Alan's ADVENT Review: No More CPAP

Summary

The speaker, a lifelong truck driver, discusses his experience with sleep apnea and the impact on his life. Initially, his wife would wake him up when he stopped breathing, causing irritation. Diagnosed with sleep apnea, he was forced to use a CPAP machine to keep his commercial driver's license, which was uncomfortable and disruptive. After undergoing a procedure to open his sinuses and using an oral appliance to prevent his tongue from blocking his airway, he found significant relief and improvement in his sleep quality. The transition from CPAP to the oral appliance was much easier, and his wife no longer had to wake him due to breathing issues. He expresses regret for not having the procedure done sooner.

Takeaways

• 😴 The speaker's wife used to wake him up when he stopped breathing during sleep due to sleep apnea.
• 🚚 As a truck driver, the speaker was diagnosed with sleep apnea during a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical and was told he would lose his commercial driver's license if he didn't address it.
• 😷 The speaker had to wear a CPAP mask to treat his sleep apnea, but it was uncomfortable and disrupted his sleep due to the seal breaking when he moved.
• 🔍 He was unaware of alternative procedures for his breathing problems, focusing only on the CPAP machine as a solution.
• 👃 The speaker underwent a procedure for his nose, which he believed would help with his breathing issues, not realizing it was related to his sinuses.
• 🌟 The procedure was quick and effective, resulting in a significant improvement in his breathing clarity.
• 🦷 After the procedure, he was required to use an oral appliance to prevent his tongue from blocking his airway during sleep.
• 💤 The oral appliance is only needed during sleep and is much easier to use than the CPAP mask.
• 💸 The speaker regrets not knowing about the procedure earlier, as it would have saved him the cost and inconvenience of the CPAP machine.
• 😌 His wife no longer has to wake him up due to his breathing issues, and there are no more complaints about snoring or breathing pauses.
• 🙌 The speaker is very satisfied with the procedure and wishes he had done it much earlier in his life.

Q & A

What was the initial issue the speaker experienced during sleep?

The speaker experienced sleep apnea, where he would stop breathing during sleep, which his wife would notice and wake him up.

How did the speaker's wife respond when he stopped breathing during sleep?

The speaker's wife would elbow him and tell him that he stopped breathing, showing concern for his health.

What was the consequence of not addressing the sleep apnea issue for the speaker's career?

If the speaker had not worn his CPAP mask and refused treatment, he would have lost his commercial driver's license and been out of work, as he was a truck driver.

What challenges did the speaker face while using the CPAP machine?

The speaker found the CPAP machine aggravating because it was difficult to maintain the seal of the mask, especially when sleeping on his side, and the air blowing could interrupt his sleep.

What was the speaker's profession and how did it relate to his health condition?

The speaker was a truck driver, and his health condition of sleep apnea was identified during a Department of Transportation (DOT) annual physical, which also noted his overweight status.

What procedure did the speaker undergo to address his breathing problems?

The speaker underwent a procedure for his nose, which aimed to open up his sinuses and improve his breathing.

What was the purpose of the oral appliance mentioned in the script?

The oral appliance was required after the sinus procedure to prevent the speaker's tongue from closing up his airway during sleep, thus helping to maintain an open airway.

How did the transition from the CPAP machine to the oral appliance affect the speaker's life?

The transition greatly simplified the speaker's life, as the oral appliance was much easier to get used to than the CPAP machine and its associated equipment.

What was the speaker's wife's reaction after he started using the oral appliance?

After the speaker started using the oral appliance, his wife did not wake him up at night anymore and did not complain about snoring or him holding his breath.

How does the speaker feel about the procedure he underwent?

The speaker is very happy with the procedure and wishes he had done it 20 years earlier, as it has significantly improved his quality of life and sleep.

What was the financial implication of using the CPAP machine compared to the oral appliance?

The CPAP machine was costly, with an implied expense of around $3,000, whereas the oral appliance likely represents a more economical solution for the speaker.

Outlines

00:00

😴 Sleep Apnea and the Struggle with CPAP

The speaker, a lifelong truck driver, discusses his experience with sleep apnea, which was diagnosed during a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical due to being overweight. He was forced to use a CPAP machine to maintain his commercial driver's license, but found it uncomfortable and disruptive to sleep, especially when the mask seal was broken. The CPAP machine was also cumbersome, with a significant financial cost and complexity in his life.

Keywords

💡Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, often causing the individual to wake up gasping for air. In the video, the speaker mentions having sleep apnea, which was diagnosed during a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical. This condition is central to the video's theme as it affects the speaker's quality of life and leads him to seek a medical procedure to improve his breathing.

💡CPAP Mask

A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) mask is a device used to treat sleep apnea by providing a continuous flow of air to keep the airway open during sleep. The speaker describes his experience with the CPAP mask, which he found uncomfortable and disruptive to his sleep, as it would often break the seal when he moved, causing air to blow past his face or eyes.

💡Commercial Driver's License

A commercial driver's license (CDL) is required to operate large vehicles for commercial purposes. The speaker mentions that if he hadn't worn his CPAP mask due to his sleep apnea, he would have lost his CDL and, consequently, his job as a truck driver. This illustrates the impact of sleep apnea on his professional life.

💡Sinus Procedure

A sinus procedure is a medical intervention aimed at improving sinus-related issues, such as chronic sinusitis or nasal blockage. The speaker underwent a sinus procedure, which he describes as quick and effective in improving his breathing. This procedure is a key turning point in the video, as it offers a solution to his sleep apnea and discomfort with the CPAP mask.

💡Oral Appliance

An oral appliance is a device worn in the mouth, typically during sleep, to help maintain an open airway and treat sleep-disordered breathing. After the sinus procedure, the speaker was prescribed an oral appliance to prevent his tongue from blocking his airway. The video highlights the ease of use and preference for the oral appliance over the CPAP mask.

💡Mother Hen

The term 'mother hen' is used metaphorically to describe someone who is overly protective or caring, often to the point of being annoying. The speaker refers to his wife as his 'mother hen' because she would wake him up when he stopped breathing during sleep, showing her concern for his health.

💡Breathing Problems

Breathing problems refer to any issues that affect the normal function of breathing. The speaker initially thought his sleep apnea was only a breathing problem, not realizing it was also related to his sinuses. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the root cause of breathing issues and seeking appropriate treatment.

💡ADVENT

While the script does not provide specific details about ADVENT, it is implied to be a healthcare provider or facility where the speaker received his sinus procedure. The mention of ADVENT in the script indicates the place where the speaker's treatment journey took a positive turn.

💡Cost

The cost refers to the financial burden associated with medical treatments and devices. The speaker mentions the high cost of the CPAP machine and expresses relief at avoiding these costs after switching to the oral appliance, which is a significant aspect of his narrative about simplifying his life and improving his health.

💡Snoring

Snoring is a common condition where a person makes a harsh sound during sleep due to the vibration of respiratory structures. The speaker's wife used to wake him up due to his snoring and breathing pauses, which were symptoms of his sleep apnea. The resolution of his snoring issue after the procedure is a testament to its effectiveness.

💡Quality of Life

Quality of life refers to the overall well-being and satisfaction with one's life, including physical health, emotional state, and social relationships. The video's theme revolves around improving the speaker's quality of life by addressing his sleep apnea, which had a profound impact on his sleep, work, and personal relationships.

Highlights

The patient's wife used to wake him up in the middle of the night when he stopped breathing.

The patient was diagnosed with sleep apnea during his annual physical as a truck driver.

The patient was required to wear a CPAP mask to treat his sleep apnea and avoid losing his commercial driver's license.

Wearing the CPAP mask was uncomfortable and disruptive to the patient's sleep.

The patient underwent a procedure at ADVENT to treat his sleep apnea.

The procedure opened up the patient's sinuses to improve his breathing.

After the procedure, the patient was prescribed an oral appliance to prevent his airway from closing during sleep.

The oral appliance is easier to use and more comfortable than the CPAP mask.

The patient regrets not having the procedure done 20 years earlier.

The patient's wife no longer wakes him up at night due to his breathing issues since the procedure.

The patient is very satisfied with the outcome of the procedure and its impact on his life.

The patient believes he could have avoided the cost and inconvenience of the CPAP machine if he had known about the procedure earlier.

The oral appliance simplifies the patient's life compared to the CPAP machine.

The patient's wife is no longer concerned about his snoring or breathing issues since the procedure.

The patient did not realize the connection between his sinus problems and breathing issues before the procedure.

The patient had been wearing the CPAP mask for about eight years before discovering the alternative procedure.

Transcripts

My wife used to wake up or wake me

in the middle of the night, If I would stop breathing, she'd

elbow me and say, "You stopped breathing again." It's like, "Well,

don't wake me up, just let me sleep."

I know I used to get a little perturbed with her and say, "Don't worry,

I will breathe eventually." She was my mother hen.

She worries about me.

I was a truck driver all my life.

So around that time, the DOT,

my annual physical decided

you're overweight and you have sleep apnea.

So I had to go in and sure as heck, I had apnea.

If I hadn't worn my CPAP mask, or if I would have refused to wear it,

I would have lost my commercial driver's license

and I would have been out of work. So

you're stuck between a rock and a hard spot.

If you sleep on your side, you break the seal of that mask,

and if you just barely move that it breaks that seal.

I could feel the air blowing past my face or my eyes,

and it would bring me out of a sleep then I would move the mask

around and stuff, and it was aggravating.

So there was a lot of

cons to a sleep apnea machine.

I had been

wearing it probably about eight years before I came to ADVENT.

The whole time that I was on the machine, I had no idea

there was such a procedure for the nose.

To me, I didn't have sinus problems,

I just had breathing problems.

But I guess when you think about it, they're the same.

The procedure just went boom, boom, boom, and it was all done.

To me it was amazing because I don't think I ever breathed that clear.

They explained it right off the bat that after

I was done with the procedure, I would require an oral appliance.

The procedure first is to open up your sinuses.

The oral appliance is so that your tongue doesn't close up your airway.

The oral appliance is for while you're sleeping,

you don't have to wear it during the day because you don't- Your tongue

doesn't move back, so it's only for sleep time.

From the CPAP to the oral appliance, there's no comparison at all.

And the oral appliance is so much easier to get used to than that stupid face mask.

I could have avoided a lot of cost from that $3,000 machine

I had to have laying next to the bed with the hose wrapped around my head.

I like a simple life and this is definitely made life a lot simpler for me.

My wife doesn't wake me up at night.

She hasn't said a word since I've had this procedure.

She has not complained one bit about snoring or holding my breath or

any of that.

I'm happy with the procedure.

I'm very glad I did it. I wish I would have done it 20 years ago.