why I quit CPAP 2 years ago....

[allchokedup]

Hi folks..

Because of health problem, which very well may be from APNEA or UARS, I'm being forced to take another look in treatment.
My first try with a RESMED CPAP almost 2 years ago was horrible. I already sleep like crap, and it just kept waking me up. THe problem seemed to be that my throat would close up TIGHT, and the CPAP would start increasing pressure but it would just close my throat all the tighter until the mask would fart around my cheeks etc. (I have a very thin face...the rest of me, too). So I was thinking that maybe I'm not a candidate for CPAP because of the way my throat and tongue etc is structured (I have the narrow jaw with crowded teeth). Anyway, it just felt like no amount of pressure could open my throat.

I never tried a nasal device (pillow?) but my nasal passages are also narrow and often I can't breath through my nose very well.

Don't some people do ok with an oral appliance? Or surgery?

Thank-you for reading!
-m

[chunkyfrog]

Anxiety. You would not have been prescribed cpap if you were not physically able to use it.
You just need to get over your mental obstacle, and JUST DO IT.

[Julie]

You know, I had a fairly domineering father, and one day I just finally got the nerve to tell him off. He wanted me to do something or other and in the moment yelled at me to "RELAX"!

Really? So I told him that his method was kinda counterproductive... and I think he actually got it (for a whole minute at least ), so just telling someone to just do anything might not really work well until they have a better idea of how to do it (relax).

I asked you for the name of your machine, your mask, and your pressure settings - can you remember even vaguely what those were - will help us to get started helping you.

[allchokedup]

Anxiety. You would not have been prescribed cpap if you were not physically able to use it.
You just need to get over your mental obstacle, and JUST DO IT.

Yes...there's a TON of anxiety over this.

I'd like to believe that they wouldn't try CPAP on someone for whom it wouldn't work, but no one really even looked at my throat. Or maybe CPAP is the only thing covered by my insurance(?) so we went that way first....

Thanks!
-m

[allchokedup]

You know, I had a fairly domineering father, and one day I just finally got the nerve to tell him off. He wanted me to do something or other and in the moment yelled at me to "RELAX"!

Really? So I told him that his method was kinda counterproductive... and I think he actually got it (for a whole minute at least ), so just telling someone to just do anything might not really work well until they have a better idea of how to do it (relax).

I asked you for the name of your machine, your mask, and your pressure settings - can you remember even vaguely what those were - will help us to get started helping you.

Sorry for starting a new thread.

I only remember RESMED and I tried 2 FF masks. I'll try to find out more if I can find it.

My crude home sleep study showed 14 AHI.

Thanks!
-m

[Julie]

Ok, are you willing to do another study? You can do it either in a lab (probably using one Ambien to relax), or at home - they make home studies now... and it would so tell us something, anything, to go by in trying to get farther here. There's great free software now that's easy to use and most here do that, but without a machine, a study, something, it's hard to advise. Can you afford even a 2nd hand machine (we'll help with choice) now?

[nobody]

Don't get surgery man you can do this CPAP thing. I have a small jaw and face too and I eventually got masks that work for me. Let the people here help you there's lots of info here.

[codinqueen]

You might have had the WRONG mask. It is a common problem for new PAPPers. Try a Swift FX or Dreamwear nasal cushion mask. A lit of people cant stand FF (full face) masks. You CAN do this with the right mask and pressure settings. We are waiting for info re machine, current mask, and current pressure(s) you are using. We need this info to be able to help you. Please look at your machine and try to find any words that are written on it, as well as look at the bottom and give us the numbers. If you have a humidifier attached be sure to empty it before you turn it over, so water doesn't get inside the motor and destroy it. You are cheating yourself out of the health benefits your CPAP would afford you. Please reconsider using it and trying masks until you find the one that works for you. You can check the Great Pillow Exchange to see if any masks are available for trade or less expensive that you would like to try. Our CPAP.com store does have insurance available on many masks so that if you don't like them, you can return them while you search for that perfect mask.

[49er]

Hi folks..

Because of health problem, which very well may be from APNEA or UARS, I'm being forced to take another look in treatment.
My first try with a RESMED CPAP almost 2 years ago was horrible. I already sleep like crap, and it just kept waking me up. THe problem seemed to be that my throat would close up TIGHT, and the CPAP would start increasing pressure but it would just close my throat all the tighter until the mask would fart around my cheeks etc. (I have a very thin face...the rest of me, too). So I was thinking that maybe I'm not a candidate for CPAP because of the way my throat and tongue etc is structured (I have the narrow jaw with crowded teeth). Anyway, it just felt like no amount of pressure could open my throat.

I never tried a nasal device (pillow?) but my nasal passages are also narrow and often I can't breath through my nose very well.

Don't some people do ok with an oral appliance? Or surgery?

Thank-you for reading!
-m

All choked up, you might want to see if this article is applicable to your situation.

http://www.sleep-doctor.com/blog/the-ep ... eep-apnea/

"""I have noticed two things in patients where the epiglottis plays an important role. One is that these patients may get a sensation of choking with their continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which is not only dramatic and disturbing but which is very different from other reasons for being unable to tolerate CPAP. This may occur because CPAP could, at least theoretically, be pushing the epiglottis backwards to create a complete seal in the throat that cannot be relieved by higher CPAP pressures. """

49er

[chunkyfrog]

Epiglottis blockage?
What kind of quack misses that?
Sounds like referral time.

[kteague]

Good catch 49er on their description of symptoms. Whether it is the OP's issue or not the article is very informative. I'm wondering how a doc would catch this if it happens only during sleep? Wonder how prevalent this is. Bet it gets missed a lot. It caught my attention because my daughter has a telescoping epiglottis. I told the doc when she was 9 that I could see something white behind her tongue about the size of a tooth. When he looked he got so excited. Said he'd never seen except in pictures in school. Funny that the ENT who took out her tonsils and adenoids never even mentioned it. To my knowledge she foes not have sleep disordered breathing, but this is good information to know.

[49er]

Good catch 49er on their description of symptoms. Whether it is the OP's issue or not the article is very informative. I'm wondering how a doc would catch this if it happens only during sleep? Wonder how prevalent this is. Bet it gets missed a lot. It caught my attention because my daughter has a telescoping epiglottis. I told the doc when she was 9 that I could see something white behind her tongue about the size of a tooth. When he looked he got so excited. Said he'd never seen except in pictures in school. Funny that the ENT who took out her tonsils and adenoids never even mentioned it. To my knowledge she foes not have sleep disordered breathing, but this is good information to know.

Thanks kteague. I remember a poster from the defunct american sleep apnea board forum having similar issues and going to see several doctors before he got diagnosed correctly. So yeah, I would agree with you it probably gets missed alot.

The last paragraph in the article answers your questions about diagnosing it and how often it might occur.

http://www.sleep-doctor.com/blog/the-ep ... eep-apnea/

""I believe strongly that the epiglottis plays an important role for about 10% of patients with obstructive sleep apnea. There are clues from the medical history and physical examination that make me more or less concerned about this, but the main way I check for the role of the epiglottis is with drug-induced sleep endoscopy. I have had success treating these patients using both partial epiglottis removal and hyoid suspension. In speaking with my patients, we combine specific findings from their examination as well as their preferences (these procedures have slightly different risks and characteristics) to develop a joint decision about the best option for them.""

49er

[kteague]

The last paragraph in the article answers your questions about diagnosing it and how often it might occur. 49er

I was too focused on the illustrations and descriptions.

[49er]

The last paragraph in the article answers your questions about diagnosing it and how often it might occur. 49er

I was too focused on the illustrations and descriptions.

My god, kteague, please don't be embarrassed. I am the one at fault for not posting this initially.

49er

[allchokedup]

Ok, are you willing to do another study? You can do it either in a lab (probably using one Ambien to relax), or at home - they make home studies now... and it would so tell us something, anything, to go by in trying to get farther here. There's great free software now that's easy to use and most here do that, but without a machine, a study, something, it's hard to advise. Can you afford even a 2nd hand machine (we'll help with choice) now?

Here are the numbers form the home sleep study I did 2 years ago:

record time: 8 hrs
eval time: 5:21
AHI: 14
Abnormal Resp. Index: 19
35 hypopneas
42 apneas
Low ox: 84% with 7 minutes w/ O2 <88%

As for the equipment, I'll have to dig for that and get back to you. (returned it).

My insurance should cover it, at least it did before....

Thanks!
-m