09-12-2019, 10:36 AM
snoring over new bi-pap , wife cannot sleep
I will be writing on behalf of my husband, who had a stroke 7 years ago and has expressive aphasia (inability to talk or write). He also has congestive heart failure. He weighs 260 pounds and is 6 feet tall, paralized on his right side and only able to transfer by standing and pivoting from bed, to wheelchair to toilet, etc. He is on Medicare.
Sleep apnea as well as AFIB contributed to my husband's stroke in 2012, so he has used the same CPAP machine since and has done well. However we were assigned a new neurologist / sleep specialist after his last one moved. I told the new guy we got a message "motor life exceeded" on his existing CPAP. He ordered a new sleep study and insisted my husband has *central sleep apnea* rather than obstructive sleep apnea. So we were forced to get a new bi-PAP or VPAP (it's been called different names by technologist, respiratory therapist and doctor). It supposedly forces air only when his brain "forgets" to tell him to breathe, so not blowing all the time. Without compliance, the new machine will cost us $1,000 plus we will have to pay out of pocket for all supplies.
We've tried FIVE different masks ranging from his old nasal mask to FOUR different full face masks, combined with a chin strap. The mask is not leaking around the silicone liner. His jaw does not drop, so the chin strap seems unnecessary. He is "puffing" with his lower lip as he exhales, which causes a honking sound so loud it scares our two dogs and wakes me. We keep trying to meet Medicare's compliance of using this new machine 70% of the time for 4 hours at a time, but I'm becoming sleep deprived. As his sole caregiver who lifts, bathes, toilets, and sees to his medical needs, I absolutely need at least 6 hours' sleep a night - preferably 7 or 8. I've also begun to have short bouts of AFIB myself after we go to bed. I'm certain it's the stress of this.
We only have 1 bedroom. He sleeps in a hospital bed at the foot of my bed so I can hear him if he needs to use the bathroom or has pain. So sleeping in another room is not possible.
We're over a month into this with no resolution to this problem. We only have another 1 1/2 months to come into Medicare compliance. I've contacted the sleep center, the machine provider, the respiratory therapist and the neurologist hoping for a solution. Our family practice doctor who has known us for 20 years says the neurologist could advise Medicare that despite his new diagnosis he should continue to use a regular CPAP as it has served him well for 7 years, but the neurologist refuses saying we must get used to it. He did have a second sleep study done. I don't know if it will be covered by Medicare. I've been using his old CPAP most of the time just so we can get a little sleep, but with the "motor life exceeded" message, I don't know how long it will continue to be useful.
I'm exhausted. My dogs are so terrified they pee on the floor the second they see me put the new machine on my husband.
Has anyone had a similar problem who could help us before I have a stroke of my own??
Sleep apnea as well as AFIB contributed to my husband's stroke in 2012, so he has used the same CPAP machine since and has done well. However we were assigned a new neurologist / sleep specialist after his last one moved. I told the new guy we got a message "motor life exceeded" on his existing CPAP. He ordered a new sleep study and insisted my husband has *central sleep apnea* rather than obstructive sleep apnea. So we were forced to get a new bi-PAP or VPAP (it's been called different names by technologist, respiratory therapist and doctor). It supposedly forces air only when his brain "forgets" to tell him to breathe, so not blowing all the time. Without compliance, the new machine will cost us $1,000 plus we will have to pay out of pocket for all supplies.
We've tried FIVE different masks ranging from his old nasal mask to FOUR different full face masks, combined with a chin strap. The mask is not leaking around the silicone liner. His jaw does not drop, so the chin strap seems unnecessary. He is "puffing" with his lower lip as he exhales, which causes a honking sound so loud it scares our two dogs and wakes me. We keep trying to meet Medicare's compliance of using this new machine 70% of the time for 4 hours at a time, but I'm becoming sleep deprived. As his sole caregiver who lifts, bathes, toilets, and sees to his medical needs, I absolutely need at least 6 hours' sleep a night - preferably 7 or 8. I've also begun to have short bouts of AFIB myself after we go to bed. I'm certain it's the stress of this.
We only have 1 bedroom. He sleeps in a hospital bed at the foot of my bed so I can hear him if he needs to use the bathroom or has pain. So sleeping in another room is not possible.
We're over a month into this with no resolution to this problem. We only have another 1 1/2 months to come into Medicare compliance. I've contacted the sleep center, the machine provider, the respiratory therapist and the neurologist hoping for a solution. Our family practice doctor who has known us for 20 years says the neurologist could advise Medicare that despite his new diagnosis he should continue to use a regular CPAP as it has served him well for 7 years, but the neurologist refuses saying we must get used to it. He did have a second sleep study done. I don't know if it will be covered by Medicare. I've been using his old CPAP most of the time just so we can get a little sleep, but with the "motor life exceeded" message, I don't know how long it will continue to be useful.
I'm exhausted. My dogs are so terrified they pee on the floor the second they see me put the new machine on my husband.
Has anyone had a similar problem who could help us before I have a stroke of my own??
