I had the reverse happen to me. Since my teens, I had been lethargic and constantly tired. I could sleep for 9 to 10 hours a day and still be exhausted. I'd nap if I could. Throughout the day, I'd just feel constantly tired, even in the morning.
At the prodding of my wife, I saw a physician about it and got a sleep study done. I found I out had obstructive sleep apnea. They put me on a CPAP device.
I remember the first time waking up after using it. I felt like a new person, like I was a walking zombie who got a second chance at life. It's been a year since I started using it, and it's hard for me to imagine how I survived previously without that CPAP device. Life has become so much easier. I feel smarter, because I have the ability to focus my attention much longer, participate in conversations more easily, and not be so easily confused during meetings. When you're just a bit smarter, it has compounding effects on your life.
The worst thing about this, was that since my tiredness was so chronic, and since I had never experienced being totally rejuvenated, I never thought I had a sleeping problem. I just attributed to being an immutable property of who I am, or my physical body, and never something that could be corrected.
Several posts here about the marvelous CPAP machine, but I've never known anyone who used a CPAP to any benefit.
They take them off during the night, the mask comes undone when they roll over, etc. Like those mobility carts advertised on late-night TV for obese/walk-impaired people, the CPAP appears to be primarily another profit centre for manufacturers who feed on the Medicare/Medicaid, welfare and insurance systems.
Meanwhile there's no question that the problem is real. But more direct solutions are better: take learn how to breathe deeply, exercise, lose weight (most people on CPAP are obese), eat better, take vitamins (E, B12 and iron, aid oxygen transport), drink coffee!
This is a terrible advice. If you have a problem please see a doctor, do not try squashing it with caffeine. If CPAP is not working ask about other treatments - dental appliances, various surgeries, ask the doctor. Weight loss is the only sensible advice from the above post, however losing weight is impossibly hard when you're low on oxygen. Start breahing first, then lose weight.
"I've never known anyone who used ..." Sounds extremely anecdotal to me. I can assure you that the CPAP for me does marvelous things. My brother uses it, and he is extremely fit and lean.
I would not espouse such opinions without first finding some scientific literature to back up your claims. My device has cost me only 1500, and the returns on increasing my quality of life is well worth it.
I run CPAP.com and CPAPtalk.com. I want to tell you that this treatment can and does work.
The things I tell you here are things I've told my parents in law, family members and friends whom I love, have been effective and are living healthier now due to CPAP.
The very first thing to know is that when you have Sleep Apnea, your airway closes during night and you can not get oxygen. Your body much choose to either breathe to wake. It chooses to wake many times a night which prevents restorative sleep. This physical reality and the bodies reaction to it can not be fixed by learning to breathe deeply. While weight loss can help, many in shape people are also affected simply due to their particular airway anatomy. Drinking coffee to offset these systems is akin to extreme overclocking of computer - eventually you will burn it out. In this case, what burns out is your heart or your veins.
In insurance coding, every CPAP is coded E0601. Say you went to a car lot and the sales person would be paid by a third party the same amount of money no matter what car you received. Say they also knew you needed a car. This is how the "CPAP through insurance" system works today. There is no incentive to provide high end equipment, though it exists, works far better than basic equipment and "makes CPAP work".
CPAP.com is different than traditional providers. We do not accept insurance of any kind. We accept cash in exchange for equipment. This allows us to do several things that traditional providers can't:
1. We carry all equipment, not just one line of bargin basement stuff. There is high end equipment only available on the internet. There are very affordable $179 CPAPs that fit in your hand available. There are travel solar panel systems for CPAPs the size of your hand coming out. There are very low profile, light weight, well sealing CPAP masks available today. We post all reviews given on the equipment. No filters, no censoring, the straight story on user experience. We also post sales data as percentages that update weekly and publish it in aggregate and to each product page. In this way, you can see what "the market" for CPAP chooses, compare that to your needs and make an informed choice.
2. We answer the phones and we know of what we speak. Once your insurance is billed, there are codes for follow up services. That means every call you place to a provider after billing is an expense.
3. We have incentive to solve your problem. You are the customer, not the insurance company. Why would you put your cash on the barrel instead of just paying with your insurance card? We have to hustle to earn you business. We have to solve your problem remotely and immediately. We can and do. We are laser focused on solving your problem - not billing your insurance, not pandering to your doctors, not pleasing Medicare. You are the center of our world.
I've got a lot more to say about why we are different, but I will wrap the sales pitch.
Go visit www.cpaptalk.com. CPAP.com built it but doesn't advertise on it. No advertising is accepted. CPAP users there are free to speak with each other without filter or interference. It is the place to get uncensored answers from real people who have made CPAP work for me and can make it work for you.
Our CSR Manager is Elizabeth Vollmer and you can reach her at 1-800-356-356-5221 x216 or elizabeth.vollmer at cpap dc. Tell her you read the HN post.
You can reach me at 832-413-2462 or johnny at cpap dc, it rings cell or office. After hours, whatever - I will answer and do my level best to help.
On CPAPtalk, a lady with the handle of RestedGal is a legend and saint. I bet she's up to 5,000 people directly using CPAP because of her efforts. If you want to keep it internet private instead of calling, register and private message her.
Core message: CPAP works. We believe it in because CPAP.com's business is turning CPAP through insurance refugees into happy CPAP users, because we see it work on CPAPtalk and because we care about the treatment and you.
While the conclusions of this comment are wrong, it is true that many people have a very hard time using breathing machines. This is compounded by the cognitive problems they get when the sleep apnea is not treated, so that fixing the problem is very hard.
The solution is to get help and keep trying. There are humidifiers if your nose gets dried out, and many styles of masks and machines.
At the prodding of my wife, I saw a physician about it and got a sleep study done. I found I out had obstructive sleep apnea. They put me on a CPAP device.
I remember the first time waking up after using it. I felt like a new person, like I was a walking zombie who got a second chance at life. It's been a year since I started using it, and it's hard for me to imagine how I survived previously without that CPAP device. Life has become so much easier. I feel smarter, because I have the ability to focus my attention much longer, participate in conversations more easily, and not be so easily confused during meetings. When you're just a bit smarter, it has compounding effects on your life.
The worst thing about this, was that since my tiredness was so chronic, and since I had never experienced being totally rejuvenated, I never thought I had a sleeping problem. I just attributed to being an immutable property of who I am, or my physical body, and never something that could be corrected.