USA
The major issues I speak of are heart disease, high blood pressure, A-fib, diabetes etc. I don't believe any of those causes Apnea, but can lead to them if Apnea is untreated. The countless stopping of breathing with untreated Apnea can take a huge toll on your body. At the present I do not believe there are any cures for Apnea. A better word for masking Apnea IMHO is "treating" Apnea. Just like taking a pill for high blood pressure may control it, but it sure doesn't cure it. Quit taking the pill and you still have it. Stop Cpap and you still have Apnea. My question to you is since I already have all those diseases I mentioned due to not being diagnosed 30 years previously, what will Cpap prevent? Maybe an early death? I'm 72 and between the diseases I still posses including arthritis, glaucoma and living through prostate cancer, I certainly don't fear death. Maybe my message is for younger Cpap users who haven't experienced all the pain and suffering all the described diseases cause, and to keep that mask on no matter how much it inconveniences you. I know all people with Apnea are not overweight, but losing weight if you are, will also greatly help.
Ruby asks: There is a big issue with people not adhering to treatment options. There seems to be some forward movement in using home software to know what is going on while you sleep but many people don't get to that stage. They quit before they see any benefit from treatment. This forum is great in helping with actual readings of reports but it seems like there are a lot of people who are slipping through the cracks. I'm just looking to see if there is a way to help more people. Thanks!
My biggest concern is the very fact that people do quit before ever reaching out to a forum. It's important for them to have someone to reach out to, as nothing is natural about a CPAP machine or OSA. As Sierra said, the masks can be the biggest issue and obstacle and at a very high cost. BonJour said it best. The medical doctors in my experience offer very little help, and seem to think if you are <5.00, everything is fantastic. The DME's, just like the doctor, have so many clients and rarely can answer an intelligent answer about your problem. One actually told me they had over 1000 patients and she just don't have the time to look at charts. After 4 DME's with that type of thinking I chose to fly solo. Thank God the forums were there and I seen hope every day from people having problems just like me. If I wouldn't have the forums there is no doubt I would be one of the 50% who would have given up.
The question is, how do we reach out to these people and bring them in to a forum before they quit and possibly suffer major diseases attributed from sleep apnea?
maybe they sell them back to Walmart. They DO sell stuff for less!
Yes this was it. I guess there is no need for me to post it now. Being new to the forum I had no idea what the rules for posting were. Hell, I couldn't even find any rules. I DO see they award you points and I don't surmise they are for being good little boys or girls.
You hit the nail on the head sleeptech. It's all about the money! In a post on another forum I have been following in reference to issues of possible Hypercapnia caused from clogged vents on the P10. The doctor did quite an extensive study and when he approached ResMed they ignored it. Further down in this thread Sierra tested the Swift FX vs the P10 and mentioned the vent on the Swift FX was fairly powerful. I agree it is, but I feel safer knowing it is venting than I do with a P10 which I have to reach up and and can hardly feel. Personally I am not sure ResMed is the only one replacing quality products with cheaper ones. I have my doubts about the DreamStation lasting as long as my Respironics System One lasted. (8 years)
Am I allowed to supply a link from another forum or is that frowned upon? The link is in reference to Hypercapnia and surprisingly it is now believed the blockage may becoming from moisture coming from a heated Climateline hose.
" *I think that some years from now we will look back on mouth taping as a short term obsession or trend. :P
Hopefully by then there will be real solutions to the problems that drive people to such extremes."*
Well said Mr. Gremlin. I doubt seriously it will be "some years from now", but much sooner. Sad part of the whole thing is someone dies in there sleep with a Cpap attached to their face and they will just say "natural causes", so rarely would there be an investigation to find the true cause. I also believe we may hear a lot more about the blockage in the vents of the P10 of which I am a user as it is my favorite pillow mask.
Given a choice I'd choose neither. However it is nowhere near being "worse" as the FFM has room to fill up and only takes a second to remove it. You are missing my point. I suggested to give a warning when advising someone as there are elements of danger. Personally I won't wear it if I am sick from congestion or flu.
Please use extreme caution with mouth taping, especially a Resmed P10. There has been reports on another forum of the vents clogging (possibly due to dirty unchanged filters) even more so if you have any respiratory issues. I also caution never to mouth tape if you are suffering unsettled stomach or flu like issues. If you vomit with a taped mouth, you will swallow into your lungs and the extreme acid and choking may kill you. Don't forget what may happen if you have a power failure. Your breathing will get much more difficult due to the air shutting off. I truly believe the human mind is powerful enough to train ourselves to breath out of our mouths. I am living proof of that! I honestly feel a stern warning must be given out when recommending someone tape their mouth.
First post here. Two year Cpap user. The AHI sure seems to be the gold standard especially at the doctors office. It should be everyone's desire to achieve the lowest number possible, but not at the expense of sleeping well or feeling better. I have used 10 different masks in my short 2 year usage, full face, nasal & nasal pillows. I presently use pillows but in the beginning I had a difficult time with a pillow because I was a mouth breather. With continued practice I learned to keep my tongue at the top of my mouth and learned to breath solely out of my nose. I have seen my AHI remain consistently <1.00. I truly feel the first place to start is a proper, comfortable fitting mask. For some of us it takes a long time and sometimes it doesn't hurt to go back and try previously used masks you didn't care for.
