I was hesitant to admit and even more hesitant to believe in this c-pap medical device, I knew I snored, my wife would tell me I made weird noises as I selpt and during our trip up north in January my room mate told me I had sounded like I was gasping for air as I slept. I actually went to and evaluation by a sleep specialist last year but told her no matter what the test showed there was no way I could wear a mask or sleep next to a machine as I slept so I cancelled the appointment. Long story short I was in and out of the ER a couple times and they had urged me to have a study done as my oxygen levels would drop as low as 64%. So I made the appointment and had the study done. About an hour and a half in I had surpassed the threshold for c-pap, in fact I had stopped breathing 49 times in one hour. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and prescribed a bi-pap machine which is slightly different than a c-pap the way it operates. I am 2 nights in so far, the first night my score was 73, last night it was 100 with 2 apnea events all night and 7 hours of sleep which before the machine for me was unheard of. It is truly incredible how much better I feel in the morning, how my energy level is compared to before the machine. My pressure settings are quite high and I thought there would be no way I could sleep with the mask and the amount of pressure that was being introduced into my airways. WAS I WRONG! only 2 nights in and the difference it has made in how I feel is nothing short of incredible. My wife told me this morning she is sleeping better as well because I am not constantly waking up. I'm writing this to change anyone's mind who may think this is medical quackery, and yes maybe it will work for some and not others but I'm telling you if you haven't tried it due to skepticism..... TRY IT!
Not medical quackery...so far
- Thread starter euphoric1
- Start date
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Well-known member
Very nice overview
I have not heard of Bi Pap.
Riding bud has used a C Pap machine for quite a few years. It has been a game changer for him. I don't ask a lot of questions, but I know the benefits are beyond just plain sleeping better.
What I do see is noticeable. We normally base out of a cabin with multiple bedrooms. The snoring would shake the walls before he started using a machine. (Not sure how his wife slept next to him?) He was always tired. I mean really tired. Guy would nod off sitting on his seat at trailside pitstops. I don't know how it could be related, but eating was different for him too. We had to stop for food often back in those days. Managing blood pressure was always a problem. I was honestly quite concerned about his health.
The sleep helper, or whatever you want to call it, has changed his life. It probably affects people around him too.
I'm not even sure if he snores with the machine. I don't hear anything. I will note that overnight trips are still the wall rockers because his machine doesn't travel on the sled.
We certainly do more miles without all the pit stops. That side is kinda surprising. I remember one ride this winter where we just plain kept riding, got back with about 300 miles on the clicker. He mentioned that it was time to eat and we both laughed. We hadn't stopped all day. He has said that the blood pressure is easier to manage. I don't know if that is because of sleep or other combined factors. I know that he seems to be in better health. Granted, that isn't much of an assessment, but it's noticeable.
I have not heard of Bi Pap.
Riding bud has used a C Pap machine for quite a few years. It has been a game changer for him. I don't ask a lot of questions, but I know the benefits are beyond just plain sleeping better.
What I do see is noticeable. We normally base out of a cabin with multiple bedrooms. The snoring would shake the walls before he started using a machine. (Not sure how his wife slept next to him?) He was always tired. I mean really tired. Guy would nod off sitting on his seat at trailside pitstops. I don't know how it could be related, but eating was different for him too. We had to stop for food often back in those days. Managing blood pressure was always a problem. I was honestly quite concerned about his health.
The sleep helper, or whatever you want to call it, has changed his life. It probably affects people around him too.
I'm not even sure if he snores with the machine. I don't hear anything. I will note that overnight trips are still the wall rockers because his machine doesn't travel on the sled.We certainly do more miles without all the pit stops. That side is kinda surprising. I remember one ride this winter where we just plain kept riding, got back with about 300 miles on the clicker. He mentioned that it was time to eat and we both laughed. We hadn't stopped all day. He has said that the blood pressure is easier to manage. I don't know if that is because of sleep or other combined factors. I know that he seems to be in better health. Granted, that isn't much of an assessment, but it's noticeable.
mezz
Well-known member
I've been a CPAP user for the past 2 years plus. Like euphoric1 I was very skeptical as well as felt I would not be able to sleep with a mask on my face. I too had many events per hour, now down to very few. It does make a huge difference, I wish I would have done something sooner. I am the only one in my family with this issue, go figure. I still have my tonsils, which are quite large as I had a lot of strep throat as a kid, perhaps that is part of the cause, not sure. All I know is I have snored like a freight train forever & never would have thought it was such an issue, but it is, and I am glad that I went through the sleep study.
dfattack
Well-known member
My son (who you know) says the exact same thing. He went for the sleep study and same results. Didn't need the machine but whatever was the recommendation he followed and felt sooo much better in the morning. He keeps saying I should go. I will after I lose weight if I still snore. Good job for going Brian. Enjoy your nice sleep. I'm sure your wife is a happy camper.
ddhanna
Active member
Insurance covered it for me.
I cannot describe how much it has changed things for me, To start with.... I sleep, I can sleep 7 hours without moving, I used to have to get up and use the bathroom 4 sometimes more a night, now.... not at all. I feel rested in the morning and throughout the day, its about a 15 minute ride to my shop and if the wife was driving I could easily fall asleep again on way in the morning. actually any car ride that was extended after a bit I would be out for the count, energy levels are back. I was very skeptic an thought I could never sleep with something strapped to my face but BOY WAS I WRONG!!! I have gone from 49 apnea events ( or basically stopped breathing ) 49 times in one hour to between 1 to 3 times an hour according to my daily sleep report. During my study it was 49 TIMES AN HOUR!!!.... I would have had no idea and makes you wonder why I wasn't looking at the dirt side of the sod yet. The sleep study was a real wake up call and so are the treatment results.
Good to hear on your health now! Wow, that's crazy.
My dad has used a cpap for at least 15 years now. Back when we shared a hotel room during trips before he had it, it was god awful. He kept me up the whole night with his snoring. I can't believe my mom shared the same bed with that snoring...
He does need to take it with him during his saddlebag trips though. One more thing to bring...but worth it!
My dad has used a cpap for at least 15 years now. Back when we shared a hotel room during trips before he had it, it was god awful. He kept me up the whole night with his snoring. I can't believe my mom shared the same bed with that snoring...
He does need to take it with him during his saddlebag trips though. One more thing to bring...but worth it!
My main reason for this post is for anyone who knows they have sleep apnea or may suspect they have, and watch the commercials with the cumbersome mask or nose pillows just like I did and think "no fricking way" or think it is some kind of medical quackery, I'm telling you as probably one of the biggest doubters of the c/bi-pap science...its REAL and its incredible what it will change in your life and how much is actually related to sleep apnea. I denied it for a long time and at one time sat with a sleep study doctor and told her we can do the test but if I would have to wear a mask...its not going to happen and cancelled the test. SLEEP APNEA KILLS!!! not to mention all the other things you would have never realized its related to. So to all my fellow John Dee friends (and that's ALL OF YOU) if you know you have or suspect you do...HAVE THE STUDY DONE and accept the treatment, you wont be sorry you did.
mezz
Well-known member
Like I stated previously, I never could have imagined having "sleep apnea" much less severe sleep apnea. For as many times as I have stopped breathing over the years, I really shouldn't be here right now. I use to be a night owl, which I felt was the reason I wasn't full of energy in the morning, been that way since I was a child. I have also snored horribly forever, so never gave it a second thought. I wish I would have known about it sooner as I am glad that I did once directed to the sleep study, it has made a huge difference in my quality of sleep. As Brian said, this issue unaddressed kills. I am still not a big fan of the mask, but, the result is worth it.
I had a sleep study 6 hours..9,000.00 they charged my ins.
Got a cpap machine. Tried my best for two months.
I tried every mask and nose thing they had...no go. Went to Advent Nose in Appleton, had nose and sinus surgery paid by ins.
No cpap all good.
If there is something wrong with yer shnose. A cpap won't fix it. The big box hospitals just want you on a cpap so they can Rape your ins.
Got a cpap machine. Tried my best for two months.
I tried every mask and nose thing they had...no go. Went to Advent Nose in Appleton, had nose and sinus surgery paid by ins.
No cpap all good.
If there is something wrong with yer shnose. A cpap won't fix it. The big box hospitals just want you on a cpap so they can Rape your ins.
A c-pap machine is not for everyone and for those that successfully can use it that's great. I did a sleep study and was recommend a machine. We tried the mask, pillows, you name I tried it, didn't even make it a week and was done with it, felt like I was suffocating. I'm also a person who cannot wear a full face helmet, been wear moto/sno x/open face since the late 60's. Haven't had tonsils since I was 7 YO if that matters. I now have an adjustable bed in which at night I recline the head part up a little bit. Does it help, I don't know but my wife says she doesn't hear me snore. I also have a pacemaker if that makes a difference. If I was to do anything, I would go see a ear, nose and throat doctor first before trying a c-pap machine again.
How do the hospitals get to your insurance? Is it a monthly rental fee or what and can't you just buy one with a prescription?
They were charging my ins. 560.00 a month for he cpap
After 2 years the machine would be mine.
The machine is hooked up to the internet..you are required to use it alarm free for 5 hours a night.
If you fail to do so, insurance won't pay and they start sending you the bill. That's when I sent the chitt back, and went and got my sinus surgery.
I have friends that love their machine..It didn't work for me.
After 2 years the machine would be mine.
The machine is hooked up to the internet..you are required to use it alarm free for 5 hours a night.
If you fail to do so, insurance won't pay and they start sending you the bill. That's when I sent the chitt back, and went and got my sinus surgery.
I have friends that love their machine..It didn't work for me.
Yep... You had to use it for a certain amount of hours nightly (5 hours sounds about right) to get credit for the night. During a 30 day period you had to have a certain % (either 60% or 80%) of qualifying days or else your insurance will not pay for it. I turned it in way before the 30 day period. They tried a lot of different things remotely, like increasing the pressure, adjusting this, adjusting that and I still couldn't use it. They would say you need to relax. How can I relax when if feel like I'm suffocating.
I should add that the sound of the machine drove my wife nuts.
Like I said for those who can use it, great but it's not for everyone
ddhanna
Active member
Hospitals have nothing to do with providing CPAPS. Typically, your monthly rental fees are simply the cost of the new CPAP machine divided by the number of months in the rental period. So, for example, if you chose a $1000 machine with a 10 month rental, your monthly cost would be $100 (plus any applicable taxes). Then you own it. They use cellular (not internet) to send your data to the Mfgr so you can see day to day performance via all sorts of reports. There is no insurance requirement to use it. They can't access your data and don't really care. I couldn't live without it.
I have a bi-pap machine with a heated hose and humidifier, it costs me right around $100/mo for rent and its mine after 1 year, I was told I have to use it for at least 4 hours a night and 21 days a month to be eligible for insurance coverage, It is connected through wifi, that way I can see on my app how my night was and im sure so my doctor can see for their purposes in case any adjustments or changes might have to be made. I would agree, the mask is probably not for everyone and I for one would have never thought for me. No matter what form of treatment you choose I find it crazy how much my sleep apnea affected me and my body, the treatment certainly has changed my life, and if the other forms of treatment give the same results....it will be well worth it.