The snoring bear: Part 4
Well, back to this patient’s story — you can read prior episodes of this story online at cdapress.com. Just search on “Snoring Bear.”
He had to have a follow-up CPAP titration sleep study back in the sleep lab. This test was to find out the pressure settings best for his CPAP. Without this test, the CPAP company would only be guessing at what pressure to use. If it was too low, the airway could still collapse and if it was too high it might blow him up so much that his eyes popped out!! Or he was blown out of his bed!
Just like the first study, everything remained the same — the wires, the camera, the technician. But this time, the MASK was added. That was an interesting experience. The next day, with a few instructions (which he quickly forgot), he was sent home with his very own mask, hose, and CPAP. But he would be able to keep it only if he was compliant and this was measured by a “secret chip” in the machine. It kept track of how long he was using the machine.
Initially, he would tear the mask off during the night without remembering doing that. It would be on the floor in the morning. But as time went on, he was able to keep it on a little longer every night. The only problem was that he kept getting tangled up in the hose as he tossed and turned during the night. And when he turned at night, the mask would start blowing air into his eyes.
And after about 3 months, he found noncompliant patients have a reason to be noncompliant. Maybe untreated obstructive sleep apnea is better that being treated with CPAP. So he joined the ranks of the noncompliant and put his CPAP in the closet just like Reggie White (retired NFL player, pastor, and father of 3 children) did. Of course, Reggie died at 43. And the patient began life with untreated OSA because no doctor told him there were options besides CPAP to treat OSA.
And, like most people, noncompliant patients don’t want to go back to the doctor and say that they had “failed” treatment.
So, back to snoring, bruised ribs, and the rest of his symptoms. Remember, those with untreated OSA lose an average of 8 -10 years of life.
Come back next week to see what happened to this patient when he tried to get life insurance!
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Dr. Donald Johnson founded Northwest Treatment Center for Snoring & Sleep Apnea in Coeur d’Alene to help patients stop their snoring and live free with no limits! Obstructive sleep apnea is usually able to be treated with a small oral appliance. Dr. Johnson’s office is at 114 W. Neider Ave., near Costco. The website for more information is www.NWSleepDoc.com and the office phone is (208) 667-4551. Schedule a free consultation appointment today!