Re: Sleep Apnea Treatment, do-it-yourself?

From: TimR (timothy42b_at_aol.com)
Date: 06/30/04 

Date: 30 Jun 2004 04:24:21 -0700

Griffin <nospam@here.net> wrote in message news:<2004063000255975249%nospam@herenet>...
> On 2004-06-29 09:19:13 -0400, timothy42b@aol.com (TimR) said:
>
> > I think my wife has sleep apnea. Our doctor says it sounds likely but
> > she can't get treatment without going through a sleep study, and we
> > can't get in until November.
> >
> > So, how hard is it to find one of those CPAP machines? Maybe on eBay?
> > Any harm in trying it? Or is this a really bad idea for reasons that
> > haven't occurred to me?
>
> Correct treatment starts with accurate diagnosis. 'Nuff said.

Well, really not nearly enough said. This aphorism leaves out
multiple implicit assumptions.

For example, are there multiple types of apnea, for which different
treatments are chosen? Are there similar conditions likely to be
mistaken for apnea, which would require different treatments? Is
there any benefit to the CPAC type machine, given no apnea at all?
Any harm?

There are many medical conditions for which accurate diagnosis is
neither cost effective nor desired. When is the last time we
speciated for cold or flu? Normally no extra benefits acrue. Yet
clearly there are many conditions where the wrong diagnosis would be
catastrophic. Is "sleep apnea" one of these? If not, then not 'nuff
said yet.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Ear and Sinus Trouble
    ... Sleep apnea is much more prevalent in overweight ... When I first approached my former doc about my apnea, he said, "You ... between breathing and not - an Aleve or two makes a difference for me, ...
    (alt.guitar.bass)
  • Re: OT do any of you have sleep apnea
    ... I had my tonsils/Adenoids out when I was 10 or 11. ... And now I have apnea. ... Snoring is not necessarily a sign of sleep apnea. ... it is rare for someone to stop breathing long ...
    (rec.pets.cats.anecdotes)
  • Re: FAA Medical and pilots with Sleep Apnea
    ... Sleep Apnea isn't something that sneaks up on you like a stroke or heart attack. ... Apnea just keeps you from sleeping correctly and if you've had a problem while sleeping, you know it when you get up. ... condition that wears you down over time - sometimes years. ...
    (rec.aviation.owning)
  • Re: Sleep Apnea Treatment, do-it-yourself?
    ... :>> I think my wife has sleep apnea. ... :> Correct treatment starts with accurate diagnosis. ... Normally no extra benefits acrue. ...
    (sci.med)
  • Re: Pain after amalgam removal
    ... > Another example I read recently...patient has sleep apnea, ... > blood pressure...sleep apnea must cause high blood pressure...there was no ...
    (sci.med.dentistry)