I have mild SA, have been using CPAP for over six weeks, but not seeing any results.  I do not have any problems using my CPAP.  I sleep 7-9 hours fine, with a little help with a mild med.  My Dr. says an appliance might work were the CPAP does not.  Does anyone have any advice on how accurate that may be?

I might recommend starting with an examination of your initial sleep study and the results of your titration study and if you do not have these already, I would recommend that you ask for these from either your doctor or your sleep doctor. Look for evidence of associated sleep disorders (like periodic limb movements, spontaneous arousals, alpha intrusions). These may need to be addressed separately from your apnea. Check to see the results of your titrated pressure upon your apnea-hypopnea index, upon your sleep architecture, and upon limb movements, spontaneous arousals and/or alpha intrusions.

I have heard of the use of dental appliances as an alternative to CPAP in addressing sleep apnea and I am not expert on this topic. It does seem to me that either your CPAP treatment is not adequately treating your sleep apnea (in which case the dental appliance might work but so might an adjustment of your CPAP treatment) OR CPAP is doing its bit and either the results have not yet become obvious to you (which it yet might) OR you have something else going on that is interfering with your sleep.

It is on that last point that I would want to know more about the "little help from a mild med" and also about any other potential problems that your sleep study might suggest. If you are having some other sleep problem in addition to your apnea, then I am not sure why an appliance would be any better for you (although if your doctor has a good reason I would certainly recommend going with the doctors advice).

Good luck and best wishes,
Bill

Thanks Bill

I have copy of the sleep studies already.  There doesn't appear to be any other sleep issues.  One thing I note is that total Stage 3 & 4 sleep during my CPAP study was only 15%, and it all occurred before midnight.  Even after I titrated to 7, I never went back to Stage 3 & 4.

I am a light sleeper after the first four hours of sleep, and I kept waking up due to having a mask on.  I was taking Lunesta to help keep me asleep, which worked real well   Unfortunately, it costs a bundle, so after the free samples ran out, I have switched to Ambien.  It seems to work OK.  I think I feel about the same whether I wake up five times a night or sleep straight through.

My Dr. thinks that even though I am sleeping with the CPAP, my body does not like it and refuses to go to Stage 3 & 4.  He thinks the appliance may work.  I have my doubts, and don't want to pay the big bucks on a wild-a** theory.