I had a septoplasty (septum undeviated) before they'd give me the machine. That surgery didn't do me any good. I've never heard of getting your tongue extended. Anyway, I'm more than 80 pounds lighter now than I was when I first started using the machine. And when I get another 50 or so pounds off, I probably won't need the machine anymore....
But my mother, who has some kind of sleep disorder(s) pretty much refuses to even consider using the machine also. She also tries to deny she's got problems with her sleep... can't make people accept solutions, I reckon.
Yeah, I had a sleep study at Bethesda and they noted that my tongue would fall back and block my airway when I slept. So they broke my jaw and extended it (I had a serious Jay Leno chin for a month!), thus extending where my tongue was attached and making it so it wouldn't block my airway when I slept.
Yeah, I had a sleep study at Bethesda and they noted that my tongue would fall back and block my airway when I slept. So they broke my jaw and extended it (I had a serious Jay Leno chin for a month!), thus extending where my tongue was attached and making it so it wouldn't block my airway when I slept.
Yeah, I had a sleep study at Bethesda and they noted that my tongue would fall back and block my airway when I slept. So they broke my jaw and extended it (I had a serious Jay Leno chin for a month!), thus extending where my tongue was attached and making it so it wouldn't block my airway when I slept.
They broke your jaw???? I dunno, a little machine sounds less invasive to me.
My first thought when I got fitted for the thing was, "OK, this is it. The sex life is officially over."
I totally understand that thought, but never say never - especially where sex is concerned. As soon as you do, it seems the universe has a way of proving you wrong
I'd say it's a whole lot sexier to be rested and able to function than the alternative!
The study of sleep and the treatment of sleep disorders is fascinating and it really IS a great day to be alive!
They broke your jaw???? I dunno, a little machine sounds less invasive to me.
Well, that was now 6-7 years ago and I'm not tied to a machine to get a good night's sleep.
My thought at the time was that I'd rather deal with some pain and discomfort NOW and be done with it, rather than dealing with a disability for the rest of my life.
And, btw, would I do it again faced the same alternatives? In a heartbeat!
Hmmmm...I guess that's what makes us individual. I would NEVER have my jaw broke in a surgery. I guess that's what makes us individuals. I don't consider the machine a disability.
This subject interests me because my husband would have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea had he lived and been tested.
His snoring could peel paint off the neighbors walls 6 blocks away (some would actually complain) and he'd stop breathing. For 16 years I slept lightly so as to hear when he stopped and elbow him or something and he'd pick it back up.
He had a massive heart attack 10 years ago from which he didn't survive. Our daughter, from about age 4, started that kind of snoring and breathing interruption. Doctors said she'd grow out of it, blah blah.
When she was 10, I took her to ENT specialist and they removed her tonsils and adenoids and explained to me that the stress to her heart would have eventually been as much as it was to her dads. He had other major heart problems we didn't know about, but this apnea weakened what was already poor.
Since her surgery, she no longer snores, she no longer quits breathing and her sleep is much more rested and restorative.
Whatever it takes, do it. A machine, surgery, anything.
My husband was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 20 years ago. His case was so severe he was not a candidate for the CPAP machine and had the surgery. He felt immediately better( well within a few weeks, the surgery was painful). But it saved his life in more ways that one. First in that it literally saved him, he was headed for heart failure. But secondly he was himself again. No more headaches, no more falling asleep where ever he was because of complete exhaustion. No more cloudy head when he was awake. And he lost weight because he was able to become more active.
I hope you have equally good results with your treatment! I am so glad you went in to be tested!
By the way... for all you that are being nagged someone to see a doctor for this... GO IN NOW! My husband did not believe me when I told him how he was when he was sleeping. I nagged him for years. I finally forced him in and when the doctor got his results he called him in for emergency surgery he was at such risk. I don't mean to be an alarmist, his was a severe situaltion, most aren't like that but don't put it off.
BTW... I recently read they developed a new proceedure effective in some patients. They insert several stents in the area that the muscles collapse during sleep. It keeps the airway open during sleep. I am sure it is not effective in all cases but might be worth asking about.
I did the sleep study, as much out of curiosity as anything else. They said I had minimal signs of sleep apnea but didn't need the "scuba gear" they were very interested in selling. The "educational" video they had me watch prior to the study looked a lot like one of those late-night infomercials.
Anyway, they asked me if I'd like to buy the CPAP thing anyway, just in case, I guess. They said they could write me up a prescription and they'd check to make sure insurance would cover it. I said, no thank you, although it might have come in handy at Halloween.
The sleep study was an endurance test. They stuck those sensors all over my chest, shoulders, a couple on my feet, at least one on my head, and wires everywhere. The bed had a thin, cheap mattress, covered in heavy plastic. I figured I'd be up most of the night, but I managed to sleep despite their best efforts.
I don't doubt these CPAP things alleviate some breathing dysfunction, but I became suspicious of the barely disguised marketing effort, and almost wonder if there won't be a big scandal about the "medical industrial complex," over-selling therapy to people who don't necessarily need it.
As long as they aren't hurting people, in ways maybe yet undetected, I guess there are bigger issues to worry about.
The CPAP machine isn't nearly as expensive as that darn sleep study was. The sleep study was $2,600. The CPAP is $1,360. They wanted to do a 2nd sleep study on me, I said "NO!" The CPAP machine will test the tritation I will need by some sort of recording on the CPAP machine. Being that it keeps me breathing and keeps me from losing oxygen (which goes down to 75%) when I wasn't breathing, I think that is a small price to pay. Lack of oxygen causes brain damage. I'm only 43, and I'm not ready to start drooling yet.
I did the sleep study, as much out of curiosity as anything else. They said I had minimal signs of sleep apnea but didn't need the "scuba gear" they were very interested in selling. The "educational" video they had me watch prior to the study looked a lot like one of those late-night infomercials.
Anyway, they asked me if I'd like to buy the CPAP thing anyway, just in case, I guess. They said they could write me up a prescription and they'd check to make sure insurance would cover it. I said, no thank you, although it might have come in handy at Halloween.
The sleep study was an endurance test. They stuck those sensors all over my chest, shoulders, a couple on my feet, at least one on my head, and wires everywhere. The bed had a thin, cheap mattress, covered in heavy plastic. I figured I'd be up most of the night, but I managed to sleep despite their best efforts.
I don't doubt these CPAP things alleviate some breathing dysfunction, but I became suspicious of the barely disguised marketing effort, and almost wonder if there won't be a big scandal about the "medical industrial complex," over-selling therapy to people who don't necessarily need it.
As long as they aren't hurting people, in ways maybe yet undetected, I guess there are bigger issues to worry about.
Interesting reflection on your experience with the sleep study people.
Your skepticism perhaps was warranted, but in the federal government administered SINGLE PAYER system that provides my medical care, there is NO profit motive anywhere in the process. They have NO incentive to oversell. BUT... this system I belong to is highly focused on preventative care. They have a great deal of experience and data which links sleep apnea to several adverse conditions and/or risks for serious long-term cardiovascular illness.
They also were able to show me the printouts generated by all those leads they connect to the head, torso, arms, legs, etc. They showed me at which CPAP settings my sleep was the best and why...
However, if your sleep and any associated symptoms/conditions are/were very minor, perhaps you don't need it. BUT... if you see anything in your life/health changing for the worse, you might look into it more seriously.
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Linda Z
On the bright side, look at all the money we can save when Halloween rolls around. Or all the fun we could have scaring away door-to-door salesmen.
I thought my dogs would freak out seeing me in that get-up, but they don't even notice.
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markomalley
Yeah, I had a sleep study at Bethesda and they noted that my tongue would fall back and block my airway when I slept. So they broke my jaw and extended it (I had a serious Jay Leno chin for a month!), thus extending where my tongue was attached and making it so it wouldn't block my airway when I slept.
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Rocky
I'm glad it worked! :)
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Nottawayfer
They broke your jaw???? I dunno, a little machine sounds less invasive to me.
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bowtwi
I totally understand that thought, but never say never - especially where sex is concerned. As soon as you do, it seems the universe has a way of proving you wrong
I'd say it's a whole lot sexier to be rested and able to function than the alternative!
The study of sleep and the treatment of sleep disorders is fascinating and it really IS a great day to be alive!
Breathe on!
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markomalley
Well, that was now 6-7 years ago and I'm not tied to a machine to get a good night's sleep.
My thought at the time was that I'd rather deal with some pain and discomfort NOW and be done with it, rather than dealing with a disability for the rest of my life.
And, btw, would I do it again faced the same alternatives? In a heartbeat!
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Nottawayfer
Hmmmm...I guess that's what makes us individual. I would NEVER have my jaw broke in a surgery. I guess that's what makes us individuals. I don't consider the machine a disability.
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Belle
So glad you've gotten answers, Notta.
Being tired and not sleeping well is no fun.
So glad you've gotten answers, Notta.
Being tired and not sleeping well is no fun.
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Shellon
This subject interests me because my husband would have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea had he lived and been tested.
His snoring could peel paint off the neighbors walls 6 blocks away (some would actually complain) and he'd stop breathing. For 16 years I slept lightly so as to hear when he stopped and elbow him or something and he'd pick it back up.
He had a massive heart attack 10 years ago from which he didn't survive. Our daughter, from about age 4, started that kind of snoring and breathing interruption. Doctors said she'd grow out of it, blah blah.
When she was 10, I took her to ENT specialist and they removed her tonsils and adenoids and explained to me that the stress to her heart would have eventually been as much as it was to her dads. He had other major heart problems we didn't know about, but this apnea weakened what was already poor.
Since her surgery, she no longer snores, she no longer quits breathing and her sleep is much more rested and restorative.
Whatever it takes, do it. A machine, surgery, anything.
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coupcake
Notta,
My husband was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 20 years ago. His case was so severe he was not a candidate for the CPAP machine and had the surgery. He felt immediately better( well within a few weeks, the surgery was painful). But it saved his life in more ways that one. First in that it literally saved him, he was headed for heart failure. But secondly he was himself again. No more headaches, no more falling asleep where ever he was because of complete exhaustion. No more cloudy head when he was awake. And he lost weight because he was able to become more active.
I hope you have equally good results with your treatment! I am so glad you went in to be tested!
By the way... for all you that are being nagged someone to see a doctor for this... GO IN NOW! My husband did not believe me when I told him how he was when he was sleeping. I nagged him for years. I finally forced him in and when the doctor got his results he called him in for emergency surgery he was at such risk. I don't mean to be an alarmist, his was a severe situaltion, most aren't like that but don't put it off.
Good luck Notta!
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coupcake
BTW... I recently read they developed a new proceedure effective in some patients. They insert several stents in the area that the muscles collapse during sleep. It keeps the airway open during sleep. I am sure it is not effective in all cases but might be worth asking about.
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satori001
I did the sleep study, as much out of curiosity as anything else. They said I had minimal signs of sleep apnea but didn't need the "scuba gear" they were very interested in selling. The "educational" video they had me watch prior to the study looked a lot like one of those late-night infomercials.
Anyway, they asked me if I'd like to buy the CPAP thing anyway, just in case, I guess. They said they could write me up a prescription and they'd check to make sure insurance would cover it. I said, no thank you, although it might have come in handy at Halloween.
The sleep study was an endurance test. They stuck those sensors all over my chest, shoulders, a couple on my feet, at least one on my head, and wires everywhere. The bed had a thin, cheap mattress, covered in heavy plastic. I figured I'd be up most of the night, but I managed to sleep despite their best efforts.
I don't doubt these CPAP things alleviate some breathing dysfunction, but I became suspicious of the barely disguised marketing effort, and almost wonder if there won't be a big scandal about the "medical industrial complex," over-selling therapy to people who don't necessarily need it.
As long as they aren't hurting people, in ways maybe yet undetected, I guess there are bigger issues to worry about.
YouTube:
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Nottawayfer
The CPAP machine isn't nearly as expensive as that darn sleep study was. The sleep study was $2,600. The CPAP is $1,360. They wanted to do a 2nd sleep study on me, I said "NO!" The CPAP machine will test the tritation I will need by some sort of recording on the CPAP machine. Being that it keeps me breathing and keeps me from losing oxygen (which goes down to 75%) when I wasn't breathing, I think that is a small price to pay. Lack of oxygen causes brain damage. I'm only 43, and I'm not ready to start drooling yet.
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satori001
Introducing the latest and greatest CPAP 3000, modeled by a famous intergalactic personality!
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Rocky
Interesting reflection on your experience with the sleep study people.
Your skepticism perhaps was warranted, but in the federal government administered SINGLE PAYER system that provides my medical care, there is NO profit motive anywhere in the process. They have NO incentive to oversell. BUT... this system I belong to is highly focused on preventative care. They have a great deal of experience and data which links sleep apnea to several adverse conditions and/or risks for serious long-term cardiovascular illness.
They also were able to show me the printouts generated by all those leads they connect to the head, torso, arms, legs, etc. They showed me at which CPAP settings my sleep was the best and why...
However, if your sleep and any associated symptoms/conditions are/were very minor, perhaps you don't need it. BUT... if you see anything in your life/health changing for the worse, you might look into it more seriously.
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