hi guys!

i've got a question about sleep apnea, and for some reason i remember hearing that someone here was familiar with that topic

if i'm remembering correctly, will whoever it is that knows about apnea check out this site?

SleepAngel

...and please let me know if this thing (it's a strap type thing that you wear on your head while sleeping, that claims to be helpful in treatment) will work, or if it could be dangerous

i know a couple of people that this thing could help if it really works......one of them actually has a CPAP but can't/won't use it beacuse he claims he can't sleep with it on.......and the other has never had a "sleep study" done, but apparently has some form of apnea, since he can't sleep without having "non-breathing" spells (and snores BIG TIME)

thanks in advance

-- mebs (hoping@for.info), July 01, 2003

Answers

bumping for new answers

(and to add to the post count.....heh)

-- mebs (bump@FRL.forum), July 01, 2003.

Hi, Mebs

My second "degree" is Polysomnography Technologist (otherwise known as sleep tech :-)

I haven't seen a chin strap used on it's own. It may be useful for reducing snoring, but I have strong reservations about it being of any use in treatment of apneas. Surgery is an option for some people with apnea, although not one I'd recommend. It is successful only about 1/2 the time and then apneas can recur over time, and it also can make it more difficult to use CPAP. CPAP is effective treatment for apnea about 90 to 95% of the time. There are often difficulties getting people to consistently wear their CPAP, but if they are fitted correctly and followed up properly, about 90% of people do very well with their CPAP. The problem is that most companies only get paid to sell the CPAP to the patient, not to follow up with them to ensure that they are using it correctly and are fitted with a mask that is comfortable. I have lots of ideas about how that could change, but I doubt that the insurance companies are going to be interested in them.

If either of your friends decide to try this device, persuade them to at least have a level 3 test done to assess its effectiveness - and let me know what happens!

-- tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), July 01, 2003.

thanks tricia!

this "level 3" test that you're talking about...... does this take place after the person has had a "sleep study" and has been fitted for a CPAP?

or is it just a more indepth sleep study?

(as you can see.....i don't know much about this subject)

the person i know who has a CPAP did go thru a sleep study, but i'm not sure how much follow-up he had after he got the actual machine

i know he complains that he can't sleep with the machine, because it "drys out his nose and mouth" and "makes it feel WORSE than not sleeping"

he says that it gives him MORE of a feeling that he can't breathe.....and i'm guessing that his machine must not be adjusted properly

i'll let him know that you suggested he try again to get it adjusted correctly, because he is not using it, and he really needs to be doing so

thanks again......sure appreciate your answering a few questions

: )

-- mebs (thanks@for.theInfo), July 02, 2003.

Mebs, a level 3 is a less in depth study than a polysomnography exam, and can be done at home. Here in Canada, oxygen home care companies will do them for around $200(Canuckian) which is about $125 US. They are not useful for diagnosing much of anything but sleep apnea, but they are quite useful for diagnosing that. So if your friends want to try that piece of equipment and don't want to pay $1000+ US for a polysomnography exam, it is posssible to have an assessment done for a lesser price (unless things are much different there than here). Now that you have all that as clear as mud... lets discuss something easy like existentialism and its effect on religious thought ;-)

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), July 04, 2003.

Now, ain't that one of them co-insidinces for you! Polly an' Sam Nography live just down the bayou from here. Nice young folks from Paki-stan or som'wheres. Got a whole bunch of little Nography's runnin' around in the yard. Kinda reminds me of mudhen chicks.

-- Lon Frankenstien (evil@the.bayou), July 05, 2003.

LOL Mr Frankenstein. Lets see what you can do with "existentialism"? I had to use my back button 3 times just to spell it!

-- Carol (Chuckling@downunder.com), July 05, 2003.

Carol, I'll take bets on it that Sten's ex, Ten Shall, lives not far from the Nographys.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), July 06, 2003.

Well done Tricia. I couldn't have done that in a fit.

-- Carol (c@oz.com), July 07, 2003.