CPAP for older user

[jack7878]

Hi,

my father was recently diagnose with moderate OSA and doctor say operation is out for him due to his age. He suggested a one month trial using APAP with pressure setting at 4 to 15. His AHI stands at 26.3, oxygen saturation drop to 88%, he is a 78 years old male with no chronic illness and is not on any long term medication.
my question is given his age, is it safe to start cpap therapy? any thoughts or personal experiences to share would be greatly appreciated.

[palerider]

my question is given his age, is it safe to start cpap therapy? any thoughts or personal experiences to share would be greatly appreciated.

Much safer than NOT starting it.

[Julie]

Bu† I suggest starting with a min. pressure of at least 6 instead of 4 - it's the default machine low and very difficult to inhale at for almost everyone though doctors routinely prescribe it not understanding that to do its job the machine needs to be comfortable for most people.

[LSAT]

Hi,

my father was recently diagnose with moderate OSA and doctor say operation is out for him due to his age. He suggested a one month trial using APAP with pressure setting at 4 to 15. His AHI stands at 26.3, oxygen saturation drop to 88%, he is a 78 years old male with no chronic illness and is not on any long term medication.
my question is given his age, is it safe to start cpap therapy? any thoughts or personal experiences to share would be greatly appreciated.

What operation? I don't know of any operation for Sleep apnea that is safe at any age. There is nothing dangerous about using a CPAP.

[jack7878]

Hi,

my father was recently diagnose with moderate OSA and doctor say operation is out for him due to his age. He suggested a one month trial using APAP with pressure setting at 4 to 15. His AHI stands at 26.3, oxygen saturation drop to 88%, he is a 78 years old male with no chronic illness and is not on any long term medication.
my question is given his age, is it safe to start cpap therapy? any thoughts or personal experiences to share would be greatly appreciated.

What operation? I don't know of any operation for Sleep apnea that is safe at any age. There is nothing dangerous about using a CPAP.

UPPP

[jack7878]

Bu† I suggest starting with a min. pressure of at least 6 instead of 4 - it's the default machine low and very difficult to inhale at for almost everyone though doctors routinely prescribe it not understanding that to do its job the machine needs to be comfortable for most people.

thanks julie, will take note of that,

[Okie bipap]

Success of the UPPP surgery is questionable at best. I had it done twenty years ago, and am now using a bi-level machine with fairly high pressure. It relieved some of my symptoms for several years, but I still ended up with a machine. "Success" for the UPPP surgery is generally considered to be a reduction of the AHI by 50%. While I got a few years without a machine, my nephew ended up with a machine as soon as he recovered from the surgery. My wife and I are both using bi-level machines. I am 76 and she is 73. Obviously, use of the machine is not detrimental for older adults.

[ChicagoGranny]

UPPP

UPPP has fallen out of favor for patients of all ages because of the poor effectiveness rate - patient still has OSA and now has permanent bad side effects from the surgery.

[D.H.]

Surgery - of any kind - cannot be reversed (at least not easily so). CPAP can be discontinued if it's not effective or if the side effects are intolerable.

Also, CPAP can be adjusted. Surgery cannot be adjusted in any way (except with additional surgery).

[D.H.]

There is no such thing as too old (or too young) to use CPAP. It affects all ages.

[kaiasgram]

Jack, my 91 year old mother started on CPAP this year and though she certainly doesn’t like it she does use it. I often wonder how many of her current health problems could have been avoided or minimized if she had been diagnosed years earlier. I hope your father does well with it.

[chunkyfrog]

At 71, I have been using cpap for 8+ years, and will continue to do so
--until they pry it from my cold, dead front claws.
It is not the fountain of youth, but it will do.

[bwexler]

Where did you get the notion that 78 is OLD?

[jack7878]

thanks guys for sharing your experience and your input.