Oxygen In Lieu of CPAP

[Ginnie]

I finally had a sleep study and they found sleep apnea and want me to sleep again to try a mask. I have been putting off the appointment for weeks because I don't think I can stand to wear a mask.

This weekend at an outing there were three nurses who have sleep apnea and told me they could not tolerate the mask after trying for a long time. They all use the same doctor who gave them oxygen generators so they do not have to use a mask. All three say they feel so much better now and work long hours without getting tired.

I told this to one of your forum members who is very knowledgeable. He did not think the oxygen treatment would work and was skeptical of what the nurses had told me.

But if you could have been there and seen these three ladies and heard them tell how poorly they were doing with cpap and how much better they feel with the oxygen and have a lot of energy! And there I was feeling totally worn out and going home early while they acted and looked like they had a lot of energy.

Is the oxygen therapy a good treatment for some people?

[Slinky]

I had a sleep evaluation in January '06 and was Dx'd w/mild OSA. Rather than go the CPAP bit I opted for asking my family doctor about 02 overnight and he thought it worth trying so scripted 2L of 02 supplementation overnight in April '06.

In June '06 the sleep doctor called me and asked about my coming in for the CPAP titration. I told him I had opted for 02 instead. He was pleased I was doing something for my sleep and asked how I was doing. I told him I thought pretty good, a whole lot better than I had been. He suggested that I come in after being on 02 for 3 months and pick up an oximeter for another overnight oximetry whilst on the 02. August '06 I picked up the oximeter. Son of a gun! I was still desatting. So September '06 I went in for a titration. October '06 I was started on CPAP.

[6PtStar]

Sorry, I don't understand what they are talking about. If you have Apneas Oxygen can't get through the constriction either.

Jerry

[jules]

been there, done that, my OSA fits the "severe" category

I think it all depends on what your problems are whether or not O2 alone will work.

What it did for me was delay real treatment for 4 years and allows me to deteriorate more during those 4 years. Yeah, I felt better on O2 but like slinky it turns out my O2 desats were terrible when finally 4 years later they were checked.

I wouldn't suggest doing it. I think the doc who scripted it for me instead of cpap was guilty of malpractice.

[kteague]

Ginnie,

Many who "can't" wear a mask have their mind made up and set out to prove themselves right. I darn near did myself then fooled around and got used to the thing. Now it is a source of security for me.

I have a friend who went the oxygen route, and she did do better than with nothing and improved a lot. About a year later was wondering why she was still having blood pressure problems among others. We can guess why. Sometimes doctor just give patients what they ask for because it's better than nothing. It won't stop apnea events, but if you start up at 100% you have a little bit more leeway to drop, and the recovery after each event will likely be faster.

Try it if you want, but do get that follow-up test to confirm it is meeting your needs. Your friends may feel better compared to how they used to feel, but how good might they feel if on cpap?

[Slinky]

Yeah, in my case, Jules, my family doctor KNEW me well enough to know what a stubborn ole broad I can be and that sometimes I have to prove myself wrong.

KTeauge is oh so right. If you have your mind made up that you can't tolerate a CPAP mask, you won't tolerate it. If you do opt to try oxygen, BE SURE TO DO A FOLLUW UP TEST to verify it is sufficient. Most likely you are just fooling yourself. Your nurse friends should do that same. They will probably be in for a big surprise too.

Ginnie, I see yuo are also listed as having posted as Rooster. Rooster are you trying to pull our leg or is it the ISP, etc?

[Bearded_One]

Oh, the silly things that people do because they think that they don't like wearing a CPAP mask:

Oxygen
Oral devices for more than minor apnea
Surgery for more than minor apnea
Special pillows

[jules]

In my case the doc was an internal med prof at a med school. It wasn't the case where he was the "attending" and my care was being provided by a resident; no residents or med students involved.

[Goofproof]

If you really do have Sleep Apnea, the amount of O2 flow and pressure required to hold your airway open in your sleep, you would self conbust, and after the fire was put out, you would be cured, (and Smoked too). Jim

[KansasRT]

If you are not breathing (Apnea) then no amount of oxygen would help you. If I had a sugar pill that "cured" sleep apnea you can bet that people would buy it and some people would report feeling better and that they felt they were cured. It would be bogus, but it is what it is. Sometimes our mind does some strange things. My guess is that the nurses still desat in their sleep and still have apneas. I would bet that they also still have symptoms of sleep apnea. Some people will never use CPAP no matter what anyone does. There are a million masks out there and you should be able to try them all if you need to. Find a DME or sleep lab that will let you try them. You would be surprised that what you find may not be as horrible as you think. Read here about what other people use and look at it. ( I did and now I carry the headrest and NAII in stock instead of doing special order.) But just because a mask works for someone on this forum does not mean that it will work for you. It is all trial and error. CPAP is not easy to get used to. It is very easy for a doctor or DME Rt or even a family member to say that you need to put the mask on a wear it. It is not that easy. There is an adjustment period. Find good people to help you and you will do great.

[roster]

If you are not breathing (Apnea) then no amount of oxygen would help you. ......

Don't you need a prescription for an oxygen generator? What kind of damn doctor will prescribe O2 for sleep apnea? Let me guess: the kind we read about on the forum regularly!

Is it possible these nurses only have UARS and the O2 might be effective for UARS?

[DreamStalker]

If the oxygen therapy doesn't work for you ... ask your doc to try this -



All he needs is a sharp knife and a bowl ... no mask ever need touch your head and your apnea will be cured.

But it only works for those who cannot tolerate a mask.

[dsm]

Speaking for myself, I long contemplated O2 as an alternative/supplement to my CPAP therapy but there is one truth posted early in this thread that says it all. Oxygenated air is no more capable of getting past an apnea that plain air. The desats will still occur (as Slinky said) & the desats and the strain of apneas on the heart & lungs are the damage. O2 just can't repair that as well as stenting the airway open with CPAP.

DSM

[jules]

Adding O2 to the cpap circuit is reasonable for some people, but it should not be used in lieu of cpap.

My experience was on O2 (when these were finally checked 4 years into treatment when I was having major heart issues - one night each on and off O2) my average O2 sats were higher than without, and my time with O2 sat under 89 was less, but my actual nadir was lower on O2 (59 vs 61) and I was still having major O2 desat problems (worse intervals during the night - one 3 min time under 90 while on O2; off O2 it was a 15 min under 90), and of course, who knows about the apneas.

[Snoredog]

If the oxygen therapy doesn't work for you ... ask your doc to try this -



All he needs is a sharp knife and a bowl ... no mask ever need touch your head and your apnea will be cured.

But it only works for those who cannot tolerate a mask.

I thought they only did that with chickens??

Boy the last time I visited the local Blood Bank there hasn't been much improvement from what I can tell.