Moderate sleep apnea, want to wait...

[MichelleFL]

Hello friends. I would like to get your input on this please. My other post I had explained that I was newly diagnosed and had to go for my titration for a cpap machine. I know that I am going to sound like another one who is trying to get out of using this but please hear me out. I have alot of health issues that go along with this. I had my whole thyroid removed in December of 2007. I suffer everyday since with panic and the need to move, I just cannot sit still. I have borderline diabetes and possible arthritis. In my own trials and tests on myself I find that my neck is super tight all day long and thought this was due to the operation. My neck x-ray just came back as normal. What I think is causing the tightness is my stress level and inability to settle down thus not giving my muscles a chance to relax. But if I take a half Xanax before bed I can actually feel those muscles release. Now I don't want to rely on Xanax as it's addictive so on the 17th of October I will discuss with my doctor about a good anxiety pill. I feel that if I can get the stress under control, get my possible arthritis pain under control, loose weight then the apnea will not happen. I have already had improvement with balling up my comforter and stuffing it behind my back when I go to sleep so that I do not roll over onto my back where most of these episodes happen. What do you think? Should I try these things first and go for a repeat sleep test? Or just accept that this is how it is and get it done and over with? It sounds like there are alot of things that can happen when you use a cpap such as the belly full of air and the mouth breathing.. I asked my husband to notice what happens and he says I moderately snore. Hope you can help me with this decision..

Michelle

[Guest]

Doing those things will take time and could be awhile. Another PSG is expensive. The smart thing to do would be to proceed with CPAP therapy. If you have a data capable machine, you can keep an eye on your events well enough to know when you don't need the machine any longer.

Weight loss does NOT always cure OSA. Denial is a sign of OSA.

[fortomorrow]

1. Snoring and OSA don't always go together. You could still be having events and sleeping quietly.

2. OSA often causes weight gain. Which can make your OSA worse. Which can cause weight gain. Which can make your OSA worse.

3. Xanax, Valium, any of the benzos, alcohol, etc., can cause your airway to relax which will make your OSA worse.

4. You can still have events when sleeping on your stomach.

5. Thin people have sleep apnea. There are many of them on this board.

I'm with the previous poster - there's a bit of denial going on. Proceed with CPAP treatment while getting everything else taken care of, not one or the other. You'll feel a lot better if you do.

[kteague]

Michelle,

You certainly do have some challenges, with the changes since your surgery, neck pain, and all else you've got going on. I'm guessing they've got you on Synthroid or something similar - are your levels being checked to make sure they aren't the cause of some of your anxiety?

As you weigh your options, consider these things... Sleep apnea may be a contributing factor in your anxiety. After all, you're shooting out stress hormones with these apnea events. Sleep apnea is known to increase risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. Sleep apnea causes many of the body's muscles to struggle during apneas as the body fights to resume breathing repeatedly during the night. Sleep apnea affects metabolism and appetite hormones, potentially making weight loss more challenging.

While side sleeping and things like elevating the head of your bed can be helpful, they should not be considered a solution to sleep apnea. With cpap, some do get air in their belly or have to use a full face style mask or a chin strap for mouth breathing. Without cpap there is increased risk of ... you name it!

You may indeed lose weight and lose your sleep apnea - no guarantees on that. My concern is how long it takes to lose weight and what about in the interim? I can only suggest to you that cpap may resolve some of your other health issues and make the weight loss less challenging, as being well rested will give you the energy to be more active. Could you look at using the machine as what you are going to do until things have changed enough to merit another sleep study to see if you still need it? Or get a data capable machine and monitor it yourself. Maybe it won't be forever for you, but for now, you have been proven to need cpap treatment. If your studies show your apneas while side sleeping were negligible, I understand you searching for alternatives. But if there were still apneas on your side, there's your answer.

Best wishes with figuring this all out and making a decision you can live - and live well - with.

Kathy

[Goofproof]

Your plan of attact on sleep apnea, is going to make your future cardio doctor able to make those payments, to send his kids to medical school. life is tuff, drowning in DeNile doesn't help it. Properly treated sleep apnea makes life better. Jim

[hobbs]

Your plan of attact on sleep apnea, is going to make your future cardio doctor able to make those payments, to send his kids to medical school. life is tuff, drowning in DeNile doesn't help it. Properly treated sleep apnea makes life better. Jim

. . . or mortician!

[jules]

You got the diagnosis so NOW you get it treated and you treat it RIGHT. Be careful too with those anxiety meds.

If, in few years down the road, you have lost the weight, you get the sleep studies again and see if you can drop the machine then. If you can we will all dance naked on the tables for you; otherwise you owe each of us our share of the cost of the current bailout the US Economy.

I was one who was diagnosed a lot later than I should have been, had a MD who kind of blew off what treatment I should be on, had no follow up, had no CPAP, and it wasn't until a few years later and a move across country, I finally had a doctor who would listen when I asked what about my O2 levels at night.

He was a cardiologist and my heart was again going into all kinds of erratic rhythms. He set me up to see a lung doc, and I got on the right path. Who knows how much damage there was in the mean time. I can say that with proper treatment my pain levels and my need to nap sure went down.

[goose]

Moderate sleep apnea -- don't wait!!!!
Do it now!!!
Get out of DeNile -- it doesn't just go away and it can be the cause of many other afflictions.
Get yourself an Auto CPAP machine so you can titrate yourself occasionally. If you lose weight, you'll want to check to adjust your pressure -- but don't expect to get off the machine. Hope?? Nothing wrong with that, but don't set yourself up -- just accept it -- It is what it is.....

Just do it!!!!

cheers
goose

[birdshell]

My situation was different, and yet similar. It is easy to feel pretty helpless, isn't it?

A few years before I was diagnosed with OSA, I had a year with 5 surgeries, two of which resulted in major complications. I was really fighting to be healthy for a portion of that year, and was fortunate enough to be under the guidance of great doctors and a registered dietician. I believe that my good physical condition was responsible for a large part of my recovery. I had one surgery that resulted in bleeding and then another surgery to remove the bleeding. That means 2 major abdominal surgeries in one day. I also needed packed red blood cells. I still went home the day of the recommended length of stay for the first.

I have said all this to suggest that it is important to be in the best health possible right now. Your thyroid surgery was nothing to take lightly, as you have noted. Who is really certain, at this point, exactly what the effects will be on your physical and mental functions?

Would it not make some sense to ensure as many ways to have optimum health as you adjust and recover? Right now you have apnea. Apnea can cause lowered levels of oxygen in the blood, a lack of hormones such as cortisol and leptin; lessened production of serotonin (which requires good sleep to be made by the body) and a host of other impeding factors to being in good health. How well can you heal, lose weight, establish a healthy functioning level of thyroid, and a healthy mental state right now?

If you wish to help yourself the most, you will figure out what to do. If you want to be in less-than-optimum straits for the next year or so (assuming that the apnea would reverse itself), then you also know what to do. It is all up to you; we cannot decide for you.

When I was going to college, I was nervous about all of the competition. My mother told me not to worry too much; she said, "Look at some of the people who have graduated." Point taken, Mom.

My point is, there are so many of us out here doing the whole CPAP experience quite successfully and without too much angst. It isn't all that hard. A lot of us were feeling pretty much the same way you were back in the beginning; and I'll bet that the VAST majority of us were asking about alternatives, such as surgery or other oral devices.


Best wishes, and please keep us posted.

Karen,
Who now sleeps better than in that titration night

P.S. I was diagnosed as a diabetic all of 2 weeks ago. I now have to inject insulin, which I always dreaded. Other diabetics told me that it wasn't so bad, I would feel better, and that there was very little pain. They were right; the finger sticks hurt the most, and I think I am feeling a bit better. BETTER? I'll take it any time, and almost every way. We are amazing creatures with a wonderful ability to adapt, IF we wish to do so, aren't we?

[Snoredog]

good luck with that

[irishpeacock]

I wanted to mention that it sometimes seems overwhelming and discouraging looking at all the problems people have on this board, but the reason for the board is for people to come here and work out their problems. Ergo, there is a natural lean towards the people who are still working out difficulties rather than the many people for whom CPAP treatment has been a great success.

I'm a slim 20 yo girl with chronic bad health, mild apnea, and no snoring. Before treatment, I wasn't getting more than 15 min stage 3/4 sleep a night, which is essential for repair work in the body. Even though my treatment still needs plenty of tweaking, I've seen a significant change in the way I recover from injuries and illness. My only advice is the worse one's health is, the more important it is to put one's health first, and to try anything that can improve the body's fighting chance.

Wish you best of luck, and best of health.

[Hawthorne]

You need to get that titration done and get on with treatment NOW.

You need to get to a Rheumatologist and find out, if you have and and what type of arthritis you have and get on with the treatment NOW.

These things are crucial to your current and future health.

Your stress issues will only get worse if you don't do both of these things. Not getting good restorative sleep now only causes more health issues down the road, it also makes dealing with your current issues much harder!

As I mentioned when I replied to your first post, I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 19 years. I have had a hip and a shoulder replaced so I know about dealing with surgeries.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 6 years ago. Sleep studies are not easy for someone with arthritis. I know because they weren't for me. It's just something that has to be done.

You need to take charge of your health.

[MichelleFL]

Thank you very much everyone I really appreciate you taking the time out to answer this.. I like the idea of an auto one and I hope my insurance will pay for it. Is this data one that you speak of the little device that you attach to the machine?? I had called my insurance on that one and they will not pay for it but it's really important to have it so you can see what is happening.

I will see what my sleep study has available and go for the titration this week if they can do it...

[Hawthorne]

You have made the right decision about your sleep apnea! Your decision means you are taking charge of doing something about your own health. You are the only one who can really do that. People here and doctors can advise but the decisions are yours!

Now get to a Rheumatologist about your suspected arthritis right away as well.

If you can get an auto machine that would be best. Auto machines can also run in straight cpap mode so you would have both available to you. An auto machine (or one that is at least data capable) comes with a card inserted in it. You have to buy the software and card reader to read the data that the card gets from the machine. The software and reader is not a prescription item and not many insurance companies will cover it. You have buy it on your own. If you really want an auto and can't get the doctor prescribe it, you can buy it on your own too, if that's a financial possibility - maybe not now but later. If they will only pay for a straight cpap try for the Respironics Pro. Online, the machines are cheaper but insurance companies may not cover online purchases. Some may.

The next step - after you titration- is to get a prescription for a data capable machine. I only know about Respironics machines. If you get one of those you want the Respironics Remstar M Series auto with A-Flex. That's the top of the line in that one. You can also get a Resprionics M Series auto with C-Flex ( it's just as good- not quite as many bells and whistles). The Respironics M Series Pro is good too but it has to be used in straight cpap only. All these machines will give some data on the LCD screen until you get the software. All will work with the software. Be prepared for your insurance not to pay for an auto. They may pay for a Pro. An auto would be best for you since it could eliminate the need for any further sleep studies. You won't have to have as many sleep studies anyway, with an auto and the help that the people on this forum are able and willing to give you!

Others will advise on other brands of machines.

On Monday, you will be taking the next step - setting up the titration study.

Please keep us posted. We will help you in anyway we can but you have to get going on taking charge of your health!

[Georgio]

I've always said it's a sign of a smart person when they ask a lot of questions. Good thing you're one of those! I think there are phases one may go through when diagnosed, as you are probably very much aware. I went through what I would call, disbelief, denial, acceptance and finally action phase after I arrived here. It took me several months to accept that I really had to do it, and my health continued to decline.

Now after only 4 weeks, and with the help of these fine people, I've gone from being too tired to take the trash out, to riding a bicycle 8 miles at a time. One of the first things I noticed was how white my eyes were...after being bloodshot for years from lack of oxygen. I suspect that my entire body is healing from the damage caused by lack of oxygen at night. Imagine what lack of oxygen does to your brain!

Both my mother and I started treatment about the same time. Neither of us were successful with the "straight" (constant pressure) CPAP machines that were first given to us. (Although many are completely satisfied or maybe even require the constant pressure.) Only after we got Resperonics M Series A-Flex machines have we been successful and begun to feel better. My explanation for this is that the Auto machine adjusts it's pressure to your breathing, so you feel more like you are breathing normally, rather than a constant stream of air pressure even when you exhale.

The auto machine will provide you data showing what pressures you required each night to control apneas, allowing you to adjust your therapy pressure accordingly for the best results. So that's the way to go if there is any way you can manage it. You're in the action phase now...so get going and stay tuned in here for more!

Regards,

Georgio