Sleep Apnea Causes » Sleep Apnea Treatment

Does sleep apnea still make you tired even though you are on c-pap treatment?

admin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:11:26 +0000

I have been on c-pap treatment for a little over 2 months. I am still just as tired all the time as I was before the treatment. Is this to be expected.?

This is not common at all. Most patients feel the exact opposite. In fact, most patients feel immediate relief. You should go back to your Dr. Maybe some adjustments need to be made. You may not have the machine set at good setting for you. Also, if your mask does not have a tight fit to help seal it then it won’t really work at all. A loose connection could be a non-conforming or not tight mask and even a loose connection. Contact your Dr. and he can help check those adjustments. He/She may even take away or add inspiratory pressure.

Good luck.

Is an oxygen concentrator normal treatment for sleep apnea, and can oxygen cause headaches?

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:57:44 +0000

I’ve had several test where overnight I wore the thing on my finger to test my oxygen saturation levels, and apparently the levels went down because now the Dr. has ordered an oxygen concentrator to wear at night. We’re doing another oxygen level test in a few weeks, to see if the concentrator helps. I’m just wondering if this is a normal first step, because I see a lot of people on here use other things. I’ve also noticed that I’m waking up with horrible headeaches after sleeping with the oxygen, is that normal?
It’s just a normal concentrator with a humidifier bottle and nasal canula. I don’t think the headaches are from it being too tight, because it only goes over my ears and is just tight enough that it doesn’t fall off.

Usually when you get headaches it’s from lack of oxygen, I used to get those heaps but once i went on oxygen they cleared up straight away. If you think the prongs are too tight just hook them up underneath your nose and tighten at the back of your head, I do that because it feels like my ears are being pushed out the other way lol. As for the headaches, talk to your doctor and see what can be done, you may not be getting enough oxygen at night and might have to put it up higher.

Is sleep apnea treatments covered by medicare?

admin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:08:33 +0000

You need to talk to the homecare company that provides the equipment. They generally rent the machine and you are eligible for a new mask approx every 6 months.

Jut diagnosed with sleep apnea -if you have it what treatment are you on.?

admin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:01:21 +0000

I am on a converter that takes rooom air and turns it into a higher oxygen level and find it hard to believe i have that problem since only sleep 2-4 hours off and on a night! But that is what tests for my oxygen intake showed so giving it a try. Do you use the converter rather than an oxygen tank? How are you doing. How long have you had this?
Bagbalm-I want to sleep,not get sloshed-besides I don’t drink.

A fifth of Jack Daniels, will cure any sleeping problem.

Sleep apnea treatments?

admin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:50:05 +0000

I believe that my fiance is suffering from sleep apnea.he refuses to go to the doctor and seek treatment for it.Im scared that im going to wake up one morning to find him dead from suffocation.What should I do.How can i make his get treatment

If he is tired during the day, has headaches in the morning, or has high blood pressure, explain to him that these might be coming from his sleep disturbance. That might make him more likely to get it evaluated. OSA typically doesnt lead to suffocation, though… your brain knows you arent breathing and wakes you up to make you start again…if he has underlying heart or lung disaease it is imperative that he be treated.

Sleep apnea treatments?

admin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:50:05 +0000

My husband had a sleep study done last night to determine if he has sleep apnea?

admin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:57:12 +0000

He did not like the idea about using a CPAP mask. Is this the ONLY treatment for sleep apnea? If it is, will he have to use it for the rest of his life?

Any body that uses something different? Thank you

i’ve done the research for you and i hope this will help..=)

Treatment
For milder cases of sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking. If these measures don’t improve your signs and symptoms or if your apnea is moderate to severe, a number of other treatments are available. Certain devices can help open up a blocked airway. In other cases, surgery may be necessary.

Treatments for obstructive sleep apnea may include:

Therapies

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, you may benefit from a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask placed over your nose while you sleep. With CPAP (SEE-pap), the air pressure is somewhat greater than that of the surrounding air, and is just enough to keep your upper airway passages open, preventing apnea and snoring.

Although CPAP is a preferred method of treating sleep apnea, some people find it cumbersome or uncomfortable. With some practice, most people learn to adjust the tension of the straps to obtain a comfortable and secure fit. You may need to try more than one type of mask to find one that’s comfortable. Some people also benefit from using a humidifier along with their CPAP system.

Don’t just stop using the CPAP machine if you experience problems. Check with your doctor to see what modifications can be made to make you more comfortable. Additionally, contact your doctor if you are still snoring despite treatment or begin snoring again. If your weight changes, the pressure settings may need to be adjusted.

Oral appliances. Another option is wearing an oral appliance designed to keep your throat open. CPAP is more effective than oral appliances, but oral appliances may be easier for you to use.Some are designed to open your throat by bringing your jaw forward, which can sometimes relieve snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea.

A number of devices are available from your dentist. You may need to try different devices before finding one that works for you. Once you find the right fit, you’ll still need to follow up with your dentist at least every six months during the first year and then at least once a year after that to ensure that the fit is still good and to reassess your signs and symptoms.

Surgery or other proceduresThe goal of surgery for sleep apnea is to remove excess tissue from your nose or throat that may be vibrating and causing you to snore, or that may be blocking your upper air passages and causing sleep apnea. Surgical options may include:
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). During this procedure, your doctor removes tissue from the rear of your mouth and top of your throat. Your tonsils and adenoids usually are removed as well. This type of surgery may be successful in stopping throat structures from vibrating and causing snoring. However, it may be less successful in treating sleep apnea because tissue farther down your throat may still block your air passage. UPPP usually is performed in a hospital and requires a general anesthetic.
Maxillomandibular advancement. In this procedure, the upper and lower part of your jaw is moved forward from the remainder of your face bones. This enlarges the space behind the tongue and soft palate, making obstruction less likely. This procedure may require the cooperation of an oral surgeon and an orthodontist, and at times may be combined with another procedure to improve the likelihood of success.
Tracheostomy. You may need this form of surgery if other treatments have failed and you have severe, life-threatening sleep apnea. In this procedure, your surgeon makes an opening in your neck and inserts a metal or plastic tube through which you breathe. You keep the opening covered during the day. But at night you uncover it to allow air to pass in and out of your lungs, bypassing the blocked air passage in your throat.

Removing tissues in the back of your throat with a laser (laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty) or with radiofrequency energy (radiofrequency ablation) are procedures that doctors sometimes use to treat snoring. However, these procedures aren’t recommended for treating obstructive sleep apnea.

Other types of surgery may help reduce snoring and sleep apnea by clearing or enlarging air passages:
Nasal surgery to remove polyps or straighten a crooked partition between your nostrils (deviated nasal septum)
Surgery to remove enlarged tonsils or adenoids

Treatments for central sleep apnea are more limited and may include:
Treatment for associated medical problems. Possible causes of central sleep apnea include heart or neuromuscular disorders, and treating those conditions may help. For example, optimizing therapy for heart failure may eliminate central sleep apnea.
Supplemental oxygen. Using supplemental oxygen while you sleep may help if you have central sleep apnea. Various forms of oxygen are available as well as different devices to deliver oxygen to your lungs.
Continuous positive airway pressure. This method, also used in obstructive sleep apnea, involves wearing a pressurized mask over your nose while you sleep. The mask is attached to a small pump that forces air through your airway to keep it from collapsing. CPAP may eliminate snoring and prevent sleep apnea. As with obstructive sleep apnea, it’s important that you use the device as directed. If your mask is uncomfortable or the pressure feels too strong, talk with your doctor so that adjustments can be made.
Bilevel positive airway pressure (bilevel PAP). Unlike CPAP, which supplies steady, constant pressure to your upper airway as you breathe in and out, bilevel PAP builds to a higher pressure when you inhale and decreases to a lower pressure when you exhale. The goal of this treatment is to boost the weak breathing pattern of central sleep apnea. Some bilevel PAP devices can be set to automatically deliver a breath if the device detects you haven’t taken a breath after so many seconds.
Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV). This more recently approved airflow device is designed to treat central sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea. The device learns your normal breathing pattern and stores the information into a built-in computer. After you fall asleep, the machine uses pressure to normalize your breathing pattern and prevent pauses in your breathing.

What are some alternative treatments for sleep apnea?

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:58:08 +0000

I was diagnosed with a mild form of sleep apnea. I have tried a CPAP machine and couldn’t adjust to it. My doctor said I wouldn’t be a good candidate for surgery. I’m considering a dental device (mouth piece), but wanted to know if there are alternative methods.

I’m in the same situation as you. I would see about the dental device. Anything has to be better than the CPAP.

What are some treatments for sleep apnea?

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:55:48 +0000

My boyfriend has sleep apnea and snores. It has gotten progressively worse. I am not sure what to do. it seems when i elbow him, he stops temporarily but not long enough for me to fall alseep. It is often so back that it not only prevents me from sleeping but, once i fall asleep, it wakes me up again. HELP!

Sleep apnea should be diagonsed from a reputable sleep clinic. There may be another reason for his snoring such as weight etc.
The usual treatment is sleeping with a positive air flow machine (I think it is called Cpac. If he stops breathing his oxygen level goes down and it can be a very dangerous health condition. Have him see a Dr. that specializes in sleep problems.

sleep apnea?

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:58:03 +0000

is there anybody out there that have sleep apnea if what treatment do you use

1. You need to have a sleep study done by a sleep specialist.
2. A CPAP or a BiPAP is the only treatment….while losing weight will be suggested…the IMMEDIATE treatment is the CPAP. It’s not that uncomfortable !
3. Breath-Rite strips are useless for someone who REALLY has sleep apnea. And the mis-conception that they help with sleep apnea is not only ignorant; but DANGEROUS !
4. Most throat surgeries won’t help.
5. A person doesn’t have to be overweight to have sleep apnea. There are different kinds of sleep apnea.
6. Sleep apnea can cause many health problems; high blood pressure, and heart problems are just a few. People with sleep apnea can have their drivers’ license, car insurance and car tags revoked if you are not doing your treatments !

I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea 3 years ago; at my top weight of 333 pounds. I was averaging 63 events per hour, and had heart problems and high blood pressure from it. I had a gastric bypass, have lost 135 pounds so far; and just had another sleep study last week….NO MORE SLEEP APNEA !!

Please see a sleep specialist and follow their advice !