I found out last June that I had sleep apena and started using the CPAP machine about a month before being banded. I had a pressure setting of 12 and now down to a 7. I have lost close to 50lbs since being banded 6 months ago. I have been having problems with to much air etc. along with not wearing the mask the whole night. I talked to the doctor about it and he suggested that we try using a dental device instead. Insurance approved me for the device and I have started to use it and it is great. Here are pictures of the device. The dentist who deals only with sleep apnea feels that this device will work for me and that she wants to do a sleep study in about 4-6 months to ensure that it is working. If it is working then I will not need to use the CPAP.

<TABLE class=tabfolder cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=tabfoldertitle><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=tabtitlerow><TD class=tabtitlespace align=right width="99%"></TD></TR><TR class=tabtitlerow><TD colSpan=2></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=tabfoldercontent style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px"><!-- photosgrid table --><TABLE class=photogrid cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><!-- type = image2 --><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px" vAlign=bottom align=left width="50%"><TABLE class=photopanel cellSpacing=0 width="100%" border=0 cellpaddind="0"><TBODY><TR><TD class=thumbnail noWrap><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=image vAlign=center align=middle width=98 height=98> </TD><TD class=savetolinks vAlign=top noWrap width="99%">Scan and Save to Computer</NOBR>

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tabfolder cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=tabfoldertitle><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=tabtitlerow><TD class=tabtitlefield noWrap height=15 rowSpan=2>Photos: </TD><TD vAlign=top> </TD><TD class=tabtitlespace align=right width="99%"></TD></TR><TR class=tabtitlerow><TD colSpan=2></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=tabfoldercontent style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px"><!-- photosgrid table --><TABLE class=photogrid cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><!-- type = image2 --><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px" vAlign=bottom align=left width="50%"><TABLE class=photopanel cellSpacing=0 width="100%" border=0 cellpaddind="0"><TBODY><TR><TD class=thumbnail noWrap><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=image vAlign=center align=middle width=98 height=98> </TD><TD class=savetolinks vAlign=top noWrap width="99%">Scan and Save to Computer</NOBR>

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><!-- type = image2 --><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px" vAlign=bottom align=left width="50%"><TABLE class=photopanel cellSpacing=0 width="100%" border=0 cellpaddind="0"><TBODY><TR><TD class=thumbnail noWrap><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=image vAlign=center align=middle width=98 height=98> </TD><TD class=savetolinks vAlign=top noWrap width="99%">Scan and Save to Computer</NOBR>

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><!-- type = image2 --><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px" vAlign=bottom align=left width="50%"><TABLE class=photopanel cellSpacing=0 width="100%" border=0 cellpaddind="0"><TBODY><TR><TD class=thumbnail noWrap><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=image vAlign=center align=middle width=98 height=98> </TD><TD class=savetolinks vAlign=top noWrap width="99%">Scan and Save to Computer</NOBR>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>So far the dental device seems to be working.

Chris

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Chris, that is a wonderful NSV. My father uses the CPAP and I understand it can be annoying.

That's great Chris - good luck with the SA. I have to wear a mask and have had the pressure reduced to 7 - about half the pressure it was on - and I hope to be rid of SA in due course. I've always been OK with the machine, so I guess I'm lucky in that respect.

Wow Maincat, great stats!!

congratulations on your weight loss!! You must feel like a million dollars!!!!

:wink_smile::thumbup::thumbup::confused::thumbup::thumbup:

I'm not banded yet, but hope to be by the end of May or June. I have sleep apnea and use a cpap with a pressure setting of 11 or 12, I can't remember. I've always wondered if I lost weight, or when I lose weight with the band, how will I know to turn the pressure down? Do you have to have another sleep test? Do you have to take the machine to the Dr. and let them turn the pressure down or can I do that myself?

I have a lot of weight to lose, about 170lbs. I would hate to think that I would have to have a sleep test every 50lbs or so. But of course my insurance will pay for the sleep tests, but they won't pay for any obesity treatment, including wls. :confused2:

PS

Wow Maincat, great stats!!

congratulations on your weight loss!! You must feel like a million dollars!!!!

:wink_smile::thumbup::thumbup::confused::thumbup::thumbup:

Thanks for that - yep I do feel so much better. I can't wait to be sub 100kgs! I'm even getting into 'medium' sized shirts!!

I'm not banded yet, but hope to be by the end of May or June. I have sleep apnea and use a cpap with a pressure setting of 11 or 12, I can't remember. I've always wondered if I lost weight, or when I lose weight with the band, how will I know to turn the pressure down? Do you have to have another sleep test? Do you have to take the machine to the Dr. and let them turn the pressure down or can I do that myself?

I have a lot of weight to lose, about 170lbs. I would hate to think that I would have to have a sleep test every 50lbs or so. But of course my insurance will pay for the sleep tests, but they won't pay for any obesity treatment, including wls. :confused2:

PS

Hi there,

I didn't have a sleep test when needing to have reduced pressure. The hospital gave me a CPAP that tracked the pressure I needed for a week, then reduced my CPAP machine to the pressure that I needed.

I just knew that I needed the pressure turning down - I experienced a dry mouth and the mask was noisey. The hospital did all the adjustments. Eventually I will have a sleep test to see if I still need the CPAP.

Please bear in mind that I'm in the UK and get all my treatment on our National Health Service, so I can't be helpful when it comes to your insurance schemes.

I would go to your doctor and have him or your cpap provider download all the information about what you have been doing and then talk to him about changing the sttings. THe first few weeks with the band I found that I had a lot of air and would burp all the time with the CPAP. So I talked with my doctor and reviewed the data and also tols him I was having problems keeping it on and he said the dental device would work. So the rest is history. If you have any questions just e-mail or ask.

Chris

Have any of you with sleep apnea been able to lose your CPAP entirely? I have a love/hate relationship with mine (love the sleep quality but hate sleeping with it) and would love to be able to ditch it once I lose enough weight.

My doc told me that if my sleep apnea is related to my weight, then I could "lose" the machine. I'm sure that you have a follow up appt. to see the doc and he'll tell you what the readings are. My doc said that he wants to watch me closely since I am being banded and will lose weight...

I am hoping that is the case with me. Although I can live with the machine, I prefer not to!!! :smile:

I am hoping that is the case with me. Although I can live with the machine, I prefer not to!!! :blushing:

Ah, my life saving torture device. Have you flown with yours? The TSA people act like they think it's a bomb.....

And it would be wonderful to be able to go to work without strap marks all over my face. I'm convinced my coworkers think I'm into some sort of kinky bondage.....:smile:

LMAO!!! Thanks for the laugh JRTMOM!!! There is just no dignity is there!!??

I'm traveling on the 13th of this month and will have my machine in "tow". I was told by the tech that the people at the airport are pretty familiar with these machines. She said that there are even signs directing people with these machines to go to a certain area.....

WE SHALL SEE!!!!!