Hello Guest, Welcome to Apnea Board !
As a guest, you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use.
To post a message, you must create a free account using a valid email address.

or Create an Account


New Posts   Today's Posts

[Treatment] Can't tolerate CPAP - trying oral splint
#1
Can't tolerate CPAP - trying oral splint
Hi everyone
I have been struggling to comply with CPAP for four months now, increasingly claustrophobic and my sleep specialist has advised to give up and get a mandibular splint.  I had one custom made by a dental technician and picked it up today.  My OSA was pretty bad at 68 AHI but I don't really snore.  The only thing I will miss with the machine is that I got a daily reading of how many events I had - but I struggled to use it for more than an hour a time.  With the splint I'll be flying blind, so to speak.
My specialist has suggested doing a further hospital sleep clinic in December to see how the splint is working.


I'd be interested in other people's stories of using a splint rather than CPAP. Thanks
Post Reply Post Reply
#2
RE: Can't tolerate CPAP - trying oral splint
You could do a home sleep study wearing the MAD to see if it works also. Another option is to find a sleep surgeon who can do a 'drug-induced sleep endoscopy', to observe your airway with and without the splint in a pseudo-sleep state.
Post Reply Post Reply
#3
RE: Can't tolerate CPAP - trying oral splint
I'm not aware that they do home studies in Australia.  But I will enquire.  Thanks.
Post Reply Post Reply
#4
RE: Can't tolerate CPAP - trying oral splint
I had one years ago. Check with your gp they should have someone they can refer you to.
Post Reply Post Reply
#5
RE: Can't tolerate CPAP - trying oral splint
If you come back to CPAP please, PLEASE, come back here.  There is MUCH we can suggest to help you get used to CPAP.  When you do get an Auto CPAP that is fully data capable.  This that you can see what is happening down to a breath by breath level, if needed, for every breath you take with the machine on.  

We get a good number coming back after a splint has failed.  

Sleep-well

Fred
Post Reply Post Reply
#6
RE: Can't tolerate CPAP - trying oral splint
Romster, you can obtain a pulse oximeter that records data fairly inexpensively. Look into a wrist mounted unit if you go that route. This will record the number and severity of oxygen decreases during the night, and can be a good surrogate for CPAP data.
Sleeprider
Apnea Board Moderator
www.ApneaBoard.com

____________________________________________
Download OSCAR Software
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing Therapy
Organize your OSCAR Charts
Attaching Files
Mask Primer
How To Deal With Equipment Supplier


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. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
Post Reply Post Reply
#7
RE: Can't tolerate CPAP - trying oral splint
I'm interested in this, Sleeprider.  Do you mean like a Fitbit? 
By the way, first night with oral splint pretty good, kept it in for five hours  Okay
Post Reply Post Reply
#8
RE: Can't tolerate CPAP - trying oral splint
I'm talking about something like the CMS 50 F or 50FW (bluetooth) which is a dedicated pulse oximeter with the ability to record high resolution oxygen and pulse data.
Sleeprider
Apnea Board Moderator
www.ApneaBoard.com

____________________________________________
Download OSCAR Software
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing Therapy
Organize your OSCAR Charts
Attaching Files
Mask Primer
How To Deal With Equipment Supplier


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. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
Post Reply Post Reply
#9
RE: Can't tolerate CPAP - trying oral splint
If you are going to continue using the oral splint, search on Supplier #19 for overnight recording pulse oximeters.  This will at least give you some idea if your oxygen levels are dropping during sleep.  

Although a Fitbit may give you information on sleep stages (not sure), it can't record drops in oxygen levels.
OpalRose
Apnea Board Administrator
www.apneaboard.com

_______________________
OSCAR Chart Organization
How to Attach Images and Files.
OSCAR - The Guide
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing therapy
OSCAR supported machines
Mask Primer



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.  INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
Post Reply Post Reply
#10
Grin 
RE: Can't tolerate CPAP - trying oral splint
Thanks for this advice everyone. 
Second night with splint good. Not aiming for full night at this stage but seems to be less difficult to tolerate than a mask or pillows. No jaw issues but it's the foreign body sensation in the mouth that's the main thing. 
 I'll look into the oximeter and what metrics it will give me. Bit of a data nerd so interested in this aspect 
Thanks again
Post Reply Post Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  [Treatment] LF Oral Surgeon recommendation in DMV area for MMA SleepWhenImDead 1 1,084 11-16-2023, 01:05 PM
Last Post: isabelle315
  [Treatment] Where can I get this type of Boil-and-bite Mandibular Advancement Splint / MAD? selfhelpdevice 1 309 11-13-2023, 08:38 AM
Last Post: Sleeprider
  CPAP + Oral Appliance = Leaks DoktorSpengler 0 322 08-16-2023, 01:52 PM
Last Post: DoktorSpengler
  Oral Dental Appliance RandomPilar 47 11,777 06-21-2023, 01:59 AM
Last Post: ZacMirror
  [Equipment] oral appliance instead of CPAP? singergal67 9 1,036 06-02-2023, 03:54 PM
Last Post: singergal67
  CPAP, dry mouth, and poor oral health Liteheart1 10 1,785 09-23-2022, 10:11 PM
Last Post: Liteheart1
  [Equipment] Fisher & Paykel Oracle 452 Oral CPAP Mask for BPAP kakadyi 3 752 09-16-2022, 05:23 AM
Last Post: kakadyi


New Posts   Today's Posts


About Apnea Board

Apnea Board is an educational web site designed to empower Sleep Apnea patients.