Emphysema & CPAP

[felineperson3]

You certainly are being included in my prayers, southernmaid.
I have faith in you that you can kick the cigarette habit as I smoked 45 years and have been a non-smoker now for one full year. I quit in March one year ago and started APAP therapy last October after my physician decided I needed a sleep study and it was concluded I did indeed suffer from sleep apnea. According to my husband I have had sleep apnea almost the entire 48 years that we have been married. No other physician had ever even suggested that a diagnosis or therapy was available for this condition. My present physician decided after my husband voiced his concern about once again about my apneic episodes and after a heart catheterization and some blockage was found plus my hypertension worsening even with increased medication that perhaps this was an avenue that should be explored. I have been able to discontinue one of three blood pressure medicines that I was taking and am no longer awaking with the morning headaches so I feel the therapy must be helping. Naturally, I no longer snore so my husband no longer feels the need to arouse me to have me start breathing again when my snoring would stop which I'm sure is contributing to better sleep for him also. I very much value the power of prayer in every aspect of my life and I always lift up the names of those who have requested prayers. I know the Lord can guide you in your course of treatment and help you find your answers. Just keep right on trying and praying and most of all "keep the faith"!
May God bless you and give you peaceful sleep!

[southernmaid]

Thank you all for your replies, ya'll are a great bunch of folks. My gp wanted to put me on a inhaler but I refused. I said I thought it would be better if we tweaked the cpap as I was tired of being medicated to fit the machine. Might have been right, might have been wrong...anyway, the pressure was reducted to 8. At that pressure I woke up with a headache every day and the daytime sleepiness came roaring back, plus I was a danger to myself and others on the roadway.

Now I'm on day 8 at a 9 pressure setting and have an earache from hell but otherwise, feel great. I simply can't work with this doctor and this DME any longer. When it works, it's a miracle, when it doesn't, it can be so frustrating.

I have an appointment with a board certified pulmonary specialist on Tuesday. The first thing the nurse told me after I explained what was going on was "Oh no, everyone starting therapy needs specific followup. Doctors can't use DME's to make treatment decisions". Well, duh.

southernmaid

[emphysema]

emphysemapunk clothing

[Gidgie]

southernmaid, and you,too, Becky, I hear what you're saying about the ol' habit. Tried everything going.......for years......and finally found a way for ME to quit smoking, and believe me, I was about lighting one with another! I combined the two things that helped most, along with the help of a good GP. He was also a clinical hypnotist, so........He hypnotized me, and put me on the patch after I'd managed to go three days smoke-free. I also took a short vacation(to get me out of my usual routine) and took up keeping something in my mouth (I can't chew gum), sugar-free candies, small pebbles, etc. It still wasn't EASY, but it was 1995 when I did that, and I'm still smoke-free.......in fact, I now have a sensitivity to cigarette smoke.(great way to keep a body honest,eh?) Might help you gals, might not, but I do know this GP has had a lot of success with this. Good luck!