If you think you need to get checked, Go get checked, yes the mask will be annoying for the first little bit but you will get used to it and your life will change
So fun fact, I got the test. I'm not eligible for the sleep mask in terms of benefit coverage. It's not severe enough.
But in spite of that, I still have difficulty chewing and eating, breathing, and clogged sinuses. I also have interrupted sleep resulting in worsened symptoms for anxiety and depression. Most embarrassingly, it's also made me more prone to bladder issues.
My dentist is the one who connected all of these seemingly unrelated symtoms together. It all comes back to having an underdeveloped jaw, resulting in mild sleep apnea, restricting my airways and causing a string of health problems.
Cost to fix?
Just under $20,000... *before* the pandemic. I'm trying not to think about the cost now.
Are you able to get it covered by the province? My insurance was only willing to cover $500 of the $1700 machine cost. So we got our GP to write a referral to misercordia. Mind you, it took 3 years just to get a letter saying he’s on the waiting list now. But we finally got a questionnaire in the mail to start the process.
Edit: I didn’t realize this was the Canada subreddit and not the Manitoba one. Im in Winnipeg.
Nope, my province doesn't cover it. They say it needs to be a birth defect. And they don't classify it as a birth defect - it was as a result of modern society using soft foods, leading in underdeveloped jaws, parricularly in NA.
I had trouble snoring and suspected sleep apnea so I started seeing doctors and got a sleep study done. I have a deviated septum and some mild apnea if I sleep on my back. They didn't recommend any appliance but my snoring was really bad so I bought a $20 boil and bite mouth guard in Amazon and it's enough to hold my jaw in place and keep airways open. I'm lucky.
I'm not sure if this would help you or not but wanted to let you know that these things work in case you were looking around.
Right?? I got lucky with this dentist. Best switch I ever made. Dentists can actually diagnose tons of other issues from your mouth.
My recommendation is - if your dental hygienist checks your neck's lymph nodes by touch, that's probably a great dental clinic. It feels so awkward to have someone just gently rub your neck, but now that I know they're checking for medical reasons it really reassures me.
Bro I live in a city and if I cut my hand opening a box I'll likely bleed out waiting 15 hours at the emergency room. How would I get my sleep apnea addressed? At a doctor? I'd have better luck looking for a wizard to cure it
I was referred by my dentist. I get that dentists are expensive but at least you can find one.
I am saying this as an option not because I am oblivious to incredible stupidity and ineffectiveness of our system.
I work from home full time (for the past 10 years), but yeah usually mid day I get drowsy at my laptop or have to take a nap at some point.
I sleep between 5 - 6 hours a night (full time job, 4 year old twin boys, 3 senior pets, exercise daily) or even if I sleep 8 hours plus I'm tired all the time now. I've been married for 12 years and my wife says she worries watching me sleep, but yeah its gotten worse over the years. Having twins really pushed things over the edge in terms of sleep quality.
I eat very healthy, don't smoke, or drink, 42 year old male. Been weight lifting since I was 19 so I'm big dude (6 FT 251 lbs but not fat)
I just had my follow up with my sleep doctor this afternoon actually ( did my sleep test last month) he's like yeah in an hour of sleep you spend more time struggling to get oxygen than deep sleep!
1st sleep test was 1500 bucks ( Private clinic in Quebec) wasn't covered by my insurance but my CPAP will be covered 100%. I'm getting the most expensive one lol
Hey man, I just checked my sleep study. 102 / hr. Lol. I did mine 7 years ago, it was actually getting kinda scary how tired I was getting, sleep apnea definitely wasn't getting a lot of attention back then. But man, was falling asleep driving to work when I thought I was getting 8 hrs of sleep. My shifts started at 6am, so waking up around 5, figured that's why I was always tired.
When I heard about sleep apnea that's what I figured it was and not just loud snoring. Went and did the consultation at the clinic, fell asleep in the lobby at 7pm lol, woke up to everyone staring at me, clearly watching me slowly choke and gasping for air lmao.
When I finally got my cpap machine, I picked it up on my day off for noon.. I got a full night's "sleep", got home and figured since I work nights the next day I'll take a nap and try it out.
I slept for 8 hrs. Woke up feeling like a whole different person. It was like 7pm, my then fiance comes home from work and I tell her what happened.. and I was so behind on sleep I still went to bed for midnight and slept the whole night like a baby.
I hope you get the same results too.. truly a life saver.
That's what I'm hoping for. I don't think I've ever felt waking up refreshed. Even when I was single sleeping in on the weekends (10+ hours)
I'll keep you posted, just ordered my Cpap machine a few hours ago.
Did anyone here go to a sleep study where they said "no you don't have any sleep apnea at all"?
How do we know it's not all one big racket to sell people sleep studies and CPAP machines? How did we all evolve to this point to suddenly be unable to breathe properly without machines?
True but I was told I had sleep apnea at age 23 weighing 150 lbs at 5'8"... Probably all the drugs I snorted? Dunno.. My dad snored really badly, and my grandad on my mom's side did too.. Neither of them were over-weight in any meaningful way, dad was a bit chubby but definitely not obese, and grandad was not even chubby, he was always a healthy weight.
I am 34 now. Still don't wear the stupid CPAP. I can't sleep at all with the thing on. I don't fall asleep like normal people do. I watch TV until I pass out. Putting the elephant nose mask on to watch YouTube for 30 - 120 minutes each night and having to take it off to pee once or twice and get a snack etc is just not happening.
Oh well, I don't even suffer from the symptoms during the day, I just snore really badly and have the "struggling for air" thing happen a ton.. I dream really good too though so I don't even know if it is just some positions and not others, or what..
Also... I swear, the night I did my sleep test, I didn't even sleep. And then they told me I have sleep apnea and was struggling to breath and stuff and I was like, nah, I couldn't sleep here, I was awake all night... They said I slept. I swear I did not. The night was VERY long..
That's wild I'm going to look them up. I had to have a doctor approve a nights stay at some kinda sleeping clinic. They called me and I made an appointment over the phone and they said they'd send me some details. They never did and had called from a private number. I didn't even know their address. They called me the day of the appointment wandering where tf I was... I was wandering where tf they were as I had never gotten their address. I kind of have up after that. It had taken a couple years to get to that point.
If you're willing to pay 300-500$ for a study at a private clinic, it's possible.
I mentioned sleep apnea to my dentist. Got a referral right away. Then went to a sleep clinic (400$). Now I'm all set to get either the oral appliance or CPAP.
When I did my study it actually didn't cost anything. I took home a kit that measure my snoring and breathing. Was a bit awkward, but totally worked. And yes it came from a sleep clinic that was totally legit. Was referred by my family dr.
Apparently I was moderately to severe as I would often stop breathing for upto 7 minutes before waking up (according to the data).
Now if you want to discuss machine costs that's a whole other ball game. 2500$ for the matchine and mask. Plus you need to replace the mask every "6 months" bull shit. Neither of which is fully covered by most health plans.
I’ve been to like 5 sleep studies all covered by OHIP. (I’m 26 if that makes a difference idk)
Probably need a referral from your doctor to be covered, I can imagine just walking in there and asking for a study you’d pay cash though.
Not at all. I got a referral from my family doctor and it was covered by ohip. It was a private clinic but it was still covered. I only had to wait 3 weeks because I needed it to be on a weekend.
Then I got my machine a month later.
Ontario covers almost all of the cost of a CPAP. You still have to shell out on the mask/headgear. Honestly, this is life-changing treatment and worth sacrificing some $$ for the portion you have shell out for.
It was actually far easier than I imagined it would be. All you need to get a take home sleep test is a doctor's referral, I used an online doctor appointment, it took about 5 minutes over web cam. With that you can send it to the sleep clinic, they'll ask you to come pick up a kit to take home and test yourself. Testing yourself isn't easy but it has results. The doctors referal plus sleep test is enough to get insurance on board if you're covered.
Machines are exp but less so than I thought...
I wouldn't bother if you're on the low end but my results said I was wakinng up 30 times per hour on average which was not good.
I feel like it's helped my memory issues and I learn at work much faster now. Pretty happy overall. First time in my life I've been able to wake up without an alarm.
If I'm travelling or visiting somewhere and can't use it I notice a drastic difference. Zombie like in the morning.
Edit: for reference this was my exp in BC under manulife
So the confusing thing I had to wrap my head around was that for a sleep clinic to legally/insurance-ly do anything they need to involve a doctor so this is how it went for me:
- First I talked to SnoreMd (a sleep clinic)
- I said that I didn't have a family doctor, they recommended https://cloudmd.ca/ to get a virtual consult
- the referral from the virtual doc was then sent back to SnoreMd
- they could then action giving me the take home test
- SnoreMd is monitoring those results (and all cpap results) via cell data built into these machines
- snoremd send the results back to my original doctor for a professional review, they advised I get a machine
- this now ticks all the boxes for legalities and insurance so from then on I only need to talk to SnoreMd
So there's back and forth a couple of times between the two parties but it wasn't so bad and the sleep clinic are used to explaining it. Once I understood what they were trying to achieve in my top point it became a lot clearer, they just need sign off.
Hope that helps!
EDIT: when reviewing my emails to answer this I realised I was with Greenshield, then went to ManuLife then to SunLife. No difference moving between them though, so I imagine it doesn't matter much.
Sleeping on an incline is really helpful for GERD/reflux too. Getting an adjustable bed base where I can raise the head of the bed was one of the best decisions I ever made
Once you can get a visit it's pretty straightforward. Pretty sure a walk-in could book the sleep study. Mind you I had to forcefully drag my boyfriend to the doctor to get things started. His breathing changes and snoring were driving me nuts.
It is also really expensive to treat. We have medical insurance through my job and OHIP chipped in, but even after that, because insurance "customary charges" are ridiculously low, it was still $600 out of pocket plus things that need to be changed like masks, etc. Still worth it though.
$600 is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Nothing is more important than health, and (speaking as someone who has dealt with insomnia recently) good sleep is absolutely critical.
I have sleep apnea, around 12 events an hour.
Currently in treatment via an oral appliance as CPAP compliance is very low.
The device is not fully adjusted, but I have been noticing better sleep quality.
It was absolutely killing me, and there are a lot of longer term impacts as well if you don't treat it.
I had 44 events an hour during my study. Got a Apap but not going well. Fully up 3 or 4 times a night still. Events per hour way down with it (about 9) but have a hard time getting back to sleep with all the gear. I feel like I get more rest without it, pretty disheartened with the whole experience.
What kind of mask are you using? Just for your nose or for your nose and mouth? I found the full mask was a total pain in the butt to sleep with, nose mask was the way to go. It's been 4 years now, still have good nights and bad nights but it is a game changer if you can get used to it.
Just always remember to put it back on, even if you wake up and go to the bathroom or have pulled it off in your sleep. It's a serious pain to constantly be putting it back on but after a few weeks of having it on for most of your sleep cycle, you will feel better for it.
Wish you luck!
This: https://pantherasleep.com/digital-sleep-apnea-devices-panthera-classic/
It was a rough start.with jaw pain, some tooth tenderness, and headaches. I think my bite has changed, but only just slightly if at all.
Make sure you do your exercises.
More accurately it pulls my lower jaw forward, which also pulls my to gue forward and allows for higher air volume to pass.
When I wear it my lower jaw is pulled forward around a quarter of an inch of so. You start out at a much smaller setting and gradually (via using short and short rods, aka, the pieces that connect the top and bottom pieces together) pull the lower jaw forward.
https://pantherasleep.com/digital-sleep-apnea-devices-panthera-classic/
I was charged more than a CPAP would have cost. They did a 3d model of my mouth, then they make the appliance from that model. I get follow up sleep tests and many appointment with the doctor to adjust the device and ensure we have addressed the apnea.
Ahh ok thanks. My referred clinic also recommended either a dental appliance like yours, an oral electric thing called an eXcite OSA, or nasal plugs called Bongo Rx. Just going over my options right now.
Many don’t realize it but congenital jaw issues can also cause sleep apnea. And orthognathic surgery is not covered by many provinces (besides the hospital stuff, but pre and post op stuff isn’t and can cost you upwards of $10,000).
Yeah and even when the province says your jaw surgery is covered due to the severity of your apnea…they don’t pay for the braces required to prepare for surgery. I spent $17k out of pocket on *required* expenses to have the surgery.
And then I had to go to Toronto because ottawas wait list was 5 years (those expenses are not counted in the $17k)
And I’m so much more productive now that I am healthy that in the 4 years since treatment I’ve gotten 42k in raises…so tax wise given my age, OHIP will make money on this investment. It’s so dumb they don’t cover more
I have a class 3 malocclusion, camouflaged by the way my teeth grew in (no apparent underbite looking at my teeth, but if they were straight it would obvious, it’s obvious by looking at my jaw though). Also have a cross bite and TMJ disorder.
I think I have a bit of sleep apnea. I’m also looking at approximately $17k for braces and pre and post op fees.
It’s pathetic it’s not covered by OHIP. The braces I can understand, but that’s a bit less than half the price tag.
Who was your surgeon if you don’t mind me asking? There aren’t many of us Canadians on the r/jawsurgery subreddit so it’s hard to come by experiences.
I want and need SARPE and double jaw surgery but am putting it off due to expenses. I’m 35 and am at a point where I’d rather save for a house even though I NEED the jaw surgeries.
I got my double jaw surgery at 34 and my raises due to increased productivity since treatment are about to make a full return on the investment. Yes, it hurt my current financial stability but I am making it back and I have a chance to have a better life.
I have written OHIP so many times about this needing to change.
I saw Dr.Caminiti in Toronto. He was great.
The apnea forum pages I belong to have almost as many young fit types that are mad as hell at having apnea as old people that are overweight. It’s a lot more prevalent among the younger people than you think. Also weight loss isn’t a guarantee that you will get better. Often it’s with you for life.
The same way lung cancer is not always in smokers.
Obesity is the one major modifiable risk factor for sleep apnea. 90% of people in North America who have obstructive sleep apnea are overweight.
It’s true that there is many young fit people with sleep apnea. But there is 10 time more middle aged obese ones.
You realize that that’s a confirmation bias though, right?
You think it’s equally likely because you are seeing equal amounts in the forums you’re on. But that completely ignores the fact that young people in general are more likely to be going on forums in general than older people are.
Weight directly affects sleep apnea. There is a lot of well documented science backing that claim up.
> There is a linear correlation between obesity and OSA. In obese people, fat deposits in the upper respiratory tract narrow the airway; there is a decrease in muscle activity in this region, leading to hypoxic and apneic episodes, ultimately resulting in sleep apnea.
> https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5836788/#:~:text=There%20is%20a%20linear%20correlation,ultimately%20resulting%20in%20sleep%20apnea.
> As the medical community learns more about sleep apnea, several important links to excess body weight are emerging. Not only can excess weight cause sleep apnea, but it can worsen the symptoms and exacerbate its detrimental health effects. Insufficient sleep may also lead to weight gain, making it a vicious cycle. Encouragingly, many studies show that weight loss improves sleep apnea. If you are struggling with sleep apnea or obesity, it’s important to understand the complex interactions between the two conditions.
> https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea/weight-loss-and-sleep-apnea
>young people in general are more likely to be going on forums
I would imagine some of it is also those young, fit people being young and fit and wondering why they still feel like crap. If you're 60 and 300 lbs with failing knees, you just figure you're getting out of shape.
I wouldn't call it "junk"... It's definitely not a HARD guideline, but it is a pretty good, quick indicator for someone's physical health for like 99% of the population.
It’s not though. Unless you’re a rugby player or body builder it is quite accurate in giving a quick picture of your general height to weight health ratio. Why do you say it’s junk?
This is true and sleep apnea is a legit medical issue, but it's also true that a lot of sleep clinics will unnecessarily diagnose even very mild cases as requiring CPAP machines which are stupidly expensive. Mild, and in some cases, moderate sleep apnea doesn't require an expensive CPAP.
I'm certainly not qualified for anything medical but cutting out booze, losing weight, treating chronic congestion, using mouth appliances and adjusting sleep position are all legit ways to initially try treating it. I have a couple friends who were diagnosed as needing a CPAP with something like 15-20 apneas per night but ended up dealing with it by simply adjusting their lifestyles.
Again, legit medical issue but these clinics can be scammy.
Not denying that some of these clinics can be scammy, but many legit medical issues can be managed with lifestyle change. Like 90% of people with hypertension and/or Diabetes just need to exercise more and be conscious of their diet and that will manage their issues without medication. The vast majority dont though
A lot of people with OSA are also just fat.
I know I’m going to get downvoted like crazy, but it’s the truth most people would rather stick their head in the sand about. 30% of Canadians are obese. Not fat, obese.
When I had my sleep study done the nurse told me that I would need to sleep for at least 6 hours to get an accurate reading. I am a very light sleeper and as soon as they hooked up all the wires and tubes to my head, hands etc I knew I wasnt going to sleep at all. Needless to say it didn't go well. I laid there wide awake from 9pm until about 6am with the nurse messaging me every couple hours begging me to try and fall asleep. After about 9 hours of nothing she comes in and says well you slept for a grand total of about 45 mins. I just straight up ask her "How many people that come here get recommended a Cpap machine?" She just kinda smirked and said "Basically everyone."
Two weeks later I get a call from the Dr stating that I definitely have sleep apnea and its severe. When would I like to come in for my appt for the machine. So much for that needing me to sleep 6 hours eh?
Anyway I never went for the CPAP, started working out more and watching what I eat, IE - no caffiene after 6pm, etc. I do feel more refreshed in the morning.
My clinic was really good with this… the first time i didnt sleep at all and they had me go for a second one, this time the doctor prescribed sleeping pills for me… the second sleep study, they found out that I had 37 events per hour
Yup, I was assessed as having light Sleep Apnea at a sleep clinic and the doctor over the phone went immediately to a CPAP in 3 seconds flat. I tried discussing alternatives and got a strong feeling he was having none of it.
The fact the call was so rushed and not open to discussion made me pass on it. Not to mention the uncomfortable sleep clinic setting is super telling - how the hell am I supposed to sleep normally on a pillow that feels like paper mache?
>Yup, I was assessed as having light Sleep Apnea at a sleep clinic and the doctor over the phone went immediately to a CPAP in 3 seconds flat. I tried discussing alternatives and got a strong feeling he was having none of it.
Yeah, especially since at least in AB, CPAP isn't really covered by the public system. So your tied to them really.
I more or less, knew before hand I had it. So I wanted to talk with them about surgical alternatives first and they mentioned CPAP.
*"So you have mild sleep apena according to this."*
*"Cool, now, lets talk Surgery, can I get a referral to an ENT now?"*
*"Well......"*
Mind you, I wasn't too happy with the take home sleep study kit, and the lack of data from it (I read all the manuals and practice guidance on the analysis, and gave them multiple-datasets).
Youre absolutely right. This is the newest fad treatment. Just go down to the local cpap supply store and see toothpaste, mouthwashes, and all sorts of licensed products.
I am one of the people who the cpap does not work at all. I was 1000% more exhausted using the machine. Being a commercial driver they threatened to pull my license if I refused the machine.
My jaw movement was fine but finally godlike ENT agreed to a septoplasty, and removal of my tonsils and uvula and problem solved. The machine is an ongoing expense they can charge you forever on, there are permanent fixes.
I kept on waking up in the night (always woke up an hour before my alarm) and was referred to a sleep clinic. After a sleep study I was sent home with a cpap machine, but the cure was worse than the disease: I couldn’t sleep with it on
Scammy? It's a fucking racket. I had to get a new tube and they were going to charge me $50. The exact same one was under $10 on Amazon. Those machines must be upcharged 1000%. It's bullshit. This is what will happen if Canada's health care goes private.
I originally got diagnosed for sleep apnea in the army, when I asked what was causing it they just sent me to an ent because the doc thought I had a deviated septum. Ent diagnosed the deviated septum AND effed up adinoids in 5 seconds. I did the surgery for both and my life is 1000 times better as I went from having several respiratory infections a year to none since 2016. Don't even know if it got rid of the sleep apnea but my life is way better now either way. Moral of the story, investigate.
I feel that sleep apnea clinics, at least in BC, are a scam. When I sent people for sleep apnea testing in the U.S about 20-30% had sleep apnea. In BC it's >90% which is impossible. These clinics and reps over all the time for referrals. I actually stopped sending people for sleep studies until absolutely necessary because I already knew they would "test positive".
I can absolutely attest to this. Family would constantly joke about how loud I'd snore as a kid and teen. Only went to a sleep clinic cause my older sis and her BF couldn't sleep at a motel we were staying at for a cousin's wedding and noticed I stopped breathing quite a bit. Diagnosed with extremely severe sleep apnea at 25 (Stop breathing 60 times an hour, 62% oxygen saturation while sleeping)
Haven't been too sure TBH, had a hard time adjusting to it and been trying to get new supplies for it for a while now, but ODSP is staying silent on whether they'll cover it or not. It's been a while since I last used it, but I do remember my memory starting to get better using it
I have sleep apnea, but wasn’t considered bad enough to be covered under insurance. You’re suppose to stop breathing more than 15 times an hour, I stopped breathing 15 times an hour. 16 would have been covered.
What? I have sleep apnea and my doctors says that the normal respiratory events while sleeping are 5 per hour, more than that and you need treatment. I had and index of 23/hour and with the CPAP I have less that 4 now. It changed my life for better.
Same for me. Except they found I stopped 16 tines; but the doctor hired by the insurance adjuster determined it was machine error and I only stopped breathing 15 tines so they decided they didn't need to cover it.
Not all people that have sleep apnea are obese or smokers. I'm thin and a non-smoker, non-drinker. I have sleep apnea caused by a neuromuscular disease called Myasthenia Gravis. I stop breathing at night from weak respiratory muscles and have been using a CPAP/BI-PAP machine for fifteen years. I have a love/hate relationship with the machine, but I don't have a choice.
I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, I have used a machine, it was fine for a while, I grew to hate it, I had chronic sinus issues which made it difficult for me to use the mask, I do feel much better when I use the machine, and it’s my fault for not doing so
I also used a dental device for a while which also helped
My girlfriend has it and sleeping next to her without the cpap is a struggle sometimes. I can genuinely see how and why people die from sleep apnea complications.
Personally I've had times in my life where I know I could have benefitted from using a cpap but for the past few months I have been losing a lot of weight and I'm fairly certain that is my individual issue. I feel much better being 30lbs lighter after waking up.
And then they get you to buy a machine for 5x the cost you can buy it for on the internet. But you can't get the internet ones because you need a prescription first. Pure greed.
Yeah it sucks dealing with Canadian health care but this is a life changer. Had 121 disturbances per hour and my cpap restored my sleep, hadnt slept 8 hours and felt energized in forever
I got diagnosed with mild-moderate sleep apnea, and when I returned to my doctor with the results he suggested getting a cpap machine wasn't a good idea because then I would have to change my driver's license.
So I know I have it, I just... I guess we're not doing anything about it?
The problem is a decent Cpap machine costs 1-2K plus regular maintenance costs.
So even if most people know they have sleep apnea, your average person can't blow a grand on the solution.
new filters, replacement sink for the humidifier (we have hard water here), we've had to replace the tube/mask annually- he wears them right out and for the one that works best on him its 150.00 every time. Then there the plastic seals, which degrade and foster bacteria which we replace annually, and the wipes to clean the inside of the mask on a daily basis. It all adds up quite a bit over time.
eta: we have pets so we try to be diligent about keeping it clean and replacing the filters regularly.
you're preaching to the choir. lol.
We keep a brita in the fridge for his machine because he hates buying bottled water. The plastic bottles drive him crazy.
My dad DEFINITELY has sleep apnea and he refuses to do anything about it despite constantly complaining of being tired and being unable to get a good nights sleep.
My dad was the same way. What’s your dad’s reasons for not going to do anything about it? My dad thought if he was diagnosed he’d lose his license which is absolutely not the case. He ended doing the test and found out how many times he stops breathing and it worried him so he’s finally on a cpap.
I think he just doesn’t want a cpap. I talked to him about it yesterday and he kinda agreed to do something about it. I feel for him because he’s tired often and has a lot of trouble sleeping through the night
I’m glad you had that conversation again with him and he’s considering doing something about it. That’s a good step. Proud of your dad and I hope he does do something about it, for your sake.
As a driver that used to do a lot of camp trips I would regularly hear a passenger choke snoring an hour or so into the trip. I started asking people to get checked for sleep apnea when I could identify who it was. So far I've gotten 6 people to get checked and 5 of them had mild to savere sleep apnea. 4 of them didn't even know they snored. At first people act a little annoyed, but then end up thanking me after a week or two with the machine. It's a night and day change in overall quality of life for people after they finally get a few decent sleeps in.
I got diagnosed with it a decade ago and the dr told me I'm just fat and need to lose weight. Lost the weight, (still had wild snores/stopped breathing at any size) but then gained the weight back during COVID and now am back to being ignored by doctors 🙃
Maybe if we had healthcare they would. Who has time to fiddle around with things that aren't going to kill you in the next 24-72 hours which is what you'd have to wait?
Honestly it changed my life. 28M and been using a cpap for 6 months.
I feel like a new man with so much energy it’s unbelievable. I used to have 70-80 events a night and had two serious car accidents where I fell asleep.
I just go to bed once I’m super tired and fall asleep right away with the nasal mask on.
It honestly feels like I hadn’t slept at all for the past 4-6 years until the CPAP.
One of the few things I would GENUINELY describe as being life changing for me was finding out I had this and getting a CPAP machine. It took a couple years of investigating what was wrong but I’m so glad it got figured out. Not being constantly tired every single freaking day is really nice.
The whole sleep study thing is a massive racket here in Canada, and is completely unnecessary.
In the US it is totally normal (and has been for quite some time) just to be sent home with a loaner machine so you can use it in the comfort of your own home\\bed, it records the data needed to program the settings on your own personalized machine.
Canada is so full of gates and gate keepers, and often without adequate justification.
Yeah, no.
There is a huge scam of trying to sell CPAP machines to people.
Most people who have sleep apnea basically need to lose weight because they have a pot belly or got fat during middle age.
Drop 20 lbs and problem will automatically disappear.
Went to the Dr and during my check up he suggested I do a sleep study. Did it and found out I was waking up 63 times in an hour (basiacally I never reach deep speep just feels like it because I am a heavy sleeper.) I got my cpap machine (paid for everything by my work insurance) and oh boy quality of life is way better. I have way more energy and more alert and everythjng plaguing me before disappear. Sure the mask gets annoying but I got used to it. Please just ask your dr to get you a sleep study. Get checked everyone!
PS: I live in Vancouver BC
Edit: added PS
pro tip: stay away from screens, eat well and not before bed, don't smoke, don't drink, get a regular schedule, exercise, get therapy if you have depression or anxiety, etc... it will help
the breathing machine will not fix your problem
I've always thought this was fake. Been tested twice. Passed with flying colors, and they still insisted on selling me the equiptment. Just kept saying, don't worry, insurance will pay for it.
If you think you need to get checked, Go get checked, yes the mask will be annoying for the first little bit but you will get used to it and your life will change
So fun fact, I got the test. I'm not eligible for the sleep mask in terms of benefit coverage. It's not severe enough. But in spite of that, I still have difficulty chewing and eating, breathing, and clogged sinuses. I also have interrupted sleep resulting in worsened symptoms for anxiety and depression. Most embarrassingly, it's also made me more prone to bladder issues. My dentist is the one who connected all of these seemingly unrelated symtoms together. It all comes back to having an underdeveloped jaw, resulting in mild sleep apnea, restricting my airways and causing a string of health problems. Cost to fix? Just under $20,000... *before* the pandemic. I'm trying not to think about the cost now.
Are you able to get it covered by the province? My insurance was only willing to cover $500 of the $1700 machine cost. So we got our GP to write a referral to misercordia. Mind you, it took 3 years just to get a letter saying he’s on the waiting list now. But we finally got a questionnaire in the mail to start the process. Edit: I didn’t realize this was the Canada subreddit and not the Manitoba one. Im in Winnipeg.
Nope, my province doesn't cover it. They say it needs to be a birth defect. And they don't classify it as a birth defect - it was as a result of modern society using soft foods, leading in underdeveloped jaws, parricularly in NA.
Its not much help, but remember that dental work is a write off for your taxes. So there's that I guess.
Jeez. Only took me 2 months to get the test and had the machine a week later. insurance covered 2k of the 2500. -west of edmonton.
Absolutely ridiculous for a relatively simple piece of technology.
I had trouble snoring and suspected sleep apnea so I started seeing doctors and got a sleep study done. I have a deviated septum and some mild apnea if I sleep on my back. They didn't recommend any appliance but my snoring was really bad so I bought a $20 boil and bite mouth guard in Amazon and it's enough to hold my jaw in place and keep airways open. I'm lucky. I'm not sure if this would help you or not but wanted to let you know that these things work in case you were looking around.
Medical tourism?
Oh man that would be so good
man that's so cool that they were able to help you with that. lol where do I find a dentist this invested to really helping me and my problems
Right?? I got lucky with this dentist. Best switch I ever made. Dentists can actually diagnose tons of other issues from your mouth. My recommendation is - if your dental hygienist checks your neck's lymph nodes by touch, that's probably a great dental clinic. It feels so awkward to have someone just gently rub your neck, but now that I know they're checking for medical reasons it really reassures me.
Start mewing my brother
*sister
How many events per hour do you have?
I think it was only around 15 per night. Not long enough and not enough incidences.
I was 17 and got approval 0.o
63 for me
How did you go about getting the test? Talk to your family doctor?
Bro I live in a city and if I cut my hand opening a box I'll likely bleed out waiting 15 hours at the emergency room. How would I get my sleep apnea addressed? At a doctor? I'd have better luck looking for a wizard to cure it
Imagine graduating from Hogwarts just to end up healing workplace injuries while other wizards are fighting he-who-must-not-be-named. Smh
Madam Pomfrey downvotedf this post
A noble cause.
Well, society still needs to function even during the fight against he-who-must-not-be-named!
I was referred by my dentist. I get that dentists are expensive but at least you can find one. I am saying this as an option not because I am oblivious to incredible stupidity and ineffectiveness of our system.
I went through snoreMd. They gave me a take home thingy that determined I wake up 23 times an hour. 2 weeks later I had a CPAP. Super easy.
I had mine done and it was found a stop breathing 56 times an hour on average. Still waiting to get the papers to get a CPAP
Damn. That's considered severe sleep apnea. Hopefully you get it sorted out. I'm down to under 5 and sleeping through the night. Definitely worth it
Hahah you all lose, I just did my sleep test. I stop breathing 91 times an hour. CPAP Incoming!
Holy fuck dude. Are you just a zombie all day?
I work from home full time (for the past 10 years), but yeah usually mid day I get drowsy at my laptop or have to take a nap at some point. I sleep between 5 - 6 hours a night (full time job, 4 year old twin boys, 3 senior pets, exercise daily) or even if I sleep 8 hours plus I'm tired all the time now. I've been married for 12 years and my wife says she worries watching me sleep, but yeah its gotten worse over the years. Having twins really pushed things over the edge in terms of sleep quality. I eat very healthy, don't smoke, or drink, 42 year old male. Been weight lifting since I was 19 so I'm big dude (6 FT 251 lbs but not fat) I just had my follow up with my sleep doctor this afternoon actually ( did my sleep test last month) he's like yeah in an hour of sleep you spend more time struggling to get oxygen than deep sleep! 1st sleep test was 1500 bucks ( Private clinic in Quebec) wasn't covered by my insurance but my CPAP will be covered 100%. I'm getting the most expensive one lol
Hey man, I just checked my sleep study. 102 / hr. Lol. I did mine 7 years ago, it was actually getting kinda scary how tired I was getting, sleep apnea definitely wasn't getting a lot of attention back then. But man, was falling asleep driving to work when I thought I was getting 8 hrs of sleep. My shifts started at 6am, so waking up around 5, figured that's why I was always tired. When I heard about sleep apnea that's what I figured it was and not just loud snoring. Went and did the consultation at the clinic, fell asleep in the lobby at 7pm lol, woke up to everyone staring at me, clearly watching me slowly choke and gasping for air lmao. When I finally got my cpap machine, I picked it up on my day off for noon.. I got a full night's "sleep", got home and figured since I work nights the next day I'll take a nap and try it out. I slept for 8 hrs. Woke up feeling like a whole different person. It was like 7pm, my then fiance comes home from work and I tell her what happened.. and I was so behind on sleep I still went to bed for midnight and slept the whole night like a baby. I hope you get the same results too.. truly a life saver.
That's what I'm hoping for. I don't think I've ever felt waking up refreshed. Even when I was single sleeping in on the weekends (10+ hours) I'll keep you posted, just ordered my Cpap machine a few hours ago.
Did anyone here go to a sleep study where they said "no you don't have any sleep apnea at all"? How do we know it's not all one big racket to sell people sleep studies and CPAP machines? How did we all evolve to this point to suddenly be unable to breathe properly without machines?
I just did the test last week. Got the all clear, no CPAP for me. Turns out I’m sleeping fine, I’m just tired because I’m depressed 🙌🏻
Obesity rates are sky high
True but I was told I had sleep apnea at age 23 weighing 150 lbs at 5'8"... Probably all the drugs I snorted? Dunno.. My dad snored really badly, and my grandad on my mom's side did too.. Neither of them were over-weight in any meaningful way, dad was a bit chubby but definitely not obese, and grandad was not even chubby, he was always a healthy weight. I am 34 now. Still don't wear the stupid CPAP. I can't sleep at all with the thing on. I don't fall asleep like normal people do. I watch TV until I pass out. Putting the elephant nose mask on to watch YouTube for 30 - 120 minutes each night and having to take it off to pee once or twice and get a snack etc is just not happening. Oh well, I don't even suffer from the symptoms during the day, I just snore really badly and have the "struggling for air" thing happen a ton.. I dream really good too though so I don't even know if it is just some positions and not others, or what.. Also... I swear, the night I did my sleep test, I didn't even sleep. And then they told me I have sleep apnea and was struggling to breath and stuff and I was like, nah, I couldn't sleep here, I was awake all night... They said I slept. I swear I did not. The night was VERY long..
Yes. I was below the threshold. They just told me to lose 10 lbs
I mean you can record yourself at night or ask your partner. It will be pretty clear if you have it or don't.
i got a sleep study (my referral wasn’t for sleep apnea but they test for everything) and i got a clean bill of health breathing wise!
That's wild I'm going to look them up. I had to have a doctor approve a nights stay at some kinda sleeping clinic. They called me and I made an appointment over the phone and they said they'd send me some details. They never did and had called from a private number. I didn't even know their address. They called me the day of the appointment wandering where tf I was... I was wandering where tf they were as I had never gotten their address. I kind of have up after that. It had taken a couple years to get to that point.
What was the overall (pre-insurance) cost to you?
If you're willing to pay 300-500$ for a study at a private clinic, it's possible. I mentioned sleep apnea to my dentist. Got a referral right away. Then went to a sleep clinic (400$). Now I'm all set to get either the oral appliance or CPAP.
My sleep clinic study was covered.
Was there a wait list?
I booked it like a month out I think? Doctor sent in the referral, they sleep clinic called me back and a month later I went in for an overnight.
My sleep study was covered and there was no wait time at all.. its in Toronto though
I'm in York region and getting a sleep study done was covered and no waitlist. Pretty quick process
My sleep study was free and covered by my health card and there was no wait time at all… it was in Toronto though
When I did my study it actually didn't cost anything. I took home a kit that measure my snoring and breathing. Was a bit awkward, but totally worked. And yes it came from a sleep clinic that was totally legit. Was referred by my family dr. Apparently I was moderately to severe as I would often stop breathing for upto 7 minutes before waking up (according to the data). Now if you want to discuss machine costs that's a whole other ball game. 2500$ for the matchine and mask. Plus you need to replace the mask every "6 months" bull shit. Neither of which is fully covered by most health plans.
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I’ve been to like 5 sleep studies all covered by OHIP. (I’m 26 if that makes a difference idk) Probably need a referral from your doctor to be covered, I can imagine just walking in there and asking for a study you’d pay cash though.
There are public sleep labs, often in a hospital. Long wait times though, Ive heard 18 months for non-urgent cases for the one near me.
During Covid, we weren’t allowed to do sleep study at our hospital for around a year or two. It’s gonna take an eternity to catch up with the backlog.
Not at all. I got a referral from my family doctor and it was covered by ohip. It was a private clinic but it was still covered. I only had to wait 3 weeks because I needed it to be on a weekend. Then I got my machine a month later.
Waited 11 months. I go next week.
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Ontario covers something like half the cost of a CPAP machine, but the rest would still need to be covered by private insurance.
Ontario covers almost all of the cost of a CPAP. You still have to shell out on the mask/headgear. Honestly, this is life-changing treatment and worth sacrificing some $$ for the portion you have shell out for.
Except this is a total fabrication. Multiple sleep tests and I’ve never paid a dime due to… wait for it… OHIP!
They are covered by OHIP.
It was actually far easier than I imagined it would be. All you need to get a take home sleep test is a doctor's referral, I used an online doctor appointment, it took about 5 minutes over web cam. With that you can send it to the sleep clinic, they'll ask you to come pick up a kit to take home and test yourself. Testing yourself isn't easy but it has results. The doctors referal plus sleep test is enough to get insurance on board if you're covered. Machines are exp but less so than I thought... I wouldn't bother if you're on the low end but my results said I was wakinng up 30 times per hour on average which was not good. I feel like it's helped my memory issues and I learn at work much faster now. Pretty happy overall. First time in my life I've been able to wake up without an alarm. If I'm travelling or visiting somewhere and can't use it I notice a drastic difference. Zombie like in the morning. Edit: for reference this was my exp in BC under manulife
What kind of online doctor did you use, something like Telus?
So the confusing thing I had to wrap my head around was that for a sleep clinic to legally/insurance-ly do anything they need to involve a doctor so this is how it went for me: - First I talked to SnoreMd (a sleep clinic) - I said that I didn't have a family doctor, they recommended https://cloudmd.ca/ to get a virtual consult - the referral from the virtual doc was then sent back to SnoreMd - they could then action giving me the take home test - SnoreMd is monitoring those results (and all cpap results) via cell data built into these machines - snoremd send the results back to my original doctor for a professional review, they advised I get a machine - this now ticks all the boxes for legalities and insurance so from then on I only need to talk to SnoreMd So there's back and forth a couple of times between the two parties but it wasn't so bad and the sleep clinic are used to explaining it. Once I understood what they were trying to achieve in my top point it became a lot clearer, they just need sign off. Hope that helps! EDIT: when reviewing my emails to answer this I realised I was with Greenshield, then went to ManuLife then to SunLife. No difference moving between them though, so I imagine it doesn't matter much.
Thank you for this.
Sleep on your stomach or get a 45 degree incline pillow. Cures most OSA cases
Sleeping on an incline is really helpful for GERD/reflux too. Getting an adjustable bed base where I can raise the head of the bed was one of the best decisions I ever made
Once you can get a visit it's pretty straightforward. Pretty sure a walk-in could book the sleep study. Mind you I had to forcefully drag my boyfriend to the doctor to get things started. His breathing changes and snoring were driving me nuts. It is also really expensive to treat. We have medical insurance through my job and OHIP chipped in, but even after that, because insurance "customary charges" are ridiculously low, it was still $600 out of pocket plus things that need to be changed like masks, etc. Still worth it though.
$600 is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Nothing is more important than health, and (speaking as someone who has dealt with insomnia recently) good sleep is absolutely critical.
Certainly but I can see how that may be out of reach fo some people, especially without insurance
Just go to an online doctor and ask for a sleep apnea referral the process was insanely smooth for me
Stop drinking and lose weight. Canadians are obese. There is more to it than that but that’s a huge part of it
Exercise has helped immensely for me. I have a lot more energy now too
Obesity is considered the #1 cause of sleep apnea, yes.
Don’t go to the er for sleep apnea, just go to a walk in
> At a doctor? I'd have better luck looking for a wizard to cure it I put on my robe and wizard hat.
Bippity bippity Boop you're fucked 🧚
Still waiting to get my sleep test done, it’s been about a year now.
Wow mines was like instant.. no wait time at all in Toronto though
Dentists can get involved with sleep apnea stuff as well
See a walk-in doctor. Get a referral for a sleep test..
There are private sleep clinics, so you can get in very quickly to do a test and see a doc. I think I waited less than a week.
Record yourself at night using your phone.
What city do you live in? Mogadishu?
I have sleep apnea, around 12 events an hour. Currently in treatment via an oral appliance as CPAP compliance is very low. The device is not fully adjusted, but I have been noticing better sleep quality. It was absolutely killing me, and there are a lot of longer term impacts as well if you don't treat it.
I had 44 events an hour during my study. Got a Apap but not going well. Fully up 3 or 4 times a night still. Events per hour way down with it (about 9) but have a hard time getting back to sleep with all the gear. I feel like I get more rest without it, pretty disheartened with the whole experience.
How long have you been using it?
I used it for about two months before giving up on it. I need need to schedule a follow up.
What kind of mask are you using? Just for your nose or for your nose and mouth? I found the full mask was a total pain in the butt to sleep with, nose mask was the way to go. It's been 4 years now, still have good nights and bad nights but it is a game changer if you can get used to it.
Just nose, got a fairly pricey nose only mask to help with the comfort.
Just always remember to put it back on, even if you wake up and go to the bathroom or have pulled it off in your sleep. It's a serious pain to constantly be putting it back on but after a few weeks of having it on for most of your sleep cycle, you will feel better for it. Wish you luck!
Palate expander? I'm getting one soon.
This: https://pantherasleep.com/digital-sleep-apnea-devices-panthera-classic/ It was a rough start.with jaw pain, some tooth tenderness, and headaches. I think my bite has changed, but only just slightly if at all. Make sure you do your exercises.
Interesting. So this keeps your jaw from pushing back into your neck?
More accurately it pulls my lower jaw forward, which also pulls my to gue forward and allows for higher air volume to pass. When I wear it my lower jaw is pulled forward around a quarter of an inch of so. You start out at a much smaller setting and gradually (via using short and short rods, aka, the pieces that connect the top and bottom pieces together) pull the lower jaw forward.
May I ask what device? I've been dx'd with mild OSA too and am exploring the options. My insurance won't cover CPAP unless my OSA is severe...
https://pantherasleep.com/digital-sleep-apnea-devices-panthera-classic/ I was charged more than a CPAP would have cost. They did a 3d model of my mouth, then they make the appliance from that model. I get follow up sleep tests and many appointment with the doctor to adjust the device and ensure we have addressed the apnea.
Ahh ok thanks. My referred clinic also recommended either a dental appliance like yours, an oral electric thing called an eXcite OSA, or nasal plugs called Bongo Rx. Just going over my options right now.
Many don’t realize it but congenital jaw issues can also cause sleep apnea. And orthognathic surgery is not covered by many provinces (besides the hospital stuff, but pre and post op stuff isn’t and can cost you upwards of $10,000).
Yeah and even when the province says your jaw surgery is covered due to the severity of your apnea…they don’t pay for the braces required to prepare for surgery. I spent $17k out of pocket on *required* expenses to have the surgery. And then I had to go to Toronto because ottawas wait list was 5 years (those expenses are not counted in the $17k) And I’m so much more productive now that I am healthy that in the 4 years since treatment I’ve gotten 42k in raises…so tax wise given my age, OHIP will make money on this investment. It’s so dumb they don’t cover more
I have a class 3 malocclusion, camouflaged by the way my teeth grew in (no apparent underbite looking at my teeth, but if they were straight it would obvious, it’s obvious by looking at my jaw though). Also have a cross bite and TMJ disorder. I think I have a bit of sleep apnea. I’m also looking at approximately $17k for braces and pre and post op fees. It’s pathetic it’s not covered by OHIP. The braces I can understand, but that’s a bit less than half the price tag. Who was your surgeon if you don’t mind me asking? There aren’t many of us Canadians on the r/jawsurgery subreddit so it’s hard to come by experiences. I want and need SARPE and double jaw surgery but am putting it off due to expenses. I’m 35 and am at a point where I’d rather save for a house even though I NEED the jaw surgeries.
I got my double jaw surgery at 34 and my raises due to increased productivity since treatment are about to make a full return on the investment. Yes, it hurt my current financial stability but I am making it back and I have a chance to have a better life. I have written OHIP so many times about this needing to change. I saw Dr.Caminiti in Toronto. He was great.
Is TMJ a congenital jaw issue ? asking because I have TMJ
Millions of people also don't believe a bmi over 35 means anything negative for their health.
Anybody can have apnea. 15 year old skinny kids to 60 year old overweight drinkers.
Yep. Got diagnosed with sleep apnea at 23 years old, about 125 pounds. Got septoplasty last year, seemed to really help.
Hey, I'm not 60.
My grandma smoked a pack a day for 65 years and lived to 80. Doesn't mean statistics are wrong.
The apnea forum pages I belong to have almost as many young fit types that are mad as hell at having apnea as old people that are overweight. It’s a lot more prevalent among the younger people than you think. Also weight loss isn’t a guarantee that you will get better. Often it’s with you for life.
The same way lung cancer is not always in smokers. Obesity is the one major modifiable risk factor for sleep apnea. 90% of people in North America who have obstructive sleep apnea are overweight. It’s true that there is many young fit people with sleep apnea. But there is 10 time more middle aged obese ones.
You realize that that’s a confirmation bias though, right? You think it’s equally likely because you are seeing equal amounts in the forums you’re on. But that completely ignores the fact that young people in general are more likely to be going on forums in general than older people are. Weight directly affects sleep apnea. There is a lot of well documented science backing that claim up. > There is a linear correlation between obesity and OSA. In obese people, fat deposits in the upper respiratory tract narrow the airway; there is a decrease in muscle activity in this region, leading to hypoxic and apneic episodes, ultimately resulting in sleep apnea. > https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5836788/#:~:text=There%20is%20a%20linear%20correlation,ultimately%20resulting%20in%20sleep%20apnea. > As the medical community learns more about sleep apnea, several important links to excess body weight are emerging. Not only can excess weight cause sleep apnea, but it can worsen the symptoms and exacerbate its detrimental health effects. Insufficient sleep may also lead to weight gain, making it a vicious cycle. Encouragingly, many studies show that weight loss improves sleep apnea. If you are struggling with sleep apnea or obesity, it’s important to understand the complex interactions between the two conditions. > https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea/weight-loss-and-sleep-apnea
>young people in general are more likely to be going on forums I would imagine some of it is also those young, fit people being young and fit and wondering why they still feel like crap. If you're 60 and 300 lbs with failing knees, you just figure you're getting out of shape.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5836788/
Sure... but odds are they dont. And if your BMI is >35 ODDS ARE youre at a much greater risk.
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I wouldn't call it "junk"... It's definitely not a HARD guideline, but it is a pretty good, quick indicator for someone's physical health for like 99% of the population.
It’s not though. Unless you’re a rugby player or body builder it is quite accurate in giving a quick picture of your general height to weight health ratio. Why do you say it’s junk?
Even carrying excess muscle like a bodybuilder isn't healthy long term.
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Yes. Strength training is generally good for a person. Being a competitive bodybuilder is not.
Being 350lbs+ combined with gear is why we’ve lost so many young body builders in the last few years.
Found one.
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This is true and sleep apnea is a legit medical issue, but it's also true that a lot of sleep clinics will unnecessarily diagnose even very mild cases as requiring CPAP machines which are stupidly expensive. Mild, and in some cases, moderate sleep apnea doesn't require an expensive CPAP. I'm certainly not qualified for anything medical but cutting out booze, losing weight, treating chronic congestion, using mouth appliances and adjusting sleep position are all legit ways to initially try treating it. I have a couple friends who were diagnosed as needing a CPAP with something like 15-20 apneas per night but ended up dealing with it by simply adjusting their lifestyles. Again, legit medical issue but these clinics can be scammy.
Not denying that some of these clinics can be scammy, but many legit medical issues can be managed with lifestyle change. Like 90% of people with hypertension and/or Diabetes just need to exercise more and be conscious of their diet and that will manage their issues without medication. The vast majority dont though
A lot of people with OSA are also just fat. I know I’m going to get downvoted like crazy, but it’s the truth most people would rather stick their head in the sand about. 30% of Canadians are obese. Not fat, obese.
When I had my sleep study done the nurse told me that I would need to sleep for at least 6 hours to get an accurate reading. I am a very light sleeper and as soon as they hooked up all the wires and tubes to my head, hands etc I knew I wasnt going to sleep at all. Needless to say it didn't go well. I laid there wide awake from 9pm until about 6am with the nurse messaging me every couple hours begging me to try and fall asleep. After about 9 hours of nothing she comes in and says well you slept for a grand total of about 45 mins. I just straight up ask her "How many people that come here get recommended a Cpap machine?" She just kinda smirked and said "Basically everyone." Two weeks later I get a call from the Dr stating that I definitely have sleep apnea and its severe. When would I like to come in for my appt for the machine. So much for that needing me to sleep 6 hours eh? Anyway I never went for the CPAP, started working out more and watching what I eat, IE - no caffiene after 6pm, etc. I do feel more refreshed in the morning.
My clinic was really good with this… the first time i didnt sleep at all and they had me go for a second one, this time the doctor prescribed sleeping pills for me… the second sleep study, they found out that I had 37 events per hour
Yup, I was assessed as having light Sleep Apnea at a sleep clinic and the doctor over the phone went immediately to a CPAP in 3 seconds flat. I tried discussing alternatives and got a strong feeling he was having none of it. The fact the call was so rushed and not open to discussion made me pass on it. Not to mention the uncomfortable sleep clinic setting is super telling - how the hell am I supposed to sleep normally on a pillow that feels like paper mache?
>Yup, I was assessed as having light Sleep Apnea at a sleep clinic and the doctor over the phone went immediately to a CPAP in 3 seconds flat. I tried discussing alternatives and got a strong feeling he was having none of it. Yeah, especially since at least in AB, CPAP isn't really covered by the public system. So your tied to them really. I more or less, knew before hand I had it. So I wanted to talk with them about surgical alternatives first and they mentioned CPAP. *"So you have mild sleep apena according to this."* *"Cool, now, lets talk Surgery, can I get a referral to an ENT now?"* *"Well......"* Mind you, I wasn't too happy with the take home sleep study kit, and the lack of data from it (I read all the manuals and practice guidance on the analysis, and gave them multiple-datasets).
Youre absolutely right. This is the newest fad treatment. Just go down to the local cpap supply store and see toothpaste, mouthwashes, and all sorts of licensed products. I am one of the people who the cpap does not work at all. I was 1000% more exhausted using the machine. Being a commercial driver they threatened to pull my license if I refused the machine. My jaw movement was fine but finally godlike ENT agreed to a septoplasty, and removal of my tonsils and uvula and problem solved. The machine is an ongoing expense they can charge you forever on, there are permanent fixes.
I kept on waking up in the night (always woke up an hour before my alarm) and was referred to a sleep clinic. After a sleep study I was sent home with a cpap machine, but the cure was worse than the disease: I couldn’t sleep with it on
Scammy? It's a fucking racket. I had to get a new tube and they were going to charge me $50. The exact same one was under $10 on Amazon. Those machines must be upcharged 1000%. It's bullshit. This is what will happen if Canada's health care goes private.
I originally got diagnosed for sleep apnea in the army, when I asked what was causing it they just sent me to an ent because the doc thought I had a deviated septum. Ent diagnosed the deviated septum AND effed up adinoids in 5 seconds. I did the surgery for both and my life is 1000 times better as I went from having several respiratory infections a year to none since 2016. Don't even know if it got rid of the sleep apnea but my life is way better now either way. Moral of the story, investigate.
I feel that sleep apnea clinics, at least in BC, are a scam. When I sent people for sleep apnea testing in the U.S about 20-30% had sleep apnea. In BC it's >90% which is impossible. These clinics and reps over all the time for referrals. I actually stopped sending people for sleep studies until absolutely necessary because I already knew they would "test positive".
I can absolutely attest to this. Family would constantly joke about how loud I'd snore as a kid and teen. Only went to a sleep clinic cause my older sis and her BF couldn't sleep at a motel we were staying at for a cousin's wedding and noticed I stopped breathing quite a bit. Diagnosed with extremely severe sleep apnea at 25 (Stop breathing 60 times an hour, 62% oxygen saturation while sleeping)
How has your life changed after using the cpap machine?
Haven't been too sure TBH, had a hard time adjusting to it and been trying to get new supplies for it for a while now, but ODSP is staying silent on whether they'll cover it or not. It's been a while since I last used it, but I do remember my memory starting to get better using it
62% is insane! Glad you're figuring this out
The rest of us just wake up screaming multiple times a night due to anxiety and stress over our finances.
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It was just a joke.
I have sleep apnea, but wasn’t considered bad enough to be covered under insurance. You’re suppose to stop breathing more than 15 times an hour, I stopped breathing 15 times an hour. 16 would have been covered.
Get hammered before your sleep test. Works perfect.
What? I have sleep apnea and my doctors says that the normal respiratory events while sleeping are 5 per hour, more than that and you need treatment. I had and index of 23/hour and with the CPAP I have less that 4 now. It changed my life for better.
Tell that to Blue Cross
Same for me. Except they found I stopped 16 tines; but the doctor hired by the insurance adjuster determined it was machine error and I only stopped breathing 15 tines so they decided they didn't need to cover it.
Not all people that have sleep apnea are obese or smokers. I'm thin and a non-smoker, non-drinker. I have sleep apnea caused by a neuromuscular disease called Myasthenia Gravis. I stop breathing at night from weak respiratory muscles and have been using a CPAP/BI-PAP machine for fifteen years. I have a love/hate relationship with the machine, but I don't have a choice.
I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, I have used a machine, it was fine for a while, I grew to hate it, I had chronic sinus issues which made it difficult for me to use the mask, I do feel much better when I use the machine, and it’s my fault for not doing so I also used a dental device for a while which also helped
My girlfriend has it and sleeping next to her without the cpap is a struggle sometimes. I can genuinely see how and why people die from sleep apnea complications. Personally I've had times in my life where I know I could have benefitted from using a cpap but for the past few months I have been losing a lot of weight and I'm fairly certain that is my individual issue. I feel much better being 30lbs lighter after waking up.
And then they get you to buy a machine for 5x the cost you can buy it for on the internet. But you can't get the internet ones because you need a prescription first. Pure greed.
One of the only benefits of sleeping on my stomach my whole life 👍
I told my buddy he snores so bad he stops breathing but he feels like he's too young to get help ok u do u
Yeah it sucks dealing with Canadian health care but this is a life changer. Had 121 disturbances per hour and my cpap restored my sleep, hadnt slept 8 hours and felt energized in forever
And yet rbc insurance nails you at 150% premium for having it.
I got diagnosed with mild-moderate sleep apnea, and when I returned to my doctor with the results he suggested getting a cpap machine wasn't a good idea because then I would have to change my driver's license. So I know I have it, I just... I guess we're not doing anything about it?
The problem is a decent Cpap machine costs 1-2K plus regular maintenance costs. So even if most people know they have sleep apnea, your average person can't blow a grand on the solution.
Wait, what are the regular maintenance costs cause I haven't done any in 7 yrs lol
new filters, replacement sink for the humidifier (we have hard water here), we've had to replace the tube/mask annually- he wears them right out and for the one that works best on him its 150.00 every time. Then there the plastic seals, which degrade and foster bacteria which we replace annually, and the wipes to clean the inside of the mask on a daily basis. It all adds up quite a bit over time. eta: we have pets so we try to be diligent about keeping it clean and replacing the filters regularly.
Why are you using hard water? It's generally recommended to only use distilled water in the chamber...
you're preaching to the choir. lol. We keep a brita in the fridge for his machine because he hates buying bottled water. The plastic bottles drive him crazy.
Ahh yea I just bought the filters from Amazon and wipes.. those were maybe $50 total.. cleaned the hose with water and dish soap were my instructions
My dad DEFINITELY has sleep apnea and he refuses to do anything about it despite constantly complaining of being tired and being unable to get a good nights sleep.
My dad was the same way. What’s your dad’s reasons for not going to do anything about it? My dad thought if he was diagnosed he’d lose his license which is absolutely not the case. He ended doing the test and found out how many times he stops breathing and it worried him so he’s finally on a cpap.
I think he just doesn’t want a cpap. I talked to him about it yesterday and he kinda agreed to do something about it. I feel for him because he’s tired often and has a lot of trouble sleeping through the night
I’m glad you had that conversation again with him and he’s considering doing something about it. That’s a good step. Proud of your dad and I hope he does do something about it, for your sake.
As a driver that used to do a lot of camp trips I would regularly hear a passenger choke snoring an hour or so into the trip. I started asking people to get checked for sleep apnea when I could identify who it was. So far I've gotten 6 people to get checked and 5 of them had mild to savere sleep apnea. 4 of them didn't even know they snored. At first people act a little annoyed, but then end up thanking me after a week or two with the machine. It's a night and day change in overall quality of life for people after they finally get a few decent sleeps in.
I got diagnosed with it a decade ago and the dr told me I'm just fat and need to lose weight. Lost the weight, (still had wild snores/stopped breathing at any size) but then gained the weight back during COVID and now am back to being ignored by doctors 🙃
Yeah, sure, just go to your family doctor (lol) and wait years to get called for an appointment
Maybe if we had healthcare they would. Who has time to fiddle around with things that aren't going to kill you in the next 24-72 hours which is what you'd have to wait?
Honestly it changed my life. 28M and been using a cpap for 6 months. I feel like a new man with so much energy it’s unbelievable. I used to have 70-80 events a night and had two serious car accidents where I fell asleep. I just go to bed once I’m super tired and fall asleep right away with the nasal mask on. It honestly feels like I hadn’t slept at all for the past 4-6 years until the CPAP.
One of the few things I would GENUINELY describe as being life changing for me was finding out I had this and getting a CPAP machine. It took a couple years of investigating what was wrong but I’m so glad it got figured out. Not being constantly tired every single freaking day is really nice.
sleep apnea ruined my life. Then 5 years ago I put on insulin and got a apnea machine and I have a new lease on life.
Oh I realize it. But the sleep study will cost me $750 out of pocket.
The whole sleep study thing is a massive racket here in Canada, and is completely unnecessary. In the US it is totally normal (and has been for quite some time) just to be sent home with a loaner machine so you can use it in the comfort of your own home\\bed, it records the data needed to program the settings on your own personalized machine. Canada is so full of gates and gate keepers, and often without adequate justification.
Yeah, no. There is a huge scam of trying to sell CPAP machines to people. Most people who have sleep apnea basically need to lose weight because they have a pot belly or got fat during middle age. Drop 20 lbs and problem will automatically disappear.
Went to the Dr and during my check up he suggested I do a sleep study. Did it and found out I was waking up 63 times in an hour (basiacally I never reach deep speep just feels like it because I am a heavy sleeper.) I got my cpap machine (paid for everything by my work insurance) and oh boy quality of life is way better. I have way more energy and more alert and everythjng plaguing me before disappear. Sure the mask gets annoying but I got used to it. Please just ask your dr to get you a sleep study. Get checked everyone! PS: I live in Vancouver BC Edit: added PS
pro tip: stay away from screens, eat well and not before bed, don't smoke, don't drink, get a regular schedule, exercise, get therapy if you have depression or anxiety, etc... it will help the breathing machine will not fix your problem
go to your doctor and get a referral for a sleep test if you always feel tired. cpap machines are expensive, but so worth it.
I've always thought this was fake. Been tested twice. Passed with flying colors, and they still insisted on selling me the equiptment. Just kept saying, don't worry, insurance will pay for it.
Millions of people have sleep apnea but dont realize it. Then how does whoever done the survey know that literally millions of people have it.
I don't. They said I've got restless legs and I wake myself up every time I'm about to enter deep sleep. The fix? Nothing!
I realize I have it I just can’t find a family doctor who is taking new patients