Posted on 04/10/2012 3:37:29 PM PDT by nickcarraway
About 28 million Americans have sleep apnea, which causes repeated awakenings and pauses in breathing during the night, sometimes resulting in loud snoring and gasps for air. For decades, the standard treatment has been “continuous positive airway pressure.” A mask worn at night pushes air into the nasal passages, enabling easier breathing. C.P.A.P. reduces and in some cases completely prevents episodes of apnea.
But the mask is like something from a bad science fiction movie: big, bulky and obtrusive. Many patients simply refuse to wear it or rip it off while asleep. Studies show that about half of all people prescribed C.P.A.P. machines stop using them in one to three weeks.
“For a lot of people out there, the C.P.A.P. machine turns into a doorstop,” said Dr. Joseph Golish, the former chief of sleep medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. “C.P.A.P. is very effective in the sleep lab. But when people go home, there’s a good chance they won’t use it, and the success rate of an unused C.P.A.P. machine is absolutely zero.”
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.
Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2008, Provent has spread mostly by word of mouth. But it has caught on fast. Its manufacturer, Ventus Medical, says it has shipped one million of the devices in the past 12 months, up from a half million total in the two years prior. Doctors say it has given them a new weapon in the battle against
(Excerpt) Read more at well.blogs.nytimes.com ...
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My doc said it depends on how bad off you are. If you stop breathing 60+ times per hour and are at 13+ pressure it won’t do you much good.
It’s just a one way valve that lets pressure stay in your nose from what I gleaned.
Untreated sleep apnea can kill.
CPAP helps me a lot, but I yank it off my face in my sleep.
Different masks have not helped any.
I have bad apnea. I throw the mask off inadvertantley at night. I also sleep with my mouth open and it blows air out of my mouth if its open. Quite annoying...
You beat me by 13 seconds. ;0) I concur..
You beat me by 13 seconds. ;0) I concur..
And apparently I studder.
I use one and have done for 5 years. Made a world of difference in my work life. Used to feel tire and nodding off. With CPAP I get quality sleep and do better work.
I have “significant” apnea and I agree that the mask is not that bad once you get used to it. But now that I’ve changed out the straps, I have to pull them really tight to prevent leaks and it is scraping the skin off of my nose. I’m not sure if they’re smaller or I need to take it into the Sleep Clinic and have they adjusted.
I have no clue what to do. I have Apnea, but also chronic sinus problems. My nose can close up due to snot during the night. If my nose closes up,,,, how the heck do I breath?
Have “they” adjusted.
That was an ethnic post.
From the sounds of it, neither the CPAP or the Provent would work for me.
Has anyone ever had the operation to stop those muscles from collapsing? I know it’s a long recovery time ,but how are results?
I have both as well but I think the machine actually helps the sinus issues...
Benadryl maybe?
“Benadryl maybe?”
Yeah,,,, but I hate to keep taking drugs to,,,, just breath.
TO ALL
I had a severe case of sleep apnea and had my first surgery which corrected a deviate septum and removed excess tissue from my palate. (1988)
This helped for several years. HOWEVER it recurred and the problem then was my tongue would drop back into the airway again causing problems.
My second surgery was an advancement of the maxible and mandible along with a tightening of the glottis (upper and lower jaw advanced and tongue tightened).
This surgery was done at Stanford University by the originators of the procedure, Dr. Robert Riley and Nelson Powell. (1997)
I have had no issues since. If any one wants additional information on this send me a private message and I will be happy to tell more.
You seen a doctor? They may be able to help. They have humidifiers built into them. Maybe they have some drops or something.
You may need some new equipment. The good stuff cost’s about $1200 bucks and changes the masks out every month or two.
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