Sleep Apnea
Hi there,
I was had to have a sleep test, and they tell me I will have to get a
cpap machine before my surgery. It usually takes a few weeks, but they
are rushing it for me since my surgery date is Dec 5 2005. Has anyone
else been thru this before? I really didn’t think I had a problem, but
when they showed me the test, I was amazed. Can’t wait to hear from you
guys.
Lynn
June 4th, 2007 at 7:50 am
We discovered my sleep apnea about 4 months before my surgery. I was really
glad I had the CPAP in the hospital. It took a while to get used to the
CPAP, but I suddenly had decent sleep- the first in years! I was so glad to
get it. I still use the CPAP most nights, although I know a lot of people
who get off theirs. Part of my problem is exacerbated by my allergies, I
think.
Pam in Niceville
_____
Hi there,
I was had to have a sleep test, and they tell me I will have to get a
cpap machine before my surgery. It usually takes a few weeks, but they
are rushing it for me since my surgery date is Dec 5 2005. Has anyone
else been thru this before? I really didn’t think I had a problem, but
when they showed me the test, I was amazed. Can’t wait to hear from you
guys.
Lynn
SPONSORED LINKS
_____
_____
June 4th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I had my surgery at El camino hospital in mountain view and was dianosised
needing the cpap but insurance had not approved it. They had one at the hospital
I used, or tried to use. I am not a fan of the device.
Hi there,
I was had to have a sleep test, and they tell me I will have to get a
cpap machine before my surgery. It usually takes a few weeks, but they
are rushing it for me since my surgery date is Dec 5 2005. Has anyone
else been thru this before? I really didn’t think I had a problem, but
when they showed me the test, I was amazed. Can’t wait to hear from you
guys.
Lynn
_____
_____
June 4th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
It takes a while to get used to it. I will admit. At least it did for me.
But if you really need one, it’s a life-saver. When you don’t breathe at
night you don’t sleep well - among other things. Some people have died of
sleep apnea. I have an enlarged heart - and wonder if my apnea contributed
to that.
Pam in Niceville
Lorianne writes:
I had my surgery at El camino hospital in mountain view and was dianosised
needing the cpap but insurance had not approved it. They had one at the
hospital I used, or tried to use. I am not a fan of the device.
_____
June 4th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Hi Loriann Qillette,
I too had a ton of trouble with the CPAP machine. I was tested twice at
Sequoia Hospital and had to walk out of the first test in the middle of the
night
in less than 3 hours of a 8 -10 hout test. But I tell you that I finally
overcame the problems with the machine and also found out some things about CPAP
equipment that they did not want to tell me. But now I sleep with it every
night and I will not sleep without it.
If you would like to get together for coffee one day to learn what I did and
also find out how you can get it to fit into your life style. Believe me you
will see a huge difference in you energy and your life right away.
Let me know if you want to get more info. God Bless you
June 5th, 2007 at 4:51 am
Loriann, Pam is so right. Sleep apnea is a killer.
June 5th, 2007 at 11:35 am
I kinda packed the thing away, and figured with the weight loss I no longer had
it. Probably need to be retested to make sure I have sleep apnea still . They
actually had to give me something to make me sleep the time they tested me and I
still had trouble doing the study and am not sure of the acurracy.
Hi Loriann Qillette,
I too had a ton of trouble with the CPAP machine. I was tested twice at
Sequoia Hospital and had to walk out of the first test in the middle of the
night
in less than 3 hours of a 8 -10 hout test. But I tell you that I finally
overcame the problems with the machine and also found out some things about CPAP
equipment that they did not want to tell me. But now I sleep with it every
night and I will not sleep without it.
If you would like to get together for coffee one day to learn what I did and
also find out how you can get it to fit into your life style. Believe me you
will see a huge difference in you energy and your life right away.
Let me know if you want to get more info. God Bless you
_____
_____
June 5th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
is not a Obesity decease. I know numerous people with Sleep
Apnea and most are NOT overweight and many are young people in their 20’s. It’s
just that Obesity makes it worst as it does with Diabetes, HBP, heart, and many
other deceases.
June 5th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Some docs will let you test at home - which makes it a lot easier. The use
an adjustable CPAP which adjusts to your need, and records it on a disc in
the machine. You turn the disc in and they will run up a report for the doc.
I’m pretty sure a true sleep center will rather you do it in their facility
(so they can charge you the big bucks), but I was able to test at home. They
also have testing that you can do at home that looks for the blood ox levels
- I didn’t have that, but since they can do it by putting a little thingy
over your finger, I imagine that’s all that is involved (along with some
sort of recording device). Either of those two ways would give you a better
idea of what’s going on and if you really need the unit now.
My biggest problem has always been my sinuses which seem to always have
something going on. The nasal canula type masks just are too intense for
me. The face masks need to go over both nose and mouth for me, or my mouth
drops open during the night. I finally found a mask that I could use that
didn’t hurt too much (the bridge of my nose is a bit sensitive -
aftereffects of a nose job I had in 2003), so I’m now a happy camper.
I can’t believe the difference - among other things, my senior moments
improved tremendously!
Pam
_____
I kinda packed the thing away, and figured with the weight loss I no longer
had it. Probably need to be retested to make sure I have sleep apnea still .
They actually had to give me something to make me sleep the time they tested
me and I still had trouble doing the study and am not sure of the acurracy.
Hi Loriann Qillette,
I too had a ton of trouble with the CPAP machine. I was tested twice at
Sequoia Hospital and had to walk out of the first test in the middle of the
night
in less than 3 hours of a 8 -10 hout test. But I tell you that I finally
overcame the problems with the machine and also found out some things about
CPAP
equipment that they did not want to tell me. But now I sleep with it every
night and I will not sleep without it.
If you would like to get together for coffee one day to learn what I did
and
also find out how you can get it to fit into your life style. Believe me
you
will see a huge difference in you energy and your life right away.
Let me know if you want to get more info. God Bless you
_____
_____
_____
_____
June 6th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Pam, any specifics you can share on the at home test? I had a study done at a
hospital in Milwaukee. It cost $1800. It was inconclusive because I could
sleep with all those wires wrapped around me and I can’t sleep on my back. They
did say I didn’t have apnea, but rather hypopnea. My wife insists I have apnea
because she can’t hear me breathing. But hypopnea is so slow and shallow that
is mimics apnea. I have always wanted to do another test without paying big
bucks.
Chris
—– Original Message —–
Some docs will let you test at home - which makes it a lot easier. The use
an adjustable CPAP which adjusts to your need, and records it on a disc in
the machine. You turn the disc in and they will run up a report for the doc.
I’m pretty sure a true sleep center will rather you do it in their facility
(so they can charge you the big bucks), but I was able to test at home. They
also have testing that you can do at home that looks for the blood ox levels
- I didn’t have that, but since they can do it by putting a little thingy
over your finger, I imagine that’s all that is involved (along with some
sort of recording device). Either of those two ways would give you a better
idea of what’s going on and if you really need the unit now.
My biggest problem has always been my sinuses which seem to always have
something going on. The nasal canula type masks just are too intense for
me. The face masks need to go over both nose and mouth for me, or my mouth
drops open during the night. I finally found a mask that I could use that
didn’t hurt too much (the bridge of my nose is a bit sensitive -
aftereffects of a nose job I had in 2003), so I’m now a happy camper.
I can’t believe the difference - among other things, my senior moments
improved tremendously!
Pam
_____
I kinda packed the thing away, and figured with the weight loss I no longer
had it. Probably need to be retested to make sure I have sleep apnea still .
They actually had to give me something to make me sleep the time they tested
me and I still had trouble doing the study and am not sure of the acurracy.
Hi Loriann Qillette,
I too had a ton of trouble with the CPAP machine. I was tested twice at
Sequoia Hospital and had to walk out of the first test in the middle of the
night
in less than 3 hours of a 8 -10 hout test. But I tell you that I finally
overcame the problems with the machine and also found out some things about
CPAP
equipment that they did not want to tell me. But now I sleep with it every
night and I will not sleep without it.
If you would like to get together for coffee one day to learn what I did
and
also find out how you can get it to fit into your life style. Believe me
you
will see a huge difference in you energy and your life right away.
Let me know if you want to get more info. God Bless you
_____
_____
_____
_____
a.. Visit your group "obesitysurgerysupportgroup" on the web.
——————————————————————————
June 6th, 2007 at 7:57 am
Chris, all I know is that I broached it with my allergist. Said I
knew I needed to get retested, but the actual testing part was
abysmal. Asked if there were alternatives. Apparently insurance
will not pay for the 24 hour pulse oxygen measure, but they will pay
for the other. He ordered the CPAP through the DME company, and I
got it on a month’s rental, and they forwarded the data to the doc.
Probably cost the same, a little over $100 to rent for the month
with teh report, as it would for a test in the hospital, but it was
so much easier for me to do it. I can’t sleep with all the wires
wrapped around me.
Pam
June 6th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—–
Hash: SHA1
Hi Chris,
My wife just went through the Blood Oxygen testing rather than a traditional
sleep test. Not all sleep centers are offering it yet, but most will. You
should talk to your Dr to see if he knows one that’s offering it and will
give you a referral.
However, even with the test it doesn’t get you completely out of the
doghouse. That entire test does is confirm that you have a sleep disorder,
but not what disorder. If it comes back that your Oxygen level drops too low
while your sleeping they want to follow up to determine what the problem is.
That follow-up seems to vary as well.
In some cases it’s a full sleep study, in others they just use the ACPAP.
The problem with the latter being they can’t determine how often your stop
breathing or awaken during the night, only what level of pressure you
needed.
Jason
Pam, any specifics you can share on the at home test? I had a study done at
a hospital in Milwaukee. It cost $1800. It was inconclusive because I
could sleep with all those wires wrapped around me and I can’t sleep on my
back. They did say I didn’t have apnea, but rather hypopnea. My wife
insists I have apnea because she can’t hear me breathing. But hypopnea is
so slow and shallow that is mimics apnea. I have always wanted to do
another test without paying big bucks.
Chris
—– Original Message —–
Some docs will let you test at home - which makes it a lot easier. The
use
an adjustable CPAP which adjusts to your need, and records it on a disc in
the machine. You turn the disc in and they will run up a report for the
doc.
I’m pretty sure a true sleep center will rather you do it in their
facility
(so they can charge you the big bucks), but I was able to test at home.
They
also have testing that you can do at home that looks for the blood ox
levels
- I didn’t have that, but since they can do it by putting a little thingy
over your finger, I imagine that’s all that is involved (along with some
sort of recording device). Either of those two ways would give you a
better
idea of what’s going on and if you really need the unit now.
My biggest problem has always been my sinuses which seem to always have
something going on. The nasal canula type masks just are too intense for
me. The face masks need to go over both nose and mouth for me, or my
mouth
drops open during the night. I finally found a mask that I could use that
didn’t hurt too much (the bridge of my nose is a bit sensitive -
aftereffects of a nose job I had in 2003), so I’m now a happy camper.
I can’t believe the difference - among other things, my senior moments
improved tremendously!
Pam
_____
I kinda packed the thing away, and figured with the weight loss I no
longer
had it. Probably need to be retested to make sure I have sleep apnea still
.
They actually had to give me something to make me sleep the time they
tested
me and I still had trouble doing the study and am not sure of the
acurracy.
Hi Loriann Qillette,
I too had a ton of trouble with the CPAP machine. I was tested twice at
Sequoia Hospital and had to walk out of the first test in the middle of
the
night
in less than 3 hours of a 8 -10 hout test. But I tell you that I finally
overcame the problems with the machine and also found out some things
about
CPAP
equipment that they did not want to tell me. But now I sleep with it every
night and I will not sleep without it.
If you would like to get together for coffee one day to learn what I did
and
also find out how you can get it to fit into your life style. Believe me
you
will see a huge difference in you energy and your life right away.
Let me know if you want to get more info. God Bless you
_____
_____
_____
_____
a.. Visit your group "obesitysurgerysupportgroup" on the web.
- —————————————————————————-
- –
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June 6th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I just found out Medicare and therefore insurance will not pay for a home study.
Called our local hospital program and they said it costs about $3000. Still
have to see if insurance will cover this. They did years ago when I had it
done. Yesterday during the colonoscopy/endoscopy because I was sedated and
therefore went into a sleep, they had to put oxygen on me because my oxygen
level decreased, but they made no comment about probable apnea.
I know there are plenty of skinny people with apnea, but the local program said
that apnea is in fact very highly associated with weight loss. I have low
testosterone. We are going to wait for me to lose weight because so much
testosterone is stored in fat tissue, and losing weight may bring my level back
up okay. I think my doc may want to use the same approach with apnea instead of
spending the money right now to see if I have a problem. If I do and it goes
away with weight loss, what did we accomplish?
—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—–
Hash: SHA1
Hi Chris,
My wife just went through the Blood Oxygen testing rather than a traditional
sleep test. Not all sleep centers are offering it yet, but most will. You
should talk to your Dr to see if he knows one that’s offering it and will
give you a referral.
However, even with the test it doesn’t get you completely out of the
doghouse. That entire test does is confirm that you have a sleep disorder,
but not what disorder. If it comes back that your Oxygen level drops too low
while your sleeping they want to follow up to determine what the problem is.
That follow-up seems to vary as well.
In some cases it’s a full sleep study, in others they just use the ACPAP.
The problem with the latter being they can’t determine how often your stop
breathing or awaken during the night, only what level of pressure you
needed.
Jason
Pam, any specifics you can share on the at home test? I had a study done at
a hospital in Milwaukee. It cost $1800. It was inconclusive because I
could sleep with all those wires wrapped around me and I can’t sleep on my
back. They did say I didn’t have apnea, but rather hypopnea. My wife
insists I have apnea because she can’t hear me breathing. But hypopnea is
so slow and shallow that is mimics apnea. I have always wanted to do
another test without paying big bucks.
Chris
—– Original Message —–
Some docs will let you test at home - which makes it a lot easier. The
use
an adjustable CPAP which adjusts to your need, and records it on a disc in
the machine. You turn the disc in and they will run up a report for the
doc.
I’m pretty sure a true sleep center will rather you do it in their
facility
(so they can charge you the big bucks), but I was able to test at home.
They
also have testing that you can do at home that looks for the blood ox
levels
- I didn’t have that, but since they can do it by putting a little thingy
over your finger, I imagine that’s all that is involved (along with some
sort of recording device). Either of those two ways would give you a
better
idea of what’s going on and if you really need the unit now.
My biggest problem has always been my sinuses which seem to always have
something going on. The nasal canula type masks just are too intense for
me. The face masks need to go over both nose and mouth for me, or my
mouth
drops open during the night. I finally found a mask that I could use that
didn’t hurt too much (the bridge of my nose is a bit sensitive -
aftereffects of a nose job I had in 2003), so I’m now a happy camper.
I can’t believe the difference - among other things, my senior moments
improved tremendously!
Pam
_____
I kinda packed the thing away, and figured with the weight loss I no
longer
had it. Probably need to be retested to make sure I have sleep apnea still
.
They actually had to give me something to make me sleep the time they
tested
me and I still had trouble doing the study and am not sure of the
acurracy.
Hi Loriann Qillette,
I too had a ton of trouble with the CPAP machine. I was tested twice at
Sequoia Hospital and had to walk out of the first test in the middle of
the
night
in less than 3 hours of a 8 -10 hout test. But I tell you that I finally
overcame the problems with the machine and also found out some things
about
CPAP
equipment that they did not want to tell me. But now I sleep with it every
night and I will not sleep without it.
If you would like to get together for coffee one day to learn what I did
and
also find out how you can get it to fit into your life style. Believe me
you
will see a huge difference in you energy and your life right away.
Let me know if you want to get more info. God Bless you
_____
_____
_____
_____
a.. Visit your group "obesitysurgerysupportgroup" on the web.
- —————————————————————————-
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SPONSORED LINKS Obesity surgery Obesity surgery center Obesity surgery
specialist
a.. Visit your group "obesitysurgerysupportgroup" on the web.
——————————————————————————
June 6th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I just found out Medicare and therefore insurance will not pay for a home study.
Called our local hospital program and they said it costs about $3000. Still
have to see if insurance will cover this. They did years ago when I had it
done. Yesterday during the colonoscopy/endoscopy because I was sedated and
therefore went into a sleep, they had to put oxygen on me because my oxygen
level decreased, but they made no comment about probable apnea.
I know there are plenty of skinny people with apnea, but the local program said
that apnea is in fact very highly associated with weight loss. I have low
testosterone. We are going to wait for me to lose weight because so much
testosterone is stored in fat tissue, and losing weight may bring my level back
up okay. I think my doc may want to use the same approach with apnea instead of
spending the money right now to see if I have a problem. If I do and it goes
away with weight loss, what did we accomplish?
Chris
Chris, all I know is that I broached it with my allergist. Said I
knew I needed to get retested, but the actual testing part was
abysmal. Asked if there were alternatives. Apparently insurance
will not pay for the 24 hour pulse oxygen measure, but they will pay
for the other. He ordered the CPAP through the DME company, and I
got it on a month’s rental, and they forwarded the data to the doc.
Probably cost the same, a little over $100 to rent for the month
with teh report, as it would for a test in the hospital, but it was
so much easier for me to do it. I can’t sleep with all the wires
wrapped around me.
Pam
a.. Visit your group "obesitysurgerysupportgroup" on the web.
——————————————————————————
June 7th, 2007 at 6:46 am
—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—–
Hash: SHA1
Low testosterone is a cause of obesity not the other way around. I would
have some serious discussions with your Dr about the low testosterone. It
can lead to numerous health problems, coupled with obesity they are only
made worse. Low testosterone can cause depression, lack of concentration,
low energy, low metabolism, etc etc.
I went on testosterone therapy not too long ago and have noticed a
significant difference and some very nice weight loss as well.
As for apnea being caused by obesity, obesity is one of several causes for
apnea not ‘the’ cause. Most people with morbid obesity will have apnea, but
not all people with apnea are obese. There area a lot of reason’s for blood
oxygen to fall when sedated and in certain positions that have nothing to do
with apnea. But apnea is usually where people head to first as being the
most common.
J
I just found out Medicare and therefore insurance will not pay for a home
study. Called our local hospital program and they said it costs about
$3000. Still have to see if insurance will cover this. They did years ago
when I had it done. Yesterday during the colonoscopy/endoscopy because I
was sedated and therefore went into a sleep, they had to put oxygen on me
because my oxygen level decreased, but they made no comment about probable
apnea.
I know there are plenty of skinny people with apnea, but the local program
said that apnea is in fact very highly associated with weight loss. I have
low testosterone. We are going to wait for me to lose weight because so
much testosterone is stored in fat tissue, and losing weight may bring my
level back up okay. I think my doc may want to use the same approach with
apnea instead of spending the money right now to see if I have a problem.
If I do and it goes away with weight loss, what did we accomplish?
Chris
Chris, all I know is that I broached it with my allergist. Said I
knew I needed to get retested, but the actual testing part was
abysmal. Asked if there were alternatives. Apparently insurance
will not pay for the 24 hour pulse oxygen measure, but they will pay
for the other. He ordered the CPAP through the DME company, and I
got it on a month’s rental, and they forwarded the data to the doc.
Probably cost the same, a little over $100 to rent for the month
with teh report, as it would for a test in the hospital, but it was
so much easier for me to do it. I can’t sleep with all the wires
wrapped around me.
Pam
a.. Visit your group "obesitysurgerysupportgroup" on the web.
- —————————————————————————-
- –
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June 7th, 2007 at 8:35 am
Thanks for the input. I have a family doc, an internist and an endocrinologist
looking at my low testosterone issue. When I was taking 200 mg injections
monthly, those first days after the injection I felt like I was 19. When I used
androgel it brought my levels up to normal but I didn’t really FEEL anything.
There is some debate here. Endocrinologist states that it is difficult to
determine what "normal" is in obese people. Internist warms that testosterone
is a steroid and will CAUSE weight loss. Family doc says testosterone will be
released during weight loss and we should watch my levels as I drop the weight
and make a determination later. A lady whose husband went through this tells me
not to listen to any of them and to take the injections, that when I am at
normal I will know it. I have a feeling the answer lay somewhere in what she
and the family doc say. All suggest that testosterone therapy can lead to
higher incidence of prostate and testicular cancer.
—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—–
Hash: SHA1
Low testosterone is a cause of obesity not the other way around. I would
have some serious discussions with your Dr about the low testosterone. It
can lead to numerous health problems, coupled with obesity they are only
made worse. Low testosterone can cause depression, lack of concentration,
low energy, low metabolism, etc etc.
I went on testosterone therapy not too long ago and have noticed a
significant difference and some very nice weight loss as well.
As for apnea being caused by obesity, obesity is one of several causes for
apnea not ‘the’ cause. Most people with morbid obesity will have apnea, but
not all people with apnea are obese. There area a lot of reason’s for blood
oxygen to fall when sedated and in certain positions that have nothing to do
with apnea. But apnea is usually where people head to first as being the
most common.
J
I just found out Medicare and therefore insurance will not pay for a home
study. Called our local hospital program and they said it costs about
$3000. Still have to see if insurance will cover this. They did years ago
when I had it done. Yesterday during the colonoscopy/endoscopy because I
was sedated and therefore went into a sleep, they had to put oxygen on me
because my oxygen level decreased, but they made no comment about probable
apnea.
I know there are plenty of skinny people with apnea, but the local program
said that apnea is in fact very highly associated with weight loss. I have
low testosterone. We are going to wait for me to lose weight because so
much testosterone is stored in fat tissue, and losing weight may bring my
level back up okay. I think my doc may want to use the same approach with
apnea instead of spending the money right now to see if I have a problem.
If I do and it goes away with weight loss, what did we accomplish?
Chris
Chris, all I know is that I broached it with my allergist. Said I
knew I needed to get retested, but the actual testing part was
abysmal. Asked if there were alternatives. Apparently insurance
will not pay for the 24 hour pulse oxygen measure, but they will pay
for the other. He ordered the CPAP through the DME company, and I
got it on a month’s rental, and they forwarded the data to the doc.
Probably cost the same, a little over $100 to rent for the month
with teh report, as it would for a test in the hospital, but it was
so much easier for me to do it. I can’t sleep with all the wires
wrapped around me.
Pam
a.. Visit your group "obesitysurgerysupportgroup" on the web.
- —————————————————————————-
- –
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a.. Visit your group "obesitysurgerysupportgroup" on the web.
——————————————————————————