sleep apnea/CPAP machines

[Tyco's mom 0]

I have to jump throuh hoops with my insurance to get this proceedure covered. I have severe sleep apnea. Do you think I won't get cleared if I'm not using my machine (have to get cleared by pulmonary, along with others). The masks just freak me out; I think I'm a little claustrophobic. Anyone dealt with this? I ask because I can't just ask them because the response will be, "you'll get used to the mask. Just wear the mask"

Thanks for your time!

Tyco's mom

[melzie_99 22]

Honestly, I don't remember anyone asking me if I actually use my CPAP; they did, however, tell me to bring it with me to the hospital. I know the mask is hard to adjust to in the beginning; I always felt like I was going to suffocate. Now it's hard to sleep without it and I feel so much better in the morning when I use it. I know you don't want to hear "just wear the mask", but I have to tell you it really does help. My biggest motivator to use it on a regular basis was a patient of mine telling me about a friend of hers that died in her sleep from sleep apnea who didn't use her CPAP. Scared the snot out of me and now I don't even like taking naps without it, nevertheless going to bed for the night without wearing it...

[cunner 21]

There are several styles of masks that you can try. Maybe you can look into nasal pillows which may help you feel less claustrophobic.

I had mild sleep apnea but the machine definitely helped me get better sleep. Now 3 1/2 months post op I no longer have any need for the machine. Hopefully you may experience the same and this will become a non-issue. Best of Luck!

[ElizabethNYC 1]

The only person who's actually asked me if I use my machine was my sleep apnea doctor. I was told to bring my machine to the hospital though because some anesthesiologists like the patients to wake up from surgery with it on or even have it worn during surgery. I REFUSED to wear the full mask because I felt the same way, like I was going to suffocate so they gave me the nasal pillows which I can tolerate. Honestly I feel good in the morning when I sleep with it and real crappy if I don't use the machine. The guy who came over to set up the machine when I first got it told me to wear it during the day if you are just sitting on the couch or sitting around reading or watching TV, it helps you get used to it, maybe you can try that? Hopefully everything works out! Good luck.

[krista02 1]

I have to jump throuh hoops with my insurance to get this proceedure covered. I have severe sleep apnea. Do you think I won't get cleared if I'm not using my machine (have to get cleared by pulmonary, along with others). The masks just freak me out; I think I'm a little claustrophobic. Anyone dealt with this? I ask because I can't just ask them because the response will be, "you'll get used to the mask. Just wear the mask"

Thanks for your time!

Tyco's mom

i do know that you have to where your insuranca will not cover the cpcp and the down load the card to make sure you use it so you dont have to pay for it

[fly4kidsrt 1]

I agree with Cunner-call your home care company. I am a respiratory therapist and we work with all of our CPAP patients till we find a mask, nasal pillows, nasal mask or full face mask till we find one that works for them. There are sooooooo many choices out there that are available, you should be able to find one that works for you. There is no real reason not to use your CPAP - you obviously need it, it will just take some tweeking to find what works for you. Best of luck.

[Noturningback15 45]

I've had my machine for almost 4 years and I never got use to it! I told the people at the sleep study if they didn't take that mask off my face I was gonna tear it up and they ran in the room then! LOL I thought I was suffocating and they kept telling me "sweetie you can breathe because that's air blowing in your nose"....whatever! I couldn't breathe lol! Eventually, I calmed down and went to sleep. I can't remember if I was sever or not but I do remember that I stopped breathing like over 100 times during that study... They never asked me did I use my machine but it's in my files that I had one ordered.

[torian 0]

I put my mask on about an hour before bed and watch tv while wearing it. I'm usually tired by then and can just roll over and go to sleep with no problem. But if I put it on and try to go right to sleep without being really tired it just doesnt work for me.

[drizzy 0]

hey, my girlfriend is 21yrs old and she's no where near overweight but she snores and wheezes all tthru the night even stops breathing at points but catches it with a loud snort not sure if its sleep apnea or her asthma she takes her inhaler wen I wake her up but she goes back to sleep still the same snore and wheeze but doesn't choke up, we have no insurance at the time and she never even notices or has ne concerns shld I be worried?

[perrysmom 0]

I guess I'm a lucky one. I don't have that feeling. I did have to switch from the normal mask (around the nose) to a full face mask (around nose and mouth) as I tend to have allergy issues and can't always breath through my nose. But I strap that sucker on each night even though I hate wearing it -- I'm a side sleeper and you have to make sure you position yourself right so the mask doesn't leak.

I will say that when I went for a hysterectomy several years back that when I told them that I use a CPAP and asked if I should be bring it to the hospital they said absolutely not. They would provide one for me and I only needed to tell one of their respiratory people what mine was set on. It's an expensive piece of equipment and for safety/security sake they didn't want me bringing mine in. During that particular surgery there was a tube down my throat so it didn't matter and afterwards the nurses in recovery keep a really good eye on the patients coming out of anesthesia.

I guess maybe what my hospital did isn't standard practice but it worked for me.

One more thing for me to ask during consultation though. I'm trying to start a list of things to ask and then see how many are answered in the information seminar I am required to attend. Then whatever is left I'll ask the doctor when I have a consultation.

drizzy: sorry about the no insurance. I was without insurance for about 10 years so know how that feels. Luckily when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea I was insured. Wasn't too long after that I lost insurance and had to pay for the mask out of my own pocket (ouch). If you guys can at all scrape together the money for the office visit to whatever doctor treats her asthma you should. Have her detail out what is happening - maybe you can write a note to the doctor with your observations for her to take in. Also explain about no insurance and that affording a sleep study is not an option (last I knew they ran from $10,000 to $25,000. See if they can recommend a local place that can get her some medical care at a greatly reduced cost or better yet for free. I went for years not being diagnosed (had it since I was a kid -- my throat is half the diameter it should be) and it took until I was in my late 20's before a doctor listened to what I was saying and got me help.

[Jack 855]

I was on CPAP 10 long years preOp.

PostOp I was off it within 8 months and haven't needed it since.

While it did save my life I think.....and made it possible to actually get deep level sleep....using it was an exercise in self discipline.

Glad I no longer need it. Yet another reason to Celebrate 'the BAND!!!!'

[Lilium 2]

I hated the full mask, but am now using the nasal pillows and love it. It doesn't have to be very tight and with the humidity levels turned up I don't have sinus trouble any more. I agree with others that you should work with the sleep care specialist and find a mask the works for you. I used to spend most of the day yawning and had trouble keeping my eyes open at meetings until I found the mask that was right for me. Good luck.

[MelindaH 3]

hey, my girlfriend is 21yrs old and she's no where near overweight but she snores and wheezes all tthru the night even stops breathing at points but catches it with a loud snort not sure if its sleep apnea or her asthma she takes her inhaler wen I wake her up but she goes back to sleep still the same snore and wheeze but doesn't choke up, we have no insurance at the time and she never even notices or has ne concerns shld I be worried?

Hi, I have horrible insomnia and if it wasn't for ambien I would never get the six continuous hours that one needs to even remotely function. My children mentioned to me that I snored so loud that it worke them up with both their doors and our doors closed. This was close to ten years ago. I mentioned it to my ENT and he suggested a pulse ox test at night. You put a little something around your finger and try to record it for at least six hours. My sats came back around 70%--not good for living. He sent me to a sleep specialist and I had the overnight studies done. They came in more than once and had me change positions because I wasn't breathing. I am claustrophobic, I didn't like the masks but I wanted to live to see my kids grow up and that was the motivation that moved me past the claustrophia. I use it all the time, whether at night or napping. I travel with it. They do discourage napping if you have insomnia.. I usually wake up feeling rested. When I didn't have it before, I was exhausted all the time.

I look forward to losing weight with the hopes that I will no longer need the machine. Hopefully weight loss will cure my snoring also. But if I need the machine, I need it.

Even with no insurance, there are places that will accept you such as teaching universities. Some doctors have a cash pay out plan or will discount their services. It sounds like apnea to me but I am not qualified to give advice. The finger pulse ox test should not be expensive and I know places here that will do it for free and even deliver and pick up the machine. Ask around. I wish you and your girlfriend the best.

Melinda

[RegFern 1]

Tyco's mom....

I just had my sleep study and came home with my machine. Tonight will be my first night. I was little crazy about it too, not sure how it will go tonight. I'd say keep trying the different kind of masks. I have one that has the headgear but I only have a very soft pliable piece that goes in my nostrils. I don't have that oxygen looking mask. The hose if very flexible too.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[LB4Me 35]

I had to cancel my original surgery date cause my blood oxgen levels were too low. I was sent for a sleep study and could not stand the mask. I am very, very clausterphobic. Unfortunately, I was told they would not operate on me unless I started using the CPAP. So it was back to doctor where a therapist worked with me for over an hour finding and testing masks that I thought I may be able to use. They even had me take nap once I found one I may be able to tolerate. The nostril pillows. I have to go back next week for another study with the new mask. Once the doctor showed me my breathing pattern without the mask, I knew it was pretty serious and I had to try to work with it. Here's hoping I can get through the study without panicing. I had a full-blown panic attack the first time.

Did any of you who use a CPAP and already have had surgery, have any breathing problems in recovery?