Treating Sleep Apnea Without the Mask

New York Times ^ | April 9, 2012 | ANAHAD O’CONNOR

[USNBandit]

Sleep apnea was a contributing factor in my father's death. He died of congestive heart failure at the ripe old age of 45. This happened only a couple years before CPAP became widely used.

He started out with bad snoring that over the years turned into apnea as he gained weight. The lack of quality sleep made his body yearn for energy which he fed with food. The triangle of obesity, apnea and exhaustion killed him. These days the easiest of these to treat first would be the apnea. With the apnea treated he could have curbed his diet and then tackled the weight.

During my journey into my 40's I have fought my own battle with my weight. I have never been nearly as fat as my father, but I finally got tired of being 20 then 30 and finally 40 lbs over the weight I graduated college with. I finally stopped that trend this winter with a paleo-type diet. I won't lie to anybody. I ate plenty of unhealthy snack foods, but I am really beginning to believe that a significant portion of my weight gain was also due to the overabundance of grains and carbs in my diet.

I'm down 25+ lb. with 15 left to go and should get there by June at the rate I've been going.

[12chachacha]

I also had chronic sinus problems. I now use Neilmed nose douche every day and problem solved.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

I don’t wear mine at work. People would stare.

My first rig was just a glorified aquarium pump 10 years ago and I made a doorstop out of it. Noisy as hell. My wife ended up making more noise that any machine could and I tried again last year. These new gizmo’s are really nice / quiet and relatively unobtrusive all considered.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I had the same problem. I solved it with Nasonex (two spritzes into each nostril before I put on the CPAP mask) and sometimes --- especially at pollen allergy times --- Nasonex + Benadryl.

Now the CPAP works great.

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

I’ve had many surgeries over the last 5 years and none of them worked!
The only surgery I haven’t had yet is the one where they readjust your jaw.

If I had it to do over, I wouldn’t go through all of it again, I’m still on CPAP!!

[Former Fetus]

My brother gave up on the CPAP mask and had the surgery. It’s been a couple of years and he couldn’t be any happier!

[flamberge]

I have found that frequently washing the mask in lukewarm water and baby shampoo makes the mask seal better without tightening the straps.

Also using a soft pillow makes the mask seal better.

Restful sleep is worth all the effort.

[Paleo Conservative]

I have moderate sleep apnea, and I use a mouth piece custom built to my dental impressions to keep the airway open. It’s much easier to travel with than a CPAP.

http://www.somnomed.com/Products/The_SomnoDent_sup____sup__MAS_Product_Guide_.aspx

[JeanLM]

I had the operation in which they removed all the tissue in the rear of my mouth(tonsils and uvula) plus a lot of obstructive tissue. It didn’t fix the problem although I don’t snore anymore.

I don’t use a CPAP although my doctors say I should. Both my brothers do and say they couldn’t exist without it.

I tried it for a while but couldn’t stand the effects and I slept worse than without it. I don’t have Narcolepsy and other issues my brothers had.

The operation was painful for about a week after; like a really bad sore throat, but it is a mixed bag for me. I don’t snore and sleep fine, but I know it ddn’t fix the problem.

I bought one of those finger deals that measures your blood oxygen level. That’s where the problem lies. If you stop breathing, the O2 level drops below 90%, and that stresses the heart and body.

I thought it would show an improvement in my O2 but the operation didn’t. Think if they had one of these that gave you a little shock to wake you, it might be another solution.

Finally, I think there are two kinds of apnea. Obstructive is one, but in my case I think I have the other, which is the brain shuts down and you die a little.

I’ll probably stop and not start up one night. All in all that’s not a bad way to go.

[Twinkie]

Get you a box of “Sinusalia”, a homeopathic remedy that helps my stopped up nose at night. I also get a homeopathic nose spray called “Sinus & Allergy”, by bio-Allers. They’re neither one all that expensive and definitely worth a try.

A treatment with these will usually hold me for three or four days; so I don’t use them every night.

[Alt Right]

I hear you there.

[jurroppi1]

My wife had UPPP surgery, still has to use the CPAP. The recovery wasn’t all that long 2-4 weeks max.

I have used CPAP for about 12 years now and don’t know how I ever lived without it. I would wake at least twice per night from the most heinous nightmares trying to scream out, but could not. During these episodes I was not be able to breathe in either - that was prior to my getting a CPAP. It took me about 6 months of constant use to get used to it. I almost gave up several times... all it took was one nightmare and I would put it right back on.

Not all can get used to them or have the tenacity to deal with it - me I had a very strong motivation...

[Cicero]

A possible solution for some people might be something like a Breathe Right nostril strip.

It’s like an elastic bandaide, which goes over the bridge of the nose, sticks to the sides of your nostrils, and holds them open. I tried it when I had trouble with a sinus stuffed nose, and it definitely allowed me to breathe easier.

Worth a try, maybe, at least for some people.

[cobyok]

+1 on the Somnomed solution. Multiple masks and latex allergies left me searching for a solution for my severe apnea. Sonmomed’s mouthpiece has been a blessing.

[cobyok]

+1 on the Somnomed solution. Multiple masks and latex allergies left me searching for a solution for my severe apnea. Sonmomed’s mouthpiece has been a blessing.

[imskylark]

I take allergy medicine and it keeps me clear.

[Alt Right]

Thanks. I admit, I’m lazy when it comes to cleaning the mask often.

[aruanan]

Now an alternative form of C.P.A.P. is gaining popularity: a patch that fits over the nostrils. Called Provent, the patch holds two small plugs, one for each nostril, that create just enough air pressure to keep the airways open at night. It is far less intrusive than the traditional C.P.A.P. machine. It is also more expensive, and it doesn’t work for every patient.

My CPAP machine has the nostril device. When I first used it, I didn't like it. It turns out it was just adjusted incorrectly. Now that's the only thing I use. I've had sleep apnea since high school (and in my case it has nothing to do with weight). I've used a CPAP machine for a little over 3 years now. It feels great to be able to breathe so easily. My machine also monitors air flow so that if I do stop breathing it kicks up the pressure enough to compensate.

[Montana_Sam]

Had sleep apnea with window-rattling snoring until about seven years ago when a doctor advised me to do a saline gargle daily. I experimented a bit and found that by gargling the saline solution up into the bottom of the nasal cavity at the back of the throat that the sinuses would drain. About two weeks after starting that treatment I quit snoring and no longer suffer from the effects of sleep apnea. I wouldn’t recommend the treatment unless you check with your doctor, but I haven’t snored since. My wife is glad this small treatment works, too.

[WesternPacific]

I also sleep with my mouth open and it blows air out of my mouth if its open. Quite annoying...

I had the same problem and tried every mask available nothing worked. It sounds stupid, but I was told to tape my mouth shut using a small piece of med tape. It works for me. I sleep like a baby now.