Let's continue with some of the treatments for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We left off talking about continuous positive airway pressure, better known as CPAP. As we mentioned, CPAP, with the air pressure it pushes out, acts as an air splint to keep the airway from collapsing during sleep. ...
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CPAP Masks
Jo Eells
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 01:52 PMre: CPAP Masks
Curtincolorado
Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 11:40 AMJo Eells, have you tried to contact the manufactorer of your masks for advice? They may be able to help you. My first two masks were too small and I didn't know it until I contacted my CPAP home health care provider. They were kind enough to send someone to my home and try different masks while I was laying down with the CPAP machine turned on. We finally found a mask that didn't leak. Good luck and keep trying.
Regards,
Curt
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Untitled Comment
Sue
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 09:56 PMThanks so much for your post Dr Blaivas. This series of posts on Sleep Apnea has been really informative for our members. This one inparticular I hope sheds light for many.
I can see there is a post from Jo Eells who is not having a successful time of it at all. For those who just cannot use this machine and need another alternative, check out our treatment for sleep apnea section.
As well, read our material on sleep apnea to lean more or just refersh your understanding.
All the best, sue (moderator)
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About sleep and health
kadu
Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at 10:26 AMNice to meet you. I claim to be kadu.
I serve as a reference very interestingly.The article was very informative.
I am fortunate when I link.
<A href=http://mail.yahoo.co.jp/config/login?/"http://daily-health-idea.blogspot.com/">Health care for the disease and hygiene "disease, prevention, wisdom, hygiene"</A>
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long term cpap use
steve griffin
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 05:46 PMI am interested in side effects, if any of long term CPAP use. I have a BiPAP machine and have indeed experienced the throat irritation, nose bleeds (not often), and nasal congestion. Heated humidity helps but the throat irritation seems to be chronic and I cough during the night.
That said,
Some nights seem "right on" and I get good rest. Other nights it's like I didn't get enough air all night and wake up groggy with a headache. My machine is new. The titration is fine and checked within the past year. I've been losing weight (40+ lbs so far) recently but wonder if I will ever not need a machine...or because of the long term use, I'm just dependent on it. How would I ever know that I don't need it any more?
I've been using CPAP for 8-9 years now. I find I can not sleep without it--either naps, dozing in the chair, as a car passenger (though a power inverter allows me to use the machine in the car now just fine). It gets ugly when the electric goes out during ice storms, high winds, etc. Am I now dependent on this machine to sleep forever?
Are there any long term effects like breathing changes (lung atrophy), damage to throat due to constant irritation, etc.?
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Still having low blood oxygen levels despite being on BiPAP
Curtincolorado
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 04:45 PMI've been on BiPAP for about four months. Last week I took an overnight blood oxygen level test. The results show that for two 30 - 45 minute periods my blood O2 levels dropped into the low 80s and even the mid 70s for a few minutes. Is this dangerous? What are the potential health risks for low blood O2? Could this explain why I am still tired?
replyre: Still having low blood oxygen levels despite being on BiPAP
Curtincolorado
Monday, September 29, 2008 at 11:33 AMPatricia, I don't know the answer to your question. I'm trying to find out myself what is safe and what is not. I can't find a straight answer. I've researched the web and still can't find anything definitive.
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