# Sleep Apnea - Help! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2001, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326 "2001-01-16T15:18:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/21 "2001-01-16T19:46:08Z")
I have to wonder… if he didn’t have any of those symptoms, what made you get a sleep test done? ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/22 "2001-01-16T19:52:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enright3 \* > \*\*I have to wonder… if he didn’t have any of those symptoms, what made you get a sleep test done? \*\* Because I haven’t been able to sleep with him for well nigh to three months because the snoring is so loud that it wakes me from death. i asked him to take a sleep test for my birthday to see if anything could be done. jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/23 "2001-01-16T20:11:13Z")
I’m not sure if he’s lucky or not. He doesn’t have the classic sign of sleep apnea (being tired). Day after day, without end, being so tired you can’t concentrate on anything. It’s horrible. The tiredness comes from waking up hundred (or thousands) of times a night to gasp for breath. Snoring alone shouldn’t make you sleepy. Regardless, I wish you luck. ---
**Author:** ![RufusLeaking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c5a1d2/32.png) [@RufusLeaking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RufusLeaking)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/24 "2001-01-22T17:56:37Z")
I just discovered that because I use a CPAP machine to treat my sleep apnea I am eligible for a discount on my electric bill. PG&E has a Standard Medical Baseline Quantity of 500 Kilowatt-hours that will be billed at a lower rate than the rest of the electric bill. The CPAP machine qualifies because it is a medically necessary device that uses electricity. Everyone who uses a CPAP machine should check to see if their utility offers a similar discount. Jarbaby - I hope you’re feeling better about your husband’s use of the CPAP machine. I think your initial shock and depression was because when the CPAP mask is in place there is a subconcous association with being on life support in an intensive care unit. Nothing could be further than the truth. Once everything is sorted out (which may take some time and effort), using a CPAP machine should be no more intrusive than having to wear glasses. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/25 "2001-01-22T22:51:42Z")
jarbabyj, look at it this way. Apnea is indeed _life-threatening._ If your husband doesn’t at least give this machine a try, you may not have your _husband_ to lug around anymore. Yeah, it looks weird. But as for late-night romance, well, the machine isn’t stitched to his face. It does come off. I’d give the machine a shot. Most insurances do cover it, and they cover any tweaking or repair that needs to be done to it as well. My husband had a sleep study done at my insistence after we got married and I got him on my health insurance (he’s a self-employed musician). He stopped breathing _over 100 times during a 4-hour period._ He’s been on this machine for about 4 years now, and as long as he’s wearing it, he doesn’t snore. He doesn’t want the surgery, because he sings for a living, and the doctors are pretty sure that the surgery _he’ll_ need will change the tone of his voice. Me? I don’t care. I’d rather have a live, non-singing husband than a dead one. A change in his voice won’t bother me–he can still play his guitar. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/26 "2001-01-22T23:37:17Z")
> [@](#): > > I think that sleep apnea treatment is a little odd in that doctors tend to suggest the most costly and invasive treatments first. Not by a longshot. The most costly and invasive treatment is a uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or a UP3 for short. It is basically a surgery in which they cut all the extraneous tissue out of your pharynx, including your uvula. It’s a relatively minor procedure, but it is quite painful for some time thereafter and, as Persephone pointed out, it can change one’s voice. (Probably not enough for Joe Average, but a big problem if you’re a musician.) The other downside is that it only really helps about half the people that get it. The upside? No CPAP machine. A UP3 is more likely to help you if you’re under 50 and not overweight. It might be worth looking into, if the CPAP is really that much of a problem. The dental device you mention is still fairly uncommon. For now, CPAP is the standard of care, because it is less invasive than the UP3 and because it works. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![Peta\_Tzunami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@Peta\_Tzunami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peta_Tzunami)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/27 "2001-01-23T02:26:56Z")
Don’t know if they’ll be of much help, but I came across these websites investigating my own snoring issues, which seem to have started with vigor about a year ago. [Snoring-Help.com](http://www.snoring-help.com/index.html) (Granted, they’re selling stuff, but base information was interesting.) [Associates in Otolaryngology](http://www.entdr.com/) has a section on snoring that mentions apnea. I truly hope you find the answers and aid you can both live with…we’re still researching the causes and possible solutions to my problem. ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/28 "2001-01-23T02:47:45Z")
My father suffers from sleep apnea brought on by excess weight and a low hanging palate. He lost some weight (not nearly enough, IMHO, but the doctor said all was good) and had the laser surgery that was supposed to correct the palate problem. It did little good and caused him some pain for a few weeks. He now uses a CPAP machine, which has been a godsend. He once snored so loudly that the neighbors complained, and his breathing was disrupted dozens of times a night. The apena was so disruptive to his rest patterns that he walked around in what I would describe as a semi-narcoleptic state. Yes, I know that narcolepsy is a totally unrelated condition, but he would drop off to sleep at any time…while walking, while driving, while eating. Now that the CPAP is part of his nightly routine, I don’t think he’d ever go back. He sleeps, and the rest of us aren’t kept awake by snores that sound like trucks shifting on the highway. There are some drawbacks, of course. My mother, whose father died of emphysema with an oxygen mask in place, can no longer bear to sleep in the same room with him. When dad travels on an airplane, the CPAP automatically takes up one of his carryon slots. Finding an outlet for it in hotel rooms can be a challenge. And you’re right…it’s ugly as sin. My advice would be to do what my dad did: rent the machine for a few weeks and see how things go. If it improves your quality of life enough, perhaps it’s worth the tradeoff. If not, there are alternatives to investigate. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/29 "2001-01-23T02:56:45Z")
Rufus: I didn’t have time to respond to your last post about the discount on the utility. I don’t know if we have that here, but it’s the first time I’ve heard about. I am most definitely going to be looking in to that, and thanks so much for the tip! ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc8723/32.png) [@Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Lord_Davidson)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/30 "2001-01-23T03:35:47Z")
In 1994 my father (who is going to turn 49 this year) was diagnosed with sleep apnea. His sleep apnea test showed he woke up as many as 60 times an hour. He received his CPAP. The motor itself is attached to a water reservoir, so the air entering his body through is nose is moistened. I’ve heard stories of people who don’t have this reservoir getting awfully dry nose-throat conditions and severe nosebleeds, as someone mentioned above. Since getting it, he’s been able to rest well at night, and is no longer in danger from dying due to sleep apnea itself, or from falling asleep at the wheel on his way home from work and slamming into the guardrail (which is what prompted him to see a specialist as to why he was tired all the time). The CPAP makes a muted hum, and is not invasive in the least. We’re all used to it now, and really only my mom has to put up with the noise. It’s a really positive alternative to losing someone who cannot breathe while they sleep, trust me. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/31 "2001-01-23T15:11:54Z")
For all of the great responses here. As is the craziness of medical profession, the CPAP machine has been taken AWAY from my husband while our insurance decides whether or not it’s necessary. Much paperwork and referrals are still needed, so for now…I’m sleeping on the couch. 🙂 I had him read a lot of these posts and he found them very helpful and inspiring, as well as funny. As a side note he said, “boy, the people on that message board are smart, aren’t they?” WELL OF COURSE! jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/32 "2001-01-23T23:39:12Z")
> [@](#): > > As is the craziness of medical profession, the CPAP machine has been taken AWAY from my husband while our insurance decides whether or not it’s necessary. jarbabyj, if the insurance company decides it’s _not_ necessary, fight them, and fight them _hard._ My insurance company had no problem at all paying for my husband’s machine, because apnea is, in fact, a life-threatening disorder, and the doctor told them that. They never argued it at all. Also, if your husband starts snoring again while he’s wearing the machine, _do not be alarmed._ Just call the doctor, and tell him that the machine probably needs to be readjusted. A LOT of factors come in to play when it comes to apnea, and a lot of things can affect how well the machine functions. Weight gain/loss, certain medications (anti-depressants, for one), and aging (on the part of your husband) will make changes in the body, and may reduce the effectiveness of the CPAP. But a little tweaking of the CPAP either by the doctor that prescribed it or the company that supplied it will get things running smoothly again. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/33 "2001-01-24T19:50:50Z")
Couple of questions… I have often wondered if my husband has sleep apnea. He snores so loud, the kids can hear him…it will wake them up, from down the hall and through their closed doors. He’s driven me to the sofa many nights, and I can still hear him. He will sometimes gasp and breathe strangely. Sometimes he will be very quiet, and just when I wonder if he has stopped breathing, he takes this huge gasping breath and starts snoring again. But…he only does it on his back. If I can get him to roll over on his side, he’s okay. The snoring stops. Is that apnea? He doesn’t complain of being tired during the day, but on weekends, he will take naps and say he’s tired. It’s hard enough to get him to the doctor when he’s sick, I have no idea how to get him to a sleep clinic. I know there is probably NO WAY I could get him to wear a machine to sleep in. Any suggestions? He has an appointment for a checkup in February. Would it be really rotten of me to call the doctor that morning and tell him what I suspect? ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/34 "2001-01-24T19:59:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kinsey \* > > It’s hard enough to get him to the doctor when he’s sick, I have no idea how to get him to a sleep clinic. I know there is probably NO WAY I could get him to wear a machine to sleep in. > Any suggestions? > He has an appointment for a checkup in February. Would it be really rotten of me to call the doctor that morning and tell him what I suspect? \*\* Hey Kinsey, I don’t know where you live, but here in Chicago, our hospital (Illinois Masonic) told us that they almost ALWAYS do sleep studies at home, it’s easier, the patient gets a better night’s sleep and they feel more comfortable. As for getting him to do the sleep study, you could try my route. I guilted him into it by saying that all he had to do for my birthday was: “do something about your snoring” So, he saved some money, too. 🙂 jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/35 "2001-01-25T03:01:33Z")
I think to qualify as apnea you have to go more than 20 seconds without breathing. As mentioned, apnea is different than snoring. ironically, the triad of nasal polyps (associated with snoring), asthma and aspirin hypersensitivity seem to go hand in hand. There is also a distinction between central (brainstem) and obstructive (e…g obesity, palate, uvula, polyp) sleep apnea. ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326/36 "2001-01-25T16:14:14Z")
Another CPAP user weighing in here. I’ve been on it for nearly two years and Mrs. HTB and I are fully used to it. With a 6 foot hose, it sits on the floor by the side of the bed and the hose runs under the bed and comes up where the headboard would be if we had one. I find that I can sleep comfortably on my back or turned to my right. (If I turn to my left, cold air from the outlet blows on the Mrs.) The noise is a small hum and hardly noticable. BTW, mine came with a suggested humidifier which I would not be without. Air from the machine passes through a water reservoir located in a custom stand that fits right under the machine. I need to add distilled water to it about every third day. (A gallon costs 99 cents at the local grocery and will last me for 5 or 6 weeks) If I let the water level get too low then the air passing into my nose gets too dry and I notice. One possiblity that you might look into would be the use of “nasal pillows” instead of a mask. The folks at the medical supply store suggested that alternative because I wear a moustache and they were concerned that the mask wouldn’t seal properly in that area. This alternative system features a small piece of plastic pipe that comes down from the tube that fits over the top of my head from behind. The pipe fits into a small device that holds two small soft rubber bellows-like gizmos that fit comfortably into the end of my nostrils. Apparently some people who have claustrophobic tendencies prefer this style. As far as travel, I’ve been to 8 or 10 motels or hotels since acquiring my CPAP machine and have yet to find a room that didn’t have a convenient outlet. I do carry a small extension cord just in case, but most often I am able to unplug a lamp or clock radio from a nightstand and use that outlet. The local hospital (which has a sleep lab, spearheaded by a popular local internist) provides free meeting space and support (mailings and such) for a local sleep apnea support group. At one of our meetings, a lady who has been on CPAP for some years says she camps out frequently and brings a large motorcycle battery and an inverter, which she claims powers her machine for up to 3 nights, FWIW. I should also point out that there is a continuum of severity of sleep apnea. At the low end is annoying snoring, while at the upper end, it’s life-threatening. Good idea to have your machine checked from time to time to make sure it’s holding at the right pressure, BTW. Mine is fairly moderate at 11 pounds, but I make sure that my family all know it in case I’m incapacitated. Some of the folks at the scary end of the spectrum wear a medalert bracelet that notifies hospital employees that they have apnea and lists the proper pressure. This can have consequences for any surgery as well - if you’re going to have any elective stuff done, be sure and tell the anesthetist (sp?). Sorry to go on so, but you should know that after a short while, what is initially a little ridiculous-feeling or awkward becomes not only second nature but highly beneficiary. I get by on much less sleep, feel rested and refreshed and have a much higher productivity during the day. And as for the cuddling part, it’s one of the favorite times of the day, before putting on my device. Good luck [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-apnea-help/50326.md?page=1)