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Why Sleep Apnea Patients Rely on a CPAP Machine Hacker

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Re: Why Sleep Apnea Patients Rely on a CPAP Machine Hacker

#81

Post by nchammas »

werdnapk wrote: post #26

My wife (oral surgeon) says the only real solution to sleep apnea is surgery. CPAP machines to her and bunk. I believe she moves the jaw forward to help open up the airway. Whatever works I guess.

You don't need surgery to move the jaw forward in order to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

Some dentists (like mine) offer a removable orthotic [0] that you wear during sleep which accomplishes the required jaw movement and improves sleep quality. It's an alternative to treatment with CPAP that doesn't require anything invasive like surgery.

I haven't undergone this particular treatment myself, but I know from wearing other styles of precisely designed orthotics (both removable and semi-permanent) that they can improve the quality of your breathing, and thus improve the quality of your sleep.

[0]: https://somnomed.com/en/

Re: Why Sleep Apnea Patients Rely on a CPAP Machine Hacker

#82

Post by cmiles74 »

rrggrr wrote: post #21

Accessing the clinician menu on most machines is accomplished by a quick Google search. I've adjusted my pressure several times to bring down AHI, or to reduce some side-effects of higher pressures as my weight comes down. Most machines report AHI in the main menu. My point is this... the article's premise is on target, but the situation isn't as dire as characterized.

I switched my machine from constant pressure to automatic, it's made a significant difference and my AHI numbers have remained the same. So far, I haven't had to alter the pressure manually.

Re: Why Sleep Apnea Patients Rely on a CPAP Machine Hacker

#83

Post by Sohcahtoa82 »

robotmay wrote: post #24
Waterluvian wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've slept long into a power outage and woken up with a headache and significant disorientation and my mask still on. Really upsetting. And with an AHI off the charts, I may very well die without one.

Might be worth investing in an Uninterruptible Power Supply for it if you haven't already.

If you get a UPS, make sure you test it at least once per month or so.

I discovered that my 2 year old UPS failed when the power went out and I got a mere 3 seconds of power to my computer. If it had been being used for what is effectively life support, I'd be dead.

Re: Why Sleep Apnea Patients Rely on a CPAP Machine Hacker

#84

Post by IOT_Apprentice »

WJW wrote: post #73
surds wrote: post #68

I did read an article early this year where an individual died on a camping trip as he was not carrying his CPAP. So, yes, it does vary for each individual but sleep apnea can be deadly. Also, I cannot recommend enough anyone showing any symptoms of sleep apnea to get it checked out. I started using CPAP just over 2 years ago now and it has been a life changing experience, even though the study suggested only a 'Mild…

Does it bother you at all while sleeping?

Not once you find the right mask and get used to the constant pressure. It is truly life changing in terms of energy level and your own health. I switched from a full face mask, which leaked air to nasal pillows (resmed P10) and I am happy.

Re: Why Sleep Apnea Patients Rely on a CPAP Machine Hacker

#85

Post by [deleted] »

wccrawford wrote: post #19

Why is it so hard for people to write posts like this without all the bias. Saying things like, “Everybody is trying to get you in and out the door, and take some profit from your pocket.” and "He agreed that most sleep apnea patients around the world are underserved: “Doctors don’t listen and don’t have time anywhere in the world.”" just makes the whole thing feel like a snake oil salesman at work. Saying it without…

[deleted]

Re: Why Sleep Apnea Patients Rely on a CPAP Machine Hacker

#86

Post by IOT_Apprentice »

snuxoll wrote: post #65
diob wrote: post #23

I have to adjust my own pressure as well, since I can't afford to do another sleep study (American Healthcare rocks!). The biggest difference in my sleep came from when I purchased a machine that auto adjusts based on what you need, so no one could lock me out from getting the best healthcare possible.

I know I suffer from sleep apnea (poor sleep quality, relatives have noticed me stop breathing for brief periods while asleep, loud snoring) but I literally cannot bring myself to get a sleep study done because I know it's not going to be cheap, and to top it off I don't even know how expensive it's going to be in the first place. It's not like I can't afford to pay either, I do have some money stashed in my HSA but…

You can die from this (apnea) if you are not careful. Getting a cpap properly set and a mask that works for you will be a life changing event in terms of quality of sleep and your general well being. How much is that worth to you?

Re: Why Sleep Apnea Patients Rely on a CPAP Machine Hacker

#88

Post by en »

blang wrote: post #57
crimsonalucard wrote: post #38

One way around this is to get a bed that has something like a zero gravity mode. Sleep a bit upright and your airway won't collapse in on itself. I don't need CPAPS yet, but if a CPAP alone isn't working for you, you can try this combined with CPAP or just using the bed itself.

And at the risk of being down voted, weight loss: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/weight-loss-breathing-de...

The risk of sleep apnea increases with age, as well as the morphology (small neck, ...) or neurological problem: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/pats.200709-155...

Obesity sleep apnea ≠ Age and morphology sleep apnea, the first can be cured by weight loss, the second is a lifelong "disease" (except surgery that does not last).

Re: Why Sleep Apnea Patients Rely on a CPAP Machine Hacker

#89

Post by walshemj »

rjurney wrote: post #80

Messing with your own PAP settings can be a bad idea. I have complex apnea - a little bit of obstructive apnea (small pie hole), a little bit of central apnea (brain messages to breathe don't get through). I had an Auto BiPAP machine, which is like an intelligent ventilator that varies settings to determine the best one. A sleep study plus home monitoring indicated that the machine made my apnea worse! After another…

Having done home dialysis id be very wary of changing the firmware settings on a CPD machine let alone a HD one - but that is a lot more invasive.

Re: Why Sleep Apnea Patients Rely on a CPAP Machine Hacker

#90

Post by njarboe »

jimison wrote: post #34
diob wrote: post #23

I have to adjust my own pressure as well, since I can't afford to do another sleep study (American Healthcare rocks!). The biggest difference in my sleep came from when I purchased a machine that auto adjusts based on what you need, so no one could lock me out from getting the best healthcare possible.

> I can't afford to do another sleep study (American Healthcare rocks!). That's the invisible hand of the free market taking care of you!

Almost nothing about the American healthcare system has anything to do with a free markets. From medical schools, to opening a new hospital, to pricing, to forced insurance, healthcare tied to employment, companies or government pay for almost all of it, FDA drug approval process, etc. Not saying free market and medical are a good mix (who knows?), but what there is in America not is not even a market at all.
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