My husband (46, overweight, smoker, poor
diet vegetarian, severe long term sinus
problems
) has just been diagnosed with sleep apnea
& told that he needs a $3,000 machine
(our health fund
will only cover $600!! ).
He has also been told that there is no
operation for this & that it is not
possible to hire the machine to see if it
will actually work/help him!!
we are in sydney, australia & I would
appreciate hearing from anyone (especially
here) who can tell me if there are any
alternatives that he could try, $3,000 is
alot to spend (alot to get!!) and then
find that it doesn't work or that there is
an alternative that is as good or better
and/or cheaper (especially cheaper!! :d
).
|
wakkochic17
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 494 Location: South Carolina
Posted: 05-04-04 23:51pm
What kind of doctor has he been seeing?
Has he been seen by an ear nose throat
doctor for the sinus problem?
The best thing he can do is try to lose
weight. I've been battling with my
boyfriend over that because he has severe
sleep apnea too but won't use the machine.
Losing weight takes a lot of pressure
off of the airways which can at least
reduce the sleep apnea greatly.
|
purple333
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 1420 Location: Sydney
Posted: 05-05-04 00:20am
Basically he has been seeing our local dr
(she's great & has known us for about
14 years - note she is female so does have
alot of common sense!!).
He has also seen an ear nose & throat
specialist & now a sleep disorder
specialist as well.
He is overweight but not obese, he gets
minimal exercise & despite being a
vegetarian (they are supposed to be so
healthy!!) he really eats a poor diet -
unless hot chips (french fries) &
pizza & nuts & bread & stuff
counts!!
Apparently because of the sleep apnea his
immune system is down so his sinus problem
is made worse & anti-biotics etc just
do not work - rather a viscious circle all
in all.
he reckons he'd use the machine but I
wonder, he refused to even try those nose
strips, or drps you put on the pillow to
open air passages so why would he think
i'd think he'd use a machine??
|
Warmheart
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 4
Sleep Apnea/help Advice Posted: 07-15-04 19:36pm
Sorry to know that you can't get the
machine. In the states, we have
congressman, senators, assemblyman. If
you write to one of the government
officials and explain your case. Most
likely they would send you the cpap
machine. Even local hospitals have
programs for sleep disorders that may be
able to get the machine to you without you
paying a dime. Good luck. God bless
|
purple333
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 1420 Location: Sydney
Posted: 07-15-04 21:43pm
Our politicians aren't generally helpful
(unless you can be of use to them!!) but I
have just seen a report on tv about a new
sleep study (research so hopefully free!!)
at one of the big hospitals about an hour
from us but anyway I rang (my husband
forgot - so again why on earth would I
think he'd use a machine if a phone call
is too hard!!) anyway he has an
appointment for monday & then we'll
see.
I have also found a place where we could
possibly rent a cpap machine & if we
buy we get some of the rental cost off the
purchase price - but I first have to get
him to find the details of the exact
machine he needs to see if this place has
the right one - obviously "he" has lost
the information on what type of machine
(actual specifications etc) he
needs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
jriegel
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 54
I Think This Is Sleep Apnea Posted: 11-17-04 15:36pm
But it's never been diagnosed because we
don't have health insurance (our
choice).
My husband is *very* tall (6'7") and
*very* thin (195) but he has a hugely
enlarged tonsil in his throat. He had two
but one day one of them disappeared (he
thinks he swallowed it...I think...It's
possible?) his tonsil(s) has been swollen
since he was a kid but his parents were
fairly low income and couldn't afford to
have them removed (optional surgery). We
are both young (early twenties) and been
married over a year.
I did some research a while ago and think
he might have sleep apnea but he's never
been diagnosed because all the sleep
disorder clinics have huge waiting
lists.
After he falls asleep, he will have insane
cold sweats (sometimes he's hot, sometimes
he's normal or slightly cool) that
completely drench the sheets, through the
matress cover and soak the matress, soak
through the sheet, the blanket and the
comforter on top of thim, soak through his
pillow.
It only happens (usually) during the first
few hours of sleep and then
"normalizes".
I guess i'm just wondering if anyone else
has had this experience with sleep apnea?
Does it sound like this is what he has?
Do you think it would be taken care of by
removing his enormous , porous tonsil?
|
purple333
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 1420 Location: Sydney
Posted: 11-17-04 21:05pm
This doesn't sound like sleep apnea to me
but I do think it indicates a health
problem that needs to at least be looked
into - as for the tonsil - again I think
some tests need to be done & questions
asked!!
|
kanvas19
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 6 Location: MASS
Cpap Puy Privately? Posted: 02-02-05 01:06am
I saw some on ebay a while ago. Maybe
there are still some there and you can get
a machine much cheaper. It may be worth
checking it out.
Good luck.
Kanvas19
|
leu wife
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 6 Location: MI
Cpap Machine Use Posted: 03-18-05 13:43pm
My husband has a severe case of sleep
apnea. He was waking up every 2 seconds.
By the time they diagnoised him he hadn't
slept in almost 2 months. The cpap
machine he got really is wonderful. You
have to get used to it but it is worth it.
The doctors told him he could have easily
died. I hope you find a way to get a
machine. It could save his life. I know
money can be hard to get. Sometimes you
can get help from churches or charities
for such things. People in the u.S. Are
great about helping people who need help.
Good luck and god bless.
) has just been diagnosed with sleep apnea
& told that he needs a $3,000 machine
(our health fund 
will only cover $600!! 
).
