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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: old head on February 04, 2018, 04:22:00 PM
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So, my dad, my brothers all have sleep apnea and have CPAP machines. Wife says my breathing is erratic, I fall asleep easily during the day. Snore loud and alot.
I went to the doc and he requested a sleep study, my insurance said they wouldn't pay for it as I don't have any other health issues.
I will go back to the doc and see what options are, but any suggestions for home sleep study?
CPAP machine how do you choose? I see you can buy one without a prescription and they don't seem all that expensive.
Old Head
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CPAP machines come in two flavours, fixed and auto. A fixed machine will ramp up to a fixed level, and an auto machine will set a level based on the number of "events" it detects while you're asleep. An auto machine can also be set at a fixed level.
I recommend having a sleep study. The initial number of events (where you stop breathing) will be indicative of what level the machine should be set at in the beginning. After a while, your doctor can then recommend what level to set it at. An auto machine usually will ramp between 4 and 20. Eventually it will settle on a level that minimises events. Once this level is known, you can set that as the max level to reduce random increases to 20, when you may only need to go to 10.
You should be able to rent one for a few months to a) get used to it, and b) find the level you need. Auto units cost more than fixed level ones.
For the machine, get one that has the ability to lower the setting when it detects your awake. If you wake up in the middle of the night for some reason, you want it to lower the level to minimum until you fall asleep again.
Get one with a heated hose, and a humidifier. Don't skimp.
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Probably just an aside and/or conjecture.....but in my decades of medical practice I don�t think I ever saw a NEGATIVE sleep study, making me wonder if it was an overdiagnosed condition. Wonder if the insurance coverage pendulum has therefore swung towards refusals of late.
Just conjecture.
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Also, the sleep study will determine whether you need a full-face mask or just a nose mask, etc.
I can stress enough how important the study is.
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Probably just an aside and/or conjecture.....but in my decades of medical practice I don�t think I ever saw a NEGATIVE sleep study, making me wonder if it was an overdiagnosed condition. Wonder if the insurance coverage pendulum has therefore swung towards refusals of late.
Just conjecture.
My sleep specialist says she has never seen a negative result either, but the data can speak volumes. If you only have 3-5 events per hour, that's fairly normal and probably should've diagnosed as sleep apnoea. If you have 57 events per hour, like I did, then it's a no-brainer.
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Nobody in our family has the issue, so I can't speak specifically to sleep studies ....
.... but if it's as important as the guys with sleep apnea issues say it is (and I have no doubt it is), then just get it done (or have it done at home), and don't worry about whether your Medicare or VA or NHS or Medicaid or Blue Cross or whoever is going to pay for it ... just go ahead with it!
I've done that for other conditions, and found that if you go in and tell them it's "Self Pay", you might be surprised at how reasonable it can be ....
Lannis
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While I don't have the condition myself so far, I've spoken with many who have, and read a fair bit. I also have a fair bit of experience arguing with health insurers.
Seems to me the sleep study should NOT be treated as a diagnostic step, but as a test to determine the method of treatment. The diagnosis is already in place; but just as with many other conditions a test may be necessary to determine the best method of treatment and the level of care or strength of prescription required. Ask your physician if this matches his/her view of your health.
You don't establish insulin doses without blood tests. You shouldn't set CPAP treatment plans without appropriate testing either. Be persistent with your insurer using that argument. It may also mean a lower costs for your CPAP gear and supplies in the long run.
As Lannis said, if you do have to pay for it yourself, ask the lab what the lowest charge they have negotiated with an insurance company might be - and offer to pay that amount, without them having to bill and wait. Lots of health service providers are very willing to consider such arrangements, as long as they don't have to wait for payment.
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... if you do have to pay for it yourself, ask the lab what the lowest charge they have negotiated with an insurance company might be - and offer to pay that amount, without them having to bill and wait. Lots of health service providers are very willing to consider such arrangements, as long as they don't have to wait for payment.
Sometimes you have to do a little convincing, since most offices are shocked SHOCKED I tell you that you just want to pay on the spot and done. Most doctor's offices have 1 or 2 doctors, 3 nurses, and 16 people to manage insurance, Medicare, accounts receivable, billing, payment plans, deductibles, co-pays, and all that stuff ....
Again, don't let your health wait on all that.
Lannis
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Sleep study is a good thing. My wife just had one a few weeks ago. She was concerned because both her parents have a CPAP.
Turns out she has elevated blood pressure, not breathing issues. But we wouldn't know that unless she'd had the sleep study.
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Why do you need a doctor to tell you what you already know? Go on Craiglist, look up CPAP and pick one out. There are hundreds for sale. No prescription and cheap.
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Nobody in our family has the issue, so I can't speak specifically to sleep studies ....
.... but if it's as important as the guys with sleep apnea issues say it is (and I have no doubt it is), then just get it done (or have it done at home), and don't worry about whether your Medicare or VA or NHS or Medicaid or Blue Cross or whoever is going to pay for it ... just go ahead with it!
I've done that for other conditions, and found that if you go in and tell them it's "Self Pay", you might be surprised at how reasonable it can be ....
Lannis
I tried that. The Smarty pants at the little window said she had know idea how much it would cost. I told her she had plenty of time to figure it out because I am not keeping my appointment. Leaving them with an empty room for the night. Funny, I can go to McDonalds and make a special order with 16 year old newby behind the counter and they know how to price it and get the order right. I hate the medical world. It is full of fraud. Based on the assumption that we are in the hands of experts.
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I saw a CPAP forum, and it looked like it used the same template as WG uses. I found it amusing, because, just like we list our bikes below, those guys listed their CPAP machines, ramp levels and other details... :grin:
I found this link to CPAP without a prescription. I personally use a RESmed machine. My insurance would not pay for my sleep study, but they did allow the doc to give me a home test kit. It was nothing more than a little machine the size of a pack of smokes, a cannulus, and hose to connect to my nostrils.
Here is the link: https://www.easybreathe.com/CPAPRX-Overview-80.html?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Desktop%20-%20Manual%20Bing&utm_term=cpap&utm_content=Plus%20CPAP%20-%20Manual Good luck!
CPAP forum: http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum
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If you have osa getting the machine could save your life. Do it.
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I tried that. The Smarty pants at the little window said she had know idea how much it would cost. I told her she had plenty of time to figure it out because I am not keeping my appointment. Leaving them with an empty room for the night. Funny, I can go to McDonalds and make a special order with 16 year old newby behind the counter and they know how to price it and get the order right. I hate the medical world. It is full of fraud. Based on the assumption that we are in the hands of experts.
Yep. Dealing with the money/insurance/billing part of almost any medical establishment is like dealing with the DMV when you hand them an Australian title and customs paperwork and want it transferred to you. You have to explain it to them, or find the person who CAN deal with your issue.
On the technical (not the business) side, I've known my doctor since we were in school together, and I have no doubts about his competence. There's not many people I'd trust to stop my over-revving heart with an injection, count six seconds, and be ready with the paddles if it didn't start on its own (in the right rhythm this time) .... !
Lannis
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Sleep apnea is most common in people with excess weight. Losing weight and getting to a low BMI usually helps considerably. Also acid reflux is a contributor. Raising the head of your bed with some blocks 4-6 inches will allow gravity to keep the acid in the stomach. You still lay on a flat mattress only it is slanted down ward several degrees. Cut out all dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, sour cream, etc) including packaged foods with dairy proteins to eliminate excess mucus. It has been working great for me. No CPAP needed and I stopped snoring. I lost about 35-40lbs. All this will cost you nothing.
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I hate the medical world. It is full of fraud. Based on the assumption that we are in the hands of experts.
:1:
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I thought we had the best medical care in the world? My Dads 2 day stay in the hospital for hip replacement has turned into 7 days plus he is has been in rehab for 2 weeks and likely 2 more because the surgeon was overly aggressive and tore muscles and blood vessels in his groin. It was a 3 month wait to have the surgery. My experience with some physicians lately has been suspect. I am not impressed.
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OR *** You can be fitted with a durable medical device mouth guard as that was my choice - and it has 95% taken care of my occasional snoring and moderate apnea. Manufactured to custom fit by a dentist.
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CPAPs and sleep studies are a racket! I know because I'm a CPAP user and my DR is a friend of mine. He lights up when someone thinks they have sleeping problems (or when there's a Workman's Comp case but that's his other racket). He set up his own sleep study center in his office once he figured out how much the local "sleep study center" was making! Did I say it was a racket???
http://www.sleepguide.com/forum/topics/sleep-apnea-as-a-diagnosis-a
I just went online and bought an autopap with cash. I buy all my supplies that way too. The site I use, cpap.com, requires a prescription but as you've found out others don't.
I don't see any reason why you couldn't "roll your own" CPAP setup. I would go with an autopap and set the initial range between 7 and 11. I would then go with a full face mask, give that setup a few nights and DON"T be a quitter. Full face masks are the hardest to get used to so if you can handle that setup then you are good to go. It takes a few sleeps to get the hang of things and about a month to get addicted. After a couple of weeks you should be able to figure out if you need more pressure or not. With the autopap you will be able to feel the difference between those pressures and will quickly know what's the best for you.
But be warned, these things are addictive! Once you start sleeping prolong periods of deep, dark REM sleep you won't want to go back. And no more hangovers! I'd say that's been the biggest side effect for me as my drinking has increased significantly :)
I would suggest either ResSmart Auto by 3B (about $400 online) or the Intellipap by DeVilbiss (that's the one I have) for about the same when it goes on sale. You need a humidifier (an option on the Intellipap) and just get the basic tube. Then start with the Fisher & Paykel Simplus Full Face. It's a no frills full face for less than $100 and it's the best of the cheap masks. That setup should run you less than $600 delivered. Not bad given that they will make you do two sleep studies at about $2k each then make you rent a crappy CPAP or Bi-PAP for about $200/mo for a year and make you buy your supplies from a local medical supply and pay huge markups.
Disclaimer. I'm not a doctor and don't play one on TV. I'm sure you know the actual value of a post on a motorcycle forum recommending medical equipment!
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I have had a Cpap since 1989. Working 12 rotating shifts left me completely exhausted. The bit about helucinations and wake dreaming almost cost me my job and my life. I still hate to wear the apparatus but would not try to sleep without it.
You have to get tough with your insurance. Call your states med board. Don't give up. Sleep apnea is a killer.
Pop
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Like others have posted, sleep apnea can kill you or seriously shorten your life. While it is most common in folks who are overweight, it also can happen to those of us who are physically fit and with a healthy BMI. I use a ResMed S9 Autoset (auto CPAP) set with a range of 6-12 cm/H20 pressure range. My quality of life definitely improved when my doctor diagnosed my condition and I was prescribed a CPAP machine. There is a wealth of information at apneaboard.com; recommend you visit that site and register for an account so that you can ask questions.
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I thought we had the best medical care in the world? My Dads 2 day stay in the hospital for hip replacement has turned into 7 days plus he is has been in rehab for 2 weeks and likely 2 more because the surgeon was overly aggressive and tore muscles and blood vessels in his groin. It was a 3 month wait to have the surgery. My experience with some physicians lately has been suspect. I am not impressed.
There are good and bad doctors just like there are good and bad lawyers, engineers, mothers, artists, politicians, DMV office managers, pilots, Army colonels, and trumpet players.
If you need one, find a good one. We all know there are bad ones around, no need in complaining about it and saying "It's all bad here, isn't it?" It's not. There are perfectly competent doctors around that can make your life better and longer ... like finding any other competent professional, you've got to go do it ....
Lannis
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Like othersr have posted, sleep apnea can kill you or seriously shorten your life. While it is most common in folks who are overweight, it also can happen to those of us who are physically fit and with a healthy BMI. I use a ResMed S9 Autoset (auto CPAP) set with a range of 6-12 cm/H20 pressure range. My quality of life definitely improved when my doctor diagnosed my condition and I was prescribed a CPAP machine. There is a wealth of information at apneaboard.com; recommend you visit that site and register for an account so that you can ask questions.
:1: I also use and recommend the same model.
Although a full sleep study was available to me if needed, the take-home monitor proved adequate to diagnose my problem. I recommend that too.
I was picky in choosing my machine, actually switching clinics to avoid a poorly designed model. Consider using the ResMed Airlift nasal pillow instead of a full mask.
Do work with a competent physician.
It turned out I don't need the humidifier (that comes with my unit), since my uncontrollable nasal drainage does the job!
It's a great device, well worth your time and money to get right. I've lost a lot of weight since mine was prescribed, and might not really need it now, but it still seems to help me get a good night's sleep, and I'm glad to use it.
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:1: I also use and recommend the same model.
Although a full sleep study was available to me if needed, the take-home monitor proved adequate to diagnose my problem. I recommend that too.
I was picky in choosing my machine, actually switching clinics to avoid a poorly designed model. Consider using the ResMed Airlift nasal pillow instead of a full mask.
Do work with a competent physician.
:1: to this. My insurance would have paid for a sleepover study, but my sleep disorders Dr. first sent me home with the portable test (nasal cannula, electrodes, and O2 finger sensor). Try this route first.
You generally only need a full face mask if you're a mouth breather, so definitely consider just nasal pillows if you can.
While not quite as bad as Beetle's experience, my breathing was stopping about 27 times an hour, and my O2 saturation percentage was down to the high 70s (high 90s needed for proper brain/heart health). I was 35 and not overweight when diagnosed.
The CPAP is a pain in the ass, but completely worth the trouble.
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I've been a user for 7 years and have sleep well for 7 years now!
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As it says above you can get a good idea wether you need a cpap machine or not via the use of an o2 sensor to access your blood oxygen levels through the night, when i was diagnosed the consultant looked at my results (the worst he had ever seen) and issued me with a machine. Sleep apneoa can kill it's important to get treatment as soon as you can, I've never regretted it.
John
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I have pretty bad sleep apneia. I was found to have pretty bad apneia after the sleep study.
My symptoms prior to the CPAP machine where ongoing daily sleepyness and fatigue, and the worst was really bad heart burn. :coffee: I had no idea what was going on. I tried diet, stopped eating anything that would cause heartburn, including wine and beer, nothing helped. Oh, and I snored like crazy.
At the time I was in very good condition, running training for a marathon. Not over weight. Finally, had the study done and got the Cpap machine. They told me that it would take a while for the CPAP to have an affect. WRONG: The first day after the first time I used the CPAP I felt rested, in about a week the heartburn went away.
So, as far as I am concerned, CPAP's and sleep apneia is NOT a racket! I feel much better now on the CPAP.
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Do it.... My sleep study attendant told me that if I was better looking, I could be a sleep apnea poster boy. You gradually drift into worse and worse sleep over time and forget what a refreshed, truly rested deep sleep feels like. They had a hard time waking me in the morning and it was like I was coming out of a coma. It was very dramatic. I noticed on the 45 minute drive home that I could even see better with individual leaves flickering in the trees. It was life changing. That was 10 years and I haven't had a single night without a CPAP. It's awkward for things like rallies and camping but there is usually a workaround to be figured out.
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You generally only need a full face mask if you're a mouth breather, so definitely consider just nasal pillows if you can.
I'm a mouth breather, as my son is fond of pointing out, because my nasal congestion/drainage is so bad. But I use the nasal pillow without a problem. Just blow your nose before putting it on (the standard recommendation anyway).
I was dubious about the prospect of keeping my mouth closed while I slept, but it's no problem.
When I get up in the morning I find I don't usually want to take off the CPAP, since I breath so much better with it. In my case, part of the advantage is that it keeps the drainage from being a problem.
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Even if you use a nasal pillow and find you are opening your mouth (which can cause severe drying) they have chin straps to keep your mouth closed. Looks crazy but is comfortable. Another benefit is I can fall asleep in minutes rather than lying awake for an hour or more.
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Well, insurance agreed to a home study. I picked it up paid my co pay and bingo bango, they called and said I have a problem, big surprise.
So, the insurance company wanted a sleep study this time, paid my deductable and the woman who monitored me said I had it pretty bad, and should have been on a machine a long time ago, again big surprise on my part. I choose the full mask as I breath through my mouth when I sleep.
Got the machine yesterday, again a co-pay, and set it up last night. It wasn't life changing sleep for me last night. I woke up several times when the mask lost its seal, and when the pressure really increased. I don't sleep well on my back, but I just have to get used to it I suppose.
the wife said I didn't snore or stop breathing all night, so :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
the big test the days. Usually, if I sit still in a comfortable bed, I fall asleep. Church, riding in a car, watching TV, or at work at my desk.
The machine is a Resmed MYAIR. It starts out with a very low flow then when it senses your are asleep it ramps up the pressure and that is what kept waking my up. If it keeps me from snoring its worth the effort. I assume I will get used to it and all will be much better.
I will check around on the net to see how the replacement parts cost in relation to the maintenance costs the company who sent me the machine runs and make a decision.
The CPAP shop has this machine for 883.oo, thats a little cheaper than all my copays and deductible that I have paid at this point. I will talk to my brothers and my son and see what they do for replacement parts.
So for now a mixed result. I was really hoping for noticeable change in my sleep, first night not so much, my perception. But it is enough of a change that I will use it and hope the sleep does get better.
Old Head
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I have a question and please don't take it too personal....I know men and women with sleep Apneia and use a machine at night... I can say they are all more than a bit overweight...I do know that trim people can have the problem but are any of you overweight ? And if so do you think losing weight would help?
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My brother has a CPAP machine and probably needs one. He drinks WAY too much. He is WAY overweight and has a poor diet. If he quit drinking, lost 30 pounds and ate better, I bet it would make a huge reduction in his need for CPAP. Rest assured obesity and alcohol are contributing factors. Alcohol allows the body to relax too much and obesity complicates breathing and everything else as well. To me it is like type 2 diabetes. While it is very real, lifestyle can take care of 90% of it.
If everyone who gets tested for a CPAP machine needs one then the industry is magically able to diagnose 100% accuracy all the time. I don't believe that for a minute! Sleep apnea, like Gluten intolerance and many other trendy health scares should be few and far between in contemporary society. Okay if gluten intolerance is a result of our fast food lifestyle that our bodies have yet to adapt to I can see that but people have been sleeping for thousands of years. There is just no way that in the last 100 years, 25% or 50% or 100% of the US population has sleep apnea. Insurance companies just want to take your money.
I have a messed up left shoulder and the surgeon's assistant started talking bone on bone, arthritis and in not so many words was trying to tell me I needed a new shoulder. I went to see the doctor I have had since I was a teenager and he took an X-ray and said my shoulder looked pretty good. There was one bone spur but there was a nice black gap between the humorous and the socket and he said I was simply not 25 any more. He rotated it around and commented, "If there is arthritis and/or bone on bone why can't I feel it?" He didn't make the comment as if he was dumbfounded and incompetent but just pointing out that severe shoulder issues are very evident. I am 48 now and this was three years ago. He looked me in the eye and said unnecessary joint replacement is a billion dollar industry. I have not been back to that surgeon's assistant since then.
Why is it doctors get paid so much money to have a practice? If I was allowed to do my financial job like that I'd be fired tomorrow.
"Well Greg that stomach ache may be cancer it may be indigestion, I don't know," says the doctor to me.
"Well Mr Guy-I-Work-For, last month we either made money or we lost money, I don' know," says Greg (me) to my boss just prior to getting fired.
"Well Mr General Contractor, that roof I installed may collapse and kill everyone in the building. Then it again it may not collapse and kill everyone in the building, I don't know," says the roofing contractor to the general contractor just prior to getting fired.
For every good doctor like my primary care that I have seen for decades, there are body-shop docs that want to see what your insurance will pay for and that is what they'll do, needed or not.
NC
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its been 6 nights now. First 3, it was difficult sleeping. Figured out that the hose connection to the mask was leaking too much. Got a good seal at low pressure, but at higher pressure it was venting too much. wrapped a piece of scotch tape around the connector, reduced the gap between the mask and the connector and its good now. Much quieter, and less pressure to the mask. Still venting, but tolerable.
the machine report says poor seal first couple of nights. I was getting low 70's out of a 100. last 2 nights I got high 90's and a 100 once. it measures sleep time, events per hour, seal at mask, and times I move the mask.
first few nights, the machine says I had as many as 19 incidents an hour. last night it was down to 3 per hour. Still difficult to fall asleep, but hoping I will get used to it at some point.
Definitely sleeping deeper, I don't even hear the alarm go off, the wife has to wake me up. That never happened in the past, I usually was awake before the alarm went off. Mouth was really dry first few nights, but it seems less and less so each night.
No more snoring, happy wife...
I need to find a better hose connection, and hard to get used to sleeping with an Octopus on my head, but its been a positive step. Should have done it years ago.
Old Head
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Sounds like you need it .bEst thing I ever did about to die from sleep apnea ( put a truck in the ditch ) not from falling asleep MY BODY WAS SHUTTING DOWN.
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try a breathe right strip 1st, they help me BUNCHES. If I'm feeling stuffy I take any allergy pill at dinner time, to give it time to start working.
My adjustable bed has helped too.
I too think it's over diagnosed, if you're a guy with a17" neck you seem to have it, period. Gray way for companies to make some extra dough!
I snore like a freight train, so did my grandfather, both professional drivers, it's not something you can live with, toy just make adjustments. Also, the sleep study will determine whether you need a full-face mask or just a nose mask, etc.
I can stress enough how important the study is.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
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I started using one on Monday, never sleep that well since a long long time ago.
I went for sleep study last December and the AHI was 55, doctor suggested I lose some weight (BMI was 27) and start using a CPAP machine. Lost 6 kgs (13.2 lbs) over the past six months but my sleep apnea problem is not improving, threw the towel last week and ordered a CPAP machine and accessories.
Surprised to see there is a CPAP discussion in WG :grin:
(http://i63.tinypic.com/15mzgcz.jpg)
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Surprised to see there is a CPAP discussion in WG :grin:
We talk about blood pressure, prostates, bowel function (steel cut oats), neuropathy, blood sugar, and every other "Old Man" subject you can think of. Sleep Apnea is just one of the pantheon of adventures of aging ...
Lannis
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Its taken awhile, but I am finally getting used to sleeping with the octopus on my head...
not crazy about the mask, it loses its seal pretty easy.
I don't snore anymore, thats a good thing. I would say I sleep deeper, but not any longer than I did before. At first, the wife had to wake me up, but now I wake up with the alarm clock.
I haven't fallen asleep watching the TV in awhile. No nodding off sitting in easy chair.
Old Head
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You might consider a Dreamwear brand mask. The air hose connection is at the top of your head, so you can sleep in any position without tangling in the hose.
The headgear is soft, so you can comfortably lay on it. I use the nasal cushion, but they also have a full face mask if you breathe through your mouth.
https://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/solutions/sleep/masks
When I switched to this, I stopped waking up at night due to the mask breaking seal when I roll over on it.
that looks innovative!
I bought all three types of Resmed mask, nasal pillow, nasal and full face, started with the nasal pillow.
I don't like the hose lying on/across my chest, will definitely get one of those Philips Dreamwear mask in my next order.
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We talk about blood pressure, prostates, bowel function (steel cut oats), neuropathy, blood sugar, and every other "Old Man" subject you can think of. Sleep Apnea is just one of the pantheon of adventures of aging ...
Lannis
Lannis, at midlife, I started to have the idea of decluttering my life. WG definitely is not the best place to hang around as I read forum members buying new motorcycle at the age of 70+ :laugh:
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Lannis, at midlife, I started to have the idea of decluttering my life. WG definitely is not the best place to hang around as I read forum members buying new motorcycle at the age of 70+ :laugh:
Hello Phang. Maybe some declutter so they CAN buy a new motorcycle. Be sure to see Mars and the Perseids tonight!
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Its taken awhile, but I am finally getting used to sleeping with the octopus on my head...
not crazy about the mask, it loses its seal pretty easy.
I don't snore anymore, thats a good thing. I would say I sleep deeper, but not any longer than I did before. At first, the wife had to wake me up, but now I wake up with the alarm clock.
I haven't fallen asleep watching the TV in awhile. No nodding off sitting in easy chair.
Old Head
Congrats on getting something to help with the problem. It is an industry, so when someone goes for a sleep study they do NOT often come back with the recommendation, "we could sell you this but try to modify this or that before you buy our product." That being said, apnea is no joke and it sounds like both you and Phong got real help you needed. Happy wife, happy life. Cheers.
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Hello Phang. Maybe some declutter so they CAN buy a new motorcycle. Be sure to see Mars and the Perseids tonight!
I am going to give the Perseids a miss tonight. I need to sleep early to keep a steady AHI baseline of a week before I start trying different mask types/sizes and pressure tweaking.
The AHIs are getting better and were below 5 for the past three nights, wife said she sleeps better too without the snoring from me.
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My events per hour were running around 20/ hour.
they seemed to have settled around 3-5 per night. huge improvement.
Old Head
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If you do decide to try it, look for sizing information on the Phillips web page. CPAP.com sells these in a kit w/ 1 headset, and 3 different size nose-pieces. The kit always uses size MED on the headset, which was to small for my giant melon-head. Using a string to measure really helped get the right fit.
I used Resmed P10 nasal pillow last week, leakage was low as long as I sleep on my back.
Switching to Resmed N20 nasal mask this week, I hope it will be more comfortable than the nasal pillow as my nostrils hurt every morning last week.
Thanks for the tips on Dreamwear headset sizing, I have a relatively large skull by Asian standard, helmet is Arai XL (61cm ~ 62cm) fullface, most likely will need a large frame.
(http://i.imgur.com/T30SNsi.png)
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So it looks like 'He died peacefully in his sleep' isn't going to apply to youse dudes with the infernal bedside machines.
Does this then make it more likely that you'll go by motorcycle instead?
Hopefully neither, it just seems a little ironic for motorcycle riders to be worried about death by apnea.
But I'm scared of heights up ladders while I enjoy leaning my Duke round tight corners so that's a similar dichotomy.
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I am only 35 and was diagnosed that I neeed one...
Didn’t believe it until I was so sleep deprived and had a slow speed crash years back...didn’t brake when I was supposed to :P
Now I sleep well enough to not needing coffee most of the days now...
Pricy machine but damn it is worth it.
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yes, my energy level during the day is day and night different since the night I started to use it.
It felt like I just replaced a tired and badly sulfated main battery in my body.