Anyone planning to try Provent?

VVV · Post by **VVV** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 6:26 am

I bought a trial pack and tried them three times. All three experiences were horrible - very difficult to fall asleep due to the exhale resistance and once asleep I would wake up in fifteen minutes with the head ringing like I had a cluster of long apneas. Experiment over, curiosity satisfied, thank God back to easy, effective CPAP.

Edit: Of course that is my anecdote and your experience may vary. (YMMV)

DaveMinCT · Post by **DaveMinCT** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 2:25 pm

Hi folks, I've been using Provent for about 6 months with excellent results. Tried all the masks my MD had, too restless a sleeper to keep them on without duct tape. I had a follow up sleep study done to A) convince my skeptical MD and B) have some ammo for the (so far unsuccessful) battle with my insurance company. I think we were both surprised with the dramatic improvement, he says that as long as it continues, I should have no health problems relating to apnea. I think my severity scale number went from about 59 to 12.

- A little annoying, mouth gets dry if I don't fall asleep right away.
- They cost $2.00/day, and I get them directly from my MD. Couldn't find them online any cheaper.
- My MD tried 2 other patients and saw no improvement - thinks maybe weight is a factor (I'm average, they were over)
- I tried the Ventus snore therapy because they're cheaper and no prescription, but they feel like more air gets in.

Here's an image comparing the 2 studies. Please feel free to contact me.

Dave

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 3:41 pm

I'm not about to switch--just spent a good sized wad so I NEVER have to go without my wonderful air!

CowFish · Post by **CowFish** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 6:30 am

Some nights my AHI goes to 8 and I feel very bad the next day. I imagine at AHI 12 I would not be able to function the next day.

I also will stick with CPAP which keeps me at 3 or under.

RogerSC · Post by **RogerSC** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:03 pm

When I talked with my sleep doctor about it he said that several of his patients had asked for a trial prescription, but none had actually continued to use it. He also mentioned that the best case can only bring your AHI down to about 8, which wasn't good enough for me to try. If you absolutely cannot tolerate cpap, I suppose it's something to try, along with an oral/dental appliance...but if cpap can work for you, then why bother?

NateS · Post by **NateS** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:50 pm

Wasn't there a very long previous discussion of Provent, by a member whose avatar was a photo of him pretending to drink out of a hot sauce bottle?

I can't remember his name, but my recollection is that he started out as a very, very enthusiastic advocate and defender for Provent and then gradually became totally disgusted with them.

It might be worth looking to find this thread rather than just starting from scratch - there were a lot of interesting reports from many participants.

Regards, Nate

cosmo · Post by **cosmo** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:58 pm

I bought a box and quickly gave up after a handful of minutes. Both of your sinuses must be clear. I haven't had clear sinuses in over 2 months. Your mouth needs to be shut inorder for this to work as well.

SleepingUgly · Post by **SleepingUgly** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:13 pm

You DEFINITELY must be able to be a nasal breather. If you breathe through your nose during the day, it theoretically could work, IF you can keep your mouth shut when you're asleep. According to the manufacturer, you do not need to keep your mouth shut when you're awake, only when you're asleep. It's actually fairly disconcerting to try to keep your mouth shut while awake for long periods, as it feels like you can't exhale.

NateS · Post by **NateS** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:18 pm

Well, I haven't yet been able to find the discussions and report from the member with the hot sauce bottle in his photo, but I did find this post I made on a different Provent discussion thread, which perhaps may be relevant to the current members considering Provent:

NateS wrote:Well, I read the first couple of these reports and don't feel qualified to criticize them, but since my apnea diagnosis is for central and mixed apnea, I began to wonder how that would fit into the equation.

Suppose I had never had a sleep lab study, but had a problem with snoring and suspected I had sleep apnea.

They say that they will accept an Rx from any doctor or dentist.

If I asked my regular doctor for such a Rx, I am confident he would decline and insist I go to a sleep specialist. But would every doctor do that if the patient was insistent they wanted to try the Provents?

Would my dentist decline and send me to a sleep doctor or would he feel pressured or honored or indifferent to my urgings and just write the script?

Now if by this means I wind up with an Rx for Provent without a sleep lab study, what happens to my undiagnosed centrals while I partially block my exhaled breaths with this valve built in to the Provents?

Assume I don't know I have centrals but I keep using the Provents because I am happy that I "escaped" having to have an xPAP machine? Since increased pressure can cause more centrals, could the Provents cause me to have a more severe condition than I started out with? Will it be cumulative as I continue to use them longer?

What then would be the risks to my health and my life?

On the other hand, suppose the doctor, the dentist and everyone else refuses to write me a RX and sends me to a sleep lab and I am diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea only and no centrals. Are they going to write me an Rx for Provents instead of for a CPAP machine?

Just wondering out loud.

At least one or more of the writers above who bought and used Provents never had a sleep lab study - how do they know they are not having centrals? What risk are they under?

Regards, Nate

eeckel · Post by **eeckel** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 7:05 pm

I use Provent when traveling. So far I feel good the next day. Last week I was in Denver and was concerned about the high altitude. It was ok. My trips are typically about four days in duration. The first night is the hardest but then I adjust. I dislike the insecurity of no data but I love not having to lug a machine and worry about TSA hassles. Provent is simply a non issue when going through customs. That means a lot to me.

acidragon · Post by **acidragon** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 8:27 pm

My doctor told me to try provent before I got on my cpap. Let me say for me provent was a horrible experience.... After about ten mins I started to get light headed and there was so much pressure inside my head. Ended up just ripping them off two nights straight. Perhaps cutting off some of the flaps could reduce pressure if you are mild OSA??? Provent actually got me fearing the cpap but so far I love my auto pap!

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