CPAP is really helpful for me

[Guest guest]

I bought (via Craig's List) a CPAP machine over a year ago. It has made such a

difference in my ability to sleep with Achalasia. Before the CPAP machine, I

would often wake choking on saliva or food coughed up in the night. Even though

I sleep on a wedge and other pillows, I'd still have fairly frequent trouble,

and if I'd slip down at all in the night, I'd really cough and choke from the

fluids in my esophagus.

With the CPAP, it is pretty amazing. That air pressure seems to keep the fluids

down and away from my trachea. I rarely (if ever) wake up coughing in the night

if I have the CPAP on.

I recently spent a couple nights at a relatives house, and I didn't bring the

CPAP with me, but I was wishing I had because it all came back with the fluid

and feeling like I'm drowning and waking up coughing.

Anyway, just thought I'd bring it up in case the info is helpful to anyone.

CPAPs are " presription " items, meaning that a doctor has to prescribe in order

to buy it. I didn't want to undergo the sleep testing stuff and didn't think I

had sleep apnea, so I found a used one on Craig's List and bought it (my cost

for a good one, gently used, was about $100). Tubing and masks and such can be

bought online without prescription (getting the best fit may be a bit tricky - I

found the nasal pillow type mask works best for me).

I am hoping to bring this use of the CPAP up with my PCP or my gastro and see if

they will prescribe one for me, so that I can get one covered by my insurance.

Anyone else use CPAP and find it helpful with Achalasia? Anyone able to get a

doctor to prescribe them one?

[Guest guest]

What ironic timing on this message Jenn... I literally *JUST* got off the phone

with the company that my husband has his CPAP trial machine from.  We have

approval from our insurance for his based on his sleep lab test results and a

prescription from our family dr.  He doesn't officially have sleep apnea,

according to the test results (although he has some interruptions of his

breathing), but his problem is that he has " significant oxygen deprivation " , due

to a toxic exposure he had during military service that has impaired his

breathing at all times.  We're trying to get the US VA to cover the entire cost

of his machine, instead of us going through our private insurance coverage,

which will only cover 80%, but the woman at the CPAP company is saying that the

machine is ONLY used for sleep apnea.  Odd, considering that their own testing

facility has long since stated that he doesn't have sleep apnea.  I'm wondering

what other people's experiences

are with them, if anyone has gotten one for another reason.  I'll keep an eye

out, and if I find out any " non-sleep apnea " information, I'll pass it along to

you as well.

kim in canada

From: jennlee_2 <webmail@...>

Subject: CPAP is really helpful for me

achalasia

Date: Thursday, March 10, 2011, 4:06 PM

 

I bought (via Craig's List) a CPAP machine over a year ago. It has made

such a difference in my ability to sleep with Achalasia. Before the CPAP

machine, I would often wake choking on saliva or food coughed up in the night.

Even though I sleep on a wedge and other pillows, I'd still have fairly frequent

trouble, and if I'd slip down at all in the night, I'd really cough and choke

from the fluids in my esophagus.

With the CPAP, it is pretty amazing. That air pressure seems to keep the fluids

down and away from my trachea. I rarely (if ever) wake up coughing in the night

if I have the CPAP on.

I recently spent a couple nights at a relatives house, and I didn't bring the

CPAP with me, but I was wishing I had because it all came back with the fluid

and feeling like I'm drowning and waking up coughing.

Anyway, just thought I'd bring it up in case the info is helpful to anyone.

CPAPs are " presription " items, meaning that a doctor has to prescribe in order

to buy it. I didn't want to undergo the sleep testing stuff and didn't think I

had sleep apnea, so I found a used one on Craig's List and bought it (my cost

for a good one, gently used, was about $100). Tubing and masks and such can be

bought online without prescription (getting the best fit may be a bit tricky - I

found the nasal pillow type mask works best for me).

I am hoping to bring this use of the CPAP up with my PCP or my gastro and see if

they will prescribe one for me, so that I can get one covered by my insurance.

Anyone else use CPAP and find it helpful with Achalasia? Anyone able to get a

doctor to prescribe them one?

[Guest guest]

jennlee_2 wrote:

> With the CPAP, it is pretty amazing. That air pressure seems to keep the

fluids down and away from my trachea. I rarely (if ever) wake up coughing in

the night if I have the CPAP on.

It seems reasonable to me. Thanks for sharing that.

notan