Apnea Forum Posting

Posted by Laurie on May 13, 2000 at 23:30:43:

In Reply to: Re: CPAP Keeps me Awake posted by Scott in SD on May 13, 2000 at 21:31:50:

I have a pulmonologist for my sleep study doctor. I too had problems with the mask, noise, etc. for about two weeks. It's now been almost a month, and I'm still have problems, but they are minor annoyances. I am actually starting to feel healthy for the first time in over 20 years.

I also have severe allergies and asthma. I have been seeing an allergist and getting allergy shots once a week for almost 20 years and take a pill 2x daily, nasal spray 2x daily, 3 inhalers 2x daily, and 1 inhaler 4x daily. I have been on these medications (or similar ones like these) for over 18 years. I still have nasal congestion, drainage down my throat and wheeze--just not as severe or as often as if I didn't take the medications.

I also go to an ENT because I have had surgery three and six years ago on all 8 sinuses to remove polyps and drain my sinuses which are chronically infected. I also had a deviated septum which was fixed both times (but is messed up again since I broke my nose again). I have been on so many antibotics for so many years because of sinus and ear infections, pnemonia and bronchitis (sp) that antibotics no longer work on me.

I also have had a thyroid problem and took medication for that for years. Since I was diagnosed recently as borderline, I'm off the medication, but have to be tested every three months.

The point to all of this is that I have a lot of the same medical problems as you do and have had them and been treated for them long term--and I still have severe sleep apnea.

In your case it might help to be put on medication to clear up your sinuses and then have surgery. I've been a medication for years and had surgery twice now (not a UPPP, though), and I am probably going to need it again in the near future. What are you going to do while waiting for your sinuses to clear up? I hope you try the CPAP again--maybe with a different type of mask. You are going to have a long wait if you are not having surgery until the fall and the surgery may not do all you expect it to. My ENT wants me to have the UPPP done (self-serving?) the next time he fixes my septum and sinuses. My pulmonologist said to try all noninvasive avenues first because the surgery is not that effective in curing sleep apnea--only in reducing the amount of pressure needed on the CPAP.

I still think that using CPAP is one of the best things I have done for myself. I guess I adjusted better than you did to the CPAP (I have the same machine but I don't have a full face mask and I have a cold humidifier), but I am also bound and determined to make this work. I really don't want parts of the inside of my mouth removed or worse, a hole put in my throat unless all else fails. With all the problems of sinus infections, pneumonia, brochitis, etc., removing my uvula and palate (my tonsils were taken out when I was 3) is just going to aggrevate my sinuses more and make it worse--and I'll be even more prone to infections that can't be eradicated with antibotics.

You might want to talk to your doctor about what to do with your sleep apnea while you wait for the surgery. I hope you find something that works for you and best of luck to you.

Follow Ups:

• Re: CPAP Keeps me Awake Laurie 5/13/00 (5)
  • Re: CPAP Keeps me Awake Scott in SD 5/14/00 (4)
    • Re: CPAP Keeps me Awake Laurie 5/14/00 (3)
      • Re: CPAP Keeps me Awake Scott in SD 5/14/00 (2)
        • Re: CPAP Keeps me Awake Laurie 5/15/00 (0)
        • Re: CPAP Keeps me Awake Frank 5/15/00 (0)

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