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Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:59 pm
by Miss Emerita
To get an ASV, many patients must “fail” regular PAP and bilevel PAP. It seems cruel to me. Anobono, good luck hanging in there.
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2021 9:56 pm
by anobono
Miss Emerita wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:59 pm
To get an ASV, many patients must “fail” regular PAP and bilevel PAP. It seems cruel to me. Anobono, good luck hanging in there.
Thanks. 61 days with a machine, for an average of 7.5 hours per night, including 3 nights with the pulse-oxygen meter, and the results were discouraging in terms of the numbers and types of events showing a clear lack of improvement, and a concerning pattern of frequent oxygen desaturation. We tried a whole bunch of settings with no improvement. Both the respiratory therapist and the lung specialist agreed that I'm one of these fairly rare "complicated" cases for whom CPAP is not the solution, to the extent of recommending I don't continue treatment until I get the ASV.
They were quite impressed with my commitment to stick with it this long though.
I wanted to give up quite a few times, but after being too tired for so many years, I need to see this through. My SO has had a CPAP for years, and they're offering no real support because all they end up saying is "Funny. It works for me.". No sympathy for me. Well, I'm reaaaally happy for them LOL. So, that topic is now off limits and I'm on my own
Hopefully the wait for the ASV won't be too long. Actually it's getting an ECG first to rule out a rare heart condition that makes ASV dangerous that may take a long time in my area, especially during the pandemic. Otherwise, the doctor could have just read the specialist's report and replied "Go ahead with BiPAP ASV".
At least, I have gotten very good at adapting quite well to changing sleeping conditions. I'm about to go to bed and try to fall asleep on my left side. Sweet dreams, maybe.
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2021 11:35 pm
by Respirator99
Hopefully the wait for the ASV won't be too long. Actually it's getting an ECG first to rule out a rare heart condition that makes ASV dangerous that may take a long time in my area, especially during the pandemic. Otherwise, the doctor could have just read the specialist's report and replied "Go ahead with BiPAP ASV".
OK, so you have central sleep apnea, which an ordinary cpap won't treat. Hence the need for an ASV. The "rare heart condition" which contraindicates against ASV is severe congestive cardiac failure, with ejection fraction <35% (if I remember correctly). You'd know if you had it.
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 6:16 am
by Hoeksel
I would skip alcohol for the mean time for sure, and in case you suspect UARS I personally feel skipping intense sports is smart as well (no proof, own experience).
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 8:46 am
by anobono
Hoeksel wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 6:16 am
I would skip alcohol for the mean time for sure, and in case you suspect UARS I personally feel skipping intense sports is smart as well (no proof, own experience).
I never drink, so that's not an issue. I don't have any symptoms of cardiac disease or suspect any. It's just the specialist exercising due diligence by ruling it out. No arguing with them anyway. I can't move forward without them. An ECG is not a big deal anyway, except for the delays I may experience, but that's a different discussion, and I'm not at risk of dying in the meantime.
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 11:55 am
by zonker
anobono wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 8:46 am
how'd you sleep last night?
did you get any rest at all?
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:06 pm
by chunkyfrog
The best revenge against sucky insurance is to survive in spite of
their best efforts to prevent you from costing them money--(by dying.)
You go!
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:09 pm
by anobono
zonker wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 11:55 am
how'd you sleep last night?
did you get any rest at all?
Couldn't fall asleep on my side. So, I remembered I had a wedge pillow at the back of a closet and slept on that, mostly of my back in a recline position. I slept okay for me, better than some nights during the CPAP trial in fact. I did wake up a few times in a hurry when my soft palate closed my airway, but that's kind of expected. I've ordered a soft neck brace like some people use to keep their neck straight to prevent snoring and apnea. It wasn't expensive and may help.
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:12 pm
by anobono
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:06 pm
The best revenge against sucky insurance is to survive in spite of
their best efforts to prevent you from costing them money--(by dying.)
You go!
I know what you mean. But in my case, it's really having to wait to get an ECG that is the hold up. With the COVID situation, I can only hope it doesn't take too long. Everyone is short-staffed and, understandably, working under more restrictive conditions.
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:14 pm
by chunkyfrog
anobono wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:12 pm
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:06 pm
The best revenge against sucky insurance is to survive in spite of
their best efforts to prevent you from costing them money--(by dying.)
You go!
I know what you mean. But in my case, it's really having to wait to get an ECG that is the hold up. With the COVID situation, I can only hope it doesn't take too long. Everyone is short-staffed and, understandably, working under more restrictive conditions.
Where do you live?
It's not like that here--yet, anyway.
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:26 pm
by anobono
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:14 pm
Where do you live?
It's not like that here--yet, anyway.
Canada
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:42 pm
by chunkyfrog
Oh, that explains a lot.
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:52 pm
by Julie
Really?
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 2:47 pm
by zonker
anobono wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:09 pm
zonker wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 11:55 am
how'd you sleep last night?
did you get any rest at all?
Couldn't fall asleep on my side. So, I remembered I had a wedge pillow at the back of a closet and slept on that, mostly of my back in a recline position. I slept okay for me, better than some nights during the CPAP trial in fact. I did wake up a few times in a hurry when my soft palate closed my airway, but that's kind of expected. I've ordered a soft neck brace like some people use to keep their neck straight to prevent snoring and apnea. It wasn't expensive and may help.
that's good!
my source for the cervical collar seems to be temporarily (i hope) out. which did you get? and was it 3" or 4" or?
Re: Favorite tricks to reduce apnea WITHOUT CPAP/BIPAP etc
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 3:09 pm
by anobono
zonker wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 2:47 pm
anobono wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:09 pm
zonker wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 11:55 am
how'd you sleep last night?
did you get any rest at all?
Couldn't fall asleep on my side. So, I remembered I had a wedge pillow at the back of a closet and slept on that, mostly of my back in a recline position. I slept okay for me, better than some nights during the CPAP trial in fact. I did wake up a few times in a hurry when my soft palate closed my airway, but that's kind of expected. I've ordered a soft neck brace like some people use to keep their neck straight to prevent snoring and apnea. It wasn't expensive and may help.
that's good!
my source for the cervical collar seems to be temporarily (i hope) out. which did you get? and was it 3" or 4" or?
I didn't look too closely. It turns out to be a 3".