Anyone aware of a device that a dentist can make and install that extends the jaw forward to help relieve sleep apnea?
hazyworld, some are able to effectively treat their apnea with a dental device, but not everyone. Have an honest talk with a reputable provider about your chances of it working for you. They are designed to pull the lower jaw forward, and some complain of pain or have TMJ trouble. But some are willing to do anything to avoid using CPAP. I didn't like CPAP at first either. Are you on oxygen because you aren't using CPAP or with a CPAP?
Wondering if you are waking yourself up because of not breathing and the sleep apnea. I do that sometimes. Have you tried one of those dental appliances that pull your jaw forward? I can't tolerate cpap either and have had decent results with the dental appliance.
I doubt with your apnea they will give you xanax. It relaxes your muscles, slows down breathing and can make apneas worse.
It took me 3 months to adjust the dental devices to reach the optimum lower jaw advancement setting. I have tried both the cpap and TAP and Somnodent dental devices. It took me approx. one year to desensitize myself to the mask let alone to find the right cpap mask (nasal pillows) and pressure setting to alleviate my symptoms. Keep in mind with UARS you need only a lower pressure setting to keep your airway open. If you read Dr. Guilleminualt’s papers on UARS and posts of www.cpaptalk.
thanks for the response. another question. i don't want to wear a cpap so i got an appliance that pushes my lower jaw forward. it seemed to be working, but it makes my jaw hurt so bad throughout the day that i had to stop wearing it. just how dangerous is it to not wear anything?
Been on the CPAP for the last year. three months ago I had a septoplasty...All went well. Two weeks ago I had UPPP surgery and ever since the first night as soon as I fall asleep I start choking. Seems like even when I'm awake i can take a deep breath through my nose and feel my tonge/throat closing off. I"ve video taped myself sleeping the last few nights and it's happening about every 5 to 10 minutes. I'm choking on the inhale...
My husband suffers from numerous health related issues. His oxygen levels while resting (sitting up or lying down) drop to the low 70's. He uses a cpap for sleep apnea. In the past, he has used oxygen to assist with the low levels in addition to the cpap. I noticed his leg/back pain was less while using oxygen. We have recently moved from McAllen TX to Wichita KS. He has stopped using the oxygen and the pain has returned with a vengence not only in his legs/back, but his entire body hurts.
Did not help at all, but made CPAP a little more tolerable. (First few tries with CPAP gave me very bad sinus headaches.) RDI went up a little.
CPAP is not working well as I still have a lot of nasal blockage when I lay down. Wake up after about 3-4 hours with a very sore throat.
Tried oral appliance. Wake up after a few hours with a stuffed nose. Dentist noticed nasal blockage due to nose injury (football) and referred me to an ENT.
Have done 2 RF turbinate reductions.
Have they put you through a sleep study? A cpap might help it forces air into the airways to keep you breathing at night. I use one with my oxygen at night and it helps. You could just stop breathing and die as well as the things gipsie said. You may need to do this the rest of your life possibly. You won't know until you see your doctor. Stay calm and positive until then.
However, the 2 titration studies I had seemed to have been focused on apnea; the CPAP pressure used only reduced my RERAS to 12/hr hour, and the sleep fragmentation was worse than my diagnostic study.
I have used CPAP faithfully for 3 months, trying every setting from 5 to 9 cm. None of these pressures restore my sleep - I am waking every hour or so and feeling as tired as ever.
EEG:the total recording time of the polysomnogram was 6.6 hours. the total sleep time was 5 hours equating to a reduced efficiency of 76%. the total arousal index was moderately increased at 29 events/hour and the awakening index was elevated 8 event/hour. the latency to sleep onset was normal at 15 mintues, and the latency to consolidated sleep (5 mintues of stage 2 sleep) was normal at 30 mintues.
I'm a 37 y.o. female with sleep apnea and I am fully compliant with wearing my CPAP. Over the last two months, I've had three seperate episodes of waking from sleep and being actively choking. It feels to me like I'm choking on saliva however the episodes were quite serious in my opinion because when I wake it takes me a good few minutes to gain control and clear my airway. Its very upsetting when it happens because it requires a lot of effort to regain control of my breathing.
I agree with CarrerLady. This is the problem with UARS. It's how it's diagnosed on a formal sleep study. An apnea or hypopnea is any stoppage in breathing that's 10 seconds or longer, but if you stop breathing and wake up anywhere from 1-9 seconds, then it's not counted as an apnea or hypopnea. You have the expected high arousal index. Some of these will be RERAs (respiratory event related arousals) and others will be labeled as non-respiratory related.
I have a question, can this damage my heart? I use a cpap but still don't think I'm getting enough air. At least not through the day. I always feel out of breath and often feel light headed or off balance. I have pain all throughout my body and I have to assume the pain is from not getting enough oxygen. The numbness and pain I get in my hands and arms can be excrutiating and even sometimes in my legs. Even my lips go numb.
Hi you are not alone i to have Sleep Apnea i also on a CPAP machine are you , I think i am the opposite to you i cannot sleep without medication never mind can't have it all nice, please feel free to drop me a note if you like once again you are not alone.........
As my teeth move straight, my jaw would move forward. But as they move my jaw so its curved out, maybe my chin will be in further than it is now.
Also, does anyone know how my ortho is going to pull the teeth out? Dont understand how braces on my teeth are going to force my teeth and jaw to widen. Unless I'll have to wear head gear at night and that will pull my teeth out. I'll have to ask my ortho next time I see him. Maybe someone here knows.
I have been having chronic fatigue for a couple of years. Past year got so bad I almost had several MVA's. Finally went in and was tested. Severe sleep apnea and PLM's (alot of them). Cpap at 10cm helped daytime fatigue and I am sleeping better but still aytime fatigue. Provagil helps but not with driving. Ritalin, adderal not helping with that yet. Still testing for Hypersomnia vs Narcolepsy. Repeat sleep study showed very little Apnea but still some PLM's.
I was told that you correct it with a CPAP or variant of. I understand this, but what is causing this to happen. I had two sleep obstructions, four nuero, two mixed, and 29 hypopneas. I never went into Deep sleep NR3 or NR4. It recorded I had zero leg movements, but I kept popping off the leads on my legs from moving them. Venting aside, what is the path I must follow to get the underlying cause answered? Since childhood I have many symptoms of Narcolepsy and other sleep Disorders.
I have dental crowding. It causes some disalinement of my teeth. After 4 extractions, one on either side, top and bottom my teeth have closed the gap. I don't know if this is relevant but there are times if I open my mouth wide my jaw feels like it is locked. It is several seconds before I can get it to close.
I am wondering if you have any input about something that has happened to me a few times in life. The first time was about 30 years ago, but I remember these episodes because they are scary. Admittedly, when they happen, I am stressed, and haven't been sleeping very well, and I also have sleep apnea. What happens is, I feel asleep at the drop of a hat. I don't recall feeling tired, or like I need to go to bed. I just wake up, sitting in my chair, or whatever.
Recommended
