Sleep Disorders Support Group

I am a Mask Fit Failure. I have been through around 8 different kinds and they are not made for short, fat faces. Oh well. Some have caused serious serious pain and I tried my very best to tolerate it.

I know some of them were rearranging my teeth and jaw!

I did find one that I am tolerating.

My question: is there a relationship between fibro and sleep apnea? How can someone find a safe combination of meds? My doctor had me on two different muscle relaxants three times a day, plus gabepentin, Tramadol, Flector patches and Lidoderm patches. I finally figured out that Diazepam was actually Valium. I wouldn't think that muscle relaxants are a good thing to take with sleep apnea.

Is there no clinic that has an expert who can analyze both problems and appropriately prescribe meds that are safe? I am from Wisconsin. Talked to Froedert this week----no luck there with someone who will deal with both.

Sandy, I lucked out and have a doctor that treats both. However, he is double board certified. Both an internist and a rheumy.

I think it's very rare for one doctor to treat both, though.

Has your doctor talked to you about melatonin? 5htp?

You need to talk to him before you start them, of course, but both help me sleep much better.

Especially talk to him about it if you're on anti-depressants.

Hugs,

Tina

Hi Sandy! I think I met you over at the fibro forum. I wasn't aware that you had sleep apnea too! Welcome to the sleep apnea forum!

Your quite funny. I have wrestled with a mask or two myself. That came out with a new lighter weight mask for the ladies. I can't remember the name of it. It was pretty pale blue. Ever try that one?

I ended up going back to my full face mask. It stays on better. But I'm going to keep trying different ones til I get it right.

I think that there is a relationship between sleep apnea and fibro. They tell me that if you don't get enough sleep and the right kind of sleep your body doesn't mend itself. I do know that now that I'm sleeping better. I do feel better. I was an absolute wreck for awhile. lol

I've not hear of a doc that will treat both. I think it's up to us to educate the sleep apnea doc.

With all the meds your on, I can't imagine you not sleeping.

Well welcome to sleep apnea!

TTYL gator!

fessy wessy

I don't know if we can name products or not. Part of my mask is light blue and since it gives me the least trouble, I'm keeping with it. Perfect, no. The full face mask was hilarioius. Air was blasting out from all sides and nothing I did could stop it. Couldn't get it tight enough. That one lasted five minutes. I went back to the blue one. I have decided to go off some meds because, well, I felt I was being medicated and when I looked them up, some that I was using for fibro weren't good for sleep apnea (muscle relaxants).

So I am trying to make do with Tramadol -1 to 3 a day tops. I try to a half at a time. And 1 Gabapentin at night -=--300 mg which I guess is a low dose. I threw away the Diazepam and am not using the Methocarbanol. I want more Gabapentin for during the day but my doctor insists I come in before he gives it to me. (Funny, he gave me all kinds a nasty stuff without a question. I don't think he feels I should be making my own decisions.)

Some people suggest a spine specialist for the fibro and leg pain. I think I'll just muddle along!

Really, there should be doctors trained in both. Makes so much sense.

Sandy, you can name products that you use. It's just not allowed for people to hawk products. You know, people that are trying to sell something.

It would make a lot of sense, wouldn't it? Since so many people with fibro have both! Stupid doctors

Hugs, Tina

Isn't that funny about doctor's. I use to go in and get a ton of free meds. He would put them in a bag for me. But the minute I would ask for something. NOthing!

Tina did you say your rheumy treats both! Amazing You really do need to clone him you know. 52 times! we want for Ozzie and Jayne too. lol

I take tramadol Sandy and it makes me sleepy. Well I've narrowed it down to that or either the zanaflex. I slept almost all day Saturday. So Sunday, Monday and today I just took the night time dose.

Last night, I didn't sleep worth a durn. tossed and turned all night. Ended up ripping the mask off my face. I honestly don't know what I'll tell my doctor. The appointment is coming up soon, and I have hardly wore this thing really.

fessy

It's a respironics gel mask.

Hmmmm so the Tramadol may be part of the falling asleep thing too. I need something for during the day for pain but I get soooooooooo tired. Thought it was chronic fatigue. Maybe not that at all. I remember throwing some of those nasty masks across the room and hearing a satisfying thump on the closet door.

Need more info on the rheumy doctors. Are they part of this whole thing too? No one ever said to go to one.

I've never heard of a gel mask Sandy, do you like this one. I'm a little confused....What part of it makes it a gel mask?

I don't have a rheumy. I asked my PCP to set me up with one after they told me I had fibro, and he told me they won't see you. they want a report first...so they can weed out all the fibro patients.

I wonder if he would say the same thing if I asked if I could see one because of sleep apnea.

fessy

To be honest, the people from whom I was supposed to order the masks refused to look up the mask and said there was no such thing. I saw it on the internet. I felt I was treated in a condescending manner and went to an out of town sleep clinic and got it through them. Go to google and try respironics masks. Mine is a respironics comfort gel mask. For me I think the advantage is the "gel" that helps seal it better. I do have occasinal leakage and my husband pokes me and tells me you're leaking! It isn't perfect but it is the best I've come accross.

Hmmmmm so in better words a "rhemy doctor" probably wouldn't bother with me. My sleep apnea doctor is very nice but kind of useless and uninterested in solving my problems with mask-fitting. All he does is diagnose. I guess there's some magic person out there that no one has told me about who takes over after the diagnosis, but no one has directed me to that person. I guess I'm frustrated. I was just told to go get a mask at the place my insuranc paid for---which was the Visiting Nurse Association around here. They told me there was no such thing as a gel mask. The Sleep Wellness Clinic was very helpful in my quest for a mask. But I STILL NEED SLEEP DURING THE NIGHT so I'm not tired during the day.

I have had this diagnosis for a while. But I really haven't til lately tried do to something about it. Mostly because I was having a real hard time sleeping again.

My ear, nose and throat doc gave me a nasal spray. It really burns when I use it. but it really clears my nasal passages. I think that was one of my major problems. Because I was a mouth breather.

I tried the full face mask again last night. nope still pulled it off.

I go to a place called NAPS here in Kentucky. They are really nice there. and that's all they do there. Is help people with masks and machines. Don't you have any place around you like that?

I really like the sound of this mask your using. I think that I will try it next time I can get one. I wonder if they'll say the same thing they told you.

I couldn't say weither or not your rheumy would or not. Heck anything is werth a shot. I say go for it. Just cause my crazy doc said what he said doesn't mean yours will. lol

I hope you get some sleep soon!

fessy