Posted by Sandman on February 16, 2009 at 11:06:55:In Reply to: Re: Are you ever cured of Sleep Apnoes posted by gingernuts on February 16, 2009 at 05:47:04:
You should use some tape to keep the oximeter probe on. Just apply it at the bottom so the tape will be sticking to your skin and the probe. Don't put the tape around your finger where it could cut off blood supply, just along the finger from the probe.
I noticed in your original question you asked how long before sleepiness comes back after discontinuing cpap. Good question, not a simple answer but I will give it my best shot.
When you first start cpap there is a lot of edema in the throat due to the struggle to breath (contraction and expansion of the airway). If snoring is involved the vibration over time will cause swelling.
When you are put on CPAP the edema will subside at a rate that varies from person to person depending on the severity of their OSA and other factors.
If all the edema is gone and a person, who had moderate sleep apnea, went a night without using it, the following day they would not feel nearly as sleepy (if at all) as they did prior to cpap. This is due to 2 or more factors. One, you do not have a huge sleep debt built up from months of sleep deprivation. Second, without the edema your RDI would be a lower (again this will vary from person to person). After several nights the edema will build back up and the severity of OSA will return to its pre-CPAP treatment rate and your sleep debt will build up and severe sleepiness returns.
Hope this isn't the case for you.
Best wishes,
SandmanDisclaimer, I am not an MD and my opinions should not be taken as medical advice. If you feel that you need assistance with medications and/or diagnosis, you should seek medical advice from a qualified physician.
- Re: Are you ever cured of Sleep Apnoes gingernuts 11:25 2/16/09 (0)