Need to get some sleep!

Hello,

I was directed to your website by the friendly people at British Snoring. They suggested that you may be able to give me some advice. Thanks very much!


I live in Western Australia and have just returned from an aponea clinic where I spent one night to get a diagnosis.

The results showed that I am stopping breathing up to 25 times, sometimes for up to 52 seconds.

I have naps during the day, especially in the early evening after returning from work and was hoping to get a CPAP machine (my brother-in-law in Germany has one and his life has been turned around with it) but the specialist has told me that while I have aponea, it's not a severe case and I should just use a mouth guard. Which I did. And it dropped out after around 15 minutes, according to my wife. I didn't know, as I was asleep.

Any advice would be appreciated. I suffered a stroke in my 40s and don't want to risk my health any further.

How "bad" does it have to be before a machine is prescribed? I don't even mind having to buy one.

Welcome Beenster

Here in Canada (Quebec) you are prescribed a machine if you have more than 10 AHI which is mild apnea.

In your case stopping breathing for 52 seconds is huge, try to stop breathing for 52 seconds right now and you will see. On top of that if you need to take a nap after work IMHO you should get a prescription for a machine. One of the consequences of sleep apnea not treated are strokes! Do you have high blood pressure?

In any case with an history of a stroke in your 40's if I was you I would make all what I can to have my prescription for a machine, even if I need to find another Dr.

I was diagnosed with 30AHI. I didn't want to be plugged to a machine for the rest of my life, so I waited and in 6 months my health deteriorated at the point I was not functional at all. And all that happened so fast, bang! I was starting to have problems even to write. Sleeping apnea is very dangerous!

I wish you all the best, I'm sure I won't be the only one to suggest you to get your machine As Soon As Possible.

Rosie

The "specialist" is a moron. Get a second opinion, even if you have to travel to a larger city. In the States, you would have been prescribed a machine with those numbers. Dental appliances are considered appropriate here only for mild cases, which yours is not.

Does Australia have a specialist board that certifies sleep doctors? If so, search its web site for everything discussing when CPAP is appropriate, and the limited circumstances (i.e. mild cases) when a dental appliance is appropriate. It would be useful to bring those materials to your next appointment with the so-called specialist.

Try to see a pulmonologist (respiratory/chest doctor), or a neurologist, because most will have had some 'related' education even if they are not full fledged sleep practitioners.