Is it a life sentance?

All day and unfortunately most of last night I have been thinking about the possibility of a cure. A lot of people including myself tend to use the phrase "life sentence" but how do we know? 30yrs ago if you severed a finger it was gone for life. Then along came microsurgery also a blessing for many men with a scorned spouse . Heart transplants etc etc. A lot of bright people here. Any thoughts on a futuristic cure ?

Well, a life sentence is better than a death sentence, like comparing OSA with cancer or aids. I don't think having OSA is even close to life sentence. At least OSA sufferers still have a normal life, only tied up with xPAP at night.

Before I was diagnosed OSA, I went to see a chinese doctor. He claims that it is possible to cure OSA.Thanks to him he direct me to a well known ENT specialist. He also ask me to see him if the ENT suggest surgery. I never did go back. Perhaps I should pay him a visit one day. The cure for OSA maybe already available now, traditional chinese medicine, ayurveda, etc.

Here is a product that claim to able to cure OSA

http://www.liptrainer.com/

I have not try it myself.

GreenIce wrote:Well, a life sentence is better than a death sentence,

I think that basically sums it up.

There are tons of things that human beings have to do on a frequent basis to live a healthy, energetic life: keep the calories down, eat enough protein and fruits and vegetables and dairy (but not too much), not overdo the carbs or fat or sugar, exercise, keep an eye on sodium in the diet and cholesterol in the blood, go to the doctor regularly, take multivitamins, get enough sleep,... so what if that last one costs me an extra step?

I wouldn't rule out the possibility of *ever* having surgery if surgery improved, but not with current success rates. I won't have surgery to improve my vision, either. Methods just aren't good enough yet.

I have to say I'm perplexed how ayurveda could possibly have any effect on the size and shape of one's airway.

Having been on cpap for somewhere between 8 & 9 years I can tell you that it no longer bothers me a bit to get hooked up to the hose every night. Sure beats the alternative.

JeffH

I meant Indian medicine for ayurveda, my mistake .

ENT said I am not suitable for surgery because of my neck feature, short chin. He recommend me to use APAP. If surgery would help me, I may do it. I did found out later, there are chances tissue may grows back after surgery. Any form surgery will be my last option, only if necessary.

Here in Asia, the people here are fortunate to have access to other forms of treatment. Doctors often advise surgery (in general, not just OSA) but it is not always necessary. While modern medicine are really advance in doing surgery and creating drugs, sometimes they have overlook cure for certain condition/disease which is already solved by traditional medicine. They tend to be skeptical because traditional methods may not be proven by science. I have heard and witness many cases when the doctors fail but was successfully treated by traditional medicine.

Here is a real case(slightly off topic). This happened to my wife. A few months ago, during a routine scan, a tumor was discovered in one of the fallopian tubes. The tumor diameter was about one inch. The doctor recommended surgery. We went to another doctor which also confirmed the tumor. He even suggest removal fallopian tube if things looks really bad. My wife was really depressed, she cried every night and also since we do not have any children yet, it makes matter even worst.

We found out from friends that a chinese doctor (chinese traditional medicine) is able to "remove" the tumor without surgery. My wife went for treatment which consist of therapy massage once a week and drink cocktails of boiled herbs every night. This herbs are supposed to break the tumor and the tumor will come out during the period. After two months of treatment, went back to for a scan, the doctor was surprised, the tumor disappeared. Went to another doctor to confirm, the tumor was not there anymore.

Traditional medicine is good, however it does not cure everything. It is always a comfort to know there are alternatives.

I have been a hose head for about 3 years or so. I have resigned myself to the fact that I will most likely use it forever. The thing that I REALLY hate about using it this time of year is sleeping with the bedroom window open & missing being able to breath that fresh cool crisp clean Northwest fall air.(i love sleeping out doors)But it beats the alternative of not using it one night & waking up & feeling like crap.

You never know what future innovations or cures may bring. Right now, losing weight can be a cure for some, for others, their throat, tongue, etc., are just made in such a way that OSA is there and nothing they can do will help. Surgery might help some, for a while, but not a definite cure for sure.

I have been thinking of it as a "life sentence" myself, lately. I thought everything was going fine until I started with sinus headaches! Can't wear my beloved Hybrid without leaks at the bottom because the bottom strap in the back causes my headaches to be worse. If I loosen it enough to feel better on my neck---leaks galore. Can't wear my second-best mask (Ultra Mirage) because of the pressure it puts on my sinuses. Arggh. Having to resort to my Nasal Aire II and tape tonight to see if the minimal headgear with this will work. I don't like nasal-only masks at all, but I have to do something to get some sleep!

Such is life, I guess.

Pam

[quote="JeffH"]Having been on cpap for somewhere between 8 & 9 years I can tell you that it no longer bothers me a bit to get hooked up to the hose every night. Sure beats the alternative.

JeffH

My (DME) wrote on the report he sent to my Doctor- Time on CPAP- "LIFETIME" so yes, I'm A Lifer" of the cpap therapy, I have been diagnosed 2 months ago and have had my own machine for about 26 days, I have my ups & downs for the way I wake up feeling each day.. But, the good days way out weighs the bad, THANK "GOD" for the cpap therapy, I was slowly dying until I finally asked for a sleep study, and the dead brain cells can't be reversed I know I have had it all my life so there has been alot of damage through the years, anyway I am very happy with the use of the machine other than that heavy hose hanging from my face and the sore nose... Have a "GREAT DAY" Hose Heads

Funny, but I've been thinking of CPAP in the same way lately...

Actually, I'm reminded of the movie, Elephant Man. If you saw it, you might recall that John Merrick, the Elephant Man, had to sleep upright with many pillows to support his grossly deformed head. (Could he have suffered from sleep apnea, too?) He longed to sleep flat on his back, like a normal person, as depicted in a picture hung above his bed. In the end, he tossed away the pillows, and fell into a forever sleep.

My doctor told me I would need to sleep with my CPAP "every night for the rest of my life." Wow, did that hit me like a ton of bricks! To avoid feeling sorry for myself (or like an Elephant Man), I have to keep thinking it's one night at a time. Or adopt a more hopeful attitude that maybe the future holds promise!

Yes, I saw the movie to! It was kinda sad

Seems to me that osa starts in the brain somewhere which switches off something in our throat region when we sleep. why don't we have osa during waking hours? surely some form of brain surgery in the future or an implant perhaps like a pacemaker may be inserted to control osa. seems logical to me but i guess it will never be a medical research priority as there is a very effective treatment in cpap now available but how many of us would ditch this if we were certain of a surgery that was perhaps 80% effective ? I would for sure but for now its too risky and not proven enough