Any Brits out there?

littlebaddow · Post by **littlebaddow** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 1:31 pm

Hi from England.
As a newcomer to the world of sleep apnea, I'm finding this forum a rich and valuable source of information, but (with due respect!) sometimes the jargon and North American context leaves me floundering a bit, so just wondering if there are any of my fellow countrymen out there?
I've just been diagnosed as having moderate apnea. I'm guessing I have a common profile for apneacs (is that a word?!) as I'm a middle aged male carrying too much weight.
I had an auto adjusting machine for a 5 day trial a couple of weeks ago and I've just been given a fixed pressure machine for a further 2 week trial, which I will use for the first time tonight. Can't say I noticed a dramatic improvement during the 5 day trial, but I don't think I actually slept very much - too much noise and a bunged up nose! The doctor reassured me this was quite common and has given me a nasal spray. It was also suggested I consider a heated humidifier when I purchase my own equipment. Sadly, I have no insurance and it seems the NHS (the UK's free medical cover for all) isn't geared up to deal with apnea, so I want to be sure CPAP works for me before I invest in my own equipment.

kolias_o_karslis · Post by **kolias_o_karslis** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:58 pm

Hi littlebaddow,
I'm Kolias_o_karslis, I'm Greek I studied in Leeds Uni and I've lived in the UK for 5 years. If you can't find a Brit maybe I'm the next best thing for you.
Anyway, 5 days is not long to evaluate a machine since it took me 14 days to get a good night's rest, proper sleep uninterrupted with the loving octapus (as we kindly refer for the masks) on to my face.
I'm surprised though that NHS does not cover it.
Studies come out every day linking this syndrome with much more serious life threatening situations, that will cost NHS more to deal with.
I do not know how many stopages of breathing per minute do mild, severe characterisations of Apnea correspond to. In my case it is severe and my doctor left me no options.
But when the machine pisses me off I listen to Monty Pythons singing
"Always look on the bright side of life"

Cheers

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:51 pm

Hi littlebaddow,

Welcome to cpaptalk. I'm not a brit, but I checked the member list and it looks like of the members that specify a location ther are 5 members from the UK including yourself.

Please let us know if you nedd some clarification regarding the North American context and jargon.

Wouldn't want you to remain floundering

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 2:56 am

Thanks for the info folks.

Kolias_o_karslis, I can't get that tune out of my mind now - great thought!

The problem with the NHS seems to be bureaucracy and the usual postcode lottery. I was referred on the NHS for a sleep study and waited 3 months for my turn to have the equipment at home for one night. On returning the equipment, I was told I would have to wait a further 3 months for the appointment to see the local sleep specialist to get the results. To make matters worse, he would then have to refer me on to another specialist in London if I needed to be prescribed equipment on the NHS. No surprise to hear that this would be a further 3 month wait.
The choice therefore became simple economics - the cost of going privately (where strangely the same specialist could see me within a week!) and purchasing my own equipment versus 6 months loss of income.

littlebaddow · Post by **littlebaddow** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 2:59 am

oops, forgot to log in before posting my reply

that was me!

littlebaddow

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:12 pm

The system in America isn't much better. While it's not totally taken over, the large insurance companies pretty much run things.

Websites like cpap.com do well because often they offer their products at a lower cost than an insurance deductible!

bozman · Post by **bozman** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:27 pm

Hi one of the posts said there were 5 brits on the forum well there is now 6!!

After years of snoring and tiredness finally went and had this thing checked out and they found I was waking 30-40 times per hour during REM sleep which is I guess pretty serious.

I really didn't fancy having a mask for the rest of my life but my clinic says they don't recommend surgery anymore.........so CPAP it is!

Have a Resmed continuous pressure CPAP set at about 10 and a humidifyer as I was getting a dry mouth....have been using it for 3 months now and I can at least say I am dreaming more....still finding it difficult to get used to though. I have a nasal mask.

Unfortunately my wife moved out earlier this year, wasn't because of the snoring but I'm sure it contributed, she wasn't getting much sleep I do know that.......I have no idea how to introduce this to a new partner when I find one....surely she would think it's a bit like "Frank" from Blue Velvet!!! has anyone got any hints and tips for how they did it?

Delighted there is a dedicated forum as I am now looking to buy my own smaller unit as I travel a fair bit and my clinic have recommended Tyco varaible pressure system......I'll do a search and see what most people like....

Anyway and finally hello everyone!!

Machine	Mask

Machine	Mask

Any Brits out there?

Any Brits out there?

Another Brit here...hello everyone from London