Obstructive Sleep Apnea is serious. A recent Swiss study shows that even a short break in using the CPAP is harmful:
“Within 14 days, they had significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure, and deterioration in vascular function. The results suggest that even a short break in CPAP therapy has a negative effect on the cardiovascular system … OSA patients need to continuously use CPAP….” …according to US News and World Report. Presumably, that goes for those of us on the BIPAP machine too.
Then there is …
- Lack of treatment can lead to mental confusion, dementia and Alzheimer’s.
A physician could have answered the questions that ensued.
- New Medicare rules say the patient must be on the machine 4 hours a night for the entire CPAP or BIPAP rental period – no matter what – or lose the machine.
As a patient with RLS, I take meds for – Mirapex that no longer works – that is worrisome. The fact is sometimes I cannot stay in bed where the only relief from RLS is to stand up and/or walk.
When I asked about the 4-hour Medicare rule when a person has other medical conditions, I was told I had to make the choice – the BIPAP or RLS. – Not a choice at all for me and many patients like me.
A plus here is that the last session was so bad that I spent the entire night standing up using my laptop at the kitchen counter and came to the conclusion I think a food allergy may play a part in my RLS problem. I will talk to my doctor about it.
Harrison has a superb respiratory department team – professional people, open and transparent. Patients need to be educated and Harrison is stepping up with professionals educating us….but we need more physician involvement to answer the tough medical questions for pulmonary support group patients. In Kitsap County, it is past time for physician pulmonary education now.
COPD and Sleep Apnea is a huge medical dilemma where ignorance might well be bliss for the patient…but not in the long term. What happens when we do not get oxygen to our organs?
For starters, we lose brain cells without the oxygen to sustain them. Our lessor organs begin to fail because the larger organs grab the available oxygen first.
Incontinence is only one of many issues that can occur from lack of oxygen to organs…
No doubt, most of my brain cells are long gone so I have one less thing to think about. My point here is to suggest you not to lose yours if it can be avoided. Patient education is key to having the best quality of life possible with any medical condition and we NEED lung support group physician involvement.
http://pugetsoundblogs.com/copd-and-other-stuff/2011/08/13/do-lung-doctors-in-kitsap-county-neglect-support-group-patient-education/
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute have more about sleep apnea treatments.
Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/SleepApnea/SleepApnea_Treatments.html
Better Breather’s meeting Wednesday… http://www.harrisonmedical.org/home/calendar/4897
If anyone needs a ride, let me know…the car is super clean.
Thanks for reading… Sharon O’Hara
We all cheer for the GREAT MEDICAL CARE already in Kitsap County…and for more Pulmonary Physician support group education.
