Sleep Apnoea and CPAP

I got my mad device from https://beacondentalsleep.ie/?ved=2ahUKEwjUrursnbyPAxXRVEEAHZ5gEGoQgU96BAgvEAQ

I found them excellent, sleeping great.

I got my results back this morning and it appears I only have mild sleep apnoea and dont require CPAP - which is great because I dont know how I would have got on with it TBH. I dont think I would have got used to sleeping with such an obtrusive thing on my face all night.

For anyone interested here are my results I got. - I am off to try and decipher the figures now.

Reflux is surprising because I have been on Zoton Fast-Tabs for years and been getting great results , hardly ever get heartburn and indigestion or gastric reflux that I used to regularly get before taking Zoton.


xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Date typed: 10.09.2025

Re: Mr. Andrew DOB: 09.06.1965

Background:

Query OSA - Fitbit recording desaturation. No significant sleep disordered breathing on Watch Pat testing 07/08/2025.

Diagnoses:

1. Gastroesophageal reflux.
2. BMI 28.8 at 90.8 kilos.

Investigations:

Watch Pat 07/08/2025:

AHI and ODI 4.5 and 3.9 (normal <5).

No significant hypoxic burden: mean SP02 94%, nadir 82%, TST <90% 1.3 minutes, 0.3% of sleep. Reduced sleep efficiency on night of Watch Pat attributable to presence of chest sensor: Total recording time 8 hours 34 minutes, total sleep time 7 hours 24 minutes

Very mild positional sleep apnoea, AHI and ODI 11 and 10 respectively in supine position (25% of night).

Mean snore level 40dB.

Dear Dr,

The above named patient's recent sleep study was passed for my attention and reporting today.

Results are summarised above. I understand Andrew also undertook lung function testing which is reassuring with no evidence of obstruction evident on spirometry.. Andrew had returned a note with his Watch Pat device to say he found it a little intrusive. It took him longer to initiate sleep and to regain sleep following an awakening as he was aware of the device.

On the night of the study he retired at 01:40am and was in light sleep by 02:15am. Over the course of the night he averaged a maximum of 5 pauses in his breathing per hour which is within normal range. During pauses he did not drop his oxygen precipitously. This facet of his study is reassuring from a cardiovascular perspective. As alluded to in the summary, sleep efficiency (time asleep versus time in bed) was somewhat reduced. This was driven by the longer time it took for him to get to sleep and the longer time it took for him to regain sleep when waking to go to the toilet overnight around 04:00am.

Andrew did have mild sleep apnoea when he moved onto his back around 7:40am in the morning.

He had 10 pauses per hour during this time, but again there was no precipitous decline in his oxygen. Of note he was in the supine position <25% of the total night.

From our perspective, this is a very reassuring study. I would encourage Andrew to take off his Fitbit or sleep tracker device when when going to sleep. The commercial sleep trackers currently available, whilst useful for flagging there may be an issue, have served their purpose once further diagnostics have been completed. Thereafter, they can undermine sleep by shifting focus to arbitrary sleep metrics.

the mad device has put me back to normal, I get between 6/8hrs solid sleep every night now without walking up. The cpap was a life saver to begin with I was completely shattered and badly needed it, the more time marched on the harder I found it to tolerate, I’d fall asleep ok but wake up around 3am and really struggle to get back to sleep, it could take maybe 2hrs so I ended up been shattered again.

I don’t seem to have any side effects as in drooling etc, the odd morning I might have a slight pain in my bottom front middle teeth for a minute, I’m assuming that’s from the pressure of my jaw trying to go backwards. It’s a thing of nothing though.

Getting used to it wasn’t an issue, it’s gradual process as in you get multiple splints as you can’t just stretch out your jaw muscles fully in the one go, I’d have to go count but I think it was about 6 the dentist made for me, each one pulls your jaw a little more out, you might wear one for 2 weeks then move onto the next level.

VHI wouldn’t cover anything, I’m going to go to battle with them over it though. The cost I’d have to pull out the receipt but it was around €1600/1700 mark, that covered all visits, only extra was I had to pay for the 2 night at home sleep study at the end.

I’d highly recommend getting your sleep study results form the doctor and giving them to the clinic, they’ll have a good chat with you then before you decide if you want to go visit them.

I think you can get referred through the HSE, I’m not sure you’d have to ask them but from chatting to the Dr there he said a lot of people come through that route due to failure with cpap, I wasn’t on the public system so not sure how all that works, my GP gave me a referral letter when I told him things weren’t working any more with the cpap.

I went with Beacon Dental Sleep, I’d recommend them, I’m not from Dublin, not sure where else you’d even go. Look for Edel if you’re giving them a call, she’ll answer all your questions. There’s no charge for the conversation.
Get that sleep study from the consultant as they’ll need it to see are you even suitable.

Quick query, how often do people clean their masks and Tubes etc, Do you use soap and water or has anybody bought a CPAP cleaner - UV light sanitizer.

Would you recommend the UV light sanitizer?

Went back to the doc to go through the 2 night sleep test results and check my jaw and teeth hadn’t went out of line, ahi gone from 49 to 1, pretty much in the clear, lose some weight, back for a check up in 6mts but it’s all good. Letter gone to the consultant and my GP to say all ok the mad device is a success.

interesting, had my follow up aswell and mine said the same. If I can loose another 7Kg, then redo sleep test and see, he also recommended meds to help loose the weight, seeing GP next week. Less weight = no CPAP, lower BP … win win

I also tried MAD but couldn’t handle it. It was a solid lump and I found it hard to unhook, got terrible jaw pain and drooled ridiculously.

How do people dry their CPAP hoses. I clean mine and hang it up, then before use I connect to machine, turn on and try to shake the loose drops out of it, but its never completely dry.

I see electric dryers online but not sure they are worth the effort

not necessarily if it’s not tracking your blood oxygen at night.
what’s going on, could be a something a few supplements might fix. Magnesium with glycine etc.

you should try taking nac, makes it easier to breathe as it thins nasal mucus, reduces nasal inflammation and improves sinus drainage.
Loads of other benefits but it should do away with the need for nasal strips, you’ll be breathing better all round.
600mg a day, maybe bump it up 1200mg a day if you’re fully blocked up for a week or two, get a hint of cold or flu hit it with 1800mg a day and you’ll bounce over it.
I take 600mg a day, have tried nasal strips, sprays etc.

Don’t take it just before bed. You should notice a difference in the first 72hrs after a week you’ll have better nose breathing.

Talk to a doctor if you’re taking medication like blood thinners, history of stomach ulcers etc.

I doubt it , it’s a medically prescribed device and can’t be handed out at will.

Maybe someone like Direct Medical can take it and refurbish it to give to someone who is struggling to Pay for one