UPDATE: My new backup plan for power outages. . .

[roster]

....... So, I will need to side sleep with the TAP, which I expected to do anyway. I'll post more when I get the results and probably on a separate thread to clarify things with pictures. Still, 3.7 is just fine with me and I am extremely happy.

Good for you!

[RosemaryB]

Thanks, Rooster!

[Babette]

Hey Rosemary, it's been a few days. How are you feeling sans cpap?

Hugs,
B.

[BigNortherner]

Beware that the absorbent glass mat battery is not sealed like the gel batteries, and has liquid electrolyte not a gel.

The AGM concept has a pressure relief valve that could open, though I expect that would only happen if charging it too hard at high temperatures (for $100. you can buy a fairly sophisticated charger these days, which should pay back its higher price in longer battery service life).

The batteries normally used in electric wheelchairs and scooters are _gel_ type not AGM, I think that’s what you should use if you want safety.

And in any case, I recommend a plastic catch tray underneath – a plastic stowage box for example.]

[RosemaryB]

I haven't been on the forum for ages, but thought I should update about mandibular advancement devices. I posted some of this on the thread about orthodontic devices by rooster w/sock knitster reporting on her experiences.

The sleep study showed good results but there was no supine sleep (on my back, iow) during the study because of complications with the study. Also, since I may have uars, I'm not sure that the mandibular device works for that.

I'm no longer using the TAP device, but instead am using a different one, the one I use now is the SomnoMed. http://www.rochesteradvanceddentistry.c ... d-mas.html. I went to a different sleep dentist, one in my community, and she tested me for allergic reactions to the different materials. She carries a number of the devices. The only one that I did not have a reaction to was the somnomed. Apparently different people are allergic to the materials in different devices. Mine does not have the liner, but fits fine. My insurance paid for part of the cost of the device.

I’ve been 100% compliant with cpap and/or mandibular devices. The cpap seems to be significantly better than the mandibular device, but I don’t rule it out since I used it for an extended period when a close friend was hospitalized and I stayed in the hospital 24/7 with him for about 3 weeks. I did not want to take the cpap and risk some horrible flesh-eating bacteria getting into it , so I just used the mandibular device. I was worn out after that, but it’s hard to tell why, since it was a stressful experience with my friend's condition and also with being awakened during the night in the hospital for various reasons and sleeping in a hide-a-bed chair, etc. I’ve also used it for a week at a time w/o cpap. My conclusion is that the mandibular device works in an emergency, but not as good as the cpap. If I can side sleep, it’s better, but I’ve had some neck problems and back sleeping is best right now. It’s a work in progress as always with sleep apnea treatment.

Oh, I forgot, I also used the somnomed exclusively when I had surgery on skin cancer on my nose and could not wear a cpap. This was also several weeks, though also under stress. I was back sleeping. Again with worse results than from cpap, but not as bad as with nothing, prior to treatment. Again, it was a somewhat stressful time, so hard to tell. (Skin cancer was the treatable kind, and I'm fine now).

I'll post any changes in the future on this thread.

[OutaSync]

RosemaryB,

It's nce to see that you are still "with "us. I wondered what happened to you andhave missed your postings.

Bev

[RosemaryB]

Thanks, Bev. If my schedule eases in the summer and I don't have all these other factors, I hope to log on more often.

[roster]

If I can side sleep, it’s better, but I’ve had some neck problems and back sleeping is best right now. It’s a work in progress as always with sleep apnea treatment.

RosemaryB, Good to have you back and happy to hear the skin cancer was taken care of.

You might want to luck at this discussion about sleep apnea and cervical neck collars - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=61509&st=0&sk=t&sd=a& .

This is my pure speculation but thinking about this allowing you to side sleep, improving your asleep breathing, and helping with neck problems.

I bought one of the cervical collars locally for $8.00 and am doing some experimenting myself. If nothing comes of it at least it was a cheap experiment.

P.S. I just saw I wrote "luck" instead of "look", but it was a Freudian slip and I will leave it uncorrected in hopes it will bring you real luck.

[RosemaryB]

I just logged in and replied to someone about sleep appliances and thought I'd paste that reply here for continuity's sake. Now that I've had some experience with the dental devices, these are my conclusions:

I have moderate osa. I've had two dental appliances. Both times the dentists told me that my insurance would pay for it. Both times I had big out of pocket expenses. The second time they paid a small portion, the first time, nada. I even called the ins company in advance the second time to make sure they'd pay. I forgot to ask if they paid the full amount less a small copay. So be wary if you expect the ins to pay. I don't have a lot of money and the payments were a real burden.

My experience was that they were far, far less effective than a cpap. My sleep got worse and worse, but not back to pre-cpap levels. I really didn't notice how much my sleep was suffering until it went way downhill. If I'd continued I might have found "bottom" but I went back to the cpap. I <3 cpap!! Good rest is one of life's wonders to me.

The first one, a TAP III broke and could not be fixed unless I went to a sleep dentist. The first dentist kind of disappeared and never answered my calls. He was from out of state and I had to drive to another city to get this done. That's why I found a second dentist who could fix it. But it seemed that it was not made properly (my jaw did not come far enough forward). Since the second dentist had a better reputation and was local, I went with her opinion and got the second device. It was the pink one that looks like vampire teeth upside-down, but I don't remember the name. I do think she did a better job fitting me and adjusting it, etc.

However, the checking how it works is not very scientific. Lots of questionaires given by an assistant. No regular sleep study, for instance. I'd only advise it if there were a proper sleep study in a good clinic as a follow up. This dentist wanted to do an in-home study, not the same thing at all. Because I knew a lot about sleep studies (thanks to cpaptalk) I realized it was not a good followup and declined it, since I'd have to pay her for it. My level of sleep deprivation was obvious.

I have moderate OSA. If I had mild it might have worked, I don't know. I was hoping to use it for travel, camping, power outages, etc. even if it were somewhat less effective. But it is way less effective, though probably better than nothing. I'd wear it if the power went out and I'd used my backup battery up. I'd sleep on my side wearing a backpack device. It would help some, but not near as good as cpap.

Also, if someone absolutely won't use their cpap, it might help a bit. But two close people in my life started off not able to wear cpaps, really seemed they absolutely wouldn't use them. They finally came around to it and now can see the huge changes using cpap. If they'd opted for a dental device rather than toughing it out, they would not be as healthy.

I can see using them in conjunction with a cpap in some cases. At first I wore mine in conjunction with a cpap. This was as I was getting used to it.

It's hard to tell if it caused any tmj problems. I already had them. There is some pain as one adjusts the device, but I went very slowly and it was ok. More slowly than they recommend, btw. I sometimes had pain, but then I sometimes had pain before using the device.

Bottom line. It didn't work for me. I really wanted it to. I spent a lot of time and money. It was too expensive as an experiment.

[RosemaryB]

Thanks, Roster. I will check this out. I just found this message, but better late than never.

If I can side sleep, it’s better, but I’ve had some neck problems and back sleeping is best right now. It’s a work in progress as always with sleep apnea treatment.

RosemaryB, Good to have you back and happy to hear the skin cancer was taken care of.

You might want to luck at this discussion about sleep apnea and cervical neck collars - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=61509&st=0&sk=t&sd=a& .

This is my pure speculation but thinking about this allowing you to side sleep, improving your asleep breathing, and helping with neck problems.

I bought one of the cervical collars locally for $8.00 and am doing some experimenting myself. If nothing comes of it at least it was a cheap experiment.

P.S. I just saw I wrote "luck" instead of "look", but it was a Freudian slip and I will leave it uncorrected in hopes it will bring you real luck.