpap?
Thinking of using it ONLY for camping?....how long of a camping trip?...and how often?
How are you going to verify that it works....or even if it works?

[MoodyMolly]

Molly, you usually get what you pay for... that thing is advertised as an antisnoring device, whatever else it says about sleep. It's not designed to treat apnea in a serious way, more as an afterthought I think. I don't remember your history, but I strongly suggest you go over everything again for yourself and be honest about it all. And then decide for yourself about what to do. Saving a little money now on an untried system (MAD of any kind) may not be the way to go if you really want to get yourself in good shape long term but don't ask strangers on some forum here to decide for you.

I wouldn't be using this long term, so I don't see how it would make a huge difference in my therapy. Of course I will ultimately make my own decision, but I like to hear other people's opinions, especially if anyone in here has ever had success with something like this. Thanks for your input.

[MoodyMolly]

You have something that works, why try something that doesn't work. Jim

I have something that works: at home, with electricity. I can't spend the extra $500 on a battery to operate my apap when we go camping, or emergencies when the power goes out.

[MoodyMolly]

How bad/severe was your OSA pre cpap?
Thinking of using it ONLY for camping?....how long of a camping trip?...and how often?
How are you going to verify that it works....or even if it works?

It wasn't horrible, I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, lately I've been wondering if I have severe UARS. My ahi was 16.
I would probably only use it camping, we camp in the woods, not in campgrounds with electricity. It would only be for a few nights, 4 at the most. Also, our power goes out often, so it would be nice to have an emergency backup.
My theory is to try it with a ffm. Since I get awful ahi with a ffm, (worse than my sleep study results,) I figure if the device works then my ahi should be low.

[LSAT]

How bad/severe was your OSA pre cpap?
Thinking of using it ONLY for camping?....how long of a camping trip?...and how often?
How are you going to verify that it works....or even if it works?

It wasn't horrible, I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, lately I've been wondering if I have severe UARS. My ahi was 16.
I would probably only use it camping, we camp in the woods, not in campgrounds with electricity. It would only be for a few nights, 4 at the most. Also, our power goes out often, so it would be nice to have an emergency backup.
My theory is to try it with a ffm. Since I get awful ahi with a ffm, (worse than my sleep study results,) I figure if the device works then my ahi should be low.

AHI of 15 and above is moderate...mild is under 15

[chunkyfrog]

We each choose our own priorities.
I would love to go camping--but compared to breathing, it comes in a distant second.

[MoodyMolly]

How bad/severe was your OSA pre cpap?
Thinking of using it ONLY for camping?....how long of a camping trip?...and how often?
How are you going to verify that it works....or even if it works?

It wasn't horrible, I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, lately I've been wondering if I have severe UARS. My ahi was 16.
I would probably only use it camping, we camp in the woods, not in campgrounds with electricity. It would only be for a few nights, 4 at the most. Also, our power goes out often, so it would be nice to have an emergency backup.
My theory is to try it with a ffm. Since I get awful ahi with a ffm, (worse than my sleep study results,) I figure if the device works then my ahi should be low.

AHI of 15 and above is moderate...mild is under 15

Right, now that you mention it, I think my doctor said it was mild to moderate, so it was probably right on the line at 15... I said 16, but it could have been 15, I could go check my results again.

[PaulKTF]

Don't waste your money on ineffective crap. Better to just not go camping and use the CPAP machine that you know works.

[Pugsy]

If your pre cpap AHI had been a lot higher like mine....don't know that I would risk it but if mine was around that 15 range I might give it a try. Historically with some of these oral devices....assuming they work...they tend to give about a 50% reduction in AHI IF (big IF) they work at all. I might let a night here and there slide with an AHI of 7 ish. Would depend a lot on how I felt after using the device and how I slept in general with it.

I don't blame you for wanting to try it but I don't know how comfortable it will be or how much it will help the sleep apnea.

I assume you already have looked at having back up power available via a battery?????
And yeah, I know weight of the battery along with other gear trekking into the woods isn't necessarily something we want to do and the light weight batteries are pricey.

I figure you are a grown up big girl quite capable of making your own decisions....just be careful.
It wouldn't be a good option for me with the maybe 50% AHI reduction since mine is over 50 and I wouldn't feel so great even at 25 per hour. Now if mine was 15 to 20 per hour and I got that 50% reduction....I might just do it for an occasional camping trip of short duration.

And remember....you don't have to snore to have the airway collapse.

[MoodyMolly]

How bad/severe was your OSA pre cpap?
Thinking of using it ONLY for camping?....how long of a camping trip?...and how often?
How are you going to verify that it works....or even if it works?

It wasn't horrible, I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, lately I've been wondering if I have severe UARS. My ahi was 16.
I would probably only use it camping, we camp in the woods, not in campgrounds with electricity. It would only be for a few nights, 4 at the most. Also, our power goes out often, so it would be nice to have an emergency backup.
My theory is to try it with a ffm. Since I get awful ahi with a ffm, (worse than my sleep study results,) I figure if the device works then my ahi should be low.

AHI of 15 and above is moderate...mild is under 15

Right, now that you mention it, I think my doctor said it was mild to moderate, so it was probably right on the line at 15... I said 16, but it could have been 15, I could go check my results again.

I just checked, and I see why I was saying 16. I rounded up. My ahi was officially 15.5: apneas and hypoapneas were 11, reras were 4.2 =15.5.

[Pugsy]

RERAs aren't normally included in the AHI.
AHI is usually just the apnea index plus the hyponea index.
When RERAs are added to the AHI you get what is called the RDI.
If your AHI was 11...mild OSA but to be honest the official line between 15 and 16 for mild vs moderate doesn't really mean much.
It's just a number that doesn't take into account how low a person's oxygen might go which might be really low even at 10 AHI.
The duration of those 10 events isn't a fact in the severity category either.

[Goofproof]

We each choose our own priorities.
I would love to go camping--but compared to breathing, it comes in a distant second.

It's way lower on my list, now get rid of snakes and bugs (Sorry Chunkyfrog, I like a free meal too) and poison plants. BTW, a very nice camping and home power option can be built for around $ 150. Jim