Sleep Apnea Blog

Posts Tagged ‘treatment’

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.

In the coming weeks I will start using the CPAP mask to treat my sleep apnea. My neurologist suggested I could lose roughly thirty pounds just by beginning the treatment. I am wondering if anyone has ever lost any weight once they started using a CPAP machine and if so, how much and over how long of a time? Everyone things my doctor is blowing smoke up my butt.

It sounds a bit hard to believe! I have never heard of it, but the doctor would be committing a serious error if he was lying or "joking" without making it clear that he was joking. I have done some research and nothing shows that weight loss is a side effect of the treatment.
Take a look at the info below

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.

DE

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.

I have other health problems and I was searching for answers so I did a couple of sleep studies. When I wore the CPAP it caused "centrals" to occur so they did not recommend I use a CPAP for treatment. Is an AHI of 6 really that bad? It seems to me that sleep disorders are becoming an easy business and everyone and their brothers are getting into it to supplement income. I know a 6 on the AHI scale is "mild" but what is mild. Define mild because one word alone does not really mean much. I wonder, statistically speaking, if most everyone has a low rating and they are just trying to make a buck.

You are correct-sleep medicine has become a big industry.
First, I would like to say that the CPAP per se did not cause the centrals-they are apneas caused by a failure of the brain to tell your diaphragm to move vs. the airway closing so attempts to breathe are blocked. An improperly titrated CPAP is what causes centrals. The thing to do for that would be go to a different sleep lab.
That said, an AHI of 6 indicates an EXTREMELY mild sleep breathing disorder-I can’t tell you what to do but if it were me I think I’d just let it slide unless you are having a lot of trouble staying awake during the day. Good luck to you.

I have a patient with mild obstructive sleep apnea, who had Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery recently after a Myocadial Infarction, and now he is recovering well 5 days post-op but his sleep apnea has worsened and he can’t get any sleep ever since the surgery.
do you have any suggestion or any management options to offer?
thanks a lot !

Cardiac asthma suspected.

cpap, bipap, autopap, possibly dental device.

surgery is only 50 percent effective

If overweight, weight loss may cure sleep apnea but need to treat in the short term.

Best wishes

I can’t use a C PAP.I tried for a month and gave up due to sleep deprivation. it doesn’t help anyway.
this is not obstructive. my air ways are open. it is more a neurological problem I think.

even though taking a sleeping pill will depress your respiratory system, you might try doing that before using a cpap…
if it is neurological, they can give you meds for that too…

don’t get the surgery… no matter what any quack tells you, it has low success rate and even if it "works" it slowly goes back to how it was

instead, try out a cheapo mouth piece on ebay for 40 bucks

Treatment for sleep apnea is determined by the individual’s specific sleep apnea characteristics. Treatments include:

1. Behavioral changes
2. Physical or mechanical therapy
3. Surgery
4. Medication is not usually an effective treatment for sleep apnea.

For a more detailed overview of each of these types you can view the link below.