damn dude

maybe he just drove off the overpass like the guy above

2/21/2009 11:14:30 PM

None of this is making me feel any better

2/22/2009 1:10:10 AM

i know right

i've left my apnea untreated for close to a decade now

and reading evan's post is the first time i've regretted that

hell, i even had a sleep study done last summer and never went back for the results/follow up test

2/22/2009 2:33:47 AM

you never got the results?

i don't have apnea but i was terrified that i might

i mean i get tired every now and then but now i know for sure its normal

hang in there bdmazur it doesn't sound like the cpap is that bad

i know i was considering surgery . . .

2/22/2009 2:39:35 AM

oh no i know i have apnea

was diagnosed in high school

and its not like i'm in any better shape since then

2/22/2009 2:45:47 AM

I just did a sleep study 2 weeks ago, and am hoping to get the results tomorrow. At the initial consultation with my doctor, though, she seemed to be leaning toward narcolepsy. I really, really hope it isn't apnea, because I'd rather not use a CPAP

2/24/2009 10:33:49 PM

I have no problem with the CPAP, as long as it helps keep me from dying.

2/25/2009 2:38:38 AM

I wish I could sleep

2/25/2009 2:49:35 AM

susie q just curious have they given you any drugs for narcolepsy? When I was diagnosed with sleep apnea they said i had mild narcolepsy because of it. I was falling asleep driving and riding my motorcycle. Also at random during classes and exams in school.

2/25/2009 8:24:50 AM

The c-pap/bi-pap whatever you end up getting does take some getting use too. took me about 2 weeks but might have took me longer cuz I had to train myself to breath out my nose and not my mouth. First few nights just wear it as long as you can before taking it off. Each night you will get use to to it and wear it longer each time until you eventually wear it all night. You will feel like a new person the next day. Spendings 3 hours on that machine is like a normal 8 hours sleep for me.

2/27/2009 9:49:15 PM

I officially have a date for my sleep test...I'll be going in next Wednesday.

3/12/2009 11:50:28 AM

I have a sleep test tonight

4/1/2009 3:33:43 PM

let me know how it goes...and how much they charge you...

(i didn't get mine because i couldn't afford it )

[Edited on April 1, 2009 at 5:12 PM. Reason : -]

4/1/2009 5:12:18 PM

a few years ago at rex sleep clinic it was 3 grand. pretty expensive power bill

4/1/2009 8:17:18 PM

i think mine was like 1200 after insurance or something like that

4/1/2009 8:29:17 PM

are overweight people the only ones who get sleep apnea or can skinny people get it too?

[Edited on April 1, 2009 at 8:36 PM. Reason : s]

4/1/2009 8:31:52 PM

Overweight people are more prone to it, but skinny people can definitely have it.

Since most people think that its purely something overweight people get, its overlooked a lot in thin people.

I know 2 very trim people who have it.

4/1/2009 9:30:14 PM

Quote :

"a few years ago at rex sleep clinic it was 3 grand. pretty expensive power bill"

That's what my insurance company told me I would still have to pay.

Are there places that do it cheaper or is it all up to the insurance?

4/2/2009 3:00:43 AM

It was around $1500, I only payed my $20 co pay and my insurance is picking up the rest.

4/2/2009 11:47:21 AM

Mine cost $1100, because i hadn't met my deductible yet.

I paid for the entire test out of pocket.

4/2/2009 1:15:57 PM

Really, the insurance will cover the CPAP based on how you are obtaining the device.

Say, if your doctor is supplying you with it and is billing the insurance company for it along with your office visit, it will typically fall under your office copay.

If the doctor is having a supplier send it to you and the supplier bills the insurance, it falls under your Durable Medical Equipment benefits which is more times than not, Deductible / Coinsurance.

4/2/2009 1:59:47 PM

^^, ^^^, Where did you get your sleep test?

4/2/2009 3:04:50 PM

mine was at rex was 1200 and insurance didnt cover cuz i didnt meet deductible. they cover the machine but not the sleep study
and I was 5'11" and 140 at the time so no you dont have to be fat

[Edited on April 2, 2009 at 3:18 PM. Reason : ]

4/2/2009 3:18:04 PM

I had blue cross and didn't pay a dime for the machine or the study. just the $20 to see my doctor to begin with when I told him I think I have sleep apnea. Actually I had to do the test twice on a different night because the first one didn't turn out right or something.

4/2/2009 5:57:36 PM

yeah i had bc bs but it was from kansas and apparently they didnt cover sleep studies unless I got it pre authorized. So when i got my second one to test the machine they covered that but not the first one

4/2/2009 6:37:15 PM

I got mine done in Ohio. I was supposed to do one last night and one tomm night. But since they got the CPAP on me for the last 4 hours last night they said I didnt have to go tomm.

The CPAP would def need some getting used too. I had an anxiety attack after about 2 min of wearing it, so I took it off. The first mask covered both my nose and mouth which made me real uncomfortable. The second mask only covered my nose and I liked that alot better, I fell asleep shortly after putting it on.

4/2/2009 8:24:43 PM

I got mine done at East Cooper hospital here in charleston, sc.

Masks really come down to personal preference. I love the mask that covers my nose and mouth because I am a mouth breather.

If you just use a nose mask and open your mouth, the pressure leaks out and you lose the benefit of the treatment.

If you like the nose mask, but find you are leaking out of your mouth, you can always literally glue your lips together. Search cpaptalk.com for the polygrip trick.

4/2/2009 9:59:35 PM

Quote :

"I had blue cross and didn't pay a dime for the machine or the study"

that's the problem i ran into

4/2/2009 11:53:16 PM

don't know how this would work with your insurance, but there are actual new surgical procedures that can reduce the "flaps" in the back of your throat- which is an alternative to the CPAP. though there is a risk of scar tissue forming- making apnea worse than it was in the first place.

they gave you LUNESTA for apnea??? this seems like a BAD idea.
as others have mentioned on this thread, apnea causes you to stop breathing in your sleep (as many as 40 times a NIGHT, depriving your body of as much oxygen as though you were on climbing mount everest, and your heart can actually stop beating for a short time)- so you're body is constantly waking itself up at the last minute- to restore breathing, thus you are never getting the deep sleep you need because you are constantly waking up, even if you don't realize this constant shift between light sleep and waking. if you're taking Lunesta, your REM is going to be suppressed and you are in a sense taking the chance of depriving your body further of deep sleep. this means that during the day you are going to go into "micro sleeps" because your body is going to be starving for deep sleep.... (and if this happens while you're driving, you won't even realize it before it's too late!)

do you have central or general obstructive apnea? central is rare but a lot harder to treat.

did not read this thread in detail..
but i'm taking a sleep seminar grad course right now taught by a sleep specialist at Penn:

http://www.med.upenn.edu/sleepctr/April_08.shtml

the biggest problem with apnea is the general deprivation of oxygen and possible daytime "micro sleeps"....

[Edited on April 3, 2009 at 12:03 PM. Reason : detailed expl. ]

4/3/2009 11:49:18 AM

^ I had a surgery that i think did that wolfchica, I had my tonsils, uvula, adnoids removed and my throat was "enlarged" it seems that would be what you are talking about. I was having problems during the day staying awake due to insufficent sleep.

4/3/2009 12:35:12 PM

^^if you need a test subject, as in if you need to perform a sleep study on someone for your class, then i will gladly volunteer.

4/3/2009 2:31:56 PM

Just got my Cpap machine Monday, I tried the full face mask but I hated it with a passion. Just switched it out today for a nasal pillow mask.

Has anyone tired the nasal pillow?

4/24/2009 3:10:03 PM

for it to be effective you have to keep your mouth as shut as possible if i remember right. I couldnt stand either so i got the surgery

4/27/2009 10:49:01 AM

^ Yes you have to keep your mouth closed. I wore it last night for 3 hours then took it off. I def like it alot more than the full face mask. Even with just the 3 hours I feel a huge difference today.

4/27/2009 4:39:42 PM

yea when I first started using my mask I would wear it 2-3 hours before ripping it off. You'll find then in just a few weeks you'll be able to wear it longer till you use it all night.

4/27/2009 7:36:19 PM

seems to me that it would be a good idea to get this problem fixed surgically. There's no telling what will happen in the future that would keep you from wearing a mask. You might lose your job and become homeless. You might be imprisoned. The economy might crash and we go the way of Argentina.

At least if you get the surgery, you'll never have to worry about this problem again. (Unless the side effects from the surgery make it even worse than before, but I think thats a pretty slim chance)

4/27/2009 7:38:48 PM

I seem to remember them telling me i had a 25%chance of the surgery not working and or making it worse. either way i am glad i had it done!

4/27/2009 8:03:19 PM

Can anyone recommend a good ear, nose and throat doc in the raleigh area. I got diagnosed with a mild case.

6/26/2009 6:33:53 AM

gunzz

10/8/2009 9:37:49 PM

gracias!

Fumbler just went to the ear/nose/throat doc on wednesday. we knew he most likely has sleep apnea, and that he can't really move much air through his nose, but i was surprised at just how little space he had. his tonsils/the pillars they sit on are too large, his septum is way off center, and one of his turbinates is huge. he is going to have a sleep study in a couple of weeks but the doc is pretty sure he'll need surgery. we're all for fixing it (no cpap).

doc said they'd probably do the throat part first, then do the nose later. has anyone had experience with the nose surgery? for both, how long was your recovery time? any other tips, anecdotes, etc? what is the typical cost?

10/9/2009 9:58:46 AM

^Well.....after my post above, I researched some and went with Dr. Holmes at ENT and Audiology Assoc. right by Rex. I had the same problem with my nose and throat including my uvula. I decided to have both done at the same time since I am young and would miss about the same amount of work.

I am feeling much better now, however the events of the past month or so have been anything but great. I had the surgery Aug 25th and felt OK. Then a couple of days later, I was coughing (not hard) from some ice cream and popped open 2 veins in my throat and had to go to the ER where he cauterized them. We called him and he met us there in 25 min. I have nothing but good things to say about him and his staff. They were all excellent.

After the ER visit, I didnt eat for almost 5 days and had to force down liquids. Worst pain Ive ever felt. I thought I would be out of work for a week or so plus a weekend....wrong! I was out 2 weeks and on strong painkillers the whole time. I was lucky I scheduled some time at the beach prior to this, so I had almost 3 weeks of recovery.

Would I do it again? Definitely. Had I not been to the ER, I would have not been in so much pain. Its amazing how much I can breathe through my nose, and I feel I sleep better too. It is still healing so I should see improvement as well. It has been a little weird learning how to swallow and not take large bites of food, most likely b/c of my uvula trim. I am still working my way back up to spicier foods/pepper.

[Edited on October 9, 2009 at 6:43 PM. Reason : .]

10/9/2009 6:42:11 PM

i never got my sleep test because i couldn't afford it

10/10/2009 5:41:20 PM