Oh So Tired Wrote:Dec 15 2005, 02:51 PM Post #1


I was just diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea. When I did the CPAP tritation, I got very little sleep and felt horribly claustrophobic. My doctor suggested that I try an oral device designed to help sleep apnea. It is supposed to move the lower jaw and tongue forward so the back of the throat is open and breathing is not obstructed. I can't find alot of information other than sales or patent information. Has anyone tried this device?

Also, I'm supposed to see an dentist/oral surgeon who specializes in this device. It seems he is the only one in town who can do this, and he's not in my insurance plan, so this is causing me alot of problems.

I would be grateful for any information or suggestions.

Thanks,
Oh So Tired

henry Wrote:Dec 20 2005, 06:14 PM Post #2


Ohsotired, what pressure setting are you supposed to be at?

OhSoTired Wrote:Dec 21 2005, 08:33 AM Post #3


I actually don't know. I was never given the results (numbers), I was just told that I have severe sleep apnea. I understand where the numbers are important for a CPAP, but do the numbers make a difference for an oral device? My doctor suggested that I go with the dental appliance because the CPAP freaked me out during the test. At this point, the appliance is probably moot because I can't get the insurance o.k. to use the dentist, and I'm tired of fighting with them, so I'm going to try a CPAP first.

Thanks...Oh So Tired.

OhSoTired Wrote:Dec 21 2005, 10:36 AM Post #4


I actually don't know. I was never given the results (numbers), I was just told that I have severe sleep apnea. I understand where the numbers are important for a CPAP, but do the numbers make a difference for an oral device? My doctor suggested that I go with the dental appliance because the CPAP freaked me out during the test. At this point, the appliance is probably moot because I can't get the insurance o.k. to use the dentist, and I'm tired of fighting with them, so I'm going to try a CPAP first.

Thanks...Oh So Tired.

henry Wrote:I'm wondering your pressure setting, because sometimes, if your pressure setting is not high enough, you get a feeling of suffocation when using CPAP (you can't seem to get enough air).

I know that when I went through a titration, they started me out at the lower levels (8 or 9) and I felt that way.

Also, what might help is if you get a CPAP with a "ramp up" option, that slowly raises your pressure to the prescribed level over a 15 minute period, to help you adjust.

nosbig17 Wrote:Dec 21 2005, 11:27 AM Post #5


We don't have Hilary Care (that's where you are locked into a healthcare plan and are made a criminal if you go outside of it and pay for other healthcare) yet. Are you in charge of your health or have you given that responsibility to someone else? In any case something should be done, the question is what?

We are talking about YOUR well being. If you have severe OSA your heart, brain, liver etc.,etc. are being starved for oxygen when you sleep.

What is the success rate for this oral device?
What does it cost?
How much is your well being worth?


Ten years ago I went to one ENT who wanted to operate on my throat the next day after I was diagnosed. Went another Dr. who told me that there were three different procedures that she could do, none of which had greater than a 36% success rate. She said that the success rete for cpap was between 94% and 98%.

Since you have elected to TRY the cpap:
(Might be better if you were determined to make the cpap work for you, rather than only try.)

Hopefully you can be fitted with a mask that is reasonably comfortible.

You can expect to have leaks waking you up until you get the adjustments right and find a suitable sleeping position. I never used a pillow before cpap, now I use a buckwheat husk pillow and sleep on my side most of the time.

Who ever gets you started will probably try to start you out using the ramp (start with low pressure and gradually increase) feature. That is when I get claustrophobic, so I never use the ramp feature.

Another issue will be the use of a humidifier, heated or unheated, and rainout escecially if you sleep in a cold room.


Good luck with your theropy.

Don't evey think about sleeping without your cpap.