DanM

Hi @AgreeableTurquoiseKoala6149. Happy to hear your Afib is under control and your therapy is helping control your sleep apnea. Most physicians and technologists are very happy to see events at 5 or less per hour! Sometimes mouth leak just happens, and mask leak may be present even with a full face mask. A full face mask may also change your pressure needs a bit. If you are already using a chin strap that is secure enough to hold your jaw closed without causing discomfort, then it sounds like you are probably doing the best you can. Do you know your leak level? Some leak is normal, and it is referred to as "intentional leak." As long as you are sleeping well and keeping the number of events within reason, and if the mouth leak is not causing discomfort or waking you up, it may not be bad enough to worry about. Hope this helps!

Thanks, @wiredgeorge. I have talked with others who have mentioned that this product has been helpful.

Thanks, Barbz! Glad to hear your sleep has at least improved!

Hello @HonestBabyBlueMarten6379. I had not heard of NightLase treatment until your post. Thank you for sharing this information, and I was able to find some details by doing a simple Google search. Did your dentist or physician order a follow up sleep study or some other kind of monitoring to look at changes in your sleep apnea? It would be interesting to know if your obstructive sleep apnea improved in addition to the resolution of snoring. Thanks for posting on MyApnea.Org! Maybe your experience will prompt others to share information about this treatment or offer some insight for patients looking for alternatives to CPAP.

Hi Joe (@IntelligentDesertSandDolphin6662). Several Inspire patients have posted their success stories on the Forum. You can use the search feature to see the topics where posts about Inspire appear. There is also a good article posted on our Research page if you have not read it: https://myapnea.org/blog/new-frontiers-in-the-treatment-of-sleep-apnea-unilateral-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation. Hopefully, some of our members can provide some feedback on their experiences. Best wishes!

Hi Mazen (@SleepStudent)! Welcome to MyApnea.Org. We have an active Forum and a very engaged Patient Engagement Panel. Feel free to post questions and share experiences here on the Forum. There are also surveys, educational information, and some research articles posted. We hope you will access these features and enjoy the website!

Hi @Yabadabadoo. The type of equipment you get is sometimes based on your physician's prescription and sometimes based on what the home care company can provide. While a physician can request a specific brand of equipment, most that I've worked with do not do this. Many physicians do not keep up with some of the latest upgrades to CPAP equipment, while others are very good at meeting with representatives from various companies to find out about the latest features and accessories. In some cases, physicians work very closely with the home care equipment providers, and those are the people who usually know more about the newest technology.

Regarding your heated tubing, technology and manufacturer models are constantly changing. Some models are capable of accommodating this feature and others are not. Some patients like heated tubing while others do not. I've had several patients tell me they think the air is too warm with the heated tubing. If you feel this is a feature that you really want because you feel it may help your dry mouth, asking your physician to prescribe it at your next visit may be a good idea. Your insurance may ask for justification before they agree to pay, but that is something your physician should be able to provide if she feels the technology is necessary for your treatment.

As for mask options, the home care equipment provider is usually who would discuss various options, perform mask fittings, and talk to you about how to obtain assistance if you have issues with your equipment. Some physicians will request a specific mask type, but most that I have worked with just ask the home care company to fit patients with the best mask option that will work for the patient. A good home care provider will allow you to try on various masks, do a fit test with for you with the machine set at your treatment pressure (or reasonably close), and have you wear the mask while in various body positions to check for leak and assess comfort. When it is time for a mask change, it may be worth considering asking your home care provider to do these things.

I hope this information is helpful, and thank you for sharing your experiences. Some of what you have experienced is, unfortunately, not uncommon. Hopefully, through research and with the help of engaged patients, we will some positive changes!

Hi @DynamicMagentaRoseGiraffe0700. If you have had your machine for 8 years, it is possible that you may qualify for a new machine. Have you considered contacting your physician for a new prescription to be sent to the home care company? Or contacting your insurance provider to discuss the issue? If you get a new prescription, you might consider finding out what other home care companies can provide your equipment. Best wishes!

Hi @AffableIndigoFox8154. I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing such exhaustion. CPAP can be helpful in improving fatigue in some patients, and I have experienced improvement in my own levels of fatigue since starting treatment a number of years ago. However, not everyone has the same experience. Fatigue can be caused by other health conditions, medications and many other things. Have you explored other potential causes for your exhaustion?

Hello @Yabadabadoo. Finding a local equipment provider will probably be very helpful in your quest for good mask fit and successful treatment, so I hope you are able to find a company that offers good support. Hopefully, the chin strap will help. As for C-Flex, the higher number will provide a higher amount of pressure relief. You can try all 3 settings and leave it at the setting that is most comfortable for you.

As for the very low pressure you describe, this may be an issue that your equipment provider needs to check. I do know of some machines models that will attempt to detect wake or significant sleep disturbance and will lower the pressure for comfort until breathing is regular again, but I do not know if your model has a feature like that. Hope this helps!