Sleep Apnea/Snoring Mouth Guard Recommendation.

[themarquis]

I took Provigil years ago for an extended period of time. Not for the same reason but the benefit was tremendous. I had no side effects whatsoever. I wasn't aware that they approved Provigil for sleep apnea. When I was taking it the majority of filled prescriptions were for off label use. I had a tough time getting it approved. My husband was dx'd with sleep apnea and having a very hard time adjusting to a cpap. I am going to have him read this thread, great info!

Are you familar with Nuvigil?

Yeah, Provigil is great stuff. It has only recently been approved for sleep apnea. My sleep doc was one of the people who conducted the trials to get it approved for excessive daytime sleepiness with sleep apnea. If your insurance will approve it (it most likely will w/ a sleep apnea diagnosis) your husband should give it a try. Without getting it through insuance, though, it's pretty expensive -- probably 200-300 dollars per month

I think it has a lot of off label uses -- they prescribe it for fibromyalgia and MS because it helps with sleepiness and brain fog, and some people with depression benefit from it, as well (it "perks" some folks up ). Basically any health condition that results in fatigue can be benefited by provigil

Re: nuvigil -- is that the new version of provigil that is extended release? My doc just told me about it and said she'd give it to me at some point if I want, but it's so new that she usually likes to wait till it's been out a bit just to be cautious. I think its main benefit would be that it would keep you at a constant level of provigil all day (I might try it at some point b/c I have trouble when my levels of provigil drop a bit in the late afternoon and I get sleepy).

There is also another thing like provigil. I think it's called adrafinil. Basically, what it is is something called a "prodrug". That means that when you take it, your body converts it into something else, in this case, provigil. In other words, it will work almost exactly like provigil (though the dosing will be different and it may take longer to work because you have to metabolize it first). The advantage to adrafinil is that in the US it is not regulated by the FDA. That means you can order it online or import it from somewhere else (much more cheaply than provigil) and it is completely legal, much as an herbal supplement would be. It is manufactured by a real pharmaceutical company -- the same one that makes provigil. They just don't sell it here -- they sell it in France and some other places. Anyway, with the astronomical price of provigil in the US (and the difficulty getting ins. companies to approve its use), adrafinil might be a good alternative for some folks.

 

[browneyes106]

I use a cpap. It does help a lot. One of my cousins also has SA but he uses a mouth guard which was custom made by a dentist. I would recommend having a dentist recommend or have one made.

 

[CPT Tripss]

snip.

There is also another thing like provigil. I think it's called adrafinil. Basically, what it is is something called a "prodrug". That means that when you take it, your body converts it into something else, in this case, provigil. In other words, it will work almost exactly like provigil (though the dosing will be different and it may take longer to work because you have to metabolize it first). The advantage to adrafinil is that in the US it is not regulated by the FDA. That means you can order it online or import it from somewhere else (much more cheaply than provigil) and it is completely legal, much as an herbal supplement would be. It is manufactured by a real pharmaceutical company -- the same one that makes provigil. They just don't sell it here -- they sell it in France and some other places. Anyway, with the astronomical price of provigil in the US (and the difficulty getting ins. companies to approve its use), adrafinil might be a good alternative for some folks.

Be careful - adrafinil can mess up a liver big time in the process of converting it into Modafinil (aka provigil). Regular enzyme tests are needed.

Based on so much of the bogus, if not dangerous, stuff being sold in GNC's and similar establishments, lack of FDA approval is not a "good" thing. Just ask the athletes who have been busted for substances not listed on ingredient lists.

 

[MoniqueU]

I am no help because I refused to even go in for the study. The thought of being hooked up to anything and out of my own comfort zone was too much for me. I have insomnia so bad as it is I doubt I would sleep at a sleep center to start with. My mom went had the test, has sleep apnea, trie the mask and machine and sent it back. She couldn't handle it. She LOVES anything medical, she should of been a nurse and if she can't handle it I know I wouldn't be able to. I lost a bit of weight and my mom says my breathing sounds alot better now then it did before and I do feel more rested when I do get some sleep. Sleap Apnea and insomnia seem like an odd combo to me but i am sure that is what I have been dealing with.

So Dawn as frustrating as it may be to you as a parent for some people the cure is worse then the disease, I know that in my case I have found that recently.

 

[CPT Tripss]

It would be interesting to have another sleep study using the mouth guard and compare the results. If his apnea improves, great . . . if it doesn't and he can't "bite the bullet" and use a cpap, take out as much life insurance on him as you can without a physical.

Personal opinion . . . an RT who won't use a cpap with diagnosed apnea ranks right up there with an infectious disease specialist who won't vaccinate his/her child.

 

[Beth]

The dangers that can occur from sleep apnea are very serious. Please, please, please get a sleep study.

SC Minnie - I've got a consult with the clinic at 7:45 tomorrow morning.... I'll let you all know how it goes - thanks for the encouragement.....

 

[teskak]

Take his tonsils out? Was done on my 2 year old who had sleep aponea. He knows it is going to hurt - or he has the option of the cpap

 

[Inigo]

My DH goes to the sleep center tonight for a sleep study. He went four years ago, was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, but refused to do anything about it. (After all, the snoring doesn't bother him, only me.) He is tired all the time during the day.

He decided to talk to the doctor about it recently, but since it's been so long since the sleep study, they're requiring retesting before they prescribe a CPAP or anything else.

I wonder how much insurance would pay for the machine, and what our co-pay would be. We have FEP Basic Blue Cross. Hopefully it won't cost too much, since I also have to buy a new furnace/air conditioner this week.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

I had a sleep study done earlier this year to find I had severe obstructive sleep apnea. They found I quit breathing 286 times in a 2 hour period. When they put the CPAP on me during the study, I only had 13 "episodes" total in the next 4 hours.

I was prescribed a CPAP and while I do feel better, there is still some residual sleepiness. Maybe I need to look into those meds.

My insurance (an HMO) requires you to rent the machine for 3 months (my OOP was $20.22/month and then it buys it). I can get a new mask every 3 months (will soon be checking into that).

I hope your insurance pays for yours.

 

[themarquis]

My DH goes to the sleep center tonight for a sleep study. He went four years ago, was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, but refused to do anything about it. (After all, the snoring doesn't bother him, only me.) He is tired all the time during the day.

He decided to talk to the doctor about it recently, but since it's been so long since the sleep study, they're requiring retesting before they prescribe a CPAP or anything else.

I wonder how much insurance would pay for the machine, and what our co-pay would be. We have FEP Basic Blue Cross. Hopefully it won't cost too much, since I also have to buy a new furnace/air conditioner this week.

I think it really depends on the insurance, though most will cover it at least partially but sometimes with severe rules/restrictions.

Mine was really good about it -- basically I paid no out of pocket expenses, got a machine and mask for free (they kept saying there would be a copay but then I was never charged one!). My ins rents the machine from the DME suplier, and then after a certain period of time, they have rented it so long that they own it (well, they transfer the ownership to me). Then I get a certain number of masks per year -- I think 3 or 4 which is way more than enough (though the first year, I kept trying different masks, so it was useful then). Then if your mask needs supplies (mine needs nasal "pillows", I get those every month if I want).

I have heard of folks without insurance or with crappy insurance buying the machines/masks on the secondary market. Some of the sleep apnea forums I have been on have a thriving market for new/used machines and masks. Basically, folks like me who have good ins. end up with extra stuff we don't need (for example, I'm getting a new machine soon from my ins. so I'll have an extra, older one) and sell or give it away it to others who have bad insurance. Of course, if you buy a machine on the secondary market, you're going to need to have it set up correctly by your sleep doctor.

Anyway, there are options out there for folks. I do have an extra mask somewhere at home -- wore it once and hated it -- which I'll send to someone who wants it. I'd clean/sterilize it of course, just PM me.

 

[customan348]

Does anyone have a recommendation for an over the counter sleep apnea/snoring mouth guard. DS#1 has sleep apnea, refuses to even consider a C-pap but is willing to try a mouth guard. thanks

Do you grind your clench your teeth as well .. or is it purely because of snoring?

Chris

 

[LuvOrlando]

WOW, this is old. I thought Dawn was back... weird when topics are resurrected like this


Hmmmm, methinks we have an advertiser breaking a rule

 

[hercamore]

Where is Dawn? Never see a post from her anymore.

 

[JCJRSmith]

No reasons, just excuses. "I can't get used to a mask" (the sleep clinic has offered to help decondition him and try a variety of masks). "I am claustrophic", etc. Now its "don't even mention a mask". He was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea last year. He knows all of the health implications. He is somewhat overweight, no doubt in part due to his sleep apnea and increased cortisol production due to stress. He actually wrote a very detailed paper for one of his classes and presented it....on sleep apnea Now the shocker?? He is a straight A respiratory therapy student. I am sure you sense my frustration. Sooner or later reality may click. I am done nagging! In fact, I have been done for a while. When he complains that his throat is dry, he is tired, has a headache. I just say, "oh really?"
He would have been very happy to go for the surgical route (get it over and done with)but he is not a candidate and the surgery wouldn't benefit him.

I am claustrophobic and have sleep apnea. When the sleep center personnel put the mask on me at the sleep study, I flipped out and nearly hurled the thing across the room.

I use a CPAP every night. I use Nasal Pillows instead of a mask. I had some issues with mild claustrophobia when I first started using it, but I took low-dose Atavan for the anxiety, and worked out techniques for getting used to the device. I would come home from work, put it on and turn on the CPAP, and read for a while. By the third night I stopped with the Atavan and that was over 5 years ago. Now, I willl not even attempt to sleep without it.

Your son CAN get past this. It was life changing for me, and it can be for hi too.

Here is a link to the exact device I use:
http://www.directhomemedical.com/masks-cpap-bipap/breeze-nasal-pillow-mask-cpap-bipap-1.html