AboutDave J. (Scoop0901) Expertise I can answer questions on sleep disorders, in general, and sleep apnea, specifically. I've been actively involved in providing direct support to individuals, family members, employers, and others on the topics of sleep and sleep disorders for more than six years, keep up-to-date on valid, peer-reviewed research, as well as treatment options.
I can answer general questions including, but not limited to polysomnography (PSG or sleep study) techniques; health issues associated with sleep apnea; compliance with a CPAP or BiPAP machine, mask selection and fitting; insurance coverage; ADA issues; and more, but cannot provide diagnosis over the internet.
Why can I answer only general questions? The question would be better asked why I will not answer specific questions. That's the easy part. Your health is unique, or, in redundant terms, "individually unique," meaning that while there's a lot of research that has been conducted in the world of sleep over the past few decades, there is none that can foretell any specific individual's future. What may hold true for your friend, for instance, may not be true for you. It's just like if both you and your best friend like to drive. You both want to own your own vehicles, having the freedom to move about a will, but your taste, your selection in vehicle is vastly different. For example, you may prefer an environmentally-friendly sub-compact car that gets 50 miles to the gallon, but your neighbor may prefer a H2 Hummer. The same holds true with health care issues. While one person may suffer issues X, Y, and Z, as fully supported by research, you may suffer issues D, T, and S, never experiencing anything the other person experienced.
Experience
As to my experience, let's start back on January 1, 2000, one of nine days I spent in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) unit of a Northeast Philadelphia hospital. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, along with a couple other sleep disorders, not to mention some very serious, very nasty health conditions related to many years of undiagnosed, therefore, untreated sleep disorders.
After somewhere around three months of fiddling with the equipment, adding a heated humidifier to the gear, and finding the right mask for me, I became 100 percent compliant with my BiPAP therapy. I have seemingly experienced what seems to be all the same, nay, all the classic problems everyone else who's ever used a CPAP, BiPAP, or other xPAP device has experienced, suffers. Things such as mask problems, humidification problems, among others.
I established a community education and support group, Awake in Philly, in Philadelphia, PA (USA), in May 2000, to help support and educate others about the true costs of sleep issues, including sleep disorders, sleep deprivation. We also work to educate the public, employers, and government and elected officials, as well as health care professionals about the dangers of these issues.
Since getting diagnosed, I've become a very vocal, very pro-active sleep activist, dedicated to helping others before they suffer the many woes that too often accompany untreated and undiagnosed sleep disorders and sleep deprivation.
In addition to working locally, I always think globally, yet act responsibly in all I do, yet have managed to extend the reach of my work nationally. I am involved with Awake In America, Inc., an all-volunteer national non-profit focused on sleep and sleep disorders. An all-volunteer organization is one where the people involved are committed to the efforts, and one in which no one is paid or compensated for their work with the organization, where all funds may be used for operations and actual work to fulfill the organization's missions. I know of no other non-profit corporation that can make that bold statement.
Awake In America was organized to assist others around the country to quickly and effectively launch support groups, but also to work on community awareness of sleep disorders, serve as an outreach source, among other issues. Awake In America also launched the only national xPAP Donation and Relief Program, which is designed to assist individuals without insurance or the financial means necessary, obtain equipment and supplies essential to treating diagnosed sleep apnea. We also have a national Sleep Study Relief Program, again, the first in the nation, and the only one of its kind in the nation.
Having spent more than 20 years as an investigative journalist and editor, I do careful, tedious research on all issues involving sleep and sleep disorders. I question everything in studies and reports, challenging findings, wanting to see if everything using strict scientific methods, uninfluenced by funding flowing from specific interest groups.
In the almost nine years of helping others, through Awake In Philly and Awake In America, as well as my personal blog on sleep, The Sleep Blog, I've done a tremendous amount of reading, much of which in the same books used to train sleep techs, as well as many of the same books that are on the shelves of many sleep specialists.
I've dealt with countless people, via email, instant messaging (IM), and on the phone, sometimes, basically doing the equivalent of providing a shoulder for them to lean or cry on. In the end, I offered ideas to help them overcome their challenges, and fortunately, I've been able to help a large majority of those people, but some required the hands-on, in-person approach of a physician or sleep specialist.
Question I used a CPAP machine while in high school. I was about 5'1 and 300 lbs. I am now 24, 5'3 and weight 200lbs. I no longer have due to many factors, I also no longer have any health insurance.
My bed partner complains about my snoring and it cause fights between us and I end up feeling powerless and like crap because my partner cannot get a good night's rest next to me. I use breath right stripes and they have helped a bit it still isn't enough. I have changed the position I sleep in but I always end up on my side/stomach. I have called my local sleep disorder center and total it would cost me upwards of 2000 dollars that I just don't have to get a new machine. Are there any other options or solutions? Thank you.
Answer Kev222
Many people have found themselves in similar situations, chiefly due to the lousy economy facing the nation right now. Fret not, though, as Awake In America, Inc. -- a 501c3 (national non-profit organization) -- had helped a few hundred people optain sleep studies and xPAP equipment through another organization prior to Awake In America's actual formation and incorporation. Because it was an unmet, long-standing, identified need that no other organization, company, or manufacturer was willing to tackle, this was the first project Awake In America worked on. Back in late 2004, Awake In America announced the creation of its its charity program -- the xPAP Donation and Relief Program; at the end of 2004, Awake In America announced the creation of its second charity program, the Sleep Study Relief Program.
Information about both of Awake In America's relief programs may be found at http://www.AwakeInAmerica.info/donaterelief/. The programs are open to U.S. citizens living in the U.S. Applications for our programs are linked from that page, as well.
Please note that Awake In America IS NOT affiliated, linked, or working with any other organization in its relief program efforts. Awake In America's programs are strictly handled on an individual basis, not through any other entity or organization, and no assurances can be made that any given application will be approved. Each application is considered based on its own merits, not upon any one given factor. To download files from Awake In America’s site, you must create a user account to become a site member. Visit http://www.AwakeInAmerica.info/Register to create a user account. Once you have a user account, you will be able to download the forms.
Individuals needing assistance must apply, ensuring they send completed applications, along with all documentation at the time of application. All applications are reviewed on an individual basis by one of several review teams around the country. Applications are approved based on medical necessity, such as with the Sleep Study Relief Program, medical necessity is greatly determined by documentation from qualified medical professionals who have treated your health issues over time, not a one-time notation. If you don’t have funds to have a family physician or primary care provider (PCP), please consult your county health department. Every county in the United States has a health program for low-income individuals; some programs are free, others may be on a sliding-scale fee. Check with your county for specific details.
The health care providers need to have documentation, over time, describing your complaints, as well as the physician’s own notations (observations) about your health, your status, and the health care provider’s findings or conclusions about your status. At a minimum, the health care provider needs to have seen you in the office at least four times, but the longer the doctor-patient relationship exists and the more notes that are in your records about your complaints over time, the better as this is what helps our review teams to determine the medical necessity.
Please be sure to read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) files on the site for the program that you're interested in, as neither FAQ has needed updating in over a year. Every question asked since inception of the program is listed in the file, so it's most likely any question you may have will already have been asked and answered, and as such, available in the FAQs.
When you read the FAQs, please be certain to read about our equipment policies. We can assure everyone who applies -- and is later approved by our Review Committee -- that they will receive an xPAP device, but we cannot always guarantee ancillary equipment (masks, tubing, etc.).
Awake In America accepts prescriptions for CPAP or BiPAP/bi-level devices only. The prescriptions must be written in a format as specified in our FAQ (please print a copy of the example prescription and take it to your physician when requesting the prescription). Prescription formats apply to all of our programs, the Sleep Study Relief Program, the xPAP Relief Program and Operation Restore CPAP (our disaster assistance program), so please be sure to review this information prior to sending your application.
If a hybrid device, such as an AutoPAP, a CFlex, BiFlex, etc., is requested, at least one full month of compliance data showing medical issues as to why a device different from CPAP or BiPAP is requested. CPAP and BiPAP are the gold standard in treating apnea. All other devices, the AutoPAP, the CFlex, the BiFlex are more for "preference" and provide additional bells and whistles. Since Awake In America receives a limited number of these types of devices, they are reserved for only those individuals who truly have medical need for such alternative devices.
As stressed throughout our applications, before submitting your application, please ensure **ALL** required documentation (as listed on the application, with full explanations and details in our FAQs about obtaining certain items, if necessary) is submitted at the time of application. Bear in mind, statements such as, "I am not working" is NOT proof of income. Please see our FAQ for answers to anything relating to our relief programs.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
-dave
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| Dave Jackson * http://sleep.scoop0901.net * Phila., PA.
| "It is funny about life: if you refuse to accept anything but the very
|best you will very often get it." -W. Somerset Maugham
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DISCLAIMER: Any information shared in this email is not intended to replace medical advice, nor is any information to be is interpreted as an attempt to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
