Question 1

is "provent therapy" from sleep apnea as effective as a cpap or at least 50% effective, compared to cpap?

Accepted Answer

PROVENT vs CPAP: aa30 ~ this article shows that PROVENT is NOT recommended as an alternative to CPAP in moderate to severe sleep apnea. So stay on the CPAP for now

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23723343

Question 2

what can i expect after getting oral appliance therapy for apnea? i'm schedule to go in and talk to my dentist about an oral appliance for sleep apnea, but i'd like a little heads up about what to expect afterwards before i go. will an oral appliance chan

Accepted Answer

The : The most effective dental devices work by pushing the lower jaw forward, thereby opening the air passage behind the tongue. Most are custom made by dentists and are adjusted periodically to find the most comfortable and effective position for the individual patient.
 Some things to expect: 
dry mouth when it occurs is usually transient and can often be compensated for by simple changes to the appliance. A small subgroup of patients has persistent dry mouth that is impossible to accept. There are patients with sjorgrenâ€™s syndrome, medication side effects and other conditions that predispose them to dry mouth and there are many over the counter and prescription remedies available. I have found two products that patients report great success with use. The first is rinsinol by oral b. It is not marketed as a product for dry mouth but as a product for treating oral ulcers but it provides excellent coverage of mucosal tissues. The second product is a prescription item made specifically to treat oral mucositis associated with chemotherapy. I use it in an off label method with amazing success. The product is gel-clair and it comes packaged in a box of 21 small packages meant to be diluted with two tablespoons of water and rinsed around the mouth. I found the product roughly equivalent to rinsinol when used in that fashion and very expensive. I have many patients who use this product full strength and apply a small amount to their tissues and find it miraculous in how it controls dry mouth all night long. An advantage to the off label method is one package can be used for several nights making it inexpensive to use. It also works extremely well for oral ulcers in its undiluted form.
 A problem frequently seen with oral appliances is pet dogs and cats have an affinity for eating, chewing and destroying them. Patients also are more likely to leave an oral appliance somewhere because it so small and does not require a special case.
 Bite changes are a more common phenomenon with oral appliances and are also easily reversible early on. When the patient wears the appliance that keeps their jaw in a different position for eight hours healing occurs in joints and adaptation will often occur. Dentists usually give their patients exercisers or positioners to return to their original position. Patients are often not aware of the bite changes. When patients are aware of the changes about 50% find them to be favorable. It is rare to see a patient discontinue use due to the bite changes. Dentists are often more upset with the bite changes than the patients are.
 There is also a subgroup of patients who experience tm joint problems or muscle pain when wearing appliances. These problems are almost never a reason to not use oral appliances but they need to be addressed and treated by a dentist trained to deal with TMJ disorders.
 The remarkable fact is that 90â€“95% of oral appliance users report long-term satisfaction with their treatment. The problems associated with appliance use are usually easily solved or well tolerated by patients. Many patients who start with treating their sleep apnea problems find that correcting the underlying TMJ disorders an advantage not a problem. Similarly, many patients who start seeking treatment for TMJ disorders find that they move on to treating their sleep problems. Because the underlying problems are the same it turns out that treating either problem usually helps both problems.
 Good luck!

Question 3

what are treatments for obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

Some treatments: The first necessity is make sure you have a sleep study.  The treatments will depend upon the severity of the osa.  It can be mild, moderate or severe.  Treatments vary from change of life style (loss of weight, nutrition, exercise;) surgery to remove some tissue in the back of the throat; oral mouthpieces and CPAP machines.  Rely upon your medical professional to discuss which option may be best.

Question 4

hi doctors. are there any treatments for sleep apnea that use more portable masks or equipment? the old cpap masks seem to be very bulky?

Accepted Answer

: The newer CPAP devices are much smaller and the interface with your nose and mouth devices are much more comfortable and manageable. I would check with your doctor and ask for a referral to a medical supply company that can demonstrate these new editions to the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Question 5

am sure i don't have sleep apnea.  am not overweight. father.mother.brother also snore. . i have large tonsils could it be the reason. treatments?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: It is possible, but impossible to tell without a sleep study first.  See a sleep physician.

Question 6

hi doctors. what treatments do you recommend for both sleep apnea and for very frequent urination at night?

Accepted Answer

: The doctor who diagnosed sleep apnea should also treat you for it. There are many causes for the second symptom. Have your urine checked and prostate examined by a Urologist in the meantime reduce fluid intake after 6p.m., do not drink coffee, tea or alcohol  in the evening.

Question 7

very good morning doctors! what are the latest treatments for sleep apnea? are there any other options other than that big cpap machine?

Accepted Answer

Nasal passages: Opening the nasal passages with strips may be one option. Discuss whether removal of tonsils and adenoids may be helpful in maintaining adequate airflow during sleep.

Question 8

are alternative treatments to mild obstructive sleep apnea(ahi of 8/h) other than cpap/bipap!

are there any side effects that will arise from them?

Accepted Answer

Weight management: Depending on a patients weight, getting closer a BMI under 25 may be more successful in the long term for OSA and a variety of other health issues.

Question 9

child with sleep apnea that does not stop breathing or snore and can not use cpap! alternative treatments?

Accepted Answer

Adenotonsillectomy: First of all, make sure that the sleep apnea is confirmed with a sleep study.  If your child does have sleep apnea, adenotonsillectomy (removal of the adenoids &amp; tonsils surgically) is often curative in children.  From NIH: "Adenotonsillectomy for OSA results in a dramatic improvement in respiratory parameters as measured by polysomnography in the majority of healthy children."

Question 10

dad has severe sleep apnea. refuses to wear cpap. snores loudly and profusely. any other treatments or suggestion?

Accepted Answer

Help him to undergo: his prescribed right treatment for his long term wellbeing and no short cuts . If he has weight problem         ( most likely overweight )  make him to  loose weight .Don't look for shortcuts as there are none , make sure he keeps his doctor's appointments.

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Doctor answers about:

Positional therapy for sleep apnea

A member asked:

Is "provent therapy" from sleep apnea as effective as a cpap or at least 50% effective, compared to cpap?

A member asked:

What can i expect after getting oral appliance therapy for apnea? i'm schedule to go in and talk to my dentist about an oral appliance for sleep apnea, but i'd like a little heads up about what to expect afterwards before i go. will an oral appliance chan

A member asked:

What are treatments for obstructive sleep apnea?

A member asked:

Hi doctors. are there any treatments for sleep apnea that use more portable masks or equipment? the old cpap masks seem to be very bulky?

A member asked:

Am sure i don't have sleep apnea. am not overweight. father.mother.brother also snore. . i have large tonsils could it be the reason. treatments?

A member asked:

Hi doctors. what treatments do you recommend for both sleep apnea and for very frequent urination at night?

A member asked:

Very good morning doctors! what are the latest treatments for sleep apnea? are there any other options other than that big cpap machine?

A member asked:

Are alternative treatments to mild obstructive sleep apnea(ahi of 8/h) other than cpap/bipap! are there any side effects that will arise from them?

A member asked:

Child with sleep apnea that does not stop breathing or snore and can not use cpap! alternative treatments?

A member asked:

Dad has severe sleep apnea. refuses to wear cpap. snores loudly and profusely. any other treatments or suggestion?

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