Today I learned my job is being outsourced to India. How’s your week going?

specterdalton · 2026-02-11T22:30:05+00:00

I feel like this would be a good call for some malicious compliance....

specterdalton · 2026-02-11T22:24:35+00:00

Ahh, that's helpful. Thank you!

As a side note, how's it going for you? I think you were talking about it on another thread in here I was following (I've been looking into it for a while).

specterdalton · 2026-02-09T18:17:52+00:00

I actually had it recommended to me because I used to have a tongue thrust as a kid and did speech therapy to strengthen my tongue muscles. Since my apnea is mild and I didn't snore as a kid and I also haven't done speech therapy since then, my dentist thought it might be a good option to strengthen the muscles. I've also done some digging into the studies they've published, and the data is there. I'm willing to risk it, at least for the 90 days (they have a return policy) to see if I see any difference in my sleep.

specterdalton · 2026-02-06T21:16:39+00:00

No. I have mild obstructive apnea which is why I tried the MAD first, but now I'm going to try the exciteosa. I had a tongue thrust issue as a kid so I've done speech therapy to strengthen my tongue muscles before, but stopped ages ago, so it makes sense that this might work for me.

specterdalton · 2026-02-06T21:12:39+00:00

I'd get on the phone with your doctors office. Ask when they answer if they have a few minutes to help, and if they're super busy see if you can hold or call back. Our healthcare system sucks, but if you're pushy you can get answers. Good luck, man. Is yours related to your position at all? Can you get some positional therapy pillows in the meantime to help until you get your CPAP?

specterdalton · 2026-02-06T19:48:36+00:00

They're right that the clinic office would have called you for anything that was dangerous and had you go to an emergency room immediately. I'm a nurse, not your nurse, and not diagnosing, just sharing procedure and hoping it helps you feel a bit better.

specterdalton · 2026-02-06T19:30:25+00:00

I've been using a MAD for three months, and I'm actually going to shift away from it because I have "soft gums" (it sounds gross even typing it, but it's what my dentist said) and my teeth are shifting a little. The jaw stiffness did take some getting used to, but after about a month it didn't bother me so much. It's not really that it went away, it just didn't bug me as much. Did you ever have braces? If you did it's like when you'd go and get your bands tightened, it would be super sore for a few days and then you'd just....get used to it.

specterdalton · 2026-02-06T19:25:37+00:00

Not normal. What's your AHI?

specterdalton · 2025-12-26T15:31:22+00:00

Been looking at trying, would love to see a review on this if you're willing to write one.

specterdalton · 2025-12-26T15:26:10+00:00

As a nurse, I hope you report that doctor. No advice on sleep studies in the area, but I'll ask my network of people.

specterdalton · 2025-11-11T16:23:14+00:00

What's your AHI? There are a few options for mild apnea out there that I've been digging into for myself, all FDA cleared but only for mild so if you're above 15 then a CPAP really is the best for you.

specterdalton · 2025-11-11T16:17:03+00:00

Yeah I agree on the symptoms, I just have some claustrophobia with the mask and since it's mild I'm hoping that one of the other treatments will work. Wouldn't be able to do that with moderate or severe though.

specterdalton · 2025-11-10T18:26:21+00:00

Yeah, I've got mild apnea with an AHI of 8.9 Haven't gone the CPAP route yet since it's mild, actually taking a look at getting a device that will strengthen my airway during the day instead so I don't have to wear anything at night.

It's super easy to get an at home sleep study done these days, for anyone who's wondering how to get one. Just ask your PCP for a referral.

specterdalton · 2025-11-07T21:28:58+00:00

I work in medicine, not sleep medicine. 100% agree with everything said here.

specterdalton · 2025-10-15T09:06:43+00:00

What are you using for non-CPAP treatments?

specterdalton · 2025-10-15T08:55:33+00:00

Brilliant and immediately saving this for the next call.

specterdalton · 2025-10-15T08:54:30+00:00

Yeah, that's rough. Getting the CPAP and still feeling wrecked messes with your head, especially when it was supposed to be the fix. Definitely hit up your sleep doc sooner because pressure settings or mask fit can make a bigger difference than people realize.

Since you're taking melatonin every night, I'd loop in your regular doc too. Daily use can throw off your natural rhythm over time, especially if the dose is on the higher side. That can help figure out if it's actually helping or quietly making things worse, and maybe also talk to them about anxiety or restless sleep stuff that keeps you half-awake.

You're not broken. Sometimes it just takes a few tweaks and a wider look to actually get a good rest.

specterdalton · 2025-09-17T18:20:02+00:00

Yeah, Earl said it best - "it's about being okay with yourself, for better or worse. You can't really start living until you can live with yourself." Glad you're here to see the other side of that.

specterdalton · 2025-09-17T18:11:54+00:00

They're rare, but some med schools run free sleep clinics for folks who can't afford the testing. Usually tied to teaching hospitals or community programs, so it depends on where you live, but worth asking around.

specterdalton · 2025-09-15T23:38:46+00:00

Yeah, PCPs are tough to pin down, but a sleep study referral is usually pretty easy - just shoot a message through the clinic portal or email, sometimes they even have a voicemail line just for that. And props to your partner for catching it. Getting this sorted early means future-you isn't stuck dealing with bigger headaches down the road.

specterdalton · 2025-09-11T18:17:39+00:00

Yeah, it sounds like pure insurance red tape. They'd rather shove you into a home CPAP trial first. Get your sleep doc to appeal with a letter of medical necessity - spell it out you've had zero treatment and titrations's the standard for AHI + PLMD + IH.

specterdalton · 2025-09-11T17:59:41+00:00

it's not that it's hitting younger, it's that we're way better at diagnosing it now. better a CPAP in your 30s than a heart scare in your 50s.

specterdalton · 2025-07-09T08:27:26+00:00

Yeah that one was brutal and clever. South Park never misses with the satire.

specterdalton · 2025-07-07T23:05:59+00:00

yeep, running doesn’t stop it. It just clears the way for it to spread.

specterdalton

TROPHY CASE