Is sleep apnea a real problem, or is the doctor trying to scam me?
My doctor, who’s new because I moved, referred me to a “sleep specialist” because I told him I snored heavily, am often tired during the day, and am overweight. The sleep specialist, after having me sleep with a bunch of wires strapped to me for a night, diagnosed me with “obstructive sleep apnea”, and is telling me I need a breathing machine for when I sleep at night as treatment. Also, he’s told me all sorts of stuff about health risks from the apnea: I’ll get to being fatigued to the point of narcolepsy, I’m at even more risk for an early heart attack, even though I’ve started going to the gym I won’t be able to lose weight, etc.
Now, what I want to know is, are there really health risks from sleep apnea, and is it a real problem, or is it just some sort of medical fad or scam?
My story mirrors your’s. I got the CPAP and started using it last year. I was underwhelmed when I did not see a perceivable change. After a few months I went on vacation and forgot the machine. Wow i felt it then I did not get any rest from sleeping and felt run down. After I got home and used the machine again I felt rested. Now occasionally I will take it off during the night or just forget to put it on. When I do that I feel as though I get no rest. I think overall it is a great benefit to my as well as to my wife that I don’t wake up with my snoring.
I think there are real health risks and the “bother” of wearing the machine is worth not having or decreasing the risk of some of the apnea health risks.
I have had chronic sinusitis for years and since using the CPAP I have found I am far less sensitive to sinus problems. I am not sure if it is the air pressure in my sinuses or not snoring. I have always wondered if the vibration from snoring caused some of my sinus problems. Overall I am healthier today than I was without the machine.
The medical scam I see is not about the benefits of the machine, it is in the leasing of the machine to the health insurance company. I priced the machine on eBay at about $700 all in. The company that owns my machine leases it to the insurance company for $189/mo. for the last year = $2268. I am not sure what to do about this issue, and I don’t want to deter you from getting the machine and using it.
Be Healthy!
Snoring and sleep apnea is your health at risk
