SLEEP STUDY REVEALED SEVERE OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA

[Kenthopvine]

Hello everyone, I have been directed to this site after researching OSA (Obstructive sleep apnoea) on the British Lung Foundation Website. I'm a recently diagnosed OSA patient and will soon be shown how to use a CPAP machine to help me to breath at night when I am sleeping. I am trying to find out about this treatment as well as surgical treatment abroad which fits a little device under the skin like a pacemaker and is switched on at night to make the tongue move if one stops breathing during sleep, to open up the airwaves. Has anyone else heard of this treatment and how effective it is.

[stone-UK]

Hi

I can't help with CPAP.

The device seems to only available in USA?

[Kenthopvine in reply to stone-UK]

Hi stone-UK, thank you for responding. Nothing in the UK. I'd love to hear from someone who has actually gone along with this treatment.

[mrsmummy in reply to Kenthopvine]

There is an American COPD community on here where more may have heard of this treatment. healthunlocked.com/copd-fri...

Please bring back any info you find.

[y_not]

Hi Kenthopvine, "will soon be shown how to use a CPAP machine" - have you been advised to inform DVLA as your licence will be suspended until your clinician confirms that your apnoea is controlled!

I doubt that the NHS will be offering an operation anytime soon as the CPAP machine costs around £300 (to them) and lasts 5+ years. Other than that an annual(ish) review and a new mask every now and then makes it a fairly cheap solution!

Weight loss can help (and sometimes cure) apnoea but even then the NHS aren't very interested in assisting (personal experience of that) so, unless you plan to fund the operation and journey abroad for it, then I guess CPAP will be your only option!

CPAP machines - usually an automatic machine is provided to establish the pressure needed then swapped (within 2 weeks) for a manual pre-set machine based on the average pressure. Dry mouth is normal but can be partially overcome by use of a humidifier (small water container attached to the machine) and a heated hose to stop water droplets collecting in the hose. Nasal mask if you're a nose breather or face mask if you're a mouth breather - lots of different masks available - and because people don't get on with the first one supplied many stop using the treatment rather than finding the best one for them.

All sounds horrendous BUT all worth it when you are awake in the day!! Yes, I do use CPAP (for the last couple of year)

Good luck

[ericwood992]

Hello Kenthopvine,

As y-not said, many people don't like/can't get on with CPAP because the mask is unsuitable FOR THEM. This is a very personal thing and you need to be aware of all the different masks available and the various levels of comfort each type provides.

Mine is a Philips Amara View. This rescued me from the belief, after using CPAP for four years, that I would never find a comfortable one which doesn't leak air. I persevered (just) and have not looked back from when I first tried it at the Chest Clinic of our local hospital. It is a "full face" mask but does not cover the full face; just the lower half. I have found it incredibly comfortable after the large number of other masks I tried over the four year period. Instead of using the CPAP irregularly depending how I felt, I now use this every night and have much better results.

Good luck.

Eric.