All I know about it is that my husband used to work for a dentist who used a different kind of treatment so that you didn't have to be hooked up to those obnoxious machines. Doug used to make the appliance that goes into your mouth. Much nicer than the other alternative. :)

This is from the website of the dentist my husband used to work for. It shows the small appliance that he used to make for him.

http://www.cpcidaho.com/cp.php?groupName=sleepapnea&id=15

I don't have sleep apnea, but have been to a sleep clinic. They attach all kinds of wire everywhere. How on earth are you supposed to sleep! lol!

My mom had it done recently though, and she had it done where the room is set up like a hotel room, it might have acutally been a hotel at one time? not sure!

Anyway, I hope you don't have to sleep with one of those machines!

CoffeeQueen wrote:

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Does anyone have it?

Has anyone been to a sleep clinic.

My Dr. wants me to get tested.

I swear if I end up sleeping attached to one of those dang machines at night at the age of 35,lol.

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Hi!

 

I was dx @ age 24.

I wear a CPAP mask every night set at 7 sonimeters. Its not that bad. And depending on what kind of mask you need and how bad your apnea is, you may not even need a full face mask. If you are not a mouth breather then you can use the nasal cannula-type mask.
I am a mouth breather so I have to use the full face mask.

I was dx after my doctor thought that my weekly migraines were caused by OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). We did the home pulse ox test and that showed abnormal results so I was referred to the sleep dude doctor man. I have large tonsils and a large uvula so those combined block my airway and I can't breath.My first sleep study came back at 26.7 events an hour where I stopped breathing or slipped way below normal. That's about every 2.2 minutes in an hour. I do stop breathing. Not all people with Sleep Apnea stop breathing. That's a common misconception. I don't always stop breathing. On the nights that I do stop breathing, DH can tell because I usually sit up gasping for air and am rather violent.
If your study comes back below 25, then they won't prescribe the CPAP.

But be prepared because it is expensive. You get a new mask and tubing every three months. Insurance does pay for those. But the machine itself is expensive depending on your insurance and deductible. Your looking at anywhere upwards of $1200 and up.

Honestly, its not that bad. Two years later and I'm just now leaving my mask on so it does take awhile. And it does help a lot. I'm getting so much better sleep.

I'm 26, Melissa and I sleep attached to a machine. But its better than the alternative..And that's not breathing every 2.2 minutes and getting 4 hours of sleep and under every night. I'm a zombie when that happens!

My grandfather has it also. He stops breathing every 60 seconds. And my dad had it as well. I opted not to get my tonsils taken out..I'm rather attached to them. ;)

 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I've been dealing with it all my life but finally got diagnosed two years ago. I spent a good many years falling asleep all the time because I was always so tired and never understood why..I could sleep all day and never got anywhere with it!

ETA- Yes, I snore. Again- common misconception- not all people who snore have Sleep Apnea. Sleepwalk to which DH insists that I've actually left the house in my sleep too..Scary! 2)Talk in my sleep 3)Scream in my sleep 4)Punched DH repeatedly 5)I've actually bruised DH b/c I'm just that violent w/o the CPAP. Poor guy. He has been loving the CPAP. And he knows when I don't have the mask on. The cats also know when I stop breathing b/c they nudge me and irritate me until I wake up enough to start breathing and put my mask back on if I've taken it off. It doesn't happen so much these days.

I've spent a lot of time researching it and finding links between the OSA and other issues I have. I've got quite the medical history so.

-- Edited by Jennie on Thursday 19th of November 2009 10:24:41 PM