(06-06-2016, 11:59 AM)0rangebear Wrote: I sleep without the mask on night a week per my doctors prescription.
I do not feel any different on my off day. I do however, wake up more often on those nights.
I read on the forum that off days are unusual so I question my doctor. He is concerned about something called CPAP dependency that raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Hello Orangebear,
Oh my gosh! I have to say that in reading probably more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific articles about sleep apnoea I have never, ever, even come across 'CPAP dependency' as a phrase, let alone as a described concept, let alone a scientific review of it's risks...
I agree with Sleeprider - the only references out there to 'CPAP dependency' would appear to be from ENT doctors keen to 'cure' sleep apnoea with surgery. This is one of my favourites:
http://drpaulose.com/laser-treatment/cpa...a-patients
You say in your later post that your doctor is an 'expert on sleep apnoea' and you mention he is an endocrinologist? If so he probably looks after people with Type 1 Diabetes. So, to expand a little on what andyjh64 posted - could you possibly ask your doctor next time you see him if he recommends that diabetics under his care also have a day off a week from treatment to reduce the risk of 'insulin dependency'?
And why does he recommend that 6/7 use of xPAP is a Good Thing but 7/7 use of xPAP is 'dependency' and therefore a Bad Thing. I am truly alert with anticipation to see his evidence. (And in my humble opinion I am only able to be alert at all thanks to my xPAP treatment). And does his advice vary with the severity of his patients' diagnostic AHIs? Maybe he recommends that if you only have 'moderate' sleep apnoea, alternate nights without treatment is fine, but if you have 'severe' sleep apnoea you should only stop treatment on, say, the third Thursday of every month?...
And does your doctor have an evidence-based opinion as to *which* day of the week it is a good idea for his patients to risk all those pesky oxygen desaturations, adrenergic cardiovascular responses, nocturia, micro-wakenings etc etc, that many/most of us had before xPAP treatment. Perhaps he has had a classical education so advises that Sundays should be the day of rest from xPAP treatment?
I think you get my drift by now! But, as always, I will take my words back if offered good quality peer-reviewed evidence to the contrary.
I personally wouldn't take a voluntary night off my xPAP treatment even if you were to pay me a very large sum of money. I am, simply speaking, 'CPAP dependent', and having been very symptomatic from undiagnosed sleep apnoea for many years I am extremely happy, given that I have effective xPAP treatment, to now be 'CPAP dependent'.
best wishes, asjb
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All my opinions are only as an xPAP user trying to help other xPAP users.
No suggestions I may make should be taken as professional advice.
If you have medical concerns please consult a doctor - but, a PS, for this post only 'perhaps not necessarily the same doctor as you are currently consulting'
My current pressures: Auto-ASV. EPAP 10-13. PS 3-10