random questions

bdp522 wrote:I recently had a physical and showed my MD printouts from my machine. He was so impressed that he told me he has been diagnosed with OSA and has asked me to help him get his treatment started!

LOL!! Doctors are human too, aren't they? Your doctor sounds like a smart human with a lot of common sense. He has the sense to recognize that you know more about cpap machines than he does. He also has the good sense to take advantage (and I mean that in a good way) of your expertise in this and learn from you. How cool.

When I got my uncle (who had been non-compliantly using cpap for years!) to go to his PCP and ask for a Rx for an autopap, he found out for the first time that his own doc was on cpap. When my uncle explained what an autopap was and why he wanted to switch from cpap to autopap, his doctor's ears perked up.

The cpap-using doctor had never heard of an autopap, and liked what he heard from my uncle. While the doctor wrote the new Rx for my uncle, he said he was going to get one himself.

Again, I understand that the people here are actually dealing with this issue in their personal lives and have more motivation to seek the best treatment possible than anyone else. However, I cannot in good conscience agree to anything that falls outside the current governing bodies in the field of sleep medicine’s recommended guidelines. I do hope that this forum provides a haven for people seeking answers to their questions and wanting general tips and advice. I also hope that everyone realizes that there are many people who deal with sleep professionally, that do care about their patients and want for them nothing but the best possible sleep. Just as I am willing to admit that a person can seek the help they need in this venue, I hope that others are willing to admit that sleep professionals and the facilities (outside of fly-by-night centers) created to help those with sleep disorders are as equally effective. I am glad that the tapping of one's mouth has been so effective for people posting to this forum, I just want to make sure that they are aware of the risks associated with this decision. There is a possibility that if you vomit while using cpap with your mouth taped closed, that the vomit could enter your lungs leading to, at best lengthy medical procedures to eliminate pneumonia and at worst death. Because of the liability associated with this choice a medical professional is unlikely to recommend this. However; you may decide that this is a reasonable risk to take.

Finally, I would like to add that although you are no doubtedly passionate in your persuit to treat your sleep disorders, I am drawing upon a knowledge base created by treating THOUSANDS of people with sleep related breathing disorders. But hey, what do I know I am just a guest! .

That's the problem, "Guest". How in the world do you expect us to know you are this "Guest" and not the other "Guest"??? And how do you know the sleepycarol is reacting to your one post, and not to a number of repepitive posts by another guest?

Register, and we'll know which member you are when you post.

Here's what I learned about you from your first posts:

You are proud of your credentials and your training.
You think you know enough about digame, who (apparently lives in Vietnam) to tell him or her what to do - without asking about his or her alternatives.
You criticise members of this forum without having read their posts properly.
You leap before looking - and then you apologize.
You don't know that self titration can take many nights, and can by done on a regular cpap machine - as long as one gets data from it.
Nothing in your posts answered digame's queations, nor tried to understand his or her problem.

Have you published any papers, in peer reviewed journals, based on your knowledgebase of treating thousands of people with sleep related breathing disorders? We would all be very interested in reading them - we tend to share that knowledge around here.

O.

P.S. How many cases of asphyxiation by taping in otherwise healthy cpap users have meen mentioned in the professional literature???

The problem ozij is that everyone seems to have overlooked the fact that Digame stated that he or she doesn't know what pressure to set this borrowed CPAP machine on and also doesn't know which mask to use because, and i quote "i can use any kind of mask because i really dont know which one fits me". This shows that a CPAP titration was probably not performed because he or she would have a recommended pressure and mask. This makes it very unproffesional to advise Digame to use CPAP.

P.S. So you think that because the dangers of taping your mouth shut while asleep and using CPAP hasn't been mentioned in the professional literature then it must be ok to do so?. Maybe the writers of these papers didn't feel the need to explain this.[/quote]

Anonymous wrote:... snip ...
P.S. So you think that because the dangers of taping your mouth shut while asleep and using CPAP hasn't been mentioned in the professional literature then it must be ok to do so?. Maybe the writers of these papers didn't feel the need to explain this.

So therefore because it is not mentioned in the literature it must be a significant danger?

Well OK then ... unless you are dead, EVERYTHING is a danger to some degree (even the keyboard you use to reply to this forum).

As has been mentioned ... your credibility already took a BIG hit making authoritative posts as a Guest and it's slipping fast. Do consider registering before it's too late.

As KansasRt has stated before, the members of this forum are the exception when it comes to OSA patients that the sleep pros deal with on a daily basis. If you register, as ozij suggests, you might be taken more seriously though it may not neccessarily elevate your authority. We welcome your input but do be prepared to have an open mind and/or be confronted by patient/USERS who think outside the sleep profession box.

Sure Dreamstalker everything including this keyboard is a danger to some degree, this is why I wouldnt strap this keyboard to my mouth while I sleep at night I use it to type just like I use tape to wrap gifts. Im also not searching for credibility on this site , I would rather have that from my patience who leave me after a fully rested night which is what I work 100% to achieve. I realise that we can only go around in circles with what we believe is right so this will be my last posting on this site to many cheers I'm sure. I wish everybody good health and happy CPAP machine and mask swapping.

My machine is an APAP as well. Without this group of people there are many people that would have stopped treatment due to lack of help from both their doctors and DME's.

My first DME was horrible and gave me the wrong machine and tried to make it appear that I was at fault!! That is all discussed on another thread and I won't hash it out here.

The support I have received here, the help, guidance, and generosity of others have made my transition to being a hosehead a reality and not a disaster!!

I never thought using apap was that difficult and complicated. But I still want to give it try because you know how horrible it is having problem with sleeping. My Sister promises to bring her cpap when she comes back to Vietnam early next year. but its crazy that now I doubt it. I dont know that it'd if she is not keeping her promise. Its very hard for me to find a sleep lap here in Vietnam or the treatment will be very expensive for me. It will be hell if I have to live with this problem all my life.

Anyway thank you all so much for your advices.

We will keep you in our thoughts. I hope you can get some relief and remember this forum for any problems you might have.

Have you tried sleeping on you side to lessen the sleep apnea? It doesn't work for everyone but some have had some success with doing that. Others need their cpap and sleep on their sides as they can usually use a little lower pressure if they sleep on their side. I know this isn't an answer to your problems -- but trying to find you a limited amount of relief now.

There are also threads on here about a do it yourself mouth guard. Unsure if you can get access to the materials you would need to make one. It might be a cheap intervention for a short time.

Good luck.