Guest guest Posted December 6, 2002 Report Share Posted December 6, 2002 I'm happy to say, we have finally come up with a solution that works for me. Instead of a CPAP, I am now using a BI-PAP machine. It senses my breathing and gives me very strong air pressure only when I'm inhaling. Then the pressure goes real low when I exhale. I love it! Also, instead of a mask I use something called a "Breeze". It lightly sits on top of my head (with no straps around my face or neck). The tube comes down from my forehead to my nose. Instead of a mask, there are two "nose pillows" which lightly press against my nostrils. Glenn: I am glad it worked for you. The best solution for sleep apnea is weight loss and fix any sinus problems. Testosterone and anabolics also cause sleep apnea. After two hospital stays for diagnosis and trying the regular CPAP machine, I tried the Bi-Pap machine but the horrible claustrophobic feeling made it impossible for me to comply. My worse problem now is not the apnea but my hands "falling asleep" on me at night (No I do not take growth hormone). It must be a compression problem because of my wide upper back and the fact that I can only sleep on my side. And another problem that really bothers me is having to pee 3-4 times a night (my blood sugar is good). I also take Ambien almost every night (Thank God for Ambien!). I think poor sleep is my main health problem right now. There is very little research if any on sleep disturbances and HIV. Vergel Program for Wellness Restoration, PoWeR An All Volunteer Non-Profit 501 © 3 Corporation www.medibolics.com www.facialwasting.org Click to subscribe to lipodystrophy "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelics. Persistence and determination are omnipotent." Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the US Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2002 Report Share Posted December 6, 2002 > Glenn: I am glad it worked for you. The best solution for sleep apnea is > weight loss and fix any sinus problems. True, but for many people, correction of sinus problems isn't the only answer. Even with clear, unobstructed sinuses they simply do not breathe through their nose while sleeping. > After two hospital stays for diagnosis and trying the regular CPAP machine, I > tried the Bi-Pap machine but the horrible claustrophobic feeling made it > impossible for me to comply. Does this mean you are currently not doing anything for your sleep apnea? I also hated the mask and straps around my face. I wonder if the type of headgear I'm now using might benefit you too? > My worse problem now is not the apnea but my > hands " falling asleep " on me at night (No I do not take growth hormone). It > must be a compression problem because of my wide upper back and the fact that > I can only sleep on my side. I'm also a side-sleeper. For me, when my hands fall asleep I think it's because I'm hugging my pillow and sleeping on my arm which cuts off the circulation. > And another problem that really bothers me is > having to pee 3-4 times a night (my blood sugar is good). That's right. Think about it -- if sleep apnea is keeping you from going into a deep sleep, your consciousness is more easily made aware that you have to pee and you wake up. Remember when you were a teenager and you could stay asleep all night long, but then you'd pee about 10 gallons in the morning (after you got rid of that hard-on)? You really probably had to pee since 2:00 AM but you were sleeping so soundly that you weren't even aware of it. By the way, I was getting up to pee about 4 or 5 times per night myself. Now, on the BI-PAP machine, I get up about once per night. I'm sure you're aware that there are other issues that could cause this problem too. I assume that you monitor your prostate health? > I also take Ambien > almost every night (Thank God for Ambien!). I think poor sleep is my main > health problem right now. Maybe you should address the problem again, . It's a pretty important problem. I'm sure it must effect you during the day too. > There is very little research if any on sleep disturbances and HIV. True, but there is information showing that sleep apnea can put you at risk for cardiovascular disease, pulmonary problems, and hypertension. And car accidents! You also don't want to add to the problems already being caused by the HIV and HIV-medications. Additionally, sleep apnea can make your fatigue worse and adversely affect your mood, memory, concentration, alertness, and overall quality of life. Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2002 Report Share Posted December 6, 2002 I was having sleeping problems too. Now I take 750mg of GABA and 2.5mg of melatonin when I'm in bed ready to sleep. do you feel ok the morning after? Where do you get the GABA ? Vergel Program for Wellness Restoration, PoWeR An All Volunteer Non-Profit 501 © 3 Corporation www.medibolics.com www.facialwasting.org Click to subscribe to lipodystrophy "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelics. Persistence and determination are omnipotent." Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the US Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2002 Report Share Posted December 6, 2002 << True, but for many people, correction of sinus problems isn't the only answer. Even with clear, unobstructed sinuses they simply do not breathe through their nose while sleeping. >> My ENT doctor thinks that the back of my tongue is hitting the top of the palate. I first saw him for a snoring problem. I had an overnight sleep study which determined that I was waking up 79 times an hour. Now I'm trying an orthodontic mouthpiece called a Herbst device. Its two acrylic molds fit over my teeth and a steel piston rod pushes my jaw forward. In my week and a half of usage I've had two nights when I slept right through and woke up to the alarm. That hadn't happened in years, so maybe it's working. This week I started adding spacers to the rod. After I have my jaw out to the maximum I can tolerate I'll have another sleep study to determine the device's effectiveness. At first I was really angry that I have to deal with AIDS and this thing too. Now I've at least accepted the existence of this Draconian gadget. I plan to tough it out with full compliance until my next sleep study. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2002 Report Share Posted December 6, 2002 I was having sleeping problems too. Now I take 750mg of GABA and 2.5mg of melatonin when I'm in bed ready to sleep. That's a good strategy if it works for you. Unfortunately, even 50 mg leaves me spacey and hung over the next day. And I'm sure you know that "sleeping problems" correctable with GABA and melatonin are very different from and far less serious than sleep apnea for which positive pressure machines are prescribed by specialists on the basis of tests that indicate multiple interruptions of breathing during the night and can lead to major deterioration of health, consciousness, alertness behind the wheel, freedom from heart attacks, and so on. I know you know all this. I just wanted to underscore it for those who might not. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2002 Report Share Posted December 7, 2002 first saw him for a snoring problem. I had an overnight sleep study which determined that I was waking up 79 times an hour. Now I'm trying an orthodontic mouthpiece called a Herbst device. Its two acrylic molds fit over my teeth and a steel piston rod pushes my jaw forward. where do you get this? Thanks Vergel Program for Wellness Restoration, PoWeR An All Volunteer Non-Profit 501 © 3 Corporation www.medibolics.com www.facialwasting.org Click to subscribe to lipodystrophy "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelics. Persistence and determination are omnipotent." Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the US Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2002 Report Share Posted December 7, 2002 << where do you get this? Thanks >> The Herbst device is a mandibular advancement device. My ENT referred me to a DDS working at the Pain Clinic at Cedar Sinai in Los Angeles (20% of their business there is related to sleep apnea). He took molds of my upper and lower teeth and ordered the device. My next appointment is in three weeks but I'm looking for another dentist who works with this device. My current DDS is not a Blue Shield provider so I've had to pay $50-$60 dollars out of pocket for each visit (in addition to the $60 my insurance pays). My doc at Tower ID and my regular dentist are both searching for me, so hopefully I'll have some more names soon. Try this site for some good info. Joe http://www.munksgaard.dk/pdf/041pdf.nsf/all/10659140/$FILE/os106503.pdf << > I first saw him for a snoring problem. I had an overnight sleep study which > determined that I was waking up 79 times an hour. Now I'm trying an > orthodontic mouthpiece called a Herbst device. Its two acrylic molds fit > over my teeth and a steel piston rod pushes my jaw forward. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2002 Report Share Posted December 7, 2002 > > I was having sleeping problems too. Now I take 750mg of GABA and 2.5mg of > melatonin when I'm in bed ready to sleep. > This might help you to sleep but I don't see how it would help with sleep apnea. In fact, I think it could possibly cause the sleep apnea to harm you even more. The apneas would still be occurring just as often but you might not have as many arousals from it. It is these arousals that allow you to take in some deep breaths of air during the night. Your oxygen saturation levels during the night might go even lower than they normally would. It is the oxygen deprivation that causes sleep apnea to do the most long-term damage to your body. Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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