Frustrated with the BiPap machine

I have only a few good times sleep with the BiPap machine. My neurologist said that it’s better than Inspire. Also, he told me that he tells all his patients that they have severe sleep apnea. It can be okay one night, and then change to severe sleep apnea. I started taking sleeping pills called Belsomra. I still have days when I don’t sleep at all, so I told myself that I feel like giving up with the treatment plan. The BiPap machine keeps me awake for several hours.

Then I saw an ears, nose, and throat doctor about Inspire. He told me that I don’t qualify for Inspire because I don’t have severe sleep apnea. That’s wrong. I hated the sleep test. It was uncomfortable.

Then I went back to my neurologist who said that there is nothing better than the BiPap machine. I feel like telling my doctors to try to use one themselves. But I have a retired pulmonary doctor who uses either a CiPap or BiPap machine.

Maybe, if I drink less caffeine, exercise more, do yoga, and get a better mask, I could possibly tolerate the BiPap machine. For now, the BiPap machine is like a torture instrument, but I was also told by the ears, nose, and throat doctor that I might benefit from a retainer.

I guess that another reason why I have a difficult time is because of my bipolar one disorder. I know that I definitely suffer from mania and depression. I guess if I take one more Depakote, I would feel incredibly stable, and I would like myself better. I guess the mania might be what is causing me to stay awake for over twenty-four hours, but unfortunate, I didn’t try the BiPap machine. I also suffer from anxiety too.

Since my retired pulmonary doctor uses the machine, maybe, someday, I will learn how to tolerate it much more. It is just that my nurse practitioner wasn’t listening to me. She is not there for me. I need all of my doctors to cooperate, but that is not happening. I am mainly disappointed with my provider for psychiatric disabilities because I &don’t feel heard by her. I saw her once, and I don’t trust her much. I know my body. I know what works best for it, and I think that the doctors are just into it for the money except for my neurologist.

Prickly wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:53 pm

I think that the doctors are just into it for the money

Many sleep docs are in it just for the money. IF you let us know where you are someone may be able to point you to a good one.

Prickly wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:53 pm

the BiPap machine is like a torture instrument, but I was also told by the ears, nose, and throat doctor that I might benefit from a retainer.

Imagine trying to sleep with something torquing your jaw apart and because it's not covered by insurance how much will it cost? $2500 -3k?

Prickly wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:53 pm

Then I saw an ears, nose, and throat doctor about Inspire. He told me that I don’t qualify for Inspire because I don’t have severe sleep apnea.

If you do a search on this forum there was a recent post from someone describing how the Inspire shocks you when you stop breathing. I don't want that - do you?

Prickly wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:53 pm

Then I went back to my neurologist who said that there is nothing better than the BiPap machine.

I have to agree a BiPap is the ultimate. BiPap is what I use.

But you haven't told us what pressures you are using or posted any Oscar charts to give you pointers.

Cpap/BiPap does take time to get used to for most of us. Some adapt quickly, others our brain has to get used to it. Now that I'm used to it I won't sleep w/o it.

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 24, 2024 7:19 pm

Prickly wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:53 pm

the BiPap machine is like a torture instrument, but I was also told by the ears, nose, and throat doctor that I might benefit from a retainer.

Imagine trying to sleep with something torquing your jaw apart and because it's not covered by insurance how much will it cost? $2500 -3k?

I'm currently experimenting with a cheap MAD device (SnoreMD, 40$ at Walmart)... I wear it before bed. It is uncomfortable at first, less so as the lower jaw slowly advances. After an hour or so I take it out, make sure not to clench my teeth, and go to bed. I'm careful to relax my jaw and tuck my chin so that it stays advanced. I have noticed a minor reduction in AHI, the major benefit is APAP pressure, at the start of the night I hang right at my base pressure, by the end of the night I'm climbing maybe 0.5cm... this is compared with rising 3-4cm during the night on my side, and peaking near 20cm supine. The jaw is still advanced some in the morning, it goes back to normal bite if I clench my teeth. The major improvement of MAD for me was in supine APAP pressures... it lets me sleep supine if I want, at least for portions of the night.

The problem is that supine your jaw is allowed to fall back and drop. The jaw advancement can creep away... soon your tongue is involved again. I will be consulting with my dentist, and I do expect to pay 2500$ for a custom-fit solution I can wear during the night... SnoreMD is huge in the mouth. That's the problem with chin-straps or cushions for me... they tend to push my teeth to clench, this forces my lower jaw back (big overbite), airway is restricted when relaxed. It takes an *awful* lot of pressure (18-22cm from my last titration, supine) to open that up... I've determined that is not something I want therapeutically. I'm assuming I'd combine the MAD with my chinstrap to maintain the full advancement all night.

Prickly wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:53 pm

Then I saw an ears, nose, and throat doctor about Inspire. He told me that I don’t qualify for Inspire because I don’t have severe sleep apnea.

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 24, 2024 7:19 pm

If you do a search on this forum there was a recent post from someone describing how the Inspire shocks you when you stop breathing. I don't want that - do you?

Inspire does not know when you are asleep... in that respect it's not even a 'pacemaker for your tongue'... much worse! At a set time at night, it starts shocking your tongue... if you're not asleep yet, forget it, you have to cancel the night using the fob. Inspire is not for severe sleep apnea... it only lessens obstructions, it does not completely remove them... the improvement is maybe 15-30 AHI counts to your diagnosis. I'm over AHI 100 untreated... 30 counts is like nothing.

Inspire benefits those who are *barely* in the Severe category (30 AHI) and *absolutely hate* CPAP, hate it enough to go through surgery to implant something that requires you to *be asleep* at a certain time every night, something that has to have a battery replaced (cut you open!). The horror stories are available, see the comments on Lanky Jason's YT videos for more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcsy-Qw-stc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zz21z4Ym2s

Inspire
viewtopic/t178202/My-personal-experienc ... it=inspire

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