hypertension Sleep Apnea

[COOL BREEZE]

Just finished having a sleep study the other night. Halfway through, I was hooked up on the CPAC machine. I was asked afterwards if I thought my sleep was better.

The official results won't be known for another week. My guess is based on this test and the fact that I had respiratory failure due to low oxygen level I will be recommended to go on the CPAC.

I am already service connected for hypertension and cardiomegaly. Would I file this new claim requesting secondary to either one as sleep apnea?

[COOL BREEZE]

My VA doctor signed the order for me to have the CPAC machine without even seeing him. Its pretty good- I give the VA clinic the results of the sleep study from tricare and they authorize it. I have a class in 2 weeks to teach me about it, then they issue it on the spot.

I am still waiting for tricare to receive an order from my base doctor who originally authorized the sleep study. The sleep study clinic called today for me to come in and get fitted. Nope-no authorization from tricare so you are out of luck. Why should I pay a copy payment of 20% when I am going to get this free from the VA. Don't need 2 models.

VA is giving me a respironics pro 1 model set on the 1 setting.

[john999]

My sleep doctor said my studies showed I had heart arrhythmias while I was having the apneas during sleep. This is why we all want to treat sleep apnea as a very serious disease. I have really struggled with mine. I am going for the nose nozzle now since the full face mask irritates the bridge of my nose so bad it is bright pink in the morning even if I sleep well. My doctor says people die all the time from unknown causes that are really apnea. They fall asleep while driving and crash. They have heart attacks at night and die. They die while having naps during the day.

[71M10]

John,

You are so right on this.

I can't remember the comedian who said this but "I want to die peacfully in my sleep like my father, not screaming in horror like his passengers"!

Years ago, a friend of mine who stayed at our house for New Years, said during breakfast "Dude you got Apnea" I took him seriously, I had always thought I couldn't sleep due to stress and my back pain. But after a sleep study and a CPAP. I stopped waking up on my way to work, and after the first night of use I actually woke up the next morning amazed that I actually had a dream, couldn't remember when the last time I had a dream the previous 8-10 years.

I don't wake up on the wrong side of the road anymore, and my wife can actually sleep in the passenger seat now (I think she was to terrified before).

My father was diagnosed with apnea and couldn't/wouldn't use his machine and ultimately it killed him. Take this seriously people. Apnea will start doing things to you that you don't even realize. It messes with hormones, cortisal, generalized inflamatory reactions, after a while these small changes can push you over the edge for more serious chronic diseases.

Take care and sleep well!

[COOL BREEZE]

This is a very good thread. Everyone that has provided feedback on this subject matter are definitely providing Veterans information to better help there health. Sleep apnea is dangerous and you will die in your sleep if not treated.

[COOL BREEZE]

Now tricare has authorized the cpac machine for me. Of course that has a 20% copay. Has anyone here got 2 machines, one from the VA(free) and the one from tricare with co-pay. I am a little confused. Should I take both, or just wait for the free one from the VA in 2 weeks? And of course they record usage, so I probably should go with the VA one otherwise they could get me with defrauding the government. No use wasting as you can only use 1 at a time!

[71M10]

I have two machines (one from VA one from private insurance). I use my spare for travel. My VA machine has the Data Card (they have never asked to see it). When I had a C&P for Sleep Apnea I took the card in with me and the Doctor wouldn't look at it or any of the data on it. She indicated I don't need that! She whipped off one of those "a determination of whether apnea was present in service cannot be concluded without resorting to mere speculation" decisions. In my statement in support of claim I filed after reading the C&P I was sure to point out that the Physician refused to look at the data collection that would have given the VA the most up to date information on my apnea.

I can understand why they want to ignore private IMO's and Medical records, but I can't believe that they arn't willing to even look at the complete medical information that is in VA's system.

Best regards,