New hose head, new board member

[m1k2s3]

Welcome KAZ - I'm so glad you've told your story. I think it's really important to tell our stories and let people know that there is a treatment out there that can literally save your life.

Good luck KAZ and keep us posted on your progress - every CPAP success story we hear just helps confirm that we're doing the right thing.

[goose]

Welcome KAZ!!! Your story is inspiring!!!
Anyone that doesn't take this stuff seriously only needs to read your post.
I'm also a diabetic with high blood pressure - I'm hoping that getting my OSA numbers down will lower the other ones.
Thanks for your information!!!!!

Cheers
gg

[VT_very_tired]

Hi All,

After wandering the web for more than a few weeks, I finally came across your site. Lots of information.

That being said, I've been on a 15 week mission to get my doctors attention. Smoked for 25 years, took chantix, quit in 4 weeks. Two weeks after that, just felt lousy. Then after about 4 more weeks of 12 hours in bed (not sleeping, in bed) went to the MDs. He takes blood and stuff. I have to call him the following week. Lady tells me, "Oh, your sugar was a little high." I'm like, wrong bleeping answer. Go to a high end ER in the Boston area. Nothing. By week 11 I managed to get to a pulomonary MD. Last week (14) I finally get a sleep study done. Sleep tech tells me that it's absolutely central apnea. I call the pulmonary office and they tell me that it takes a month to "interpret" the results. So I'm scheduled to see him again week 19.

Sorry for the rant, I'm just feeling worse and worse and the frustration is building. I've tried every OTC pill on the shelf - nothing.

Thanks,

VT

[sharon1965]

kaz

thank you so much for posting your frightening experience

i have just spent the last hour posting a thread about how i've been on cpap for 6 months with no noticeable results, but...

after reading your story i realize it is at least keeping me alive; this is something i already knew on some level, but your story brought it into sharp focus for me

thank you again and welcome to the cpaptalk.com family

take good care

sharon1965

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, CPAP

[sharon1965]

VT_very_tired said

Sorry for the rant, I'm just feeling worse and worse and the frustration is building. I've tried every OTC pill on the shelf - nothing.

trust me, this post was not a rant...if you want to see a full out rant (read: tantrum) check out my thread "didn't it take anyone else a long time to feel better" (sorry, i don't know how to post links to other threads)...i'm embarrassed to say i believe i hold the title of rant-champion for that one

please don't apologize...we're here to support, help and just listen, if that's what you need

best of luck with getting your treatment going

sharon

[Guest]

Welcome, KAZ, I appreciated reading your story and am glad you are here!

Last week (14) I finally get a sleep study done. Sleep tech tells me that it's absolutely central apnea. I call the pulmonary office and they tell me that it takes a month to "interpret" the results. So I'm scheduled to see him again week 19.

Sorry for the rant, I'm just feeling worse and worse and the frustration is building. I've tried every OTC pill on the shelf - nothing.

Thanks,

VT

Welcome, VT! I'm glad you found us. This delay is not unusual, but you can use it to good advantage to learn lots about the kinds of equipment you will need and the best ways to get it. This will make a world of difference when you finally get the results, so they don't try to give you substandard equipment and treatment. Do a post telling your story and that you are looking for help from others with central apnea and what works best.

I hated waiting all those weeks to get my results, titration, and equipment.

[VT_very_tired]

To All,

Thanks again for the welcome. I think aside from the frustration, symptomatically, I've pretty much been operating as a textbook case of sleep deprivation. I've never had a "steel trap" for a memory, now I can't even remember what I did last night. Not to mention the strung out feeling.

Aside from getting this diagnosis done, I guess my only question (and this may be in another post - there is a lot of information here!) how are insurance companies with MD's, equipment, meds, etc. Just curious.

Thanks again,

VT

[ozij]

VT,
If it's central apnea, start looking for posts by Christinequilts - she has it and is very knowledgeable. Central sleep apnea is rare - and is a result of your nervous system not giving your lungs the instruction to breath when they should be breathing. As you read posts, you should keep in mind that this is very different from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) which comes from airway collapse. People with OSA struggle to breath when the obstruction occurs , but just can't get the air in. People with central apnea simply don't breath until they eventually wake up.

It's good you were diagnosed - I hope you will be getting treatment and feeling better soon.


O.

[CarrieS]

SOrry for what you have gone through and God Bless for coming to the board and sharing. Wishing you much success!

[DawnTCB]

I call the pulmonary office and they tell me that it takes a month to "interpret" the results. So I'm scheduled to see him again week 19.

I am sorry to hear that you had such a long road to diagnosis. I did as well, although because it is in the past the frustration has faded some. Seems like most people here had some trouble getting the doctors to see it their way at some point.

I just wanted to chime in and say that I had very good luck with the "bug the heck out of them" approach. I called the office nearly every day, begging, sweetly, to get in to see the doctor before my scheduled time, and to please let me know if a spot came up. I explained that I was concerned by the severity of my condition and also had read up on the positive changes I could expect from treatment and that I was anxious to get started. I got my appointment squeezed in very quickly. Of course, my sleep center is fairly new and so they may have more flexibility than some but it doesn't hurt to ask. A couple of times.

Dawn

[roster]

.......... I called the office nearly every day, begging, sweetly, to get in to see the doctor before my scheduled time, and to please let me know if a spot came up. I explained that I was concerned by the severity of my condition ............

Dawn

Good suggestion Dawn. This tactic worked well for me also all throughout the cycle: initial consultation with sleep doc -> sleep study -> evaluation of study -> titration night -> consultation with doc -> delivery of equipment by DME.

[DreamStalker]

.......... I called the office nearly every day, begging, sweetly, to get in to see the doctor before my scheduled time, and to please let me know if a spot came up. I explained that I was concerned by the severity of my condition ............

Dawn

Good suggestion Dawn. This tactic worked well for me also all throughout the cycle: initial consultation with sleep doc -> sleep study -> evaluation of study -> titration night -> consultation with doc -> delivery of equipment by DME.

Cutting to the front of the line ... tsk tsk tsk.

I agree ... use your elbows if you have to.

[KAZ]

I'm pleased if my adventure/misadventure has encouraged some to press on until proper treatment is achieved. One other benefit for me is that I found out at my regular checkup today that my O2 level is 97,it was 93 best before cpap.I'm on one liter of O2 because my O2 fell to 80 during my sleep study and again during an at home test before cpap(uncapped trachea), maybe I can get off the added O2. In addition my weight loss has caused my sugar levels to fall below 100 and I'm no longer pre type 2 diabetes.
Again, thanks to all of the great board members who take the time to offer ideas of how to best deal with this life long way of life. We have to all stick together to stay on this ride. Regards