Is there any other therapy for OSA except for cpap?

ready2sleep · Post by **ready2sleep** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:55 pm

Its just a question, please dont crucify me for this question. Both my husband and I use cpap, and I guess I am having a very hard time believing I have to do this for the rest of my life. I was compliant in the beginning, but it doesnt seem like like I am using it as much. My husband is getting better at it, I am getter worse.

jeepdoctor · Post by **jeepdoctor** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:01 pm

Surgery, mandibular advancement devices, side sleeping.

ready2sleep · Post by **ready2sleep** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:57 pm

could you be more specific? What kind of surgery? Surgery to get rid of the extra tissue in the back of your throat? That is not my problem, my problem is all hypopneas. I have no apneas, but many hypopneas? Any alternative methods for that? I apparently dont breath deep enough? Any and all comments are welcome, thank you in advance!

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:59 pm

Surgery works for some folks (thought not all). Some also swear by dental devices. But neither is as good an option as CPAP.

jeepdoctor - side sleeping? I sleep on my stomach, which is supposedly optimal for people with apnea, and I still have a VERY severe AHI without CPAP. Where did you get the idea that side sleeping would cure apnea?

mattman · Post by **mattman** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 6:30 am

There doesn't ever seem to be much discussion here regarding the other treatments for OSA, but the Talk About Sleep boards have active discussions on them where you could learn more information:
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-boards/

The two primary options seem to be dental devices and surgical options. Both are discussed in pretty good detail there with several users of each type being active.

Like just about any treatment - some swear by them and some don't. Good Luck.

mattman

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:26 am

I would imagine jeepdoctor got the side sleeping option from a MEDICAL PROFESIONAL. My sleep study actually suggested it complete with the tight tee shirt with tennis balls sewn in.

My reaction is OVER MY DEAD BODY. First, I have snored myself awake on my side many times, and second I sleep in loose clothes, not tight tee shirts and how the heck do I roll over to sleep on my other side if I have to go over tennis balls. That will wake me up for sure. And by the way, my problem is more the snoring myself awake (and my husband) than the actual apnea events. Both disturb one's deep sleep cycles leading to the same symptoms due to very low stage 3 and 4 and REM sleep.

While side sleeping may work for some (like the weight loss option may for some), my reaction to my doctor's report WHO HAS NEVER MET ME IN PERSON or spoke to me at all is "WHAT AN IDIOT"

BlueHairBob · Post by **BlueHairBob** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 12:45 pm

There has been a good deal of news coverage lately of a study that concludes that learning to play the didgeridoo has a very positive impact on OSA. No joke. Do a search for Sleep Apnea and Didgeridoo and you will find a number of articles. And, I can say from experience, the didg is a lot of fun to learn to play (I have not been at it long enough to see an impact on my Apnea yet). If anyone is interested, I have tried several didg companies and will be happy to share my experiences.

ZPAP · Post by **ZPAP** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:17 pm

BlueHairBob wrote:There has been a good deal of news coverage lately of a study that concludes that learning to play the didgeridoo has a very positive impact on OSA. No joke. Do a search for Sleep Apnea and Didgeridoo and you will find a number of articles. And, I can say from experience, the didg is a lot of fun to learn to play (I have not been at it long enough to see an impact on my Apnea yet). If anyone is interested, I have tried several didg companies and will be happy to share my experiences.

I didn't believe this, but apparently it's true. The study is here: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/332/7536/266

This will be fun: I'll try to get my carrier to pay for a didg and lessons. Knowing the way that they operate, they'll probably require that I rent for 12 months and then play the Star Spangled Banner before they pay!!

Michael

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 2:57 pm

dental device is working for me (TAP titanium), better than CPAP ever did.
But a dental device does NOT work for EVERYONE, same as CPAP doesn't.

People don't like (or allow) talking about alternatives to CPAP on THIS forum, so indeed if you are curious, you might browse
"http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-b ... d185ccb301"

talkaboutsleep.com , dental sleep medecine forum.

Surgery tends to have REALLY poor odds of working and is usually not reversible.

meister · Post by **meister** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:12 pm

How could it possibly work better than the Medical Gold Standard?

Or do you mean that you don't eat air and get bloated?

Or maybe you are referring to not having to carry a heavy
machine, humidifier, hoses, etc in a backpack when you
travel? Or buying distilled water by the gallon?

What would you do with all that extra time you used to spend
cleaning your mask and tubes each day?

Or are you thinking more about missing the red marks
on your face, the notch in your nose, or the abrasions
on your neck from the straps?

I don't see how not paying a monthly bill to the DME
could be better for the economy.

Do you know that a Dental Device could possibly give
you some pain in your jaw joint if you really cranked it
out?

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:23 pm

LOL, meister!

VERY good points, but I was refering to a nice stable O2 level at night, sleeping like a rock, dreaming like I should, feeling MORE refreshed during the day, no endless stream of farts for the first hour or so of the day, I FINALLY LOST some weight, actually looking forward to going to bed at night and being able to bury my head and face into a nice normal pillow, and not waking up with water dripping into my face.....AND the stuff meister mentioned.

I sincerely do miss the warm air from the heated hose on cold nights though.....although I suppose I could just take my old CPAP and stick the heated hose under the covers with my head covered....hmmmmm

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:35 pm

What about trying an Apap? With Respironics Auto cpap and Cflex, it makes using the mask a lot easier. I have been a CPAP patient for 13+ years, and always had a Cpap...tried a BiPap for a few months, did not like it. I now am on my 6th day of the M Series Auto with CFlex (it's an Apap) and I am sleeping better than I ever have. According to my sleep doctor, too high a pressure can also cause one to wake up during the night, not enough so that you know your awake, but enough to disrupt your sleep and make you tired the next day. My pressure was set at 11 from a previous sleep study. Now, this auto cpap (apap) has me at about 9-10 for most of the night. According to the Encore Pro Software and the Encore Pro Analyzer, (from jskinner.... thks!), my ideal pressure after 6 days is looking more like a 9+. By looking at the data I can now see that the setting of 11 was sometimes making things worse! The CFlex is fantastic, as I feel I am not breathing against ANY pressure whatsoever, it's like I don't have a mask on.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): auto cpap, respironics, bipap, cflex, Encore Pro, CPAP, auto, APAP

Is there any other therapy for OSA except for cpap?

Is there any other therapy for OSA except for cpap?

Dental device ... working?

Alternative to Cpap...Apap?

Mask