Provent as OSA Therapy

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
annmhd

Provent as OSA Therapy

Post by annmhd » Mon Aug 08, 2011 2:11 pm

I hate CPAP! I mentioned this to my ent the other day and he knew exactly what I was talking about. He showed me a sample he was carrying right in his dr coat pocket. He faxed the prescription into a medical company, they called me and I received the 10 day sample for around $15. I used it the other night and it is harder than I thought. I really want this to work but my number is so low on the cpap (9) that the valves used in Provent I think are for higher numbers. I'm not sure I can actually do this but I'm going to keep trying to use it longer every night. To expel the air is so difficult I am considering only using 1 of the 2 tonight. You definitely have to use something to keep your mouth closed as well because I know I resorted to that after I fell asleep. I will be using something I bought online to keep my mouth closed. Will try and post results using in only 1 nostril tonight. By the way, the Provent is very comfortable and easy to use. Breathing in is fine as you normally would. I just wish they would make these in different valve strengths for lighter sleep apnea and then the more severe for higher cpap numbers. Maybe if the product takes off they will and then maybe insurance will cover it as well.

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Alshain
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Re: Provent as OSA Therapy

Post by Alshain » Mon Aug 08, 2011 2:20 pm

The problem with these is the same as the problem with the mandibular advancement devices. You can't tell if it's working without a polysomnogram. Yeah, you might thing you would 'feel' the difference, but how would you know for sure that you weren't still having issues.

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annmhd

Re: Provent as OSA Therapy

Post by annmhd » Mon Aug 08, 2011 2:22 pm

Clearly you would have to get retested using the product. I will deal with that road if and when I get to it. For now I'm just trying to actually use it!

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BlackSpinner
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Re: Provent as OSA Therapy

Post by BlackSpinner » Mon Aug 08, 2011 2:30 pm

annmhd wrote:I hate CPAP! I mentioned this to my ent the other day and he knew exactly what I was talking about. He showed me a sample he was carrying right in his dr coat pocket. He faxed the prescription into a medical company, they called me and I received the 10 day sample for around $15. I used it the other night and it is harder than I thought. I really want this to work but my number is so low on the cpap (9) that the valves used in Provent I think are for higher numbers. I'm not sure I can actually do this but I'm going to keep trying to use it longer every night. To expel the air is so difficult I am considering only using 1 of the 2 tonight. You definitely have to use something to keep your mouth closed as well because I know I resorted to that after I fell asleep. I will be using something I bought online to keep my mouth closed. Will try and post results using in only 1 nostril tonight. By the way, the Provent is very comfortable and easy to use. Breathing in is fine as you normally would. I just wish they would make these in different valve strengths for lighter sleep apnea and then the more severe for higher cpap numbers. Maybe if the product takes off they will and then maybe insurance will cover it as well.
They only work for certain kinds of OSA not for all of them and it has nothing to do with your pressure requirements. I suggest you change your attitude and make cpap therapy work for you.

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annmhd

Re: Provent as OSA Therapy

Post by annmhd » Mon Aug 08, 2011 3:53 pm

It's not an attitude! It is not normal to sleep with restrictions on your face, especially ones that manipulate your breathing when you're supposed to be relaxing. I use the cpap as I'm supposed to. Doesn't mean I have to like it, especially when there are other options available.

goldfinch
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Re: Provent as OSA Therapy

Post by goldfinch » Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:03 pm

I have a supply of Provent and an oximeter to test to see if my oxygen levels drop or not. I haven't done it yet. I lost electricity one night and started trying the Provent. I did not find it easy to use. It felt like my nostrils were plugged up. I couldn't get to sleep. The electricity went on and I went back to the PAP.

I still plan on trying it with the oximeter at some point.

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BlackSpinner
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Re: Provent as OSA Therapy

Post by BlackSpinner » Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:12 pm

annmhd wrote:It's not an attitude! It is not normal to sleep with restrictions on your face, especially ones that manipulate your breathing when you're supposed to be relaxing. I use the cpap as I'm supposed to. Doesn't mean I have to like it, especially when there are other options available.
Yep that is attitude. It is not normal to wear clothes or shoes, it is not normal to wear glasses, it is not normal drive cars, fly in planes, to ski, to wear make up, to have breast implants, it is not normal to shoot up insulin .... people happily do many things other animals would never think of doing.

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Additional Comments: Quatro mask for colds & flus S8 elite for back up
71. The lame can ride on horseback, the one-handed drive cattle. The deaf, fight and be useful. To be blind is better than to be burnt on the pyre. No one gets good from a corpse. The Havamal

annmhd

Re: Provent as OSA Therapy

Post by annmhd » Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:22 pm

Goldfinch - great! I agree with you and wish you much luck. Please let us know how you make out and any tips you may have. I will do the same.

annmhd

Re: Provent as OSA Therapy

Post by annmhd » Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:25 pm

Blackspinner - we are talking about BREATHING here!! haha This particular posting is for experience with Provent, not advocating cpap.

jnk
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Re: Provent as OSA Therapy

Post by jnk » Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:53 pm

annmhd wrote:Blackspinner - we are talking about BREATHING here!! haha This particular posting is for experience with Provent, not advocating cpap.
I agree with Blackspinner.

In my opinion, wearing Provent is LESS natural than CPAP, not more natural.

And if you're looking for actual experience with Provent, no one is more experienced with patients using Provent than Dr. Rapoport himself. And here are his statements on it, as recorded on video at an A.W.A.K.E. meeting in NYC:
“It is quite uncomfortable. It is actually not very nice to breathe through the thing. It feels like you can’t breathe out. . . . It is a 50% acceptable result, there’s an additional amount who respond but it is not good enough, and there is a clear number who do not respond at all. . . . It doesn’t work in everybody. . . . It works in some but not others. . . . Don’t get your hopes up. It’s not going to put CPAP out of business.”--David Rapoport, head of NYU Sleep Center, at presentation to Manhattan A.W.A.K.E. Sleep Apnea Support Group in New York City on May 5, 2010.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trbAfp6pzZQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQtbQs6Xt0Q

The important point is this:
Fixed CPAP is clearly an effective treatment for OSA, and no further trials are needed to assess its efficacy . . . All other interventions should either be:
directly compared with fixed CPAP, among patients naïve to CPAP, or
compared with no treatment or alternative treatment among patients who have failed to comply with CPAP treatment.
http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov ... ductid=731