For the last 15-years I've been dealing with OSA.  About 7-years ago I had a sleep study done, but never saw the results.  Instead my doctor told me that I was on the borderline for needing a machine, according to the report submitted.  My doctor didn't explain it further back then,  leaving me wondering later about the study validity.  During all my time with OSA, I've learned that if I don't sleep on my back, but always force myself to one of my sides and breathe through my mouth, I can get by.
 
While I might be getting by, I'm now dealing with some nerve damage in my right arm that a doctor says might be caused by my sleeping on my right side.  He also indicated their might be other issues causing it, but he think if I deal with the OSA in another manner it would be better in the long run.  To encourage me, I've been asked to set another appointment at a different clinic, "SleepMed" in SJ, CA and to accept the recommendations they present.  He checked the box: "CPAP (E0601) with Humidifier (as determined by study)."
 
My appointment hasn't been made yet because I just haven't convinced myself that a machine is going to be that much better than the approach I've been using.  Still, in reading some of the notes posted on this forum, I see that people say to keep the mouth shut so the machine will work.  This is puzzling me because air is air no matter how it gets in.  While I might be missing the obvious, I'm trying to understand a few points:
 

1. Will a PAP process really be better than the approach I'm using?
   
2. Going on a machine is going to be a hard transition for me.  Can you explain what made you decide it was your solution?
   
3. How does your using a machine affect your sleeping partner?
   
4. Has anyone known of OSA going away?
   

 
Any insights into these questions might help me pick up the phone and make another appointment.

1. Will a PAP process really be better than the approach I'm using?  
   The CPAP machine (constant positive air pressure) is used to keep your airway open and allow you to keep breathing when the muscles relax. I still had some episodes when I laid on my side of not breathing.
   
2. Going on a machine is going to be a hard transition for me.  
   Can you explain what made you decide it was your solution?  Constantly being tired, high blood pressure, moodiness, very load snoring and scaring myself and my wife when I would stop breathing in the middle of the night waking up gasping for air. These were all reasons that my wife force me to talk to the doctor and reading about OSA.
   
3. How does your using a machine affect your sleeping partner?
   It took my wife a couple of days to get used to me not making noise while I was sleeping, but she is now also enjoying a full night of sleep.
   
4. Has anyone known of OSA going away?
   I am not aware of this happening.
   

 
Any insights into these questions might help me pick up the phone and make another appointment.[/quote]

[quote="Anonymous"]For the last 15-years I've been dealing with OSA.  About 7-years ago I had a sleep study done, but never saw the results.  Instead my doctor told me that I was on the borderline for needing a machine, according to the report submitted.  My doctor didn't explain it further back then,  leaving me wondering later about the study validity.  During all my time with OSA, I've learned that if I don't sleep on my back, but always force myself to one of my sides and breathe through my mouth, I can get by.
 
While I might be getting by, I'm now dealing with some nerve damage in my right arm that a doctor says might be caused by my sleeping on my right side.  He also indicated their might be other issues causing it, but he think if I deal with the OSA in another manner it would be better in the long run.  To encourage me, I've been asked to set another appointment at a different clinic, "SleepMed" in SJ, CA and to accept the recommendations they present.  He checked the box: "CPAP (E0601) with Humidifier (as determined by study)."
 
My appointment hasn't been made yet because I just haven't convinced myself that a machine is going to be that much better than the approach I've been using.  Still, in reading some of the notes posted on this forum, I see that people say to keep the mouth shut so the machine will work.  This is puzzling me because air is air no matter how it gets in.  While I might be missing the obvious, I'm trying to understand a few points:
 

1. Will a PAP process really be better than the approach I'm using?
   
2. Going on a machine is going to be a hard transition for me.  Can you explain what made you decide it was your solution?
   
3. How does your using a machine affect your sleeping partner?
   
4. Has anyone known of OSA going away?
   

You haven't mentioned any of the symptoms you are suffering from, or why 7 years after your study you might need something done ?

Air may be air no matter how it gets in, but if you have sleep apnoea (and you won't know for certain until you have a sleep study) you need air at a predetermined pressure to splint open your airway. Keeping your mouth shut allows the pressure to remain and keep the airway open. If the air escapes through your mouth there will be no pressure in your airway.

Until you get properly diagnosed and the severity of the apnoea determined you will never know whether or not cpap will make a difference or not. The approach you are using is not effective if your apnoea is moderate or severe.
 
What made me choose cpap. When a respected specialist told me in May 1994 that I probably would not see Christmas 1994, unless I did something positive about my condition. It does wake you up to what is going on.

Great. No snoring, no great fear of me not waking up in the morning, no great fear of me being anything only 'normal' grumpy. Far more energy......etc

OSA does not 'go away'. It actually deteriorates as you get older. It adverersely effects your cardiac system, renal system and a host of other areas.

Try not to anticipate the treatment therapy, you might not need it and if you do it will only do you good.

You will never know unless you have the test. Make the call.

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Anonymous wrote:

Will a PAP process really be better than the approach I'm using?

It will, since it will keep your airway open no matter what position you sleep in.  It's like having a broken bone and trying to hold it in position instead of getting a cast.  It may work, but it's not the best route to go.

Quote:

Going on a machine is going to be a hard transition for me.  Can you explain what made you decide it was your solution?

Mine was a twofold decision.  I was tired of being tired all the time, and it was affecting my employment.  I was told that if I fell asleep at work one more time I'd be out of a job.  Such things are great motivators.

Quote:

How does your using a machine affect your sleeping partner?

I don't currently have a sleeping partner, but I have a mask with a very silent exhaust, so the only noise I can hear is the 'white noise' coming from the machine.

Quote:

Has anyone known of OSA going away?

I haven't, but I can say that the effects are miniscule one you start treatment as long as you stick with it.

I got my registration to work this time so there is now a name to the original posting.

Some of the comments here hit home and I’ve made the appointment.  My test is many weeks out because the line of people looking for a test bed is long.  

While I’ll submit to the testing, I don’t know what I’ll do yet.  I am hoping the people and feedback I get this time inspires more confidence than my first sleep study.  During my first study I was certain the Three Stooges were running the clinic and the kids doing the work were in training to be clowns.

What helped me to make the call were comments like:

Anonymous wrote:

1. I still had some episodes when I laid on my side of not breathing.
   
2. Constantly being tired, high blood pressure, moodiness,
   

I hadn’t thought about the possibility that I might still be having obstructive problems when I was on one of my sides.  After reading that sentence I’ve been trying to pay more attention to what happens when I’m on my side, but it will take another sleep study to get useful and reliable information.  

sleeplessnights007 wrote:

It will, since it will keep your airway open no matter what position you sleep in.
 
I was tired of being tired all the time

“tired of being tiredâ€� mentioned twice was the comments that made me realize that I believed I would always feel tired from now on.  That belief has not changed yet, but from reading many of the messages in this forum it seems like that is the main benefit of going with a PAP process and maybe it is time to give it a chance.

Daniel wrote:

You haven't mentioned any of the symptoms you are suffering from, or why 7 years after your study you might need something done ?

Daniel, it is the problem with the arm mentioned above that began to drive this issue again.  I need to sleep less on my right side if I want the nerve damage to repair itself.  I can’t sleep on my back because of my OSA issue, and I get too restless when I try to sleep on my stomach, so a machine seems like the only alternative.  Maybe if I had come away from my first sleep study with some level of confidence, or even good information about my alternative approach, I might have gone the machine route back then.

Thanks for all the feedback.


_________________
Thanks,
Roger...

Daniel wrote:

You haven't mentioned any of the symptoms you are suffering from, or why 7 years after your study you might need something done ?

Daniel, it is the problem with the arm mentioned above that began to drive this issue again.  I need to sleep less on my right side if I want the nerve damage to repair itself.  I can’t sleep on my back because of my OSA issue, and I get too restless when I try to sleep on my stomach, so a machine seems like the only alternative.  Maybe if I had come away from my first sleep study with some level of confidence, or even good information about my alternative approach, I might have gone the machine route back then.

Thanks for all the feedback.[/quote]

Roger,

Forget about a machine for the moment. Concentrate on the Sleep Study, even agree to go on a cancellation list as you might get it over with a little quicker. Standards, by and large, have improved a lot over the last 7 years, so you might get a pleasant surprise. Remember too, you need to ask questions when you are in for the Sleep Study, demand answers and don't be fobbed off. You are paying for it, you are entitled to answers, but I do think you will notice a change in standards and treatment.

If, and only if, you are prescribed cpap, remember the mask is the most important part. Cpap machines blow filtered air, whether they have a Rolls Royce badge or not, however the mask is your only interface, so it is extremely important.

Get through the study, and keep us up to date.

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)