robysue1 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 1:36 pm
The health problems associated with sleep apnea are associated with untreated and undertreated sleep apnea.
Well that just made me question something else. I am being treated so that's good but how do I know if I am meeting the gold standard or if I am being undertreated?
robysue1 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 1:36 pm
Bubbles2024 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 12:46 pm
My coworker has it. They don't talk about it. I know she has had tons of problems health wise and is my age. I haven't had any real health problems except for this and I am so worried this is going to lead to more.
The health problems associated with sleep apnea are associated with
untreated and
undertreated sleep apnea.
My coworker has severe anxiety, allergies, asthma, yeast infections in her ears, teeth problems, does horrible with ansthetic during surgeries, etc. I don't want that to be me.
Except for "does horrible with anesthesia" none of these health problems have a strong correlation with sleep apnea or CPAP therapy.
General anxiety, allergies, asthma, yeast infections, ear problems, teeth problems---all of those things develop independent of OSA. Now having any of them can make it a bit harder to treat OSA because you have to manage more than one chronic problem at a time. But OSA doesn't cause them.
The connection between OSA and "does horrible with anesthesia" boils down to two things:
1) Many people who have very small airways (high mallampati scores) have trouble with anesthesia because the airway is so small. And that small airway can also be much more prone to collapsing while asleep. So people with very small airways have a higher than expected rate of OSA even when they're skinny.
2) When people with severe OSA are sedated and their autonomic nervous system takes over responsibility for breathing, their airways tend to collapse, particularly during recovery after surgery while the anesthesia is in the process of wearing off and the tube is no longer down their airway. This is why many surgical centers are open to the idea of a person with severe OSA bringing their machine with them when they arrive for surgery: If problems with apneas occur during recovery, the correctly set CPAP + mask is already there and available for use.
I think that is my problem at the moment. My riding friend is male and he just doesn't like the mask but doesn't have any other real problems.
Just like you---he doesn't like the mask. Lots of people don't like the mask. But lots of those folks who don't like the mask use it anyway because they understand the
benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
I just worry about all the side effects and want to get ahead of them so that I don't have them. Maybe that isn't realistic.
What "side effects" are you worried about? Seriously? CPAP is about as benign of a medical treatment as you can find for a chronic medical condition: It's just plain old air that is being blown at your upper airway during the night.
robysue1 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 1:36 pm
The connection between OSA and "does horrible with anesthesia" boils down to two things:
1) Many people who have very small airways (high mallampati scores) have trouble with anesthesia because the airway is so small. And that small airway can also be much more prone to collapsing while asleep. So people with very small airways have a higher than expected rate of OSA even when they're skinny.
2) When people with severe OSA are sedated and their autonomic nervous system takes over responsibility for breathing, their airways tend to collapse, particularly during recovery after surgery while the anesthesia is in the process of wearing off and the tube is no longer down their airway. This is why many surgical centers are open to the idea of a person with severe OSA bringing their machine with them when they arrive for surgery: If problems with apneas occur during recovery, the correctly set CPAP + mask is already there and available for use.
I had surgery two years ago, and nothing was said about apnea. I have come through all my surgeries like a champ no problem. So I guess that I don't need to worry about OSA making recover harder for me. I just need to think about coming out of anesthetic like I always do. Except for one exemption bringing "Nemi" just incase.
robysue1 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 1:36 pm
Just like you---he doesn't like the mask. Lots of people don't like the mask. But lots of those folks who don't like the mask use it anyway because they understand the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
I get that. I understand the benefits. I don't think people understand my need to minimize or be proactive with the drawbacks.
robysue1 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 1:36 pm
What "side effects" are you worried about? Seriously? CPAP is about as benign of medical treatment as you can find for a chronic medical condition: It's just plain old air that is being blown at your upper airway during the night.
I have read that some side effects can be tooth decay, facial deformity, nerve damage from masks being tight, dry eyes, pimples, and sores. Don't tell me it's not real; I have also seen pictures in medical journals and articles. I do worry about these things, and if I can get ahead of them, then I won't have to deal with irreversible issues, high dental bills, etc. I have also read that the air can change your ears' pressure and cause hearing loss. I get that it is just plain air, but what parts of the machine are you breathing in? People have had lung damage and even death, as noted in recent recalls of Phillips machines. It's not just the air. If all it was was air, no mask, and no side effects, this would be much easier to deal with for me. Let's be real here. Benign is a cream you rub on and it goes away.
Thank you for sharing and helping challenge my thoughts about all this. It will work out I just need to get a plan in place, figure out how I know this is working and move ahead. I have a meeting with the Respiratory Therapist who works with my sleep specialist on Friday. I am hoping she will be able to straighten some of this out and help with the mask. I just found out when I called them today that I don't have to go to Don Paul, who is associated with the DME company ROTECH, anymore for fittings and questions. I do feel better about that already. Once again things you don't know until you start asking and get to the point you can't handle stuff anymore.
). I have my machine sitting on a plastic lid of a large, plastic Sterlite storage box that acts as a tray for it and slides easily. During the day, I slide the thing under my bed, out of sight. I actually don't have room on my nightstand for it, but I like this hidden system better anyway. When my DME gets the Beep I may try it. If you can get it, a Bleep is definitely worth a try.