Open mind for different solutions?

What kind of an 'open mind' posts a thread called "I hate...." with nothing else at all said? For one thing, most people come to this site to learn, along with expressing opinions, and if you've been here for a while, you should have noted that research shows that a) snoring alone is not always an apnea problem, b) dental devices tend NOT to work well or for long if you do have apnea, and c) being simplistic about complex health issues is not very smart, but can mislead other 'newbies' to the site who need to learn more about their conditions without being given flip answers.

"Ditto" Jim

http://www.ihatecpap.com/

because it interferes with my sales of dental appliances.

While I hate the name of the site, I can approach the information it provides with an open mind.

Yes, it's designed to sell dental devices, but who's to say that dental devices are BAD?

There are forum members here that are having problems and fears. Liam is one that comes to mind. Perhaps a dental device can help control some of his apneas and give him some relief. I would rather have mild sleep apnea than severe.

Also, a member recently wrote that he flys alot, on long trips, and he hates his loud snoring. Perhaps he could use one of these dental devices while he is on the plane. If nothing else, it might control his snoring so he can avoid embarrassment and irritating his fellow passengers.

I think it would be interesting to hear from some of our forum members who have used a dental device to get some feedback. Who knows, it might give us another tool to help others who are having problems.

Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea I paid some $350 out of pocket for one of these dental appliances (to help with my snoring).

Aside from dislocating my jaw it did noting else. I ended up throwing it away.

But that said apnea is highly dependent on any given individual's anatomy and these dental appliances might work for someone else--this is just one person's experience.

Good Luck!

I've never understood why so many people here have a similar level of hated for dental devices that is usually reserved for DME folks.

Does it appear going by message board posts that many people have not had high success with dental devices? Sure. But I think we could all agree that message board posts are about the worst measuring stick ever invented, no?

So what if the purpose of the site is to sell dental devices? Big freaking deal. The purpose of this site is to sell cpap equipment and no one seems to mind that. Why the difference? Sure this site also directly helps CPAP users due to the feedback of messages but the net result is the same. The dissemination of information in the hopes of driving a sale.

Also, the fact is that many people HAVE posted here that dental devices have worked for them. Isn't that about the coolest thing ever?!! How awesome for them that they are no longer tied to a big stupid freaking CPAP machine and mask.

Don't we flat out OWE it to people to let them to try every avenue possible in an effort to find something that works for them? Haven't we already all agreed that every case is different and therefore every option should be presented?

mattman

meister wrote:Open mind for different solutions?

If I couldn't tolerate CPAP, I'd definitely try a dental device. The fact that it can move your teeth and change your jaw alignment over time kind of scares me, but the thought of having a stroke caused by untreated OSA scares me more!

I was surprised to see all the oral appliance options listed. I haven't heard of some of these: TAP, TAP II, TAP TL, Oasys, Modified Herbst, Telescopic Herbst, Somnomed Appliance, Tongue Retaining Devices, Silent Nite, Silent Knight, Rest Assured, Therabite.

mattman wrote:Don't we flat out OWE it to people to let them to try every avenue possible in an effort to find something that works for them? Haven't we already all agreed that every case is different and therefore every option should be presented?

mattman

That is why everyone should be allowed to try out an APAP even if most folks may do just fine with a CPAP machine.

DreamStalker wrote:

mattman wrote:Don't we flat out OWE it to people to let them to try every avenue possible in an effort to find something that works for them?
mattman

That is why everyone should be allowed to try out an APAP even if most folks may do just fine with a CPAP machine.

See, that's where I respectfully disagree with you.
To me, it's incumbant upon us to start with the least expensive options and work our way up until we find something that does work. So if CPAP works I don't see any reason to move to the more expensive APAP.
The costs have got to start being controlled and I - personally - think that if I don't practice it at home then I've got no ground to go complaining about it anywhere else.
But that's the cool thing about being where we are, we are all free to respectfully disagree with each other.

mattman

mattman wrote:

DreamStalker wrote:

mattman wrote:Don't we flat out OWE it to people to let them to try every avenue possible in an effort to find something that works for them?
mattman

That is why everyone should be allowed to try out an APAP even if most folks may do just fine with a CPAP machine.

See, that's where I respectfully disagree with you.
To me, it's incumbant upon us to start with the least expensive options and work our way up until we find something that does work. So if CPAP works I don't see any reason to move to the more expensive APAP.
The costs have got to start being controlled and I - personally - think that if I don't practice it at home then I've got no ground to go complaining about it anywhere else.
But that's the cool thing about being where we are, we are all free to respectfully disagree with each other.

mattman

So it's cheaper, to have a low end CPAP setting on the floor of a closet, and the owner go untreated, than to put him on a APAP, that he can be compliant on. And later we can pay for his added health problems, but on the bright side we save $300. And maybe added $30,000 to added medical costs, or maybe we will get lucky, and they will die without running up the big medical bill. Jim

Nooooooooooooooooooo.
Read what I wrote:
"So if CPAP works I don't see any reason to move to the more expensive APAP."

mattman

Anonymous wrote:Nooooooooooooooooooo.
Read what I wrote:
"So if CPAP works I don't see any reason to move to the more expensive APAP."

mattman

Then we should all be driving Pintos, (with Fire suppression). Jim

Gas would only be $0.75 a gallon.

THIS site could just as easily be called "I hate dental devices"....."Even though I am judging them on second hand VERY limited information, and haven't tried it myself."

Seems like a lot of people have a mind like a steel trap.....It snaps SHUT.

50% compliance rate (IF people even get as far as TRYING) CPAP is nothing to brag about. PAGES AND PAGES of topic LISTINGS of PROBLEMS with CPAP, including shifting teeth around and jaw soreness and a whole bunch of other things is nothing to be impressed by.

Sure dental devices don't work for everyone, and SOME people have problems. But there is no reason for people that ARE successful with dental devices to stick around and take the abuse of all the people that for unfathomable reasons dump HATE on dental device treatment.

Of course some of the problems with dental devices are caused by using fly by night devices in THAT category (same as with bogus CPAP devices that drift through regularly and cause all sorts of extra problems) or not going through a certified sleep dentist, or someone that can fit the device PROPERLY.

And of course some people are just not compatible with dental devices, same as CPAP.

It just seems silly to FOCUS only on ONE medieval approach that has such a bad batting average and not just try to find THE best approach for EACH individual and realize treatment of apnea is still in the Stone Age and WILL constantly evolve and hopefully VASTLY improve in the future.

BTW, a dental device is working GREAT for ME and has really given me back my life. I would LIKE to share my long term results, good OR bad, but people want to go off singing with their fingers in their ears instead.

Goofproof wrote:

mattman wrote:

DreamStalker wrote:

mattman wrote:Don't we flat out OWE it to people to let them to try every avenue possible in an effort to find something that works for them?
mattman

That is why everyone should be allowed to try out an APAP even if most folks may do just fine with a CPAP machine.

See, that's where I respectfully disagree with you.
To me, it's incumbant upon us to start with the least expensive options and work our way up until we find something that does work. So if CPAP works I don't see any reason to move to the more expensive APAP.
The costs have got to start being controlled and I - personally - think that if I don't practice it at home then I've got no ground to go complaining about it anywhere else.
But that's the cool thing about being where we are, we are all free to respectfully disagree with each other.

mattman

So it's cheaper, to have a low end CPAP setting on the floor of a closet, and the owner go untreated, than to put him on a APAP, that he can be compliant on. And later we can pay for his added health problems, but on the bright side we save $300. And maybe added $30,000 to added medical costs, or maybe we will get lucky, and they will die without running up the big medical bill. Jim