Sleep Apnea

[maxx58]

Back home I knew that I was a snorer but didn't think much about it. I retired and moved to Thailand to live with my g/f of 3 1/2 years. After about a month she started complaining about my snoring - even going so far as to sleep in another room. I promised her that I would go see a doctor about this.

I made an appointment to see a sleep specialist at Bumrungrad Hospital. The doctor suggested that I have a sleep study done to find out what was going on. I didn't know what to expect. I just thought that I snored, so what?. I was shocked when we discussed the results of the test. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, waking up over 100 times an hour! Serious stuff.

Anyway, I now sleep with a CPAP machine and a nasal pillow mask. I went from a guy that knew nothing about Obstructive Sleep Apnea to a guy who has done a lot of research on the subject.

The CPAP therapy has done wonders for me. I don't snore anymore, but more importantly I feel that my health has improved greatly. My sleep, my blood pressure, and other health issues have improved. My feeling of well being has greatly increased.

OSA is a condition that is rarely talked about and hardly ever suggested by regular doctors. If anyone has trouble with snoring, disturbed sleep, or tiredness during the day, please look into getting yourself checked out. It could save your life!

[thaiexpat21]

Sleep apnea is is often worsened by being overweight!

[maxx58]

True, but not always. I myself am in pretty good shape. I always thought that it happened only to obese individuals, but now I know that it is much broader than that.

[Amusements]

I came across an advertorial about snoring the other day, and they were pushing what looked like the bottom half of a Damart balaclava. I don't suppose you have heard of anything like that have you? I have a friend who snores like a hyperactive frog and was thinking of telling him about it.

[maxx58]

Snoring is usually a red flag for sleep apnea. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea and not everyone with sleep apnea snores. A sleep study is the best way to determine if a person has obstructive breathing while asleep, and also the severity of it. If it is mild to moderate a dental device could possibly alleviate the disorder, but if it is severe then using a CPAP machine and mask is considered the gold standard for treatment of sleep apnea.

[maxx58]

Restorative sleep is so crucially important to the health of the body, especially the organs like the brain and the heart. Think of what waking up 50- 100 times an hour (without realising it) does to the cardiovascular system. I never knew that my breathing was so erratic until I had the sleep study done and saw the measurements. I had actually stopped breathing numerous times for sometimes up to 60 seconds!

Thank god my brain kicked in and jolted me back into breathing. American Football Hall of Fame player Reggie White was not so lucky in that he died in his sleep from a heart attack due in part from his untreated sleep apnea.

I don't mean to preach, but if I can help one person who has no idea that he or she has this condition and get the treatment that can revitalise their life, then I will make the gods smile.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/Widow-of-NFL-legend-Reggie-White-promotes-awareness-of-sleep-disorders--133338453.html

[Ulysses G.]

I have it too and used to sleep about 20 hours a day without ever feeling rested. I really did not think a CPAP machine would help, but went back to feeling rested and normal sleep after the first time that I tried it.

Some people complain about having to sleep with a mask, but the benefits far outweigh any discomfort, IMO, Now, I can't sleep without it.

[dgarmaise]

I had my sleep test at Bumrungrad a few days ago. Severe obstructive sleep apea: that was the diagnosis. I am busy researching the topic on the internet. I am just about ready to order a machine (much cheaper online) but I am hoping there is some place in Pattaya or Bangkok where I can try on different masks. I hope I don't have to order the masks online, sight unseen (so to speak). I breathe through my mouth when I sleep, so I fear I may need the fuill face mask (ugh) or at least a nasal device plus a chin strap. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Bazt]

Had mine diagnosed back in 2000,

Even with cpap sleep was still disturbed and they had no idea what was causing it.Just said sorry we cannot help you.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[maxx58]

I ordered my machine, mask, extra filters, extra nasal pillows, and a chin strap online from the States. Yes, the cost is much cheaper, but the problem is shipping. I had ordered the items to be shipped to my Bangkok address (expensive). I received a notice in the mail requesting me to pick the items up at customs. I thought that since it was a medical device that I would not have to pay a customs fee - wrong. They did not know what to make of the CPAP machine so they made me go back to Bumrungrad and get a note from my sleep doctor in order for me to pay the 8% tax (7%VAT, 1% duty). Otherwise, I would have had to pay the hefty customs bill on my goods. Let me tell you it was a pain in the neck. Also, the online stores with the low prices are not covered by most insurance companies. I would have been better off buying the stuff in Thailand because my insurance company would have reimbursed me for most of the cost. Oh well, live and learn.

My CPAP machine is the DeVilbiss DV-54 Intellipap AutoAdjust with the SmartLink System. Excellent. I have the ResMed Swift FX Nasal Pillow mask, which I love. In the beginning I used a chinstrap but after a while I realised that I did better without it. I can't comment on a full face mask, as I know very little about them.

I have posted a couple of CPAP user forum links that will help educate you on everything pertaining to CPAP and masks. If I can help feel free to ask.

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/index.php

http://www.cpaptalk.com/CPAP-Sleep-Apnea-Forum.html

[Ulysses G.]

I had my sleep test at Bumrungrad a few days ago. Severe obstructive sleep apea: that was the diagnosis. I am busy researching the topic on the internet. I am just about ready to order a machine (much cheaper online) but I am hoping there is some place in Pattaya or Bangkok where I can try on different masks. I hope I don't have to order the masks online, sight unseen (so to speak). I breathe through my mouth when I sleep, so I fear I may need the fuill face mask (ugh) or at least a nasal device plus a chin strap. Any advice would be appreciated.

If you buy the machine in Thailand, they let you try it for a week or two and try different masks. I tried three different companies before deciding on a German model - the most expensive one. I have a deviated septum, so use a full face face mask and am perfectly happy with it after seeing how much better I feel.

Edited October 26, 2013 by Ulysses G.