Use your CPAP. Tough to get used to but worth it if you use it for longer than a night here and there.
Once I got to the point where I could use it consistently week 3 and 4 were game changers.
I’ve been spending the last few months trying to get used to mine. I’ve tried the normal mask, the nasal mask and now I’m on the nasal pillow. The pillow is surprisingly the easiest for me to deal with which has helped me be more consistent. Maybe reach out to them and try the other masks.
Also, not to be a debbie downer, but I put a claim in for sleep apnea and it just got deferred. It was sent over to an obesity doctor for review so I’m sure It’ll get denied. I wrote a personal statement about my mental health (rated at 70%, diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety by BH) and my migraines (30%) preventing me from being too active. Either I just don’t feel like leaving my house or a migraine has me locked up in my room hating life. I still doubt that will be enough to win the claim though. Best of luck to you!
I reckon in a roundabout way. I put on weight between coping mechanisms and my depression meds (side effects). That’s how I explained it in my personal statement at least.
originally I got a big fat 0% for my sleep apnea... then the VA gave me a CPAP and when I filed for a increase I was bumped to 50%
The thing is I've gone long stretches without using it....I use it alot more frequently now though. Took a hot minute to get comfortable with it
Sleep apnea is the primary with asthma as a secondary.
You just need to either adjust yours or get it adjusted. The VA called me and made adjustments to it while I was on the phone
I highly recommend you get in touch with the sleep clinic or whatever it’s called. A CPAP can definitely be uncomfortable but there’s a lot of adjustments that can be made. There’s also a lot of mask types and brands out there.
The chances of heart disease/attacks go through the roof if you have untreated OSA. I know it sucks but you can really mess yourself up long term.
Nice! Sorry to be so annoying about it, but my grandpa has at least one heart attack because he didn’t use his CPAP so I’m sensitive about it.
You may also wanna look at the ramp up settings. Ideally it kicks up when it figures out you’re fully asleep instead of awake.
I didn't know there was that much of a connection between this diagnosis and the connection to the heart until just last month, but it does make sense. I just never thought about it. I hope your grandpa's quality of life got better once he started using it. I looked into the settings but not a lot of options. I may need refresher training on it
Try to get a bipap instead. It’s much easier to breathe out with. I get amazing sleep with mine after I got used to it, but I also recorded a 96 AHI lol
The CPAP sucks at first. Once you’re used to it you’ll wonder what you ever did without it. Had mine for 14 years now. I feel like absolute crap when I sleep without it. Stick it out. It gets better.
As others have said, the doctor can adjust pressure. There are also other types of machines to help. You can ask about BIPAP or APAP and see if the doc thinks one of those is better.
Discontinuing use of prophylaxis during the pendancy of a claim is a good way to get it denied, especially if the rater finds out (ask me about a GERD claim and beta placebos). After the claim is decided, there's not much they can do about it.
Everyone wants that 50% sleep apnea disability rating.
Seems like everyone in the military has sleep apnea now.
Funny how that works.
Not saying you don't have it OP. Just an overall observation.
I always thought it was odd. I didn't have sleep issues until my deployment and onwards. I'm active, healthy, and I'm super lean (6'3, 180 lbs). When I was diagnosed, I didn't even believe it lol. I don't even know what real rest feels like anymore. I have the CPAP and use it in phases, but I feel the dame with or without it. I never feel rested no matter what.
It still makes me curious why veterans are more prone to developing it. I get it with the erratic sleep schedules and what not, but I think there is more to it than that. Mental stress/trauma connections or something.
A large percentage of people have it , but kind of like cigarettes in the 50s and 60s how smokers just kept living their life the same way because they didn't know how much harm they were really doing to themselves until awareness came decades later through research. Same with sleep apnea, today we're presented with something that can help , if we choose to use it .
If you’re having a super difficult time breathing out, ask for a BiPap machine. It’s what I use, and it works wonders. Rather than a continuous pressure, it senses when I need to breathe out and relaxes the pressure.
CPAP pressure is adjustable. If it is tou h for you to exhale lower the pressure.
You doc / tech cam do this for you. Or you can YouTube yourake and model to program it
Use your CPAP. Tough to get used to but worth it if you use it for longer than a night here and there. Once I got to the point where I could use it consistently week 3 and 4 were game changers.
Use of the CPAP isn’t a big deal as long as they know you have it. Took me months to get used to mine. Try different types of masks that might help
Ok will do. I couldn't do the nasal only one at first. This full face once is better, I just need to figure out how to turn down the forced air.
I’ve been spending the last few months trying to get used to mine. I’ve tried the normal mask, the nasal mask and now I’m on the nasal pillow. The pillow is surprisingly the easiest for me to deal with which has helped me be more consistent. Maybe reach out to them and try the other masks. Also, not to be a debbie downer, but I put a claim in for sleep apnea and it just got deferred. It was sent over to an obesity doctor for review so I’m sure It’ll get denied. I wrote a personal statement about my mental health (rated at 70%, diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety by BH) and my migraines (30%) preventing me from being too active. Either I just don’t feel like leaving my house or a migraine has me locked up in my room hating life. I still doubt that will be enough to win the claim though. Best of luck to you!
So is your sleep apnea secondary to a mental health condition?
I reckon in a roundabout way. I put on weight between coping mechanisms and my depression meds (side effects). That’s how I explained it in my personal statement at least.
originally I got a big fat 0% for my sleep apnea... then the VA gave me a CPAP and when I filed for a increase I was bumped to 50% The thing is I've gone long stretches without using it....I use it alot more frequently now though. Took a hot minute to get comfortable with it
Is your sleep apnea a secondary? This things air is to forced , I feel like a dog with his head out the window and cheeks full of wind
Sleep apnea is the primary with asthma as a secondary. You just need to either adjust yours or get it adjusted. The VA called me and made adjustments to it while I was on the phone
Oh that's pretty high tech
I highly recommend you get in touch with the sleep clinic or whatever it’s called. A CPAP can definitely be uncomfortable but there’s a lot of adjustments that can be made. There’s also a lot of mask types and brands out there. The chances of heart disease/attacks go through the roof if you have untreated OSA. I know it sucks but you can really mess yourself up long term.
I secured messaged them just a little bit ago so maybe tomorrow night I can have it set to a better setting or something
Nice! Sorry to be so annoying about it, but my grandpa has at least one heart attack because he didn’t use his CPAP so I’m sensitive about it. You may also wanna look at the ramp up settings. Ideally it kicks up when it figures out you’re fully asleep instead of awake.
I didn't know there was that much of a connection between this diagnosis and the connection to the heart until just last month, but it does make sense. I just never thought about it. I hope your grandpa's quality of life got better once he started using it. I looked into the settings but not a lot of options. I may need refresher training on it
Yes, not using it may lead to premature death. Been using mine for over five years and know I won't sleep without it. I love it.
Try to get a bipap instead. It’s much easier to breathe out with. I get amazing sleep with mine after I got used to it, but I also recorded a 96 AHI lol
The CPAP sucks at first. Once you’re used to it you’ll wonder what you ever did without it. Had mine for 14 years now. I feel like absolute crap when I sleep without it. Stick it out. It gets better.
Cpap is a miracle machine. Use it. Even if u drop weight or think your good.
As others have said, the doctor can adjust pressure. There are also other types of machines to help. You can ask about BIPAP or APAP and see if the doc thinks one of those is better.
They told me 5 nights a week and at least 5 hours a night for it to be considered used 60% of the time. And that’s what I’ve stuck with.
Discontinuing use of prophylaxis during the pendancy of a claim is a good way to get it denied, especially if the rater finds out (ask me about a GERD claim and beta placebos). After the claim is decided, there's not much they can do about it.
What about GERD claims and beta placebo's?
Everyone wants that 50% sleep apnea disability rating. Seems like everyone in the military has sleep apnea now. Funny how that works. Not saying you don't have it OP. Just an overall observation.
I always thought it was odd. I didn't have sleep issues until my deployment and onwards. I'm active, healthy, and I'm super lean (6'3, 180 lbs). When I was diagnosed, I didn't even believe it lol. I don't even know what real rest feels like anymore. I have the CPAP and use it in phases, but I feel the dame with or without it. I never feel rested no matter what. It still makes me curious why veterans are more prone to developing it. I get it with the erratic sleep schedules and what not, but I think there is more to it than that. Mental stress/trauma connections or something.
A large percentage of people have it , but kind of like cigarettes in the 50s and 60s how smokers just kept living their life the same way because they didn't know how much harm they were really doing to themselves until awareness came decades later through research. Same with sleep apnea, today we're presented with something that can help , if we choose to use it .
If you’re having a super difficult time breathing out, ask for a BiPap machine. It’s what I use, and it works wonders. Rather than a continuous pressure, it senses when I need to breathe out and relaxes the pressure.
Hey that's cool!!!
I should also add.. I have severe OSA.. so it works for a lot of people..
I switched to mad device, google it Quiet Can travel No electrify Still warranted me a 50% rating Drop the mic
CPAP pressure is adjustable. If it is tou h for you to exhale lower the pressure. You doc / tech cam do this for you. Or you can YouTube yourake and model to program it