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Advice on options
#1
Advice on options
I had a test a few years ago and was deemed to have mild sleep apnea. I received various prescriptions for nose sprays, but none were effective. The effects tapered off after a few weeks. My first specialist did not prescribe CPAP. I am now seeking a second opinion. My life has been seriously affected by this issue, and I am concerned that if the second opinion does not work out, my options have run out. Did others have similar experiences or advice to share?

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#2
RE: Advice on options
Hi Visitor,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
It's good to hear that you are getting a second opinion.
Hang in there for more answers to your questions and best of luck to you.
trish6hundred
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#3
RE: Advice on options
If I may?

I personally have found that all "Sleep Doctors" are not the same. And their value varies wildly. Knowing what state or Country you reside in might help some of us to offer a suggestion.

Using myself and my wife as examples...

I was found to have severe OSA, and had both nose and throat surgery. Not in hopes of a silver bullet, but rather in hopes of lowing the pressure needed to treat me. I do not even take a 10 minute nap without my dream machine, and it drastically changed my life for the better. I will never be able to get off my PAP - but it is so worth it to me.

My wife was found to be very borderline as far as OSA goes, but it came down to the fact that she simply sleep better, and is more 'rested' when she uses her CPAP. Our Sleep Doc tends to look at the 'whole picture', rather than just numbers. I have been going to the same sleep Doc for all these years and am very, very happy with him.

Other folks have had (what I call) horror stories about different sleep Docs and so-called sleep centers...
*I* am not a DOCTOR or any type of Health Care Professional.  My thoughts/suggestions/ideas are strictly only my opinions.

"Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your Soul, the other for your Freedom."
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#4
RE: Advice on options
Thanks for the replies. I am located in Ireland. My prior specialist went solely by numbers. I would like to try out cpap to see if I improve, but so far have not been able to get help with this.
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#5
RE: Advice on options
This board will help you with specific questions, so post as much info as you are comfortable posting and ask away.

No one can tell you WHAT to do but there will be tons of advice for what worked for each of us and what didn't.

Remember through all of this, that CPAP is a very individual thing even though there are shared common themes.

The mask that is awful for one person may be perfect for someone else (and getting the mask right is more than half the battle towards comfort.)

A mask that almost everyone loves won't work for SOME PEOPLE.

Therapy options and settings are similar -- but the thing to remember is that if you have OSA then CPAP is very close to a magic bullet to relieve the symptoms and reverse the damage to your health.

It won't CURE the apnea but it can make the EFFECTS DISAPPEAR -- and this may (usually does) take time and effort on your part.

My sleep doc is fine, but I am going to see him for the 2nd time next Monday and probably won't see him again for a year (to update the prescription) -- and problem don't or won't need him beyond that, but my case has been a near miracle.

Others have to fight tooth and nail to get their treatment working in a way that is effective.

Likely you will fall somewhere IN BETWEEN these extremes but we will see....

Sweet Dreams,

HerbM
Sleep study AHI: 49 RDI: 60 -- APAP 10-11 w/AHI: 1.5 avg for 7-days (up due likely to hip replacement recovery)

"We can all breathe together or we will all suffocate alone."
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#6
RE: Advice on options
It has been quite frustrating that the nose spray turned out not to be sufficiently effective. My main concern is to get a chance to try out cpap to see if it yields the desired results. I adapt quite easily in general, so I don't see the cpap itself as a possible issue. Of course, time will tell. My prior specialist seemed to be of the opinion that cpap is the very last resort and has to be postponed as long as possible.
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#7
RE: Advice on options
You should tell your sleep specialist that you would like to try a cpap machine to see whether it would help your situation. If your sleep specialist won't listen to you, you could try another specialist/center from the Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust ISAT website.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. 
ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA.
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#8
RE: Advice on options
(02-21-2014, 03:39 PM)Visitor Wrote: My prior specialist seemed to be of the opinion that cpap is the very last resort and has to be postponed as long as possible.

WHAT~!!?!?!?!

The **LAST** resort?? Way wrong~! Most 'surgery'is the last resort, and CPAP comes before 'drugs'.

One point! If you have 'central apnea' or "CA", etc - then a machine may be a poor choice and this is where a *good* sleep study comes in. CPAP/bIPAP/VPAP/etc is the *best* choice for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Period~!

If you are a mouth-breather because of nose issues - a different course of action may be needed regardless. (I am guessing here - we need more info on what is wrong)

I was a 30+ year mouth-breather due to a nose that had been broken many different times, while my CPAP helped from the get-go, getting me breathing through my nose was considered critical, so I then had nose surgery, and then throat surgery - a big help in my case. But through it all, I was on CPAP and then a bi-level.
*I* am not a DOCTOR or any type of Health Care Professional.  My thoughts/suggestions/ideas are strictly only my opinions.

"Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your Soul, the other for your Freedom."
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#9
RE: Advice on options
(02-21-2014, 02:40 PM)Visitor Wrote: I had a test a few years ago and was deemed to have mild sleep apnea. I received various prescriptions for nose sprays, but none were effective. The effects tapered off after a few weeks. My first specialist did not prescribe CPAP. I am now seeking a second opinion. My life has been seriously affected by this issue, and I am concerned that if the second opinion does not work out, my options have run out. Did others have similar experiences or advice to share?

Do you have or do you remember the results of your sleep study? By that I mean, how many events did you have and any details that you can remember.
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#10
RE: Advice on options
(02-21-2014, 02:40 PM)Visitor Wrote: I had a test a few years ago and was deemed to have mild sleep apnea.
Ask for a new sleep study, lots of things might happen since then
Why are you using nasal sprays?
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