CPAP POLL

[jnk]

The only positive benefit (besides the electric company and DME making more money) is that my husband sleeps better since I'm not snoring.

Stopping your snoring is likely very good for YOU too.

Conclusions:
The degree of sensory neuropathy in the upper airway correlates with degree of obstructive sleep disorder. Our results strengthen the hypothesis that snoring vibrations may cause a neuropathy in the upper airway, which contributes to the progression and development of OSA. Laryngoscope, 2011

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 21371/full

That snoring without apneas and hypopneas has no medical relevance is an oversimplification. Loud snoring in the absence of SDB may produce upper airway inflammation, and, especially in children and women, may be a cause of excessive daytime somnolence. A trial with CPAP-treatment may be warranted to prove this cause-effect relationship.

http://74.125.155.132/scholar?q=cache:P ... s_ylo=2010

[jbn3boys]

The only positive benefit (besides the electric company and DME making more money) is that my husband sleeps better since I'm not snoring.

Stopping your snoring is likely very good for YOU too.

Conclusions:
The degree of sensory neuropathy in the upper airway correlates with degree of obstructive sleep disorder. Our results strengthen the hypothesis that snoring vibrations may cause a neuropathy in the upper airway, which contributes to the progression and development of OSA. Laryngoscope, 2011

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 21371/full

That snoring without apneas and hypopneas has no medical relevance is an oversimplification. Loud snoring in the absence of SDB may produce upper airway inflammation, and, especially in children and women, may be a cause of excessive daytime somnolence. A trial with CPAP-treatment may be warranted to prove this cause-effect relationship.

http://74.125.155.132/scholar?q=cache:P ... s_ylo=2010

Okay, so it IS doing me some good.

But, I do not feel any benefits yet. I guess that's what I meant.

It's just becoming a very frustratingly long journey.

[Guest]

Like someone else posted-I don't really "fit" into any category listed. Power company and medical supply making more $'s. Husband sleeping better since the nights I'm able to use my mask snoring has been eliminated. Don't feel better but keep hoping...

[Pugsy]

I too would probably need something just between marginal and great to choose from so I went with Good and marginal improvement. 18 months... BUT to be fair I have not blamed my lack of improvement on CPAP. I have other issues that no amount of the miracle CPAP wand can fix.

Snoring and nocturia were easily remedied. Some relief with morning headaches that were OSA caused but still have some headaches that are likely related to bad cervical spine. CPAP can't fix a problem if it is related to another cause.

If I only had the OSA thing to worry about, I would expect that I could have reported a better response but I have no way of knowing for sure.

[robysue]

At four and a half months into therapy, I had to go for: Bad: Physical symptoms worse; CPAP interferes with my sleep because at this point I'm still not feeling consistently better than before pre-CPAP and the CPAP induced insomnia is still interfering with my sleep (as does the aerophagia) although the BiPAP itself does not seem to be causing direct problems any more. And my overall ability to function in the daytime remains remarkably WORSE than it was pre-CPAP.

But I need to be clear, this is an improvement: At the end of three months of therapy my vote would have been: Awful: Symptoms noticeably worse; CPAP compliance is miserable. (Although, my compliance is and always has been 100%). And for the first two months of therapy my vote would easily have been: Terrible: CPAP made my life significantly worse than before treatment. For I have NEVER, EVER felt as miserable as I did during those first two months on CPAP. And I have NEVER, EVER been as dysfunctional in the sense of being able to cope with my daily life and my daily responsiblities---both family and job---as during those first two months of CPAP.

So I have hopes. Maybe in another couple of months I'll be in the Good range---that's where I hope and expect to be when my insomnia monster is finally tamed---if the doctor does not insist upon increasing my pressure setting after the last sleep study, which will likely increase the aerophagia up to intolerable levels again.

But I'm not sure I'll ever move into Great or Amazing---I simply didn't feel particularly bad pre-diagnosis. And there's still a long, long way for me to go to recover my full pre-diagnosis daytime functioning abilities at this point.

[sydneybird]

I'm between Great and Amazing, although I just got up from a 30 minute nap that coffee couldn't stave off; could be all the carbs I consumed during the game yesterday though. Post CPAP 2 months - no headaches upon waking, no waking up gasping for breath, no snoring, but now I am frequently "aware" of the mask throughout the night but this must be minor compared to not being aware of the OSA arousals and low O2.

[Jersey Girl]

Dear Friends,

At first, it was AMAZING! I remember driving home from the titration - my first night with a mask and in a sleep lab, no less and thinking, my goodness, I am driving home at 6:30 am and I don't even feel tired at all! Oh, is the sky really that blue? How wonderful!

However, I now have good nights and bad nights - not related to cpap, but related to other health issues, like sinus infections or job worries. Last night was a wonderful night - just 1.8 AHI (all hypopneas), and I felt as though the air from my s8 and Swift FX nasal pillows were soothing and comfortable. I have found that when I have a full blown sinus infection I need to switch to a nasal mask, as my naires are just too irritated. But, it's all good, that's why I have 2 nasal masks and a full face mask on stand by - just in case I get sick. Otherwise, I love my Swift FX nasal pillows!

Without cpap, I would be fatigued all the time. So, I am very, very thankful for this wonderful machine.

Regards to all,

Jersey Girl

[Wombara]

I was told by the consultant CPAP would change my life.

Some time on, has it? Well, I live in he same house, with the same woman, have the same job and have roughly the same amount of cash in the bank. So, in those terms - no.

However, I can now read a book without falling asleep and a whole bunch of other things. So, in a way it has changed my life.

[roster]

I hate it. I lie awake until I get so angry I take the mask off and go to sleep.
It was horrible 15 years ago when I first tried it. New doctor said masks are
much better. But I still hate it.
Will be investigating surgery where a titanium screw is used to pull the tongue
forward.

My first suggestion is that you get a new machine with full data-capability and software; commit some money to trying several different masks one at a time; and make a determined commitment to CPAP while using the forum members for advice and support.

Since it sounds like you may not be willing to do that, here are a couple of different suggestions.

1. Find an ENT who has heavy experience examining the airway and making determinations of where the blockages occur. You certainly would be disappointed to spend the time, money, pain, and inconvenience to get that titanium screw only to find out the soft palate was causing the blockages and not the tongue. Capiche?

2. If the ENT should tell you that there is a high probability that the tongue is the sole source of your blockages, hold off for a while. There is a new device being tested now by Linguaflex which holds hope for a much easier in-office surgery:

... Linguaflex ... is developing a minimally invasive tongue implant procedure that can be performed in the office. They don’t give out very much more information, but when I searched for the company on Google Patent, here’s what I found: It seems to be a partially implantable anchor that’s placed underneath the tongue which grabs the genioglossus muscle. The part that hangs out in the mouth is loosened during the day and anchored to the teeth or a dental appliance at night while sleeping.

http://doctorstevenpark.com/two-new-ton ... -watch-for

There are also indications this device may be more comfortable and just as effective as existing devices.

[Jaylee]

I love it, I feel 100% better. I wouldn't be without it.

[Blackjackcat]

I voted good becasue I am starting to feel better each morning I stay with it(after nearly giving it up). I may be changing that to great after a few months, and I have to give a lot credit to the members here for that.

[SnoozyQ]

I voted Average since it was the closest to my experience. I don't feel worse, but not better either.

I've used my CPAP as I should....my numbers look fantastic. I feel awful. Any good points ( I can't even call them improvements, since that would indicate a move forward) have been so inconsistent and sporadic, that it's rather discouraging to then add the uncomfortable and annoying mask on the face.

[xenablue]

I don't feel any better, except I no longer snore or get up for a bathroom visit.
I don't have any problems sleeping with the machine/mask - although I usually partially wake most nights to fix a leak or adjust mask when moving around in bed.
Haven't missed a night on CPAP since starting (October 14, 2010) - but the second night, after 2 hours tore the mask off in frustration. Wish I could sleep for longer, specially on weekends, but my body doesn't seem to want any more than about 7hrs of sleep.
What keeps me hanging in there are the stats I see every day. Occasionally I take out my sleep study report to remind me how much better sleep I'm getting - even if I don't FEEL like I am.
My fasting blood glucose numbers are also lower - nothing startling, but closer to 100 instead of 130+.

Cheers,
xena

[Pugsy]

What keeps me hanging in there are the stats I see every day. Occasionally I take out my sleep study report to remind me how much better sleep I'm getting - even if I don't FEEL like I am.

Been doing the same for about 18 months. I guess I hoped that all my problems were related to the OSA but they weren't. So I decided to look at the treatment as "preventative". Preventing more damage, preventing that higher BP, preventing that heart attack down the road, preventing whatever..... That has kept me 100% compliant all this time while I kept plugging away at the other stuff.

[ResmedUser]

My vote only applies to the first three and a half years on CPAP, on a Resmed S8 APAP. I am having major problems with these new machines, the newer machines seem shoddier made but with lots of shiny gadges, gimmicks and bells and whistles you dont need.

Mikey