Apnia, surgery and the CPAP machine

[Oddjob0226]

Well, I had a sleep study done and I have what's known as sleep apnia.... my choices now are...... sleep with a mask connected to a machine called a CPAP for the rest of my life. Or surgery (no big deal to me so the fear farctor or any moral dilemmas are not a problem) or a combination of the two. Has anyone had any experience with this? What reccomendations can you make, or any ideas Can you offer? Is the machine worth it? Do you get USED to it?!?!?! Does the surgery work? What is it's cost? ( I don't have insurance at the moment...) Any feedback is very appreciated.

 

[QBWeaver]

My ex-husband had that surgery done. It worked ok but not as well as they would have liked so they put him on the CPAP machine. He says that since he got on the machine he sleeps better than he had in over 20 years. He says the noise is a bit distracting initially but he got used to it.

He says there are two downfalls. He has to take the machine whenever he travels but that's a small price to pay for a good nights rest. He also used to camp outside in the forest alot but cannot do that since there is no electricity out there.

As far as the costs... I have no idea.

 

[TicklingDuo]

Oddjob....One of my brothers-in-law has this problem. He's used the mask for some time and has grown very much used to it. As for the surgery, it isn't an option for him at this point...though it HAS been looked into. Apparently, if the patient is overweight to any great degree, it acts to complicate the whole problem and would most likely render the surgery useless. So, they have been advised NOT to go the surgery route until/unless he is able to lose weight and keep it off.

Another friend chose to go with the surgery. For him, it has worked out wonderfully. He sleeps much better and no longer has trouble with apnia. He DID say, however, that there was a good deal of discomfort for a while after the surgery. So, if you go that way, you should expect that. In the end, he finds it to have been well worth the surgery and all that went with it.

Hope this helps a bit.

Ann

 

[evilqueen]

Three years ago I was so ill from oxygen-deprived sleep that I was on the verge of a stroke. Then I was diagnosed with apnea and prescribed the CPAP, and my health improved dramatically. I examined the surgery option by reading alot online but a) what I found didn't indicate a good success rate and b) not being cut open is always better than being cut open. So I went with the machine.

I use it every night. It took about a month to get used to it, and to be honest, that was a bad month. The setting I need is pretty high, which means the mask has to be worn pretty tight to keep the air from leaking out; and that was hard to get used to. But once I did, it was remarkable how much better I felt.

It cost about $1700, if I remember right, and that included a mask and carrying case. I have to replace my mask every 10 to 12 months and they cost close to $200 apiece. I was told the machine would last around six to seven years. Insurance should cover it. Sleep apnea is a recognized disability.

I travel with it. It's about the size and weight of a laptop case so I can carry it on planes - I never check it in, it's too important. It freaks out security people in smaller airports but in big ones it's x-rayed without comment.

In addition to my getting used to the CPAP, others had to as well. It can take a little time to get used to the sound. But if you're like me, you've already been told how impossible it is to sleep next to you when you're snoring.😉 The white noise of the CPAP is soothing compared to the buzzsaw racket of unaided sleep.

The biggest key to success with the CPAP lies in getting the right mask. My doctor urged me to be very picky when getting fitted for a mask. (In my case, I was referred to a CPAP supplier by the sleep clinic where I was tested, and the rep came to my house for the fitting.) There are many models and designs available; insist on seeing as many as you need to find the one that feels most comfortable. Also, try it out with the machine; see how it fits once the air flow is on.

A Google search will turn up lots of information and message boards for people with sleep apnea. I haven't checked them out recently so my assessment of surgical success may be out of date. But I'm very happy with the CPAP. Its minor inconvenience is far outweighed by its results. Prior to treatment, I was always exhausted and I would fall asleep at the drop of a hat. Now that the quality of my sleep is better, I feel much better - and I require less sleep.

I hope you experience the same results. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions. Good luck, and sweet dreams.

 

[Strelnikov]

I've been on the machine for about 2 months and still hate it. I've tried several masks and they all have the same faults: too many straps, too hard to seal, vent blows cold air down my neck, and the whole rig is hideously uncomfortable. As an engineer, those things say "bad design" to me. Probably the guys who design them never had to wear them (similar to the tampon applicator problem.) Looking into surgery now.

I opted for a nose-only mask. It's not too useful when I have a cold (as now), had to leave it off last night.

One thing that did help: Get a "cold" humidifier. Then put the reservoir on top of a heating pad. It warms the water and air just enough.

Strelnikov

 

[Oddjob0226]

Thanks for all the great help!

First of all, Jan, as far as taking the CPAP outside, I read about a guy who took his on Safari! He used rechargable batteries and solar cells, somehow... I can find out more if you are further interested...

Duo, thanks for the imput..... I, unfortunalety, am overweight, but that's the irony; if I slept better I would have more energy and could keep my weight down - there's lots of physical activity I want to do, and in fac thave done in the past... while I've been overweight most of my life ( age 5 & up) this tells me that I'd really be fighting nature to try to loose all my weight and keep it off ( I guess I'm supposed to be big, to some degree...) but also, even when heavy, I was still rather active up until 5-10 years ago, when the apnea 1st surfaced. Hopefully the doctor will see this, if I do consider surgery... surgery= more energy= weight loss.... The discomfor doesn't worry me too much. I know it is temporary, and, to be honset, I've had major surgery before, so I [retty much know what I could be facing and I'm fine with it....

Evilqueen - I COMPLTELY know what you are talking about! I'm falling alseep at work all the time (thank goodness they know what I'm facing and understan...) I'll nod off in movies, at someones house... I'm gaining weight like never before and have no energy. I do actually have a CPAP machine ( the doctor gave it to me free of charge - it belonged to a patient who died! ) but I haven't had the pressure adjusted for me yet and I don't have the full face mask... that nose piece just doens't do it for me. Everyone tells me things will be fine one I get used to it. I believe this, but it's the getting used to it part that is troublesome. I feel incredibly clausterphobic with that thing on my face, so it only makes the discomfort worse... and Strelnikov, I have similar problems that you have.... except I don't have cold air going down my neck, I have it shooting into my eyes! Surgery really is my 1st option, but only if I can learn more about it and what it can or can't do..... the mask just seems... too alien, foreign and scary. But thanks for all the info, and I'll keep trying.