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?

[cooter]

You darn tootin their expensive. When I went to pick mine up in Phx I took a look at the billing sheet and it had a total of 50 cents short of $10,000!!! Luckily my insurance paid it all. Otherwise I would of been forced to get it at the VA.

CB, I don't know what VA is going to say when I file my claim for Central SA secondary to my knee medications. Mostly opiates. I kinda got lucky when I show positive evidence that the morphine is the culprit. My first test showed a small amount of SA, and 6 months later my Dr wanted another study done cause I was so fatigued during the day. Plus I just started taking the morphine shortly after the first test. The results came back as super severe CSA. So VA can't say it wasn't the morphine when I have the proof it was.

Coot

[COOL BREEZE]

3 cpac machines!! One broken my fault. Another one for a replacement. Now a 3rd one come up shortly. How much does a Bpap machine cost? I was told this is going to be 1 hell of an expense.

What kind of machine did you get? I thought they ran around 1400.00. As the VA has a contract, they get them much cheaper. Just like hearing aids.

My wife couldn't handle this crap. She moved on out to another room.. It was like sleeping next to a monster in bed with a mask, hoses, noises from the machine, and me getting up every 2 hours with my failed prostate surgery. You disconnect the hose, so all you hear is air blowing out-whow.. No wonder my relative doesn't let his wife use the machine. I think they would be divorced.

I wonder if I can get this service connected to something?

[cooter]

The machine I have is the newer one that is used for Central Apnea. It has a built in sensor that calculates how you breath and then if my breathing slows down or stops, it will sense this and start to breath for you since it already knows how you normally breaths. It's quite a machine. It also has a humidfier attached to it so your mouth doesn't get dried out.

Do you have PTSD, snoring problems, what did the Dr say is causing yours?

Coot

[COOL BREEZE]

I stopped breathing during a surgery operation. Woke up with a 50'hose down my throat! They can look in your mouth and see if you have a blockage which I do. And one sleep study confirmed it. Yes I snore, stop breathing, and just about croaked. They resurrected me so I can fight another day. At least I can't blame the VA on this one.

I need a BIPAP machine not a cpap machine this time! My chest always hurts with chest pain and breathing problems cause the CPAC doesn't ventilate-just keeps forcing air in-has to go somewhere. So it goes down my stomach, makes me bloated, crap all day,ect

[john999]

I know that taking clonazepam and oxy makes the apnea worse. I get this stuff from the VA. I am afraid if I filed a claim the VA would just cut off my pain meds because I get fentanyl and oxy. They have tried in the past to kick me out of the program because they say I have been getting narcotics too long. They got me dependent and now they say we made a mistake. Any drug that relaxes you is going to probably make apnea worse.

John

[cooter]

Your right John they do. Luckily I get my meds from a private Dr. I won't deal with the VA if I don't have to. Why don't you find a Pain Management Dr on the outside John. It's sooo much better and easier. That way you won't have to worry about VA taking you off the pain meds.

CB..I think the BIPAP is what I'm using. Btter get it from the VA cause it's really expensive. About 10 Grand.

Coot