gsykes42

I wonder if maybe your pressure is set too high?

The just under 7 episodes per hour is under the "dangerous" threshold, but that still seems kind of high to me. Is your CPAP set to auto adjust pressure according to your prescription, or can you adjust the pressure yourself? If so, you probably need your pressure increased.

Honestly, in my humble opinion, CPAP therapy should treat one's issue with SA in a way in which a person should be able to sleep either on one's back, side, or however they feel comfortable, without apnea increase over a dangerous level. To me, the therapy is not working if you can't sleep on your back.

As what others have said. The tennis ball idea works, as well as getting a body pillow. I mentioned this in another thread, but my brother got off of CPAP when he had the surgery for his deviated septum. However, I would assume this is not the norm and one cannot expect the same results. My question is, have you actually been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and prescribed CPAP?

Wait a minute. I think I mistyped. My AHI was much higher per hour. It was in the extremely severe level.

Before CPAP, it was 50+ episodes a night. After CPAP, dropped dramatically down to 1. It's not averaging 3 per night. Still great! I just have never felt that well rested feeling in the morning. I still feel lethargic in the mornings, and my heart is pounding when I first get up in the morning.

My levels are automatically set, between 7-14. On average, the levels get up to 9. Would messing with the ramp help?

Thanks! Yeah, the thought of surgery doesn't sound too enticing to me. Honestly, it's not something I'd want to do as a first, second, or even third resort. But, it seems I'm a good candidate. Only thing is, I'll only do it if I can get insurance to pay for most of it. Right now, we're going through appeals process with our insurance, so, until we get it approved, I'll continue to use the CPAP!

Interesting. I discussed it with my oral surgeon and my sleep doctor at length. Both agreed if there is any surgery that would have the highest chance at getting off CPAP and reducing my apnea below dangerous levels, it was the double jaw surgery. Now, my sleep doctor already cautioned me to say nothing is 100%, and there's no guarantee the surgery would work. However, from all I've researched and the info I got from the surgeon, there is a very high success rate. There isn't a very high success rate with UPPP, and both doctors said that would absolutely not be an effective surgery for sleep apnea. Belileve me, I'm not one that is willing to go through surgery if I wasn't sure it would be effective. Not only that, it's expensive and not often covered by insurance.

At the same time, my oldest brother was using CPAP and got off CPAP after he had surgery on his deviated septum. So, I would say it's on a case by case situation. What may not work for some, works great for others. Where as I do have a documented structural deformity, I don't see how surgery would not benefit me if it does in fact open the air passages, which is one benefit the surgeon says absolutely happens.

I haven't gotten a sore throat from using the CPAP, but I've gotten quite a bit of nasal dryness. I basically have to use nose spray on a daily basis.

My father-in-law is also on CPAP. He hasn't been on it as long as I have, but he's been on it long enough to tell if it's making a difference for him. He says he can tell a HUGE difference with the way he feels in the morning. He says he's well rested and has no groggy feeling at all.

Me, on the other hand, I'm wondering if it's time to to adjust my pressure? My doctor didn't seem to think so, although my apnea numbers are, slightly, going up per night. I don't feel well rested at all. In fact, it takes a lot of time to wake me up in the morning. I'm usually so out of it that I can't talk to anybody for a good 30 minutes after getting up. Yet, the records from my CPAP show that it's working, but I'm not feeling any benefits - other than the benefit of not dying during the middle of night (which is a great benefit to have!) I go to bed at a decent time at night, even on weekends. I get, on average, 8 hours of sleep a night, but I'm still tired in the morning.

Also, I wake up feeling like my heart is pounding out of my chest. I know this isn't normal, but what in the world???

What specific surgery are you referring to? UPPP?