Off the CPAP for good - just wanted to share my story

[FranckDG]

Hi everyone,

I am finally off the CPAP possibly for good and I wanted to share my story here. Maybe it can be of help to others.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea a little over 3 years ago. My AHI was 17.7 and my ODI was 15.5. I had been suffering from it probably for 6-7 years before that. I would fight sleep driving to work in the morning, not be able to concentrate, etc... I'm sure you all know the drill. I bought my own CPAP machine about a month later and tried a variety of masks and pressures until I found what worked for me. Still in the meantime, I did not give up on finding a way to rid myself of the CPAP machine. I bought a full test machine from China to be able to test myself regularly without CPAP and went on to try different things.

First I tried a diet to lose about 25lbs. It seemed to lower my AHI and ODI marginally but nothing much there. Then I started playing the Didgeridoo almost every day 20 minutes a day for 3 months with circular breathing and all. As I was testing myself, I was getting very different results. While my ODI definitely improved over time and rarely was above 10, my AHI was sometimes as high at 17.

One thing that became very clear is that my results were very inconsistent. For example on 12/27/2017 I had an AHI of 17.2 and an ODI of 10.6. Two weeks later I had an AHI of 4.4 and an ODI of 3.3. I started to wonder if I had positional sleep apnea (even though during my original test they told me it was definitely not the case) and I bought a Slumberbump to test myself that way. Immediately I saw improvements. My sleep apnea was definitely very reduced when sleeping on my side but definitely still there at times. I would have some nights with both AHI and ODI < 1!!!

After working out the kinks, I have found that the following works for me:
- have an early and light dinner (no meat)
- no drinks after dinner (pot probably is the same)
- wear the Slumberbump

That pretty much guarantees me a good night of sleep without a CPAP. I should also say that you sleep better without the CPAP once you get used to the Slumberbump.

Another important note is that I became 95% vegan about 1 year ago. I have had many digestive troubles over the years and a friend convince me to try it out. All my symptoms disappeared after 2 weeks of being vegan so I stuck with it. I mention it here because when I told my story to my doctor she seemed to think that being vegan was probably a big part of this as well.

Regarding the test machine also, you don't really need it. A $30 Oxymeter with recording ability will do the trick. ODI is more important than AHI from what I can tell..

Anyway, just wanted to share this in case it can be helpful to others.

Best,

franck-

[kteague]

I am interested in seeing reports for nights without CPAP, both with and without Slumberbump, for comparison. I haven't had a chance to look through your history. Do you know if your OSA is positional and only when back sleeping? How low does your AHI go with the Slumberbump?

[bombayone]

Congratulations on your success. I agree that there are viable alternatives to CPAP. Be prepared for some serious questioning from the CPAP über alles members of this forum.

[Scluvsrain]

What is ODI?


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[Pugsy]

What is ODI?

I think maybe Oxygen Desaturation Index.
Available from one of those overnight pulse oximeters.

[FranckDG]

Back when I was diagnosed, I definitely was having OSA when sleeping on my side too. I had pretty bad eating habits back then though... eating lots of meat every night. Also had wine almost every night in front of the TV. But I think that like most people my OSA was lower when sleeping on my side overall. I think some changes in my habits was enough to put me over the hump when sleeping on my side. Sometimes of course we go out and I have some drinks and in the morning my wife tells me I was snoring on my side and I feel like I had a bad night of sleep. I am on vacation right now so I don't have access to my results. I stopped measuring my AHI with the full test machine because it's more constraining and anyway it seems that ODI is more important anyway. I think my ODI index was varying between 0.5 and 4 in my last set of tests.

f-

[D.H.]

If this works for you, fine. I don't expect that it will work from most of us.

One thing I suggest is to old on to the CPAP machine in case you should ever start needing it again.

[Stom]

Regarding the test machine also, you don't really need it. A $30 Oxymeter with recording ability will do the trick. ODI is more important than AHI from what I can tell..

Great to hear from someone who has found success in their treatment.

I would caution against generalizing the advice that home pulse ox is the only needed test for sleep apnea. It might be the only test you needed for your condition and desaturation because of how it correlates with your specific sleep apnea, but that isn't the case for everyone.

[ChicagoGranny]

I would caution against generalizing the advice that home pulse ox as the only needed test for sleep apnea. It might be the only test you needed for your condition and desaturation because of how it correlates with your specific sleep apnea, but that isn't the case for everyone.

+1

FranckDG fails to understand that a person can be terribly sick from sleep-disordered breathing and have no oxygen desats. Some are like this, but have a high RDI which is devastating.

After working out the kinks, I have found that the following works for me:
- have an early and light dinner (no meat)
- no drinks after dinner (pot probably is the same)
- wear the Slumberbump

It's good you repeat it, but this is pretty much standard advice here - don't eat late, don't consume alcohol late and sleep on your sides or stomach if you can. Even CPAP users would do well to follow this advice.

The 95% vegan thing? You probably had a typically bad American diet. You could have improved it greatly and still eat healthy meats.

But, congratulations. Don't forget to take the Slumberbump in your carry-on when traveling.

[chunkyfrog]

The bullfrog sleeps on his side.
Luckily his shoulders are not as screwed up as mine.

[palerider]

anyway it seems that ODI is more important anyway. I think my ODI index was varying between 0.5 and 4 in my last set of tests.

You'd be wrong about that.... dead wrong.

Oxygen saturation is only one component... but it's not the one that causes people to fall asleep at the wheel and drive into oncoming traffic.

[chunkyfrog]

Denial makes me feel ill.
I need a private place to go, and do what frogs do when we are nauseous.
Google it--pick video--and grab a bucket!

[Mogy]

Great result FranckDG! Thanks for the post. It is good to know that some people can get off CPAP, even if it is not long term.

[palerider]

Great result FranckDG! Thanks for the post. It is good to know that some people can get off CPAP, even if it is not long term.

This is how to tell that you're going down the wrong path... Mogy thinks you're doing well.

[chunkyfrog]

Yes, Mogy is the Pharoah--king of de-Nile.