A recent study shows that playing he Digeridoo helps those with sleep apnea. See article

In 2008 a couple of Brazilian college students made a study about “The use of Didgeridoo for  people with anxiety”. They study stated that the instrument (didgeridoo) can lower a person´s anxiety by practicing it 20 minutes a day. For 7 weeks the average rate was 10% (ten percent) at anxiety decreasing. [This information from Wiki.]

Do humidier trays need to be made of ceramic or glass?

CPAP users have a particularly high volume of repetitive surface area air exposed to plastics through their breathing machines.

Future CPAP manufacturers will soon hopefully be changing their water heating humidifier trays to actual glass, or composite ceramic material. The breakdown of chemicals in some plastics can result in the formation of vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. To be honest I”m not sure what kind of plastic my humidifier is made of.

My concern is when small amounts of vinyl chloride can dissolve in water especially when heated. This is for much the same reason you don’t heat bacon on a plastic plate in a microwave. Fortunately in a CPAP the humidified air leaves the chamber, cooling occurs and isn’t as much of a concern. Mine has a metal heating plate, but the plastic is heated as well I’m sure.

I have not as yet seen or read any studies on this concern, but it was one I was thinking about when falling asleep using my CPAP. The use of CPAP probably far outweighs the risks. But perhaps the heated bottom portions of the humidifiers can be designed out of Pyrex, ceramic or glass composite instead of plastic.

Better safe than sorry.

Related:

Polycarbonate bottles banned from Europe.
Environmental Health Perspectives

For the first time since starting my cardiac incident I have had enough energy to go out do yard work, and yesterday I also went to athletic club.

Like the first night, I slept through the entire night without sleep medication. I do find that I am sleeping longer lately, probably because of so much long term sleep deprivation. I am getting so used to the CPAP that I feel uncomfortable not using it.

I did have some nasal congestion when sleeping on my side, but it wasn’t bad. Most of the night I lsept on my back.

I am hoping that in future weeks I continue to loose weight as a result from using the machine. We’ll see about that.

Day One: I am less skeptical today about the CPAP phenomenon.

My study was pretty conclusive about the correlation between my sleep apnea hand my heart condition. My technician, (is that what you call them?) at Second Wind showed me how to use “the device.”  Most importantly though was his revelation of my second CPAP sleep study.

My graphs showed that inevitably I had a heart palpatation or arrhythmia with every significant apnea. Without question my heart and my body have struggling to procure oxygen every night for a very long time. That will now change.

 
 I can take heart (pun intended) now that a major issue is being resolved. The technician explained to me this is why insurance companies are gun-ho on providing CPAP machines; they prevent so many very expensive diseases they are worth the investment.

There are some things that I cannot deny about my first sleep night with my CPAP

• I slept for 9 hours for the first time any many months without medication
• I felt a little less dizzy in the morning.
• I didn’t get up 5 times in the middle of the night.

Sleeping on my belly however is a thing of the past, which is no big issue, but a joy I will miss.

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Directly Related: CPAP on 2nd Day

I am a bit skeptical, but we’ll see.
I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. After a sleep study showing 47 breathing obstructions per hour I qualify to join the CPAP tribe. How did I get here?

In June, my friend Andy Rusten suggested that I have a sleep study. It is common knowledge among my friends that when I sleep, I snore like a rhinoceros in the dead of winter.

A typical Cpap Machine.

Andy said “if you don’t have the test, I’ll come back to Salem and ring your neck.” He explained that he had a friend that had passed away for failure to use a CPAP machine. He warned me in my situation failure to be on CPAP could result in a heart attack.

“Continuous positive airway pressure” machines are prescribed by a physician for those of use who for whatever reason stop breathing when we are sleeping.

Unfortunately the Sleep Disorders clinic was booked for months. It took me a referral and an appointment with a Pulmonologist just to get the sleep study test. Ca-ching!

Little did I know that before I would even have my first sleep test, I would have a heart attack while traveling, pushing to the brink even higher importance of the getting a CPAP sometime soon. So by the time I had an opportunity to have a test, I jumped in at the opportunity the same day I met with the physician. My doctor said, “I want him scheduled for a sleep test as soon as possible.”

Yet still I have mixed feelings. I am viewing the whole idea with some degree of skepticism. Im not sure I want to be relegated to cuddling up with a machine every night; one that breaths for you when you don’t. There is alot of hype that goes with this sleep disorder industry it seems. I have heard from friends, neighbors and online blogs that, “you’ll loose weight”, “you’ll sleep like you never have before,” “you won’t have to sleep as much” and “you’ll have energy. Then there are the blogs seeded with advertising links who’s links mysteriously lead you to look at a particular CPAP technology or marketing for accessories. There are even marketing scams requiring you to put up $250 for voice an opinion. No doubt about it, buying a CPAP is an expensive investment. I am hoping my purchase is not like purchasing from a fly by night waterbed dealer in the 80’s.

Darth "CPAP" Vader breathes easy.

I am wondering if the phenomenon is like so many other exciting medical trends, when TMJ surgery, ear tubes for kids, and fen-fen prescriptions to loose weight were a popular medical hype. These were medical trends that have gone by he wayside or crashed and burned for whatever reason. I wonder if this one will too.

But my head is spinning, because I have not been sleeping well. My energy is lower than ever, and I am hoping by getting on the CPAP machine that serveral health issues maybe resolved.

On my second sleep test night two weeks ago I had my first chance to use a CPAP. It was at that point I realized I might needed it. Whenever I start to relax, the machine would fill my lungs for me. So some ways I’m trying to be optimistic. However when I was woken up by the technologist, I wanted to sleep more. I was not refreshed. However I was quite sleep deprived for having been in hotel rooms for 4 nights.

I am still waiting on my prescription to get a CPAP. I am anxious to see if it will help. Time will tell. I will let you know. In the mean time, I’m avoiding doing impressions of Darth Vader. For now it’s a little close to home.

It’s been 2 weeks now and still don’t have my prescription for a CPAP. So I’m getting a bit anxious.

- – - – Related – -

“…our experience has shown that nationally there is only about a 55% compliance rate with CPAP therapy,”

via CPAP Retail Store Opens Tomorrow « Dawggin’ It

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Follow Up Blog: My First Night Date with CPAP