Misperceptions and Ignorance about Sleep Apnea

[kfujioka]

I have accepted the fact that I have sleep apnea and have made peace with my Bipap machine which has enabled me to both sleep and breathe at the same time. I feel grateful for my machine and the fact that I have health insurance that will help me pay for it. However I am constantly "corrected" by doctors such as my ENT who said, "Kim the CPAP is bad for you." and "don't worry you can wean yourself off of it." I especially feel P*ssed when my own friends and spouse say that if I learn to sleep on my side, I can quit the machine. Who are they kidding? And why would I quit a machine that has saved my life. When I put my nasal mask on each night and turn the machine on, I know two things: I will sleep well and I will wake up the next day. (If my condo were on fire, my bipap machine would be in my arms when I climbed out the window.)
In short, in my community of super educated friends PhDs and my husband who is a biochemist, only myself and my sleep doctor realize the truth about my condition.
I don't get it. Just plain ignorance.

[TyroneShoes]

Exactly why we have forums like this one which serve the purpose of filling in the gaps and disputing those incorrect perceptions.

[herbm]

Ignorance, laziness (to learn), short sightedness (not invented here), arrogance (misplaced and WRONG arrogance), etc.

"It ain't what you don't know, it's what you know that ain't so that will kill you."

Keep using your machine 100% of the time.

[PsychoMike]

Kim, good on ya and keep on keeping on.

The ENT may not like the CPAP from his perspective (it's the same for any specialists...one likes, the other hates), but considering the alternative, it is by far the lesser of two evils. Sleeping on your side may lessen how bad things are, but Mrs. Psycho has proven to me that even side sleeping isn't a cure (her snoring was less when she slept on her side pre-CPAP...say a 4.5 magnitude quake vs. a 6.0 on her back).

Too many folks have a lack of understanding about OSA (i.e. it is a "fat person disease"....lose the weight and you'll be fine) or are simply plain ignorant about it and what effects untreated OSA has on the body. Just ignore them and do what is best for you

[surferdude2]

kfujioka, Your ENT doctor is a surgeon. If he hasn't already told you, you can probably guess what he thinks is a good cure for sleep apnea. Your DME supplier sells CPAP machines. You already know what his answer is since you have a flow generator.

Don't give either one the last word but use your own good judgment. Do what is safest and works best for you since you're the best steward of your health.

[trish6hundred]

Hi kfujioka,
I know it's hard when people in your own family can't accept that you have to use your CPAP machine and that it really is helping you rather than hurting you.
Tell them that it would be more helpful if you had their support instead of their grief about your CPAP machine.
Hang in there for more suggestions and keep up the good work.

[Visitor]

It's crazy how many conditions are still misunderstood. Even by doctors. It was all in my head for a while. Well, I guess the diagnosis was close as it was in my throat A health insurance representative informed me in a denigrating way they won't cover CPAP as the treatment is for babies. Wonderful.

The same goes for other conditions. Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia are rarely accepted. At times it seems we're still in the dark ages when it comes to crazy assumptions on medical conditions.

[Eurika]

Hi
It never ceases to surprise me that intelligent people can be so ignorant and closed minded. The 'I'm right' attitude because I am a highly educated person and I'm not prepared to listen to any other argument but my own, shows a distinct lack of common sense and open mindedness.

What truly matters is how YOU feel in the morning after a night with your new best friend.

Don't let the ingnoranti make you feel angry, it's not worth wasting your mental energy on, all you need to concern yourself with is your own well being.

Take care and enjoy your new found energy levels.

[Sleepster]

I am constantly "corrected" by doctors such as my ENT who said, "Kim the CPAP is bad for you." and "don't worry you can wean yourself off of it."

For the typical patient with obstructive sleep apnea the CPAP machine treats the condition and confirms it with the data it collects. If that's the case I can't imagine why those doctors would be telling you that.

Do you have some other condition that's complicating the situation?

[kfujioka]

I am constantly "corrected" by doctors such as my ENT who said, "Kim the CPAP is bad for you." and "don't worry you can wean yourself off of it."

For the typical patient with obstructive sleep apnea the CPAP machine treats the condition and confirms it with the data it collects. If that's the case I can't imagine why those doctors would be telling you that.

Do you have some other condition that's complicating the situation?

No. I don't have any other problem that would be of concern to an ENT. I think that ENT (quite old) is just ignorant about sleep apnea. I had my sleep doctor send him a note with my sleep study results of Severe Apnea with an AHI of 88 with 40 percent oxygen levels. (Before the Bipap therapy started)
I think people generally believe only morbidly obese have sleep apnea ans since my BMI is 24.5 I don't fit the profile.
Thanks for your help.