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Agree that it is time to get on pap therapy asap. I have also had a challenging course with OSA and, like you, my first physician was also a dismissive "it will all be ok" type of person. I finally sought out another opinion from a fully boarded sleep medicine physician who all he does is sleep medicine. He immediately transitioned me from cpap to apap -- all my problems solved.

My point here, given what you have described, is that it is crucial to seek the right physician who can help you work through all these issues. Someone who does sleep medicine full time. Best of luck to you and keep us posted on your progress. You will feel better with the right treatment.

Thank you so much and your comments are right on target. What I have learned about sleep apnea is you have to have the right physician on board and the first one or two may not work. I am so thrilled to have a fully boarded sleep medicine specialist that focuses just on this to take over my care now. I can't believe how much better I am doing on the a pap. Thank you for your response.

I think I have already answered my own question. I sought a consultation with a board certified sleep medicine physician who ONLY does sleep medicine. What a difference. He immediately changed my machine to a pap and I am sleeping much better and able to keep the mask on longer. I was just wondering if people experienced difficulties shifting from one machine to the other. My experience has shown me that I now have a better machine for me and also a much more experienced sleep physician. Thanks for responding.

Thank you; I understand what apap is. My question is specifically about transition from cpap to app. Glad to hear that your experience helped with allergies--an issue for me also.

Sleeptech--this is comforting and thanks for posting this. Time to dig more into pub med.

This is a great post, wired george. I agree and wish we had more data on the outcomes for people who complied with therapy. It would be valuable to know the impacts to our health due to adherence to the treatment.

Everyone's mileage with a physician will vary and a patient must always manage this.

There are two important points here: 1) a fib and oxygen saturation with sleep apnea are two distinct issues 2) if you suspect you have a fib, don't wait for a physical, get in to see a physician right away. I'm not questioning the value you point out about a pulse oximeter; I have one also and you are correct that it can be helpful in monitoring oxygen saturation. It is not, however, a replacement for seeing a physician about concerns for afib. See more here: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhythmia/AboutArrhythmia/Why-Atrial-Fibrillation-AF-or-AFib-Matters_UCM_423776_Article.jsp

Thanks Wired George and this is of course correct. However, if anyone suspects a fib you should seriously visit a cardiologist. This is not a condition you want to diagnose on your own. The EKG is the first diagnostic tool and obviously the cardiologist will determine the course of remaining testing based on the individual patient's symptoms. Medical conditions like this are not a one-size-fits all.

The correct diagnostic test for atrial fibrillation is an EKG, done generally at a cardiologist's office. A cpap machine cannot test for a fib.

Hello--I have been struggling on a number of issues since I was diagnosed 2 years ago. I sought out a consultation with a new physician who is board certified and all he does is sleep medicine, unlike some of the others who do a host of other lanes of medicine. I am about to begin a trial on an apap machine. Does anyone have experience they can share? Thank you--