Anyone else playing the didgeridoo to help with apnea?

Todds · Post by **Todds** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:36 pm

Funny, I've been logged into this forum all day to see if I can find any other didgeridoo players here with my same experience, but all I get is people wondering if my original post is spam. Whaa? I AM NOT A COMPUTER PROGRAM!

Anyway, thanks for reading, but if you don't have a valid, interesting, or beautiful story to share about how the didgeridoo has helped you with nighttime breathing and sleepy afternoons, or not, then please don't say anything at all.

BTW, tongue and throat excersizes are no fun without a didgeridoo! Jeez!

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 12:47 am

Todds wrote:Funny, I've been logged into this forum all day to see if I can find any other didgeridoo players here with my same experience, but all I get is people wondering if my original post is spam.

It's not spam, and except for Goofy's typo (and subsequent confession) we're not pressing the case. You'll find this is a didgeridoo-friendly audience, and I'm *SHOCKED* that cpap.com is not selling these online for their obvious benefit for SDB and other related phenomenon. I predicted in my previous link (above) that it would only be a matter of time. Here we are, four months later, and still waiting.... *sigh*

I have become maybe spoiled with the APAP and C-Flex and all, but I would consider it an acceptable alternative to straight CPAP. And the noise couldn't be much worse than some people's snoring. I'm even a little surprised that DMEs are not selling these and billing medicare for CPAPs. I guess it comes down to $$$$, I notice that some didgeridoos cost more than some CPAPs. BTW, I am delighted to notice that there is a good didge dealer just up the street in L.A., thanks for the tip!

TODDS wrote:BTW, tongue and throat excersizes are no fun without a didgeridoo! Jeez!

Depends on which of each... oh nevermind.

Stryker5777 · Post by **Stryker5777** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 12:50 am

Yeah, I've actually been playing the didgeridoo on and off for a while now myself. I had hoped that it would help with the symptoms of sleep apnea. Believe it or not I actually just use a hollow pvc pipe roughly the length of one. Got the idea off this great video clip I found on the net.

I'm not very good and mostly just drone. It is kinda relaxing though. I would like to get the circular breathing down and be able to maybe play a song or two, but this seems really hard. Have you been able to accomplish this? Did you have to get better to notice a difference?

I don't know if it really helped or not. When I first started it seemed to make some difference after the first week [roughly], but I really don't notice much now. Its been quite a while since I started. I think it was about mid january of this year. The problem for me might be my nasal congestion and my sporadic playing schedule. Orginally my plan was to play at least once a day, this however doesn't seem to happen as much as I'd like. Do you have any nasal congestion? What were your sleep stats before?

I'm always researching new ways to fight this apnea beast. It has ruined much of my early life already [highschool and college]. I'm confident one day we'll find a permanent remedy that doesn't involve XPAP of any sorts for this LIFE THREATING condition. I think many people's lives will improve that have failed XPAP for one reason or another.

Stryker5777

P.S. The girl with the didgeridoo is pretty hot ... Somebody have her number??

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): video

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): video

Todds · Post by **Todds** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 4:33 pm

I think it really started to help after I lerned the "circular breathing" technique. It took me about two weeeks to figure that little trick out. Some people learn it fast and some try too hard and push themselevs rather than having fun with it, which slows down the learning.

When you play didgeridoo you are playing rhythms rather than melody, so you learn to breath in quick sniffs of air through your nose while you keep your lips vibrating into the didgeridoo. Not as hard as it sounds, really. And once you get it the first time you never forget how (like riding a bike).

Todds · Post by **Todds** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 4:40 pm

Oh yeah, and you don't have to spend a lot of money on your first didgeridoo to learn how to play. I have 3 now (one low in pitch, one high pitch and one in the middle). My first one cost me $89 that I got from an outfit in California called L.A.Outback: http://www.laoutback.com Great guys there and they also do free classes every month for beginners.

Just be wary of really cheap didgeridoos like the ones made in India. They are for decorating and not for playing.

Ms Piggy · Post by **Ms Piggy** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:17 pm

I can't get any result from the site addresses you guys posted, got any updates for them? guess i can google the didgi later otherwise. thanks

wolftracker · Post by **wolftracker** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:20 pm

try to cut and paste it into your brooser

Todds · Post by **Todds** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:42 pm

I just checked all of the links to L.A.Outback and they all work. Try again: http://www.laoutback.com

kurtchan · Post by **kurtchan** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:15 pm

Thanks for the posting and the updated link. The site is fascinating and you've piqued my interest. I've always been in awe of the instrument, but never realized that they were relatively affordable, easily obtainable and, best of all, therapeutic for those of use with OSA. I'm ready to buy one if I can just find a practice mute for the damn thing so my neighbors don't cause a ruckus while I "blow my brains out"!

Thanks again,

Kurtchan

Todds · Post by **Todds** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:22 pm

You cam play a didgeridoo soft and quiet as well as hard and loud. You don't really blow air into a didge like a trumpet or horn, you vibrate your lips softly like a reed. I live in an apartment and my neighbors have never complained (although one of them plays a viola).

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:00 pm

Stryker5777 wrote:Yeah, I've actually been playing the didgeridoo on and off for a while now myself. I had hoped that it would help with the symptoms of sleep apnea. Believe it or not I actually just use a hollow pvc pipe roughly the length of one. Got the idea off this great video clip I found on the net.

Not to sound overly "cheap", but can you enlighten us on the PVC didge? What size works? Any special fittings that enhance the musical qualities? Have you tried "threaded" vs. "non-threaded"? Does schedule-40 work better than, say, "A"? Would perhaps a length of 3" or 4" drain pipe on the end help? There must be a society somewhere devoted to this kind of stuff(?) I see some real advantages, not just the cost. These could operate in extreme conditions (pool, ocean, bathtub) where ordinary didges would shrink, crack, swell, or sprout new foliage. With PVC that will never be a problem.

-Ric

wolftracker · Post by **wolftracker** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:27 pm

if you go to the above website and click on modern instruments
they are not made of wood and barry said they are practically
indestructable.

So I ordered one with all the other stuff
the bag
the dvd
the instruments
the care kit

we will see... should ship tomorrow ground from la and take
about a week

wolf

Todds · Post by **Todds** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:30 pm

If you want to make your own didge from pvc pipe, just be sure that you hose it out REALLY WELL before muking around on it. The ones from L.A.Outback are 2" diameter and about 4 feet long, and they somehow form the mouthpiece into a perfectly comfortable shape and size right out of the same pipe (no seams). They don't look like plastic AT ALL! These also have a wavy profile and a flared out bottom end to let the sound out like a victrola speaker (though natrurally not as big as a victrola speaker!) Mine was very clean, no plastic smell. Barry said they use a "baby safe" water based polyurethane to protect the artwork and give the plastic a "finished" look.

Here's a link to show how good they look when the pros craft and paint them: http://www.laoutback.com/didgeridoo/sho ... page1.html Scroll down to where they say "Bigger, Louder, Deeper" didges. A bought the one they call "Billabong", but I guess they are all the same except for the decorations.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:49 pm

Ric wrote:
Stryker5777 wrote:Yeah, I've actually been playing the didgeridoo on and off for a while now myself. I had hoped that it would help with the symptoms of sleep apnea. Believe it or not I actually just use a hollow pvc pipe roughly the length of one. Got the idea off this great video clip I found on the net.
Not to sound overly "cheap", but can you enlighten us on the PVC didge? What size works? Any special fittings that enhance the musical qualities? Have you tried "threaded" vs. "non-threaded"? Does schedule-40 work better than, say, "A"? Would perhaps a length of 3" or 4" drain pipe on the end help? There must be a society somewhere devoted to this kind of stuff(?) I see some real advantages, not just the cost. These could operate in extreme conditions (pool, ocean, bathtub) where ordinary didges would shrink, crack, swell, or sprout new foliage. With PVC that will never be a problem.

-Ric

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:47 am

Stryker5777,

You are quite the salesperson, and I am severely tempted. As fate would have it, I was bumbling around at Home Depot this afternoon and carelessly bumbled straight into their Didgeridoo departmemt. Till then, I didn't even know they HAD one. Did YOU??? (why such a well-kept secret?) It was quite fortuitous. They offer didges in a variety of sizes and colors (black, white, galvanized, some look almost like real copper!). These can be mixed and matched in an endless variety of geometries. Imagine assembling a two-headed or three-headed didge! (Dr. Phil, don't hang up on me this time! Don't make me call Laura!) It is truly FLABBERGASTING what they have to offer. Some are pre-decorated, with delicate lettering along one side, something about "PVC-SCH-40-1-1/2-in 330 PSI, MADE IN CHINA", probably means something in the original aborinese. That one looked pretty expensive. Another was obviously professional quality, 4 inch diameter, 10 feet long, HOLY COW MAN! THAT HAS GOT TO RESONATE !!!) Another just like it had a series of perforations along the top, obviously meant to be played more like a pipe or a giant dvorgrle, of concert quality. I was told it could be tapered to almost any diameter on one end. It was black on the inside, and an eerie white on the out, which gave it sort of a mystical quality. I was afraid to even ask the price. It was then I realized I was WAAAAAAAY out of my league. Maybe another day, another lifetime.... *sigh*

But not to disappoint. I have decided to take you up on your offer. Or at least partly. Go ahead and send me all the free stuff. The rest I'll need more time to think about. And THANKS !!!

-Ric

Anyone else playing the didgeridoo to help with apnea?

sites posted

the web site works for me

just ordered one