Using CPAP as a screening tool

Update:

I did it, and it went extremely well!

I set my dad up overnight. At first he was having a lot of the issues you guys were worried about with not adapting to the CPAP, but after a few minutes he was able to get used to it and agreed to sleep with it. I had it in CPAP mode with a pressure of 4.

It turns out, while he had a difficult time with it at first he found in the morning when he went to take it off that he stuck it back on because he was so used to the airflow from the cpap that regular breathing didn't feel sufficient. I had a very similar experience my first time on the cpap. His AHI was 3.9 and I explained to him that means he stopped breathing between 3-4 times an hour WITH minimal therapy, so if he had no therapy it would likely be much higher. The next day after sleeping without the CPAP he realized that he slept much better and felt a lot better after using the CPAP than without. My mom remarked that she loved it because he didn't snore. He asked me if he could have my machine after my insurance pays for a new one. Of course I told him yes, but on the condition that he have a formal sleep study done, and he agreed

I also hooked up my mom, and she showed nothing of significant concern. I know this doesn't mean there are no issues as it's possible the low level therapy was sufficient to treat any existing issues- but she also has no symptoms of sleep apnea or any other reasons for concern.

I'm so glad I did it, because with his various sleep apnea related issues (high blood pressure, mini stroke, thyroid, etc) this could mean a significant improvement in his health

With all due respect, your parents sound quite ill already. Your description of them sounds as if they already perhaps need to be in either a hospital getting serious evaluation or in a nursing home, seeing doctors weekly. Your description sounds as if they should probably not be driving automobiles, either. Unfortunately, you cant make a grown man or woman go seek help. All you can do is wait til a catastrophic event occurs and maybe, maybe they will start taking some responsibility for their health.

Unfortunately, some people in American society reach an age where they just begin to fade out. Nothing you can do about that, we live in a free society. Free to live, free to be sick, free to be healthy if that is possible and healthy choices are made...but all too many times healthy choices are not made.

I suggest you worry about your own health, manage your stress levels and dont let yourself become like your folks.

bellab wrote:Hello,

I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea and due to our healthcare system I had to secure a system through craigslist. I want my parents to be evaluated for sleep apnea. My mom snores midly and has a lot of swelling in her legs. She was told by her primary care doctor to be checked for sleep apnea, but she refused because she didn't want to sleep in a hospital- this was before home sleep tests. My Dad has had a mini stroke, has high blood pressure and thyroid issues (all linked to untreated sleep apnea) he snores like a broken truck and at time wakes up gasping which he attributes to "saliva going down his windpipe" -

I was wondering if I could set them up with my apap and look at their data to help convince them to go for a sleep study. I could set the pressure at 4 for minimal cpap assistance and look at their AHI or just let the APAP do it's thing and show them how much pressure it took to keep their airway open.

Is this something that could be done?

Pugsy, your family and mine should shake hands.
We lost my wife's brother last thanksgiving due to respiratory failure, even though I had finally gotten him to start using his APAP some of the time.
My daughter inherited his CPAP but just moved to a new home and has many excuses to postpone using it, even though she knows she has apnea.
My sister admits that she has apnea, but won't get tested and her husband won't even talk about it. They are both morbidly obese and after 20 plus years of nagging her I am getting nowhere.
My aunt who is in her 80s is involved in a weight management company did convince her to follow the plan for a year or so a few years back. Sis lost 30 or 40 lbs but looks like she has put back 3 or 4 times that.
Maybe we should swap families and see if we can motivate strangers more effectively than family.

MrGrumpy wrote:With all due respect, your parents sound quite ill already. Your description of them sounds as if they already perhaps need to be in either a hospital getting serious evaluation or in a nursing home, seeing doctors weekly. Your description sounds as if they should probably not be driving automobiles, either. Unfortunately, you cant make a grown man or woman go seek help. All you can do is wait til a catastrophic event occurs and maybe, maybe they will start taking some responsibility for their health.

Your statement is rediculous......

MrGrumpy wrote:With all due respect, your parents sound quite ill already. Your description of them sounds as if they already perhaps need to be in either a hospital getting serious evaluation or in a nursing home, seeing doctors weekly. Your description sounds as if they should probably not be driving automobiles, either. Unfortunately, you cant make a grown man or woman go seek help. All you can do is wait til a catastrophic event occurs and maybe, maybe they will start taking some responsibility for their health.

Unfortunately, some people in American society reach an age where they just begin to fade out. Nothing you can do about that, we live in a free society. Free to live, free to be sick, free to be healthy if that is possible and healthy choices are made...but all too many times healthy choices are not made.

I suggest you worry about your own health, manage your stress levels and dont let yourself become like your folks.

They need to be in a hospital or nursing home because of high blood pressure, thyroid problems, leg swelling, and mini strokes in the past? Omg, that's hilarious. I'm not sharing my list of medical problems with you. You'll think I need to go to hospice. Even though I work full time, and ski several times a week. Do you have any idea how sick you need to be to get admitted to a hospital these days? You need an acute issue that needs to be addressed then and there or it will lead to death. None of those things are acute issues. They wouldn't qualify for your typical 3 day hospital admission that is the norm these days.

And a nursing home? Hahaha. That's for people who have no ability to care for their own needs, and no family or friends able to help them. What about that post gave you the impression OP's parents aren't perfectly able to shop, bathe, prepare meals, and clean their house? And the idea of seeing a doctor once a week in a nursing home? Omg, you really should just go into comedy!

MrGrumpy wrote:Your description of them sounds as if they already perhaps need to be in either a hospital taking serious evaluation or in a nursing home, seeing doctors weekly. Your description sounds as if they should probably not be driving automobiles,

Ha, please. Tell me exactly what qualifies you to determine that my parents should be in a nursing home?

My parents both work physically demanding labor jobs. My dad just turned 64, and he works manufacturing steel sheets and building materials. He spends his days running and heavy lifting. My Mom works 8-10 hour days on her feet running assembly lines. Neither of them belong anywhere near a nursing home, except maybe as volunteers. My dad does receive regular medical care and his various health issues are well managed, thank you very much. Hopefully with proper treatment of sleep apnea, his conditions can improve on their own without the need of medication, but only time will tell.

Nursing homes are kind of a last resort, imo/ime. You don't put someone in a nursing home because they have a few random health concerns. I doubt very many people are "better off" in one--if there were alternatives. A hospital is for acute needs. I don't think any of these are acute.