Uninsured and Undiagnosed

Hey All,

I'm a 29 y.o. male in grad school. Depression has kicked in on and off over the past few years and, at one point, my dad mentioned that a sleep apnea can contribute. We're both thin guys (about 140 lbs.) and he was diagnosed about 10 years ago. Apparently having a very narrow trachea can be just as bad as being 200 lbs overweight when you're sleeping. I'm uninsured, but I could afford one of the cheaper CPAP machines ($150 range). Anybody know if this would be detrimental w/o a diagnosis? I'm guess not, because I know I'm a snorer and have been for years. Also, I'm in a healthcare program, so there's a reliable chance I'll have both a job and insurance when I graduate...would this tide me over until then? I'm grateful for any guidance.

Thanks!

I would not try to diagnose and treat without a data capable machine with software (ask the members for a list of machines).

You need to find a used one that you can bargain for. Keep an eye out on craigslist. Maybe somebody has other suggestions.

Be very careful about selecting a model as the names are close but the data features are not always included.

BTW it is not the trachea. It is a small jaw that results in a small and easily collapsible oropharynx.

I also would not want to self diagnose without a full data machine. I might self treat but I would want to know for sure what I was treating and want a full data to confirm the need. Though self treating with nothing to go on except feelings can be done. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work. Not impossible but having data is so much better.

I assume your dad doesn't have a back up machine that you could use to try just to see how things go?

Oh, I should have mentioned that you should entirely avoid backsleeping until you get a CPAP. Sleep only on sides or stomach. This did not help me but it does help a lot of people. It may provide some relief but it is unlikely to cure.

On your back gravity is working directly on your tongue and soft palate to pull them into the airway.

Not good at answering forum posts individually, so let's see:

My dad doesn't have a backup. He's got a $1300 machine that a doctor recommended. Easier for him though, being employed and whatnot. I'd also like to add that my concentration and motivation have pretty much tanked. I wondered last semester if I was just getting burnt out, but I couldn't remember the address of my apartment the other day, and I'd only been away from it for 2 weeks. He didn't get diagnosed until his 50's and functions well, so I figure I could ride it out. I've read that propping a bed frame at an incline can help, although obviously not a fix for a true medical condition.

I eat well (about 80% vegan diet), exercise, and don't often go to bed drunk or having drank at all. CPAP.com seems to have some decent prices in my range, and reviews from people who say they work. I figure I could maybe give it a try and, at the very least, maybe stave off the problem, until I can get a sleep study done.

Here's the deal about buying online from places like cpap.com...The law says you have to have a prescription to buy one. Now you could use your dad's RX...just saying ....have his doctor write a RX for a "back up machine" for him and you use it at cpap.com or you might find something at secondwindcpap.com...they have used machines so a little more affordable. They will require a copy of the RX though.

Or craigslist without a RX. Gotta know your machines though before you go there. Many, many way overpriced machines for what they do.

Masks also require a prescription. So stupid...like who in their right mind would spend all that money and wear the darn thing if they didn't absolutely have to. I cannot figure out how it can remotely be used in some ulterior way....course I am not into drugs and blew my mind to find out the other day kids are snorting bath salts to get high..how in the world do they come up with this stuff.

Anyway..you need a machine and a mask..both require RX and you will need to use your dad's if you want online purchase. BTW any doctor can write the RX..doesn't have to be a sleep doctor.

Wow...really? I had no idea. What's the logic for requiring a prescription? Are they afraid that the terrorists will win if they get a hold of one? Well thanks for all the info. I think my body will start rejecting organs if I try sleeping on my stomach as punishment for making it do something it hates, but I can definitely focus more on sleeping on my side. I just read that positional sleep apnea post. I'm aware that positioning might only help moderately or not at all, but I guess that's my best bet for now. I do appreciate the advice. My dad doesn't have a lot to offer other than telling me that he sleeps much better than he used to.

RyanO wrote:What's the logic for requiring a prescription?

Keeps the bureaucrats at the FDA employed and feeling powerful.

Check this thread for rested gal's list of data-capable and non-data-capable machines - viewtopic.php?p=307168#p30716

If I were buying one today it would be the ResMed S9 Autoset.

You can download the software free from the ResMed site.

I eat well (about 80% vegan diet), exercise, and don't often go to bed drunk or having drank at all.

That may be good stuff to do (I have serious doubts about a vegan diet), but it won't fix your fundamental problem.

Here is a great way to sleep on your stomach that takes the pressure off of key organs - http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html

The first step, in my opinion, would be to acquire or borrow a recording pulse oximeter to see if you are having oxygen desaturations during the night, and if so, how many?

It would help you decide if you want to try to look for an auto machine and self titrate.

RyanO wrote:Hey All,

I'm a 29 y.o. male in grad school.

Does your university require students to have some kind of health insurance? Are you paying fees for student health insurance? If so, then find out just what your benefits are. Some student health insurance packages actually provide some decent benefits.

Does your university have a decent health center? If it does, you might want to ask a doctor there about what you might be able to do get a sleep test done for little or no out-of-pocket money.

you could try this guy

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=72894&view=unread#unread

BTW it's not only a small jaw that causes apnea - there are definitely other reasons from palate problems to neurological ones to other anatomical ones.

Hey Ryan,
Can you scrap up $300....this machine is a great machine and will give you the data you need and it is a brand new latest model. See this thread....viewtopic/t72894/S9-EliteH5i-Humidifier ... -ship.html
You won't find a better deal on one of these machines anywhere....machine plus humidifier. Heck of a deal.