Question: What can be done for sleep apnea if I can't tolerate CPAP devices?
Dr. Hibberd's Answer:
Sleep apnea is a serious condition, so you should follow your doctor's advice on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) usage. There are some great new CPAP devices that have improved fitting. You can see them at your regional medical supplier's offices.
Try the nasal devices if the flow needed is not too high, or perhaps dental devices may allow some modification of your CPAP prescription that will make it more acceptable to you. In any event, CPAP is a lifesaver, so you definitely need to be aggressive to find a suitable combination for your own sake and for the sake of your family and loved ones.
If your ENT/oral surgeon feels a dental appliance will help, then go ahead and start using it. Monitor for changes using an overnight sleep apnea screening device such as the one distributed through Watermark Medical. Then you can make sensible decisions at a reasonable cost without having to go through the entire sleep lab process again.
Avoid guesswork since your life may depend upon it. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with sudden cardiac death and arrhythmias that may provide you no advance warning. Do not become a statistic.
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