Using the CPAP machine is the worst, most restless sleep I've ever had. What is a permanent alternative to this archaic

[Celticpunker]

I've used my CPAP torture device for 2 months and I hate it!! I am a truck driver and I never had a problem passing DOT physicals till I made the mistake of going to Concentra. They decided that I needed to do a sleep apnea test. It was this battery operated wrist thing that I had to wear. Which determined remotely that I have sleep apnea. I'm very skeptical of this method. In any case I got the POS machine and the heated hose and multiple masks. I used my CPAP for 2 months with different masks and it still is the most restless sleep I've ever had. It also extremely dries my mouth and tongue out using it. I'm lucky if I get an actual 2 hours of descent sleep with this thing. I obviously need sleep to be a safe driver, so I have quit wearing it so I can actually get some real sleep. I read about the Inspire Implant and it seems like it'd be a much better way to go. Any suggestions that are more informative than "oh you'll get used to it" or "try a different mask"? As with anything medical some things don't work for everyone. The mask and machine does not work for me.

[Pugsy]

You are NOT legal to drive if you don't use the machine...so take a leave of absence until you sort out what you want to do or can do.

We are a cpap using community here....so not much input from people who have gone the Inspire route...they aren't using cpap so they wouldn't be hanging around here would they?
The requirements for even trying the implant are very strict....get with your doctor and start the process to see if you qualify.
They don't just go sticking the implant in on everyone just because they don't like or do well with cpap. A lot of different criteria must be met and part of it is where your airway is actually collapsing and why.
I had a friend look into it...she went through all the hurdles and she didn't qualify for having the implant done.

It's not Concentra's fault that you have sleep apnea...they were just doing their job.
You just got unlucky enough to have OSA and you can doubt the results of the sleep study if you wish....request an in lab sleep study for verification if you doubt the home study.

Each of your complaints....we have seen thousands of times before and they can usually be sorted through if a person tries but occasionally someone can't sort them out.
Your job depends on addressing the issue though...you aren't legal to drive if you don't sleep with the cpap machine.
If you get inspected...they will park you...and if you get in an accident the lawyers will have a field day.

Get with your doctor about your options...and there aren't many. I know you don't want to hear it but using cpap is still the gold standard first choice in treatment.

[Julie]

Which model of what machine do you have? At what pressure settings? Sometimes (a lot) doctors are not the best judge of things and with help here, some tweaking to settings can be done and make all the difference. Give us a chance to help you make it work.

[zonker]

what is the permanent alternative?

death.

[ChicagoGranny]

What is a permanent alternative to this archaic

MMA Surgery - https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-prof ... c-20430404

[clownbell]

What are your leaks like? How large? How long? You won't really know until you download the OSCAR software and post your nightly results -- properly formatted of course.

In my case, extremely dry mouth and tongue seem to be caused by having a large percentage of the night in Large Leak territory. My theory is that Large Leaks prompt the machine to pump out much more volume, and this results in dry mouth. Resolving the Large Leaks seems to have cured the dry mouth.

If you want to actually DO something, I recommend downloading OSCAR and posting your properly formatted nightly results. Yes it is a little work -- not much -- and worth the effort.

[HairyReasoner]

what is the permanent alternative?

death.

Succinctly stated, and very true--at least for many of us. For those with light cases of sleep apnea it may be more of a comfort/quality of life thing. But, my doctor told me he felt like he saved my life. He told me I would die without a CPAP.

Without treatment I stop breathing 120 times an hour, and they even clocked my oxygen down in the 80% range, and even falling below that at at least one point. We think my grandfather probably died of it (that was before they diagnosed and treated it).

Even though it's not the most comfortable--mainly at first--being told you will die without it is great incentive to stick with it. Eventually you come to terms with it and get used to it. Now I can't sleep without it. We had a power outage the other night, and I couldn't sleep without it.

Other than having some irritation issues with the headgear, I actually now find I'm uncomfortable without it.

[zonker]

what is the permanent alternative?

death.

Succinctly stated, and very true--at least for many of us.

i might have stated that a little more "nicely", but i grow weary of folks coming in and spitting out how they hate this and need to have another way.

other than surgery as chicago granny said, there just isn't.

sure, it's a rough way to go. many people give it up. but if they can get to this forum and get some help, they can make it.

let's hope our truck driving friend comes back to get the help.

[HairyReasoner]

what is the permanent alternative?

death.

Succinctly stated, and very true--at least for many of us.

i might have stated that a little more "nicely", but i grow weary of folks coming in and spitting out how they hate this and need to have another way.

other than surgery as chicago granny said, there just isn't.

sure, it's a rough way to go. many people give it up. but if they can get to this forum and get some help, they can make it.

let's hope our truck driving friend comes back to get the help.

Sometimes, it's the tough love approach that works. When my mother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes back around 1950, while she was still in the hospital feeling sorry for herself, a doctor walked into her room, tossed a book on her bed that at the time was one of main guides to treatment, and said: "Here, read this. It's the smart ones that live." He then turned and walked out.

That made such an impression on my mother she read the book and went on to study everything she could about it. She was so successful in taking care of herself she was asked to head up a diabetic task force at the local hospital. At the time of her death (due to complications from a car accident she was in, not anything to do with her diabetes), she had lived with it for 50 years without having any of the typical complications.

I hope he reads that and realizes he may be dealing with a life threatening issue. It's worth the struggle to make it work.

[zonker]

Sometimes, it's the tough love approach that works. When my mother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes back around 1950, while she was still in the hospital feeling sorry for herself, a doctor walked into her room, tossed a book on her bed that at the time was one of main guides to treatment, and said: "Here, read this. It's the smart ones that live." He then turned and walked out.

there was just something about that generation, wasn't there?

[Pugsy]

Sometimes, it's the tough love approach that works. When my mother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes back around 1950, while she was still in the hospital feeling sorry for herself, a doctor walked into her room, tossed a book on her bed that at the time was one of main guides to treatment, and said: "Here, read this. It's the smart ones that live." He then turned and walked out.

there was just something about that generation, wasn't there?

Indeed. I have always called that something "balls" no matter if male or female.
They had balls.

[HairyReasoner]

Sometimes, it's the tough love approach that works. When my mother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes back around 1950, while she was still in the hospital feeling sorry for herself, a doctor walked into her room, tossed a book on her bed that at the time was one of main guides to treatment, and said: "Here, read this. It's the smart ones that live." He then turned and walked out.

there was just something about that generation, wasn't there?

Yes. It's sadly missing today.

[zonker]

Sometimes, it's the tough love approach that works. When my mother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes back around 1950, while she was still in the hospital feeling sorry for herself, a doctor walked into her room, tossed a book on her bed that at the time was one of main guides to treatment, and said: "Here, read this. It's the smart ones that live." He then turned and walked out.

there was just something about that generation, wasn't there?

Indeed. I have always called that something "balls" no matter if male or female.
They had balls.

it's that, for sure. they got through so much by sacrificing so much.

but it's also that they, for the most part, were willing to learn things. to take advantage of opportunities.

it's something that i think is lacking more and more today.

[zonker]

Sometimes, it's the tough love approach that works. When my mother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes back around 1950, while she was still in the hospital feeling sorry for herself, a doctor walked into her room, tossed a book on her bed that at the time was one of main guides to treatment, and said: "Here, read this. It's the smart ones that live." He then turned and walked out.

there was just something about that generation, wasn't there?

Yes. It's sadly missing today.

[chunkyfrog]

You would expect a truck driver to have them.
"Balls", that is . . .