Angie

I was diagnosed with OSA in my mid-fifties, and have used a CPAP since that time. I also have a liver condition (primary biliary cirrhosis) which causes fatigue, and I was prescribed Modafinil (Provigil). It improved my level of alertness to a surprising extent for many years. In 2011, I underwent a liver transplant and after about six months, was allowed to resume taking the provigil. When I went on Medicare, I found the cost of the Modafinil to be prohibitive, and was forced to attempt using other medications to treat the EDS. After experiencing disastrous results with Ritalin and other stimulants, my will to live decreased considerably. It seemed futile to undergo a transplant that left me with no quality of life, and quite frankly told my doctors about my utter despondency. I was eventually connected with a sleep neurologist who wrote a "prior authorization", declaring the medication as essential to my ability to function. Even though I have used a CPAP for years, I am still dependent on Modafinil in order to awaken enough to function. Even with the medication, my thought processes are sluggish at best. My memory is poor, and prioritizing tasks is a huge challenge. I do not have ADHD, but have many of the symptoms. This causes serious misunderstandings with my spouse and friends, and is battering my self-esteem. My dentist recently offered to include me among his test group of patients to use an appliance that will supposedly prevent the snoring and allow me to be free of the CPAP. He has enjoyed 100% success with his test group thus far, so I'm willing to give it a try. The only reason I'm doing this is because of my hope that it will improve my sleep enough to make a positive difference in my waking hours. As it is, I'm considered to be cognitively impaired. I want my mind back! I'm seeking solutions and empathy.

Angie I was diagnosed with OSA in my late 40's, and was diagnosed at 50 with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. During this same time, my hearing became poor, and I began using hearing devices. At 60, my liver failed, and I underwent a transplant. I began experiencing heavy fatigue shortly after the liver disease diagnosis, and I was prescribed Modafinil. This drug has been of huge benefit to me, and even now, I am unable to wake up fully without taking it. Over the years, my mask has begun to cause problems with air leaks. This wakes my spouse, and I'm then unable to wake up fully enough to readjust the mask. I have always used the nasal pillow type of mask, but am now considering the idea of a full face mask. My blood pressure runs slightly high, perhaps because of the OSA. When I retired from work and went on Medicare, the cost of Modafinil became too high for me to afford, and I had to go without it for about six months, which was very traumatic. I then went to a sleep neurologist, who was able to submit a prior authorization to lower the high cost of Modafinil.

I had surgery for a deviated septum when I was 19 years old, and had many nasal congestion problems during those years. I went to an ENT for my nasal congestion many years ago, which has improved dramatically since then, and I have no allergies of which I'm aware. This same ENT performed a Pillar Procedure, which made no difference in my OSA, and one year later, one of the implants deteriorated and caused in irritation in the roof of my mouth. The ENT had difficulty removing the implant as it had separated into several pieces. I don't have a high regard for this procedure, and even though the procedure is not widely known, I've never heard of anybody else having this problem. My last MRI revealed that my right sinus is completely opaque, which causes me to wonder if there's a connection there. My next step is to try contacting Apria to make yet another appointment to be evaluated for a different mask. I do not have a weight problem, nor do I smoke or drink alcohol.