sleep apnea

martinss01 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 12:55 PM

anyone else have it? like it? dislike it? do you still have it and or what have you done to get rid of/actually get something resembling sleep?

i got diagnosed with sleep apnea... 2 or 3 weeks ago i think. both my doctors think surgery is the best solution, insurance on the other hand disagrees. i could be having surgery this week. instead, i have to wait 2 full weeks just to get a cpap machine. ive already been in 2 accidents in the last 4 months (one im not 100% sure about) where i fell asleep at the wheel. so i can't say im looking forward to the next two weeks.

so what are your stories?

oh and yes, i will be using this as an excuse for every ignorant post i have made over the last... well, whenever i joined bp

.

Gatorubet · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinss01

anyone else have it? like it? dislike it? do you still have it and or what have you done to get rid of/actually get something resembling sleep?

i got diagnosed with sleep apnea... 2 or 3 weeks ago i think. both my doctors think surgery is the best solution, insurance on the other hand disagrees. i could be having surgery this week. instead, i have to wait 2 full weeks just to get a cpap machine. ive already been in 2 accidents in the last 4 months (one im not 100% sure about) where i fell asleep at the wheel. so i can't say im looking forward to the next two weeks.

so what are your stories?

oh and yes, i will be using this as an excuse for every ignorant post i have made over the last... well, whenever i joined bp

.

Call your lawyer. [censored] your insurance company. You have a condition that almost cost you your life already, two treating doctors who know your condition who recommend surgery, and then some nurse reviewer at the insurance company refuses to authorize it?

Tell 'em you'll sue them for bad faith if they do not approve the the surgery. Assholes.

Piney · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 01:07 PM

I have sleep apnea and have had a CPAP machine for about 7 years. Surgery was never given as an option so I am not sure which would be better.

But I can say the CPAP machine has worked wonderfully for me. I can really tell the difference when I don't use it for a night or two.

I really never had a problem with the CPAP machine as I don't mind the small amount of noise it creates, but the wife loves it as it is much quieter than it would be if I didn't have the machine in the first place.

The only real "story" I have is my work forced me to get to get it checked into. I use to travel alot for my work and it was my turn to drive the work gang from our hotel to our job site and noticed I would nod off. Not fall asleep but I would just bob my head. Apparantly my boss's husband had sleep apnea and mentioned that might be the problem (as she heard my snoring from across the hall of our hotel rooms)

Besides that, nothing much. But if you have specific questions I can help you via PMs if ya want.

Muck · #4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 01:58 PM

Another sufferer of sleep apnea here.

I went ahead and had the surgery after I was diagnosed. I waas 34 and didn't particulary care for the idea of being Darth Vader for the rest of my life while I slept (keep in mind this was while I was going through a divorce and felt it might be a bit harder to start a new relationship with a scuba mask on

).

The surgery worked fine for me... I don't snore like a tractor any longer, I don't wake with really bad acid reflux or wake up choking or any of the other fun things that marked the pre-surgery days.

That being said surgery is higher risk than the CPAP and it is also not 100%. I felt the small risk of surgery was less than the possibility of long term comfort so I took that route. Still keep in mind that it IS surgery and may not work for you...although the fact that your doctors recomended it is a positive sign.
You might want to ask them exactly why they recomend surgery over the CPAP BTW.

FWIW the week after the surgery will suck ass. You will not be able to eat for the first couple of days at all and will only slowly be able to work your way back to solid foods...be ready for lots of jello, broth & ice cream.

Long term consideration - if you are significantly overweight....start losing it now. That will go a long way to opening that area back up as well.

martinss01 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muck

That being said surgery is higher risk than the CPAP and it is also not 100%. I felt the small risk of surgery was less than the possibility of long term comfort so I took that route. Still keep in mind that it IS surgery and may not work for you...although the fact that your doctors recomended it is a positive sign.
You might want to ask them exactly why they recomend surgery over the CPAP BTW.

in my case it is 100% that it will at the very least improve my sleeping but around a 70% chance of actually completely fixing it. my problem is with the way the back of my mouth is formed. i have some excess skin that closes over the airway while i sleep. their impressions are because of my age and condition, surgery would be the more efficient solution than wearing a mask for the next 50+ years. i tend to strongly agree.

Quote:

FWIW the week after the surgery will suck ass. You will not be able to eat for the first couple of days at all and will only slowly be able to work your way back to solid foods...be ready for lots of jello, broth & ice cream.

yeah, the surgery sounds like it won't be nearly as much fun as one would hope. anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks is the expected recovery time i have been given.

Quote:

Long term consideration - if you are significantly overweight....start losing it now. That will go a long way to opening that area back up as well.

yeah, for me weight isn't a factor. it is in my mind as i have put on about 40lbs in the last year. but according to both dr's loosing weight, while always a good idea, won't help me.

you said you were able to get the surgery. what insurance do you have and what type of hoops did you have to jump through to get it?

Jake · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatorubet

Call your lawyer. [censored] your insurance company. You have a condition that almost cost you your life already, two treating doctors who know your condition who recommend surgery, and then some nurse reviewer at the insurance company refuses to authorize it?

Tell 'em you'll sue them for bad faith if they do not approve the the surgery. Assholes.

Just wait until we have "universal health care" courtesy of the federal government, and they refuse to authorize it. Who are you going to sue then, Uncle Sam? Good luck.

And yet, millions can't wait for the government to give them "free" health care.

Bucky Katt · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake

Just wait until we have "universal health care" courtesy of the federal government, and they refuse to authorize it. Who are you going to sue then, Uncle Sam? Good luck.

And yet, millions can't wait for the government to give them "free" health care.

Hey....there's a political forum for a reason.