DanM

Hi Manny. I've had patients give mixed feedback on the travel units. The most common 'like' is that they are small and easy to pack. The most common 'dislike' is that they either do not have humidification or use and HME (heat-moisture exchange) setup that does not function as well as a regular CPAP humidifier. Whatever you decide to purchase, I encourage you to check out these kinds of options and to inquire about the pricing of replacement supplies. If you want the ability to use the machine with a battery pack, asking about battery life and pricing for those options is also a good idea. I do know that the Transcend until, when I originally looked into that option, only worked with a couple of masks if you wanted humidification. Best wishes, and let us know how it turns out!

Hi Ray rae. I'm sorry to hear you're having such difficulties finding answers. Thanks for keeping us updated. It does sound like you have a good family doctor who will refer to you other doctors. A good sleep physician is key to proper sleep apnea treatment. Most are trained in either neurology or pulmonology. The sleepeducation.org website's "find a sleep center" feature might help you identify other specialists or sleep clinics in your area. Best wishes, and please keep us posted!

Hi baseten. How quickly the water evaporates from the chamber depends on many things. Some examples are humidity level in the room, room temperature, whether heated tubing is being used, and how much you are mouth breathing. Rain out also depends on some of these same things. Heated tubing can help with both rain out and with keeping keeping the humidity level a bit higher at the mask to prevent dry mouth. Whichever machine you choose, you might consider a room humidifier to help with moisture in the air. Best wishes!

Hi Junie. What kind of mask are you wearing (nasal, full face)? Unfortunately, mask fit can sometimes be a trial and error process. A good equipment provider should assess the shape of your face and try different masks on you until you find the best fit. It is not always possible to eliminate mask leak, but there are things that can be done to minimize the leak (chin straps, mask liners, etc.). Many patients struggle with proper mask fit, and I encourage you to contact your equipment provider to see if they can assist. A proper fitting involves having you try the mask in your usual sleeping position to help determine if the mask will leak when you are at home and in your own bed.

Hi Deron, and welcome to MyApnea.Org. Looks as though you do have severe sleep apnea. You did not mention if you have been prescribed any treatment. Please keep us posted on your progress, and feel free to come back and ask questions or share information!

As a technologist who has performed a number of sleep studies over the years, I can say that I have seen numbers similar to yours. Some patients have severe events but do not necessarily have oxygen desaturations to the low levels we sometimes hear about. Without actually seeing the study, it is difficult to say if the data is accurate, but I can say it is not impossible. There are many people with sleep apnea who do generally function well without treatment. I learned to compensate with caffeine for many years before my own apnea was treated. I have also seen patients with very severe sleep apnea insist prior to a study that they sleep just fine and do not have apnea. I'm glad to see that you are on the track to getting some answers, and please let us know how your BiPAP study goes. Best wishes as you take the next steps!

Hi Blizzard. It does appear that you have pretty significant sleep apnea, and there is a lot of data out there about how sleep apnea contributes to other health conditions. Have you considered seeking a second opinion for your anxiety and/or sleep problems? It is difficult to say what a prognosis would be without therapy, but I suspect you would certainly be better off if your condition is treated. Have you attempted to just wear the mask while you are awake and watching television? For some, myself included, this helped tremendously. I started wearing my treatment in the evenings in my living room while watching television. When I went to bed, I was better adjusted to the feeling of the mask on my face and air pressure. Some medications for sleep actually cause more muscle relaxation and can worsen sleep apnea, but it is possible that something to help with your anxiety might be beneficial. Best wishes, and please keep us posted on your progress!

Nasal or sinus congestion can definitely exacerbate symptoms of sleep apnea. I have seen this in my own condition and in patients over the years. Many sleep labs recommend that patients actually reschedule their sleep studies if they are sick or congested. As for the allergies, inflamed sinuses can also contribute to symptoms. I had a water leak in a neighboring condo unit at one time, and got very sick with severe congestion and a sinus infection. We eventually found mold between the walls of the condos. Once that was removed, my sinus issues cleared up and my breathing improved. As a result, my sleep was much better as well. Best wishes and please keep us posted on your progress!

Hi wiscman. Your weight loss would be considered significant, and some clinicians would recommend a new study to see if there has been a change in your condition. Whether insurance will pay is something you should look into. As for discontinuing CPAP, you should continue using your CPAP as you normally would right up to the night of your study unless your doctor tells you otherwise for some reason. Please keep us posted on your progress. It would be interesting to know if the changes in weight have caused changes in your AHI.

Hi wiscman. Newer machines can compensate for some mask leak within the ranges you mention. Some mask leak is considered normal. I use a ResMed machine, and my leak is usually around 20 L/min, but my AHI stays well within an acceptable range.