Does anyone know a good alternative for my sleep apnea CPAP?

I am very uncomfortable at night because of my CPAP.

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Does the United Healthcare Choice Plus insurance plan cover pre-existing sleep apnea CPAP treatments?

I have been on a CPAP for 18 months now, and acquired United Healthcare Choice Plus insurance several months ago. Will they cover my masks, CPAP and future sleep treatments?

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How can I treat my sleep apnea without a C-pap?

I am not overweight. Surgery is not an option (if you have researched it, you’d know why). I have feverishly tried using my C-pap on and off for the past 5 years and always have to eventually stop using it because I’m not getting any sleep. People say “if you wanted it enough, you’d get used to it”. Not true. If I ever do fall asleep on it, I wake up gasping every minute (even with a chin strap). What can I do? I have nothing going on in my life right now because the chronic fatigue prevents me from holding a job or going to school. I’m so dysfunctional, everything seems pretty pointless and it seems like I have reached the end of any advice. People just repeat themselves. I’ve run out of solutions.
I’ve tried provigil. It made me crazy and irritable to the point of not being able to function productively.
..I’ve also tried all of the masks they have to offer. The “nose pillow” is the best for me out of them all but still doesn’t seems to work. I have had the pressure adjusted many times. Maybe they just screwed it up the last time. I’ll have too look into that. Thanks.
Nicole: Haha.. that seems the only option I have left!

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Treating Sleep Apnea – Alternatives to CPAP therapy

The alternatives to CPAP therapy are a life saver for many sleep apnea patients.

Not all the persons with sleep apnea can tolerate a CPAP treatment. There many reasons why they give up their treatment, depending on each patient.

Here are several reasons :

*feeling of suffocation

*dry mouth, which is the most common side effect

*dryness of nose or nasal congestion

*mask discomfort

*the noise of the breathing machine

*the feeling of claustrophobia

Fortunately, there are solutions for these problems, and some of them are really effective. There is no issue that cannot be worked out, especially with the advanced technology of today.

The most common alternative for CPAP treatment is a <b>dental device</b> or an oral appliance. This device is used to relieve the upper airway obstruction and snoring by modifying the position of the mandible, tongue, and other oral structures.

An oral appliance also prevents the tongue from blocking the airway passages.

Before choosing this type of therapy is very important to consult your doctor. He knows that not all the appliances can help your breathing disorder.

However, there are some disadvantages here, and the most common complaint is discomfort and salivation.  The statistics show that this alternative therapy is more successful in patients with non-severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Bilevel positive airway pressure or BPAP is another alternative to CPAP machine, and they are more efficient. BPAP machines provides two pressure levels, one during inhalation and a lower one during exhalation. The pressure drop during exhalation is designed to increase comfort for patients who have trouble exhaling against an continuous incoming pressure, such as CPAP.

Behavioral therapy is an important part of your life when you are dealing with sleep apnea, and in mild cases this type of therapy may be all that is needed.

*you should avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, and sleeping pills, which make the airway more likely to collapse during sleep.

*if you have problems with obesity, you can benefit from losing  weight. Even a 10 percent weight loss can reduce the number of apneic events for most patients.

*sleeping in a side position is often helpful. Try using a pillow or other device that may help you with this.

*Playing at didgeridoo -  this is the newest alternative to cpap treatment on the market, and is very well accepted by patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. This might be due to training of the muscles of the upper airways, which control airway dilation and wall stiffening.

Regular playing of a didgeridoo reduces daytime sleepiness and snoring in people with moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and also improves the sleep quality of partners.

One final piece of advice:  A new field of medicine offers fertile ground for scams. Shameless people are quick to exploit people’s hopes and fears. Claims of miracle cures for sleep apnea are already germinating on internet. So, before trying an alternative treatment for CPAP, speak with your doctor about this option and listen to his opinion.

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Understanding Sleep Apnea CPAP

For those who have sleep apnea, a sleep apnea CPAP machine is one solution that will help you feel more at ease about breathing while sleeping. Because sleep apnea can be so severe that a person may die from this disorder, a CPAP machine can give the peace of mind needed to sleep. The main purpose of this machine is to increase the air pressure in your throat to keep your airway from failing.

When sleep apnea is diagnosed by a doctor, they normally use the CPAP machine to treat those who have moderate as well as severe sleep apnea. There are three types of sleep apnea.

Central Sleep Apnea - This is the type that is caused by a problem with the brain. The way it signals the muscles responsible for keeping us breathing is compromised. This type is usually associated with heart failure, strokes, brain infections and brain tumors.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea - This type is caused by the airflow to the throat becoming blocked while you are sleeping. It can also be caused by narrowed airways or being severely overweight can be another reason for this type of sleep apnea.

Mixed Sleep Apnea - This occurs as a combination of the two mentioned above. It is normally recognized by very loud snoring. A restless sleep as well as having difficulty breathing is another clue. The sufferer may wake feeling exhausted and may have a headache. This type may be improved by the way you sleep and the CPAP machine has had great results with this as well.

A CPAP machine usually is made with either a mask that goes over the mouth and the nose or a mask that only covers the nose. The NCPAP or nose only type is the most common. The machines may also have prongs that fit over the nose. The CPAP machine has had very good results decreasing the sleepiness sufferers of sleep apnea were experiencing. Those with severe as well as moderate sleep apnea have lowered their blood pressure by using the NCPAP machine.

People who use the CPAP that suffer from coronary artery disease have fewer heart problems - the main one being heart failure. One of the main things you must remember when using a CPAP is to have regular appointment with your doctor. Often they may need to do additional sleep studies to make sure this is the correct treatment and that it is working satisfactorily. Often the CPAP machine will have to be adjusted.

Those who have experienced any side effects from using the CPAP have mostly been moderate. Sometimes air will leak around the mask. This is only because it does not fit properly and once it is adjusted, this will stop. Some people have reported nightmares and more dreams than normal during the beginning of using the machine. This typically goes away. A dry nose, sore throat or a nose bleed can often be relieved by running a humidifier when you are sleeping and using the CPAP. There are other side effects such as headaches but seeing your doctor and advising him of these problems is the best way to take care of them.

The benefits of the sleep apnea CPAP seem to far outweigh the problems when you think about the alternative which could ultimately be a heart attack, stroke or even death.

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CPAP Educational Video: Dreaming of a good nights sleep

hmeprovider presents an educational video about treating Sleep Apnea with CPAP & bipap machines. Up to twenty million Americans suffer from sleep apnea to some degree. This video offers treatments and solutions for sleep apnea with the use of CPAP machines and other devices.

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Can you improve performance of the sleep apnea CPAP machine on your own, without docs’ help?

My brother has been prescribed the CPAP and can’t tell much difference in his sleep. He is due to go for a checkup to the sleep clinic and doesn’t want to tell them this because he’s afraid they will make him go through another $1000 worth of sleep tests to adjust settings or something.

So if he can make the CPAP thing work better without having to tell the docs, it will help his health and checking account. Anybody know about this?

Thanks =D

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OASYS Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance-alternative to CPAP

This new oral appliance replaces the CPAP machine and works for snoring as well as sleep apnea. This is an FDA approved oral appliance.

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Sleep Better with CPAP Pillow for Sleep Apnea

Demonstration of the Contour CPAP Pillow - a foam support pillow designed specifically for anyone who sleep with a CPAP mask, for the treatment of Sleep Apnea using CPAP Therapy. Available at www.contourliving.com

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Pressure Sensors for Medical Applications

Freescales pressure sensors monitor a patients condition by providing key diagnostics in a broad range of medical applications.

Duration : 0:3:34

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