While I was under sedation during my dental visit, the dentist discovered that I have sleep apnea.
How does one go about being tested to discover which type it is?
What are the most common treatments for the different typesof sleep apnea?
How does one go to see a sleep specialist without it costing an arm and a leg? Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
My wife had a "Sleep Study" where they hook up monitoring equipment and watch you sleep. She had it Monday so we won't know the result for a few more days.
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
My dad has had it for many years. Yeah, a "sleep test" is in order. You go into a clinic and sleep there while they monitor you.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I could be wrong in this, but I believe that weight can play a role in sleep apnea. I know that when I was heavier I snored when sleeping (much to Christine's dismay), and exhibited some of the potential side effects of sleep apnea. I expect that I had it.
Now that I've lost the weight, though, I no longer snore, and generally sleep better and wake feeling more rested.
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
The problem is that I don't have insurance or a primary care physician. Normally when I need to see a doctor, I go to a local urgent care clinic.
The cost oh a sleep study would most likely have to be paid for out of pocket. Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Hey, my uncle uses a CPAP. We used to run from him screaming "It's Darth Vader!" It's a bit noisy so anyone sleeping near you might be bothered, but it's a lot less annoying that the apnea itself.
Imagine, laying in bed listening to your loved one stop breathing for a while, and being seconds from jarring them awake, when they finally snort in a breath and roll over. It can be disturbing.
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
CT, I would be interested in talking to your husband about his experiences with sleep apnea as well as CPAP. If he doesn't want to post in this thread, my email address is in my proile. Just have him identify himself in the email so i don't think he's trying to sell me something.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
PSI--been there, done that. It can be very dangerous. Then again, anytime I try to wake up my wife I take my life in my hands.
[ August 13, 2004, 01:07 PM: Message edited by: Dan_raven ]
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
CT, I'm 38 and live at home with my mom. I make $5.35 an hour at a drive in theater and am on track to make just under $6000 this year.
Shortly after I got the job, I applied for AHCCCS, which is Arizona's mealth insurance for those who can't afford health insurance. They said I made too much money. Even if I applied again and got accepted, wouldn't the sleep apnea be a pre-existing condition?
CT, I know how you feel about the health care system in this country. I feel exactly the same way.
It looks like I'll have to find a physician, pay the $60 to $80 for an office visit, then pay the $300 for a sleep study.
By the way, how much does a CPAP cost? Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
I just found out that the dentist gave me a refferal to a local sleep clinic. I didn't know this until just now. After the appointment, I was totally out of it.
At least that part of it's taken care of. Now i just need to make an appointment and come up with $300.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
CT? I wonder if it's different if you are single. For our household, the income limit is $565 per person. Maybe it went up and I don't know it. That's not a bad thing, anyway.
Oh, and the CPAP I'm talking about it gentle like that, too, but those noises still really bother me.
Derrell! Apply again! The system is SO screwed up here, you wouldn't believe it! They constantly tell me that I make too much and I have to drive down there and force them to let me talk to someone with more sense than a turnip, before they'll realize that they made the mistake that I've been TELLING them they made. KEEP APPLYING.
[ August 13, 2004, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: PSI Teleport ]
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
The exhaust hose of a Shop Vac will keep the air flowing.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
...as will a trained monkey with a drinking straw. The official machine is much nicer, though, and never (well, rarely) suffers from monkey breath.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
It depends on the size of the monkey. If I'm not mistaken, no monkeys are large enough to supply deep breaths for you, only shallow ones. The monkey would hyperventilate on ya pretty quick, and probably wouldn't be able to go to sleep with those short breaths.
[ August 13, 2004, 03:14 PM: Message edited by: PSI Teleport ]
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
What if you had 4 or 5 monkeys inflating a balloon, and then another monkey in charge of opening a valve to let the air flow into your face? Would that work? You could have several teams of monkeys to get around the whole hyperventilation problem.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Wouldn't you need shifting patterns so that some monkeys could take bathroom/snack/nap breaks? How many monkeys are we talking about here?! What have you gotten Derrell into?
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
A whole mess of monkeys, apparently.
Maybe you'd better just go with the machine, Darrell.
Or...what about a team of trained hummingbirds? they can generate quite a breeze. Or maybe a hummingbird/monkey combination would be the best approach? The monkeys could be in charge of keeping the nectar pots topped off.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Hmm, now you're getting somewhere.
Although I think that many hummingbirds would be louder than the CPAP and cost more to keep up.
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
Wouldn't the monkeys be expensive? You've got monkey food, vet bills, etc. Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
All you have to do to take care of that, PSI, is train the hummingbirds to flap their wings in such a way that soudwaves interfere with each other and cancel each other out.
Derrell--no, see, that's the beauty of it. You charge admission to let people watch your monkey-hummingbird machine in action. You could even theorectically turn a profit!
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Thereby watching you sleep. o_O
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
As long as Derrell can't breathe, he might as well be under water. I'd take bass breath over monkey breath any day (or night).
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
But you see, PSI, that's the beauty of it! If the monkeys or the hummingbirds quit doing what they're supposed to, one of the observers can hit a panic button, which will sound an alarm and wake you up, guaranteeing that you don't die! It's foolproof!
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Is sleep apnea really something we should be monkeying around with?
And how can you train humming birds. I mean, they are too stupid to even remember the words. That's why the hum.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Here's a question: According to Dictionary.com
quote: ap·ne·a also ap·noe·a ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pn-, p-n) n. Temporary absence or cessation of breathing.
so if you were suffocated by a too tight wool sweater, would that be....
.
.
.
wait for it
.
.
.
Sheep Apnea?
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
If you run out of breath walking up 4 flights of steps would that be..
.
.
.
Steep Apnea?
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
If you choke on an easter candy would that be....
.
Peep Apnea?
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
ROGB!*
*(Rolling on grass baaing)
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
My peep apnea joke!
[ August 13, 2004, 04:44 PM: Message edited by: PSI Teleport ]
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
If you open your mouth during a freezing rain storm, and your mouth and nose are closed over by a coating of frozen rain would that be...
.
(someone stop me, please)
.
Sleet Apnea?
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
So you've had enough or your lousy, deadbeat husband? If you put a pillow over head while he's sleeping, that's Creep-Sleep apnea.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
If rain comes through a leak in your ceiling, drips into your mouth and cuts off your air:
Seep apnea!
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Wile E. Coyote suffers from Beep-beep Apnea.
[ August 13, 2004, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: Dan_raven ]
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
A large car hits you and knocks the wind out of you?
Jeep apnea!
Dan, you do realize that if you tell these jokes around Sasha, he will compulsively tell puns when he grows up, thus alienating his friends. I know because my dad did this to me!
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
If Paris Hilton takes your breathe away, you suffer from Sleaze Apnea.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Forgetting to breathe before jumping into the water:
Leap Apnea
Not being able to breath because you bought the inexpensive CPAP:
Cheap Apnea
Not being able to breathe because a baby chicken sat on your mouth:
Cheep Apnea
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Shiz, I blame my mother. Why do you think I got a kid who doesn't speak much English yet. I have to break him in easy.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Everytime I watch "Marvin's Room" I get Streep apnea.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
When you curse to hard to breathe on network television:
Bleep Apnea
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
If nightmares about Dick Cheney take your breath away... . . . . . . . . . . . Veep apnea
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
![[Wall Bash]](graemlins/wallbash.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
Even if I applied again and got accepted, wouldn't the sleep apnea be a pre-existing condition? ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)