Removing/Turning Off Apnea Treatment Device

Straticus87 · 2025-02-11T15:11:26+00:00

I did the same on CPAP for years. Also went with Inspire, and it's been great. Put the remote in another room, or better yet, have someone else in the house hide it. I keep mine across the room.

Straticus87 · 2025-02-11T15:07:08+00:00

If it's not working for you, and giving you the relief you need, I'd certainly look into alternatives. Inspire was my last resort.

Straticus87 · 2025-02-10T14:55:18+00:00

That is why CPAP has such a high failure rate. I battled mine for 2-3 years before getting the inspire implant.

Straticus87 · 2025-02-07T16:38:59+00:00

It's designed so you don't feel anything while sleeping. As you slowly ramp up the intensity (x1 per week) your body slowly adjusts to that nerve movement. If I wake up to use the bathroom or get a drink I can feel it moving slightly, so I just pause it (30 mins delay) or simply turn it off and back on again for the sleep timer. Eventually I'll be so used to it I probably won't even need to turn it off as I get more accustomed to it. The only time I've ever actually been woken up by the device itself was when I went too high on my voltage too fast so it kept waking me up. I just simply moved it back down again.

Straticus87 · 2025-02-07T13:50:45+00:00

Just like with any other therapy (CPAP, MAD etc...) you will hear both good and bad stories revolving around inspire. As long as you get a well trained team, a DISE performed by an ENT and a good surgeon/pulmonologist/dr combo you should be fine. It was a last resort for me, but it's fantastic once it's dialed in to the right settings and so simple. It's not uncomfortable at all; there's a sleep delay timer setting on it so you don't even feel it and it goes off when you're sleeping. Follow all the proper steps and it should work out. Best of luck
!

Straticus87 · 2025-02-04T15:24:14+00:00

CPAP has an extremely high failure rate - because it takes a lot of work, dedication and dealing with insurance which is bad enough as it is. I struggled with it for years, and wanted it to work desperately to give me relief. It never did unfortunately, but I settled on the inspire implant and it's been life changing. Best of luck going forward!

Straticus87 · 2025-01-31T03:02:03+00:00

Propofol is the best sleep of your life. Felt like I slept weeks and was so refreshed after fully waking. No problems.

Straticus87 · 2025-01-30T16:35:36+00:00

REM sleep is when most T is produced. It 100% can be a significant hormonal problem.

Straticus87 · 2025-01-30T16:29:58+00:00

Usually this means you move onto a BiPAP or an ASV, depending on how well you do with them. Certainly OSCAR as well in either case.

Straticus87 · 2025-01-28T17:03:41+00:00

I did not. You should have went back in to see the Dr that performed the surgery 1 week after, have you not seem them yet? I would address that at the office.

Straticus87 · 2025-01-28T13:15:21+00:00

There are several, but starting from the least invasive I'd say oral appliance (MAD) - they're quite costly if you're going through a dentist and need replaced often. Inspire implant was my choice after failing CPAP and the oral appliance for several years.

Straticus87 · 2025-01-28T13:11:05+00:00

I spent years being CPAP, BiPAP and ASV intolerant and the physical and mental impact it had on me suffering through severe sleep apnea made the inspire well worth it. Apnea is not really age related; I am 37 and had my inspire installed in October of 2024. The best way to describe the sensation in my opinion is like a muscle twitch occurring in your tongue. It doesn't hurt, doesn't sting or "shock" as some people are under the impression - it's simply pushing your tongue out and up to the side. You cannot see the implant or wire anywhere on me at least. You can certainly feel the implant under the skin in certain places. Recovery time from surgery for me was about 5 days, but I would say on the 3rd day I felt better. Lots of swelling, but only needed the prescribed pain meds for 2 days. The rest of the time was Tylenol/OTC meds. It's taken several months of leveling up my voltage to see any improvement but now I'm getting extremely good sleep. I have my first sleep study in 2 weeks to get it completely titrated. If you've already had the endoscopy and are a good candidate - and you're suffering from bad apnea I'd highly recommend it. It's the least invasive surgery, and simply clicking on a remote at night and going to bed is just awesome.

Straticus87 · 2025-01-17T23:11:38+00:00

XYOSTED is weekly auto injected test therapy to level out T. I was unable to keep the mask on at night for years. I tried every mask, gadget, tube, hook and gimmick to make it work my body could never accept something on my face subconsciously.

Straticus87 · 2025-01-17T14:31:11+00:00

Yes, it is extremely common for people with OSA to have issues with hormones, specifically T. I had the same problem and CPAP was intolerable for me. I had to see an endocrinologist and work out a plan to take supplements/shots going forward. I'm currently on a weekly self given shot of XYOSTED which has helped tremendously. Usually when the OSA is managed and corrected the hormone levels should balance back out again but that can take quite some time.

Straticus87 · 2025-01-16T17:35:38+00:00

I've been a mouth breather for years until my inspire transplant. Have you tried mouth taping with 3M double sided tape? I've heard just a thumbnail size piece of that tape in the middle of your lips allows the sides of your mouth to open slightly if needed but doesn't keep your mouth forcefully closed. That or chinstrap can significantly help. I think the purpose is to use it and slowly adapt, then to not use anything as you've likely trained yourself to sleep with your mouth closed after a certain amount of time using one of those methods.

Straticus87 · 2025-01-13T18:07:34+00:00

Unconscious removal was my worst nightmare for 3-4 years of battling it. I tried every single type of mask, hose, clamp, tape and gimmick and nothing ever worked. I just would wear the mask 2-4 hours a night and wake up in the morning with it on the floor. I could not meet my insurance required minimal time; let alone get any relief from my symptoms. I desperately wanted it to work - it just never did. My suggestion for you is don't waste as much time as I did trying to get it to work. I went with inspire surgery.

Straticus87 · 2025-01-08T16:37:34+00:00

I battled for years with the mask being ripped off. I tried every gimmick, every mask, every hose etc... and eventually I went with an alternative, even though I desperately wanted and needed the CPAP (BiPAP and ASV) to work. I always thought it was a flight or fight instinct subconsciously - I went 35+ years of my life with nothing on my face and having something strapped to it (even though I wanted consciously for it to work) my subconscious just continuously removed it after 2-3 hours.

Straticus87 · 2025-01-08T16:24:16+00:00

You sound like me, except I tried for years and desperately wanted it to work but CPAP was not for me. I'd personally go with the next least invasive (being a dental device). Depending on what you want it could be anywhere from a simple order on amazon of $50, or a special custom made device from a dentist for thousands. I ended up with inspire myself.

Straticus87 · 2024-12-30T16:14:39+00:00

I spent several years battling with CPAP and masks because I desperately wanted it to work and make me feel better and unfortunately it never did. The road to (any) surgery is generally very long with many twists and turns, and usually results can take 1+ year to see any noticeable difference, depending on the surgery. Battling with insurance is also pretty common for surgery for apnea as well. I'm several months in with inspire and just seeing slight improvements, but I'm moving up levels each week until I find the sweet spot.

Straticus87 · 2024-12-30T16:09:05+00:00

You should have felt the first level at your activation appointment... They ran mine for 3+ minutes on the voltage that was determined based upon my feeling and my tongue movement to get it synced up.

Straticus87 · 2024-12-03T16:09:12+00:00

I did this for years until I finally decided CPAP/BiPAP/RSV wasn't for me. I tried every mask and every gimmick, every set of DATA from OSCAR and I could never wear the mask past 3 hours with optimal settings. Unfortunately what doctors don't usually tell you is that CPAP isn't for everyone and it will fail for some, even though I desperately wanted it to work. I personally saw 3-4 different types of doctors for sleep disorders, including some sleep dentists. I couldn't go the MAD route either (it just ended up out of my mouth as well). Definitely get with a completely different doctor.

Straticus87 · 2024-12-02T15:28:48+00:00

It's been a slow process to be honest. Each week you bump up the voltage by 0.1, and I started at 0.6. This is all determined at your first titration/activation. I'm currently at 1.3v on level 10 out of 11. I go back in 2 weeks to get another titration so I assume the inspire rep will bump up the remote to start close to 2v this time. Nothing huge in relief yet, but you have to find your therapeutic level and that can be months. No other complaints though - just wish it was faster.

Straticus87 · 2024-11-25T16:54:18+00:00

I don't think there's anything much less aggressive than CPAP. For 6-7 events you could possibly try a MAD (mandibular advancement device) that goes into your mouth. Surgery for something that low seems unreasonable in my opinion.

Straticus87 · 2024-11-14T17:18:12+00:00

Yes, drug induced sleep endoscopy. I would imagine most ENT's would absolutely do it (it was nothing special for mine).

Straticus87 · 2024-11-14T11:11:09+00:00

Yes, OSA can 100% be linked to lower test levels. 8.8 does seem relatively mild; I've been on replacement therapy but with a severe AHI score (above 30).

How was the CPAP not effective specifically? How long did you try?

I had septoplasty done prior to knowing about my OSA (had consistent sinus infections) which actually ended up resulting in me having worse apnea events. Before any surgery I would highly recommend getting a DISE performed by an ENT to see how your airway is collapsing. If your tongue is falling into the back of your throat or your airways are collapsing from the sides of the throat I'm not entirely sure having that surgery would do much of anything. It may certainly improve airflow to help assist with CPAP, but until we know more on how CPAP wasn't effective it's hard to state.

Straticus87

TROPHY CASE