what happens if your machine breaks on deployment?How do you transport it?Do the filters hold up with all the dust?

They already took care of it.  They got me a second machine before I left that I actually have to ship over here. I took it on as a third carry-on that was required medically. As for filters, you pretty much have to clean them with compressed air and stuff daily and replace them about three times as often as one would in the States or other domesticated area. If anything goes wrong with both machines then they'd have to send me home until I could get another one.

I have sleep apena with 39 events per hour. My MOS is in combat arms will they make me change my MOS to stay in the military, or just let me out threw the med board process.

guest wrote:

I have sleep apena with 39 events per hour. My MOS is in combat arms will they make me change my MOS to stay in the military, or just let me out threw the med board process.

I can't vouch for a board, but my guess is it will depend on rank and time in service. If you've been in long enough, you may wind up as a staff junkie for the rest of your career. I know that happened to an E7 11B with 12 years of service. MEB doesn't determine retention by MOS, that is an MMRB, which doesn't judge this type of disorder.

I have been on the cpap machine for 2 months now when I got the machine the doctor put me on a temp profile for 3 months , I have been told by other people that I should have a permant profile is this true or not.

Anonymous wrote:

I have been on the cpap machine for 2 months now when I got the machine the doctor put me on a temp profile for 3 months , I have been told by other people that I should have a permant profile is this true or not.

Yes and no. They're following regulations. Check around the site for another military thread where I've quoted AR 40-501 regarding this. It shows the process they are supposed to follow.

superslacker87 wrote:

I left for Iraq on the 28th of December, and so far no problems pertaining to having my CPAP. I had one night the power went out, but it could have been put back on almost immediately. Oh well, learn that after the fact. Other than that, only once did it go off, but it was back on within two minutes. Word of advice: Ship water before you deploy, and lots of it. Mailing it is bad. :) I lost about three quarters of a gallon overall from three gallons of water.

Since you went over in at the end of December, I'm guessing you are still there.  How are things going with CPAP down range?  I've heard of some problems and little support from the Army.  I'm being boarded now and expect to be found fit.  The whole process seems like a waste of time, as if they already know what they're going to do anyway.

One thing that people shouldn't be confused about.  It does matter which branch of service you are in.  The Army is desperate not to lose anyone so it is more likely to find a soldier fit who needs CPAP.  Air Force is different, despite the fact that the AF could likely support CPAP down range.   The Navy and the Marine Corps probobly have their own take....

markt wrote:

superslacker87 wrote:

I left for Iraq on the 28th of December, and so far no problems pertaining to having my CPAP. I had one night the power went out, but it could have been put back on almost immediately. Oh well, learn that after the fact. Other than that, only once did it go off, but it was back on within two minutes. Word of advice: Ship water before you deploy, and lots of it. Mailing it is bad. :) I lost about three quarters of a gallon overall from three gallons of water.

Since you went over in at the end of December, I'm guessing you are still there.  How are things going with CPAP down range?  I've heard of some problems and little support from the Army.  I'm being boarded now and expect to be found fit.  The whole process seems like a waste of time, as if they already know what they're going to do anyway.

One thing that people shouldn't be confused about.  It does matter which branch of service you are in.  The Army is desperate not to lose anyone so it is more likely to find a soldier fit who needs CPAP.  Air Force is different, despite the fact that the AF could likely support CPAP down range.   The Navy and the Marine Corps probobly have their own take....

Yeah, I'm still here. For another two months or so anyway. I have had mixed feelings about the whole CPAP while deployed thing.

Mar-Apr of 2006 (when I should have been on a T3, but wasn't), I went to NTC. I had power probably half the time I slept. I was a walking zombie.

Then I went through the med board process and was found FFD, and deployed over here, joining the rest of my unit. About two weeks after getting here (and five subsequent moves), my mask broke. That time, I had pretty much no help at all in getting a mask. The DME provider was being stupid, the RearD was next to no help for my wife, and I was getting no support from here either. It took about a month and a half to finally get a mask here. The whole time, I was on guard at night trying to stay awake, a difficult task when I do get to use my CPAP.

Then I went on leave, due to the added three months we got to stay over. When I got back, we had a fire break out in our truck, which my CPAP was in. This time, because it was a military accident, I had a lot more support in getting a new CPAP and mask. It came along with an added bonus - battery power - which was great considering how often the generators die when it gets hot. It took a month and a half again to get it, but I got more support this time, being moved to the day shift to help my want to sleep in the dark while I waited. I'm back on nights now, but at least I get good sleep.

All in all, three months out of about ten will be without a CPAP. Those combined three months were terrible, but I had almost no choice in the matter. I just reenlisted, so hopefully my new post and unit will be more tolerant to my medical needs.

SuperSlacker what is your MOS cause Iam going threw the MEB Board right now and I should have my findings back from the board in a month and also been told since Iam a 19k that I should be found not fot for duty> Just wondering since they deployed you with your CPAP machine

I retired from AF in 1988, I review my medical record and saw where the Dr said I had a mild OBA in my record. My question if the CPAP came out in 1981 when did this problem became known to the military for VA benefit's.

Anonymous wrote:

SuperSlacker what is your MOS cause Iam going threw the MEB Board right now and I should have my findings back from the board in a month and also been told since Iam a 19k that I should be found not fot for duty> Just wondering since they deployed you with your CPAP machine

Hey, sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I'm a 25B and am at Fort Gordon now. I sign in from leave in two weeks and am not sure if they will want to deploy me or not. We'll see. Previously I was at Fort Drum with an artillery unit.

Will having been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and using a cpap machine keep me out of the military?  I'd like to enlist in the Navy or Army when I graduate, but have sleep apnea and use cpap nightly.  Will that keep me out?  or should I even report it at all?

AR 40-501 chapter 2 Para 2-30 l. Current sleep disturbances (780.5), including, but not limited to sleep apneas, is disqualifying.

AS a member of teh military I greatly apprichate your willingness to service, but it looks as though you will not be able to.  Waivers are granted for many things, but i would guess due to the high visability of the sleep Apnea thing this wont be one of them.  Pelase do not try to hide it as you can get in lots of trouble.

Not sure about the Navy

You should talk to a Recruiter and see what they have to say.

Good Luck


_________________
Started 22 Nov 07
AHI 129, O2 level 70%, 2 obstructive SA, 9 mixed apnea, 14 hypopneas, 607 central apnea
Currently using a ResMed VPAP Adapt SV, set at 10EEP and PS of 5 to PS of 10

I had surgury out patient type was 57 episodes per hour now 0 may want to check in on that