CPAPtalk.com

Todzo wrote:

HealthyandHopeful wrote:
One thing I failed to mention is that I did lose weight 2 years ago and have kept the weight off. I lost almost 50 pounds and am at a healthy weight now. I am even a health coach (thus my username) helping others to do the same. That is another thing that made this so shocking to me, although it shouldn't have been because my husband has always been at a healthy weight and has sleep apnea himself. I have clients who are losing weight and looking forward to shedding their CPAP machines, so to find out I needed one myself, almost made me feel like a failure. I didn't eat healthy in the past but I do now and have for a while now.


Thanks again so much!!

So I have noticed that many who train do seem to be getting sick. In spite of healthy body weight, lean muscle ratios to envy, and very active lifestyles they still get sick.

Well I know from doing a bit of training myself that you end up very hungry for protein. I eat more meat when I train. I am likely to use a protein supplement when I train. In the world of meat and protein supplements of today I am also likely to take in more chemicals used in the foods supplied to the poor critters while they were alive not to mention the chemicals put directly into them to get them to grow very fast and stay a bit less sick while slogging through their own manure[3]. The chemically farmed foods, which are not always the natural choice for the given animal, also drastically change the microbial population which lives inside every animal (not to mention the antibiotics used!!) so when the animal meat gets to us it has a much much different microbial content which is why we need to be so careful about how we cook the meat.

I also find myself bathing more often. I use the most basic simple soap I can find and rinse about as often as I use soap. I want to help my symbionts inside and outside[2].

T. Colin Campbell spent a lifetime in nutrition research only to finally see how our reductionist ways prevent our research from being effective to find out what will work for us in terms of diet and exercise[1]. I believe I would have done much better had I learned to eat better and move better at a younger age. Even if I had I can also see that I would still be learning how. It needs to be a life long endavor.

[1] http://www.amazon.com/Whole-T-Colin-Cam ... B00APDFVLU

[2] http://www.amazon.com/Honor-thy-Symbion ... B00ANVNQA2

[3] http://www.amazon.com/Food-Inc-Eric-Sch ... B0027BOL4G

HealthyandHopeful wrote:Hi,

So glad to find a place to come ask questions! I never thought I had any kind of sleep apnea problem! I have felt tired during the day for years though. I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue about 7 years ago and took a regimen of vitamins for that. I've taken cortisol at times. I get my bloodwork checked regularly for hormones and hypothyroid. A couple of months ago my doctor said that all of my bloodword looks find and there is no reason for me to feel tired during the day, let's do a sleep study just to cover all the bases. I agreed, although I thought it would be a waste of my insurance's money (I didn't have to even pay a co-pay). The first sleep study was ridiculous and because of the circumstances, I didn't sleep there. They said the study showed I had sleep apnea, but I wasn't convinced and finally they agreed to do the study over at a better facility.

My sleep study results (copied from report, and parts in bold were bold in report):

Description of Sleep: The total recording period was 431.0 minutes. The total sleep time was 368.5 minutes with sleep efficiency of 85.6%. Sleep onset latency was 22.5 minutes. Latency to persistent sleep (10 minutes of uninterrupted sleep) was 22.5 minutes. Arousals and awakenings occurred on an average of 23.8 per hour and her sleep architecture was fragmented. She had 2.6% delta sleep. REM latency was 83.5 minutes and REM sleep was 18% of total sleep time. The total time awake after sleep onset was 39.5 minutes.
--1.8 Apneas per hour
--AHI total = 9.4 (Non-REM AHI of 1.8 ) - (REM AHI 44.2)
--In addition to the apneas and hypopneas, she had 4.4 respiratory-effort related arousals (RERAs) per hour
--RDI total = 13.8 -(Non-REM RDI of 7.0) - (REM RDI of 45.1)
She spent 10.2% or 37.5 minutes sleeping supine. The RERA events were worse when supine (RDI was 8.0 when supine). The obstructive events were worse during REM sleep (REM-AHI was 44.2). Lowest SaO2 was 79%. Her SaO2 was less than 90% for 16.6 minutes of sleep.

Diagnosis was Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.


My note: I rarely sleep on my back. I don't know why I did at the study, except maybe to have part of the report show how I sleep on my back. The strange thing was that I had a really vivid series of dreams during that time on my back and even remember having a feeling like I couldn't move. Was strange.

A couple of weeks later I had the study with the CPAP. Results are as follows:
Description of Sleep: The total recording period was 414.0 minutes. The total sleep time was 351.0 minutes with a sleep efficiency of 84.8%. Sleep onset latency was 15.5 minutes. Latency to persistent (10 minutes of uninterrupted sleep) was 18.0 minutes. Arousals and awakenings occurred on an average of 9.7 per hour and her sleep architecture was fragmented. She had 4.7% delta sleep. REM latency was 116.0 minutes and REM sleep was 16.1% of total sleep time. The total time awake after sleep onset was 47.5 minutes.

CPAP Titration:
--Mask used: medium ResMed nasal mask
--Supine sleep = 0.0%
Nasal CPAP was initiated 5.0 cmH20 and titrated upwards. Various pressures were titrated and the highest pressure attempted was 7.0 cmH2O. She slept at this pressure for 161.0 minutes, 12.4% of that being in REM sleep. AHI at this pressure was 0.0.

From the charts:
CPAP at 5/0/0 I had 9 Hypopneas, and 0 of each Central Apneas, Obstructive Apneas, Mixed Apneas; so AHI was 2.8
CPAP at 7/0/0 I had 0 of any of these.


The part that really got my attention was the SaO2 level dropping to 79% even though very briefly. I even bought an oximeter to use to record my oxygen levels at night because I was skeptical. My oxygen levels on a couple of nights went only to about 87%, one night went to 79% and another night went to 67%, so I took seriously the need for the CPAP machine. I did use the oximeter the first night I had the CPAP and even though I didn't sleep well my oxygen levels stayed in the 90s. The graph comparisons were amazing.

The story of getting the CPAP machine is long and I am about to trade for a different one. But from these results, can anyone tell me if my problem is worth using the CPAP machine?

I know my results are mild, but using the CPAP is a huge decision and change for me.
Thanks for reading this and for any help that can be given!!

tortoisegirl wrote:Try your insurance website's search for in network DME providers (typically the search is by zip code or city). Or if you are having issues, call your insurance and ask for a list of places closest to you. I'd definitely do what you have to do to get what you want for a machine (and accessories). I'd only work with a DME you trust and is helpful. You should have options. Best wishes.

sc0ttt wrote:I just looked at my prescription - apparently my doctor's office uses a form that only lists the very best, data capable machines. So he just checks off the machine that's right, specifies the pressure and other settings, and everything else is "patient's choice". He also talked to me about changing the clinician settings myself because he knows the info is out there.

HealthyandHopeful wrote: I said I would like the S9 autoset and she said they would have to order that one if insurance approves.