Sleep study

[Slik Geek]

Pardon the ignorance, but how does the CPAP stop snoring?

[RickD1]

I too was suffering. This is before I started working wood. I made a 6 month deployment and had a sinus infection they could not clear up. I was living in ****. I was having a lot of diffuculty sleeping due to the mouth breathing. I developed a cough from post nasal drip. I coughed so much I popped a hernia. I couldn't sleep, I could bearly eat, can't smell, can't taste. I was a lab rat for the docs. I tried sudafed, actifed, claritin, afrin nasal spray, a whole gamut of antibiotics, and flonase. Nothing was working. I fond a doc that put me on prednesone warning me that any relief I recieved would be temporary. As soon as I finished the prednesone it was right back to the full blown sinus infection. The relief was good, I was able to sleep and eat. After the prednsone wore off it was back to the same old thing. Xrays lead to a CATSCAN which lead to a FESS, Septoplasty and pylop removal. When I came out of surgery I could breath through my nose with no problem.

After everthing healed up life has been good. I am also going to an allergy clinic once a week and get two shots per week. I have been getting these for almost 4 years. Medical since has changed my life. I used to get at least 2 colds/sinus infections per year, and suffered with allergies.

Since I started all of this I live a normal life. I have not had a cold or sinus infection since my surgery in Sept 2002. But this can be attributed to several things;

1. the sinus surgery fixed part of the problem. It made the sinus cavities more aero dynamic, and the pylop removal got rid of places for bacteria to hide.
2. Straightening the septum made air flow evenly through both nostrils, no place for things to hide.
3. I learned a lot about allergies at the allergy clinic. I also learned about listining to my body in these matters. I learned that leaving a window open on a damp night allowed a lot of molds into my sleeping area. Mold is something I am allergic to.

[lrogers]

The way they explained it to me, when you go to sleep, your muscles relax and your air way collapses. You try to pull more air and the air way "fluttering" makes the snore sound. The CPAP feeds you air under pressure that keeps your air way open.
During the second night of the sleep study, I slept using the CPAP that was hooked up to all my leads and the computer in the control room. The techs were able to monitor me and adjust the pressure as required to keep me breathing all night. As a result of that, they set the machine I was taking home with me to "12". The whole thing was pretty interesting. The nurses and techs explained everything they were doing and why. The bad part was trying to sleep in a strange place with a bunch or wires hooked to you and knowing that you were being "watched".

[LinuxRandal]

. As a result of that, they set the machine I was taking home with me to "12".

One more then 11, LOL (movie reference)
As I know several people who use the machine....
Anything other then the normal weight loss that one can do to put off needing the machines? I am not that much overweight so that isn´t really the issue for me however there is a history of other problems in my family (particularly breathing).

[Bruce Cohen]

Always had problems with snoring, got so bad, the wife really did ban me to the basement until I had a sleep study.

Well. of course, they found I never went into Rem (not the rock group) sleep. Gues that answers the quesations of why I was so cranky, fell asleep at frends homes, at dinner and the one time I fell asleep driving in the afternoon with the wife and kids in the car. That was really frightening.

So, I had a operation which I refer to as having them rip out the back of my throat. No more tonsils, uluva and about an inch or so of soft pallate.

The operation only partially worked, and it was far more painfull than the times I took a few rounds and shrapnel wile in SE Asia. And to make matters worse, the pain drug of choice (the doctors, not mine) was codine and tylenol in a cherry flavored syrup (which contained more alcohol than a vintage "shine.

So off to the machine tour. I specifically stopped smoking so I wouldn't end up as one of those old men with emphysema, wearing a mask to breathe.

In fact, stopping smoking caused me to gain weight which just made the apena worse.

I now sleep with a mask and have ben for 4 years or so. The only "good" thing is that the operation, being only partial successful, keeps the amount of pressure down to a level where its not too unpleasent to use the CPAP, with a humidifyer.

Bruce

P.S. now that I've stopped snoring, my wife has taken up where I left off.

[siliconbauhaus]

P.S. now that I've stopped snoring, my wife has taken up where I left off.

That's funny mate. I've got to go get the gear next week. Mind you the missus can saw a log along with the best of them. Oh well....at least I wont be able to be blamed.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Ok, let's compare CPAP CM pressure! My machine is set at 11 which I understand to be low. I have heard of folks in the 20's.

[siliconbauhaus]

I'm going to get one of those gauges that all the import tuners use.....so I can prove what boost I'm on

[gabedad]

Cpap user for close to a year now. At first it was hard to get a mask that was comfortable. I have a mustache and that can cause leakage. All said and done if I use my mask all night I am ready to go in the morning. Ready to make some sawdust and quality firewood.

scott,

Look into nasal pillows - they may be a better seal.

[gabedad]

Pardon the ignorance, but how does the CPAP stop snoring?

http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/snoring/cpap.cfm

google on cpap , sleep apnea, snoring

[jaybee]

Ok, let's compare CPAP CM pressure! My machine is set at 11 which I understand to be low. I have heard of folks in the 20's.

Only 12. No humidifier. Flonase and flovent at bedtime. Nasal pillows and chin strap. Wife used to poke me to get to breathe, for a while after getting the equipment she had to check if I was still alive - I changed from restless to motionless.

[jackellis]

My wife has serious sleep apnea. Her CPAP machine travels everywhere except backpacking. Funny thing is, she never had any of the classical symptoms other than snoring, which she's done for longer than I've known her, and she complains that it now takes her about five minutes to fall asleep with the mask, whereas she fell asleep instantly before she started wearing it.

[Adele]

I also use a CPAP. I have had mine for a little over a year. The nasal pillows work wonderful. Sam calls me Darth Vader, because of the sound. However, it is better than snoring. My only complaint is that I went to the mask that goes over the head and my hair looks VERY bad in the mornings. But it is a price well paid. I don't go anywhere without mine.

Adele

[onedash]

Just finished a sleep study this morning. I will be getting a CPAP machine now. Didn't feel like I slept at all. I jumped up once and the nurse came in to see if I was ok. I thought I was dreaming but not even sure if I slept yet. Then she woke me up to put a mask on again when 6am rolled around I didn't think I slept at all but she said I did and that the pressure was low enough I could try the pillows out when I get my machine. I can't sleep on my back. Normally I fall asleep after Jay Leno's monolog before the commercial is over.
Rumor has it that apnea is worth 50% dissability from the military. If thats true with all the other junk thats probably worth a few percent a lot of my retirement check should be tax free. Just over 4 years to go....woo hooo..

[rbfunk]

Unfortunatly I am one of the small percentage of people who just can not tolerate CPAP. In fact, I am off to see the ENT today about surgery. Frankly, the thought of throat surgery scares me and I haven't yet heard from anyone who had an easy time of it. OTOH, it has seemed to helped people in the long run. I'll fill you in on what the Doc thinks.
Bob