unable to use cpap

[kb2]

i have not been able to use my cpap the last few nights .. i am having stomach problems from a cholestrol medication .. i can not put any air on my stomach at all ..so decided to not use it until i get better. The cpap forces way to much air inside me . Going to call my Dr in the morning to see what can be done .. Wondering what other people do when they are sick?

[Julie]

Well, seeing as you asked...I absolutely cannot take statins. I used to, long ago, before gastritis kicked in (still not sure which came first or if there might even have been a connection), so I'm just not using them and I'm certainly still around. We're not alone, either. The latest on statins (I'll presume it's what you have) is that while they may lower cholesterol, not everyone benefits, especially women (don't know who you are) and there are other ways of dealing with it besides the meds). My chol. was high before, dropped like a stone on the statins, but is up again, however has levelled off and I'm just going to live with it (your body also makes it naturally BTW), eat right and keep using Cpap because I think it's even more urgent cardio-wise than statins. But it's up to you, of course.

[chunkyfrog]

Funny; I've been off Lipitor for a couple of months, and I do feel better. . .
(doctor's orders)

[kb2]

Thanks for your replies -
I know what you mean about statins .. I used to take Lipitor ..then another I cant remember the name but when I took them my entire body was in pain! So I quit taking them and felt so much better .. so now some years later I had a physical and blood tested .. my cholesterol was 283 and my triglycerides were well over 500 .. He put me on Welchol to bring the numbers down ..along with diet .. Welchol works through your abdomen unlike statins which work through the liver ..
the side effect from welchol is abdominal problems such as bowel obstructions .. which is what i have now ..partial obstruction .. plus intense indegestion .. putting on my mask worsens this for me ..so resting until the doctor tells me what to do. I know that i am going to stop the Welchol . I hate side effects of medicines ..sometimes you are worse off than before you took it..

[jonquiljo]

I have no problem with Lipitor and it's great for me. Once my Dr. put me on Zetia which I believe is like Wellchol - prevents absorption of cholesterol in intestinal tract. I was miserable! I stopped after a few days. I gave the Dr. hell too for not warning me of the potential side effects.

ow it isn't for everyone, but Niacin (not the "no flush") kind works wonders for my cholesterol as well. If you can deal the occasional flushing, it really is good. But ask your Dr. - as there are some instances where Niacin is not a good idea to take. I take the timed release kind and it really eliminates most side effects. Statins are good and most cholesterol comes from the body - not diet -so these anti-absorptive cholesterol drugs are only useful in limited cases. Good luck.

[Guest]

thank you for your reply~
Welchol is off my list of cholesterol medication now ... I would rather wing it than go thru obstructions - and pain over side effects from medications .. all trial and error anyway ... the bad part is you have to take it first before you know you can't take it. Almost like finding that just right mask .

[tony72]

Chunkyfrog,you don't trust your heart to lipitor?lol I know it isn't funny but I couldn't resist

[robysue]

kb2,

Are you working with ONE or TWO doctors? In other words, is it your PCP who's prescribed the Welchol and a sleep doctor who has prescribed the CPAP? If so, you need to make sure that the two doctor's offices can share your medical information with each other directly instead of only through you. You may need to sign HIPAA forms listing the other doctor's office at both places.

I bring this up because side affects of one treatment that are affecting another treatment are going to require some insight from both medical teams to resolve. In your case, I think it's important for you and your doctor(s) to figure out which is the more significant medical problem for you: the apnea or the high cholesterol. The treatment of the less significant condition may need to be adjusted so that it doesn't interfere any more than necessary with the treatment of the more significant condition.

Good luck

[Guest]

I have 2 doctors ..Internal Medicine as primary and Pulmonologist for sleep Dr.
I have to admit at times I would like to stop both but that is not a reasonable answer just a frustration.
I am calling my primary today to let them know my concern about Welcol.
I know my cholesterol and triglycerides are of sight and needs treatment .. my Apnea is equal importance.
Thinking maybe I can reduce medication and also reduce the pressure of my machine .. i am prescribed a pressure of 10.
Maybe it is that both is too much for me.
So frustrating.

[jonquiljo]

If so, you need to make sure that the two doctor's offices can share your medical information with each other directly instead of only through you. You may need to sign HIPAA forms listing the other doctor's office at both places.

I bring this up because side affects of one treatment that are affecting another treatment are going to require some insight from both medical teams to resolve.

Unfortunately, even with information in hand there is nothing that can force each Dr. to actually read the information. You are going to have to be the one that decides which is important to some extent and force those involved to interact with each other - a difficult task. The problem is that statistics show that each of those Dr's is likely not to have read your chart when seeing you - so to get them to read someone else's information is even more difficult.

The bottom line is to find Dr.'s you like and who will work for you. If they don't fit the bill - then perhaps it's time to find someone else. Good luck.

[Guest]

I called my primary Dr 's office ... turns out my Dr left town - moved to PA !!!
no one told me.
So .... they told me I would be seeing the other Dr in their office from now on.
They sceduled me to come in and see the PA that is seeing all of my Dr's patients during the transition.
I have an appointment with sleep doc next week.
In the meantime I stopped the welchol.
I am returning to my machine tonight.. if if worsens my stomach problem i will turn it off.
I sure hope none of you have to go thru this ..sure is a draining cycle of events..one after the other.

[fadedgirl]

Seems like you are assuming that cpap automatically equals air in stomach. I did have this problem when I used ResMed machines, but I never have it when I use Respironics machines.

I would think there may be other things to try (aside from a different machine!!) to stop the aerophagia. Ideas anybody???

[kb2]

I am relativly new to CPAP - I do have ResMed machine and it does pump air to my stomach ..I do not know the differences in machines so I wouldnt know about Resperonics ..difference?
Here is something funny to add to everything else .. my Dr LEFT TOWN!!
No one told me - So I had to see his PA who is taking his patients during the transition ..and was given another Internist.
Seems that she had already planned on changing my meds after studying my records..before I called.
However my digestive problems are not due to the Welchol but from aother problems that are being studied now.
I see my Sleep Dr on Monday for the first check up since recieving my machine.
Hopefully all these things will be resolved soon.
I am using my machine again ..despite the air pressure on my stomach .. i cannot ignore Apnea.
I take my sleep med put my mask on and fall asleep .. i deal with the air when i wake up by walking..feeling like a helium balloon..but alive! Apnea is too serious to ignore.