[Health] MOSTLY FOR NEWBIES

[srlevine1]

FYI...

Yale University just published an article on Sleep Apnea that might be a helpful summary for newbies and reluctant snorers.

The topic list:

1. Obstructive sleep apnea—defined
2. There have there been improvements to CPAP machines
3. Putting the recent CPAP recall in context
4. There are available treatments—other than CPAP
5. It’s now possible to do sleep studies from home
6. A precision medicine approach to diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea
7. Why it’s important to treat sleep apnea

7 Things To Know About Sleep Apnea and CPAP
CPAP has pros and cons, but it’s not the only treatment.

High on the list of sounds no one wants to hear is the snoring of a bed partner. But sometimes that harsh, rasping sound is more than just annoying; it can be life-threatening. About half of the 90 million Americans who snore have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition that actually disrupts breathing, is linked to heart disease, and can even be fatal. Even more troubling, it’s possible to have the condition and not even know it.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many people avoid seeking help for snoring because they don’t think it’s a big deal. Or they do, but don’t want to undergo a sleep test in an overnight lab (which is how OSA is typically diagnosed). Or they’re worried they’ll be diagnosed with OSA and have to use the most common—and notoriously difficult to tolerate—treatment: a continuous positive air pressure machine, or a CPAP. 

And since one company recently recalled some of its CPAP devices, there is growing confusion among many with OSA about whether or not they should even use a CPAP at all. 

To help clear up the confusion, we spoke with Henry Yaggi, MD, MPH, a pulmonologist and director of the Yale Center for Sleep Medicine, and Andrey Zinchuk, MD, MHS, who directs an Advanced Apnea Management Program at Yale.

They helped us put together seven things you need to know about obstructive sleep apnea, advances in CPAPs, and other OSA treatments.

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/sleep-apnea-cpap

[DaveL]

Thanks so much for posting this.

My first sleep doc was Dr Ferguson. She was a wonderful doc. however, 35 years ago they convinced me that OSA might kill me. That's the only information I had. I moved away and things went downhill. (My second sleep doc was Dr Inouye in Toronto. He was the sleep doc from h*ll.  His introduction--if I wasn't compliant he would pull my driver's license, and I wouldn't be able to work. Second bit--if I changed anything, specially pressure, I was practicing medicine without a license. And he would "pull my licence"

I never had information as interesting and informative as this.  Thank you! I'm grateful that you posted it!

DaveL

[srlevine1]

@DaveL

You are most welcome. 

My first sleep doctor ran a sleep clinic that looked much like a sales funnel to a particular DME. I was given much the same warnings about compliance, required to check back quarterly, provided with a brick CPAP, and charted my limited data daily. Only later, by accident, did I learn about data-capable xPaps and found myself a decent sleep specialist who happens to serve as the director of a major university sleep research program. 

Even now, I am learning more and more and have the Apnea Board to thank. The wealth of knowledge surpasses anything I have ever gotten from a "medical professional."

[DaveL]

My experiences are the same. But different.

Thanks for sharing here. Your word means a lot.

(I'm not surprised at the "new normal" where Respironics is guarding patients infromation and only sharing it with health care professionals.)

[DaveL]

I've often thought how wonderful it would be if medical and equipment genius's with sleep apnea could participate and invent equipment and treatment that really works.

[DaveL]

@DaveL

You are most welcome. 

My first sleep doctor ran a sleep clinic that looked much like a sales funnel to a particular DME. I was given much the same warnings about compliance, required to check back quarterly, provided with a brick CPAP, and charted my limited data daily. Only later, by accident, did I learn about data-capable xPaps and found myself a decent sleep specialist who happens to serve as the director of a major university sleep research program. 

Even now, I am learning more and more and have the Apnea Board to thank. The wealth of knowledge surpasses anything I have ever gotten from a "medical professional."

This is the most important post I've read here that discussed history and treatment.

I'm sure that most sleep docs think that they are doing a good job.  The way to find our way through this maze is to network. 

DaveL

[DaveL]

For Newbies==best thing I did when travelling was to take an extension cord with a surge suppressor on it. I needed that in a hotel when the power came on after a thunder storm.

As a Canadian travelling in the US I asked questions....like, "Will you sell me a cpap if mine stops working?" Answer was no. I needed a prescription. Worse yet, it had to be from a US doctor with Board credentials. I haven't travelled in the US since. I have travelled in Canada; however, I'd be in the same pickle if my machine failed. Perhaps that's what kijiji and craigslist are for....buying used gear