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 definitely have the right attitude and that kind of attitude is going to help keep you alive. You know it's kind of funny, whenever I get so frustrated with these masks I tell myself the hell with it, I'm not wearing this crap anymore, I get more sleep without this thing. You know the old saying, "cutting off your nose to spite your face" well that's me sometimes when I wear the mask. Then when I settle down I'll put it back on, that is until I get frustrated again...lol

Coot

[john999]

I do breath better with the mask. I don't love the mask but I can sure tell when I don't wear it. I got one that fits pretty well at last. You have to be persistent. I have a good doctor and he is no VA hack.

John

[COOL BREEZE]

I had a partial mask, just for the nose only. All I did was make me itch all night. The tech tried a full mask(fitted several tell I was comfortable with one) I am still waiting for the final doctors orders for the 2nd sleep test! I wonder how many do you need!

[john999]

As many as it takes, Cooter, for you to be able to breath. This is your life that is at stake really. If VA is supplying your labs and masks they really don't care if you live or die. I am surprised they don't have a crematorium right on sight. Does vet have relatives....NO!......burn em.

[cooter]

You couldn't be any more right than that John. I went to see my sleep doc about a month ago to complain about not being able to sleep at night and have a very hard time getting thru the day. He told me that I look like a mess and gave me a prescription of "nuvigil" which is for people who has SA and night work people. Basicly it's like a form of mild speed. I been feeling alot better since I started taking them. Before I couldn't get behind the wheel without nodding off, or just trying to concentrate when people talk to me. I'm not kidding, I was totally burnt out. Just talking to people would tire me out. I truly hope none of you folks are going thru this. My Dr did say I am a high risk candidate for a stroke or heart attack because of my AHI which is 87.4. It's all due to the pain meds I'm on. When I asked him if there's anything I can do, he said sure there is, stop taking the pain meds and live with it. Well that's not in my near future plans, so damn if you do and damn if you don't situation. I wish I had the OSA instead of CSA if I'm going to have it.

Coot

[COOL BREEZE]

Unbelievable- i received the results of my latest sleep study(not by the VA-arete/stars ) yesterday. I took the package into the VA to have them write a doctors order this am, received a call back this pm from the sleep coordinator that she had it and it was approved! Wanted me to pick it up tomorrow, however I am going on a road trip to San Diego tonight and will pick it up next Thursday. Probably saw how bad it was and expediated it per me and the sleep apnea coordinator. I was still snoring on the cpac(loud, ect) Once they switched it to the bpac machine and increased everything, most of that disappeared. In fact, it shows I actually slept for 4 hours straight. I haven't done that in about 15 years.

Itsn't a bpac more expensive than a regular one. My VA keeps these in stock!