Can I collect disability?

[phoebe368]

I forgot to mention that since you are in SF you may check out the Stanford Sleep Disorders clinic in Redwood City for a auto-bilevel titration. Auto-bilevel is way better than auto cpap. I also recommend seeing Dr. Kasey Li in E. Palo Alto - he did my jaw surgery. I feel about 40% improved from it but it referred me to a doctor in UCLA to do my trach so even though it didn't work at least he is really helpful and concerned for me.

[Uncle_Bob]

Paul

I have read your other threads and am replying in this one as its the latest one. I'm not going to ask you what you have or have not tried, I just wanted to know if you are still looking and willing to try a Quattro or FX mask? If you could let me know what size you are and i may be able to find one in my cpap grave yard of slightly used FFM. If you don't know your size and if you can't get to a DME for a fitting you could at least get an idea for the regular quattro by printing out the Resmed mask fitting templates here

http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/documen ... mplate.pdf

Either way good luck.

-UB

Hi Uncle Bob! I went over to Fedex/Kinkos today so I could print the template. It looks like I am a small. Let me know if you could help me out. I would greatly appreciate that!!!!

I will check tonight to see if i have a small.

[Paul Van Dyk]

Paul

I have read your other threads and am replying in this one as its the latest one. I'm not going to ask you what you have or have not tried, I just wanted to know if you are still looking and willing to try a Quattro or FX mask? If you could let me know what size you are and i may be able to find one in my cpap grave yard of slightly used FFM. If you don't know your size and if you can't get to a DME for a fitting you could at least get an idea for the regular quattro by printing out the Resmed mask fitting templates here

http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/documen ... mplate.pdf

Either way good luck.

-UB

Hi Uncle Bob! I went over to Fedex/Kinkos today so I could print the template. It looks like I am a small. Let me know if you could help me out. I would greatly appreciate that!!!!

I will check tonight to see if i have a small.

Okay let me know as soon as you find out. If you don't have one, I'll have to order it off SecondWindCPAP for $89. Thanks!

[Uncle_Bob]

Okay let me know as soon as you find out. If you don't have one, I'll have to order it off SecondWindCPAP for $89. Thanks!

I have one !
If you PM me your address I can ship it UPS ground tomorrow morning.

[Thomas F.]

Paul,

If your AHI is low but are still tired/zombied out it's probably indication that you are not getting REM or restorative sleep. Could be that your brain has a fast trigger and wakes you or at least bumps you into shallower sleep level at first sign of breathing problem. This was my problem and CPAP/Bipap by itself did not solve it. It has taken me about 10 years to find the solution that has worked for me:

1. Oct 2010 I had UPPP surgery to remove the saggy pallet. At the same time I had Hyoid Advancement (tongue Advan) surgery - this by itself was not enough advancement for me see #2.
2. I have a SUAD dental appliance to move my lower jaw forward to move tongue further
3. I use full face mask and CPAP at low pressure 90% pressure = 8 cfm

It's the combination of 1,2,3 that has worked for me. If I skip out any of the 3 or never had the UPPP I would still be getting terrible sleep - Zero REM. I know this for a fact because tried all partial combinations. This solutions allows me to mouth breath without tongue/pallet interference. I sleep better now than I have in 10 years.

I hope Pheobe also reads this because I wonder if this solution could work for her and prevent trach surgery which is the last resort. Please PM if you want more information.

[Slinky]

I was just reading today about SocSec and SocSec doctors. SocSec is cutting their reimbursement from $90 per patient to $80 per patient and they want more patients seen per day. Many of the doctors are refusing, quitting, complaining that they are expected to review and pass or deny patients w/claimed disabilities having nothing to do w/the doctor's specialty or training.

[Paul Van Dyk]

Paul,

If your AHI is low but are still tired/zombied out it's probably indication that you are not getting REM or restorative sleep. Could be that your brain has a fast trigger and wakes you or at least bumps you into shallower sleep level at first sign of breathing problem. This was my problem and CPAP/Bipap by itself did not solve it. It has taken me about 10 years to find the solution that has worked for me:

1. Oct 2010 I had UPPP surgery to remove the saggy pallet. At the same time I had Hyoid Advancement (tongue Advan) surgery - this by itself was not enough advancement for me see #2.
2. I have a SUAD dental appliance to move my lower jaw forward to move tongue further
3. I use full face mask and CPAP at low pressure 90% pressure = 8 cfm

It's the combination of 1,2,3 that has worked for me. If I skip out any of the 3 or never had the UPPP I would still be getting terrible sleep - Zero REM. I know this for a fact because tried all partial combinations. This solutions allows me to mouth breath without tongue/pallet interference. I sleep better now than I have in 10 years.

I hope Pheobe also reads this because I wonder if this solution could work for her and prevent trach surgery which is the last resort. Please PM if you want more information.

Wow! That's quite the story. Once I get health insurance back, I'm going to get as much surgery and dental appliances as I can get my hands on!

[SleepingUgly]

Wow! That's quite the story. Once I get health insurance back, I'm going to get as much surgery and dental appliances as I can get my hands on!

I hope you are kidding. Many UPPP do not have the greatest results, even if they work for some people. I would carefully research any surgery and surgeon you are contemplating.

[Paul Van Dyk]

Wow! That's quite the story. Once I get health insurance back, I'm going to get as much surgery and dental appliances as I can get my hands on!

I hope you are kidding. Many UPPP do not have the greatest results, even if they work for some people. I would carefully research any surgery and surgeon you are contemplating.

I always research everything very thoroughly. Don't worry. However, I usually never respond to conservative treatment when it comes to any of my ailments. I've already been under the knife quite a bit with various issues.

[SleepingUgly]

However, I usually never respond to conservative treatment when it comes to any of my ailments. I've already been under the knife quite a bit with various issues.

And how did that go for you?

[Paul Van Dyk]

And how did that go for you?

Great! I'm 100% satisfied with every one of my surgical outcomes except one.

... and that one, I'm ~90% Satisfied with.

[SleepingUgly]

And how did that go for you?

Great! I'm 100% satisfied with every one of my surgical outcomes except one.

... and that one, I'm ~90% Satisfied with.

OK, but you do understand that doesn't mean you will feel that way about an apnea-related surgery, right? I mean, that's the kind of thinking that causes gamblers not to walk away when they've won!

[Paul Van Dyk]

And how did that go for you?

Great! I'm 100% satisfied with every one of my surgical outcomes except one.

... and that one, I'm ~90% Satisfied with.

OK, but you do understand that doesn't mean you will feel that way about an apnea-related surgery, right? I mean, that's the kind of thinking that causes gamblers not to walk away when they've won!

Touche'

[Slinky]

Always keep in mind what they take out they can't put back in and surgery always creates at least some scar tissue - which can go on to bite you in the behind.

[Thomas F.]

quote]I hope you are kidding. Many UPPP do not have the greatest results, even if they work for some people. I would carefully research any surgery and surgeon you are contemplating.[/quote]

For me CPAP alone was never going to work. I wish it did. I used it every night for a few years, sleeping a few hrs at a time, multiple awakenings, 0 REM. Every day I struggled concentrate, terrible memory, high cortisol, anxiety -- all the effects of zero REM sleep.

I'm convinced that CPAP does inflate/move soft tissue out of the way. If soft tissue is the only problem then CPAP does the job, no question about that. However, if there is an underlying structural/space problem then in my experience this requires a mechanical change which points to surgery or dental appliance.

For me the combination of low pressure cpap+FFM+dental appliance+UPPP solved my sleep apnea/REM deprivation. It took me > 10 years to figure this out. FFM allows me to mouth breath. Dental appliance keeps jaw from being pushed backwards and moves tongue away from airway. UPPP just freed up more space above the tongue for air to flow. Low pressure CPAP gives a boost of air which can help with restricted nasal passages. When the airway is opened mechanically then low pressure is all I need.

If I did not have insurance to get a dental appliance I would make one by forming 2 boil/bite football mouthguards and attach them together. Position it so that lower teeth are in line with upper teeth. Need to have small space between upper and lower mouthguard to allow air to flow into mouth using FFM. I really think this can work as a very low cost dental appliance that can be tried to get some indication if moving jaw forward helps. I plan to fabricate one soon just to see how it compares with the ridiculous price of professional dental appliance .