Hi Poppys123,
Sorry for the wordy reply but hope it might help you particularly and others generally.
Now aged 63, I was diagnosed with moderate OSA two years ago but on reflection now realise that I have suffered from it for at least 20 years although not as severely. Physically I have been borderline obese for the past four years and overweight for 4 years before that, I vigorously swim at least 1km week days but have a sedentary job. Over the last five years I have been trying fruitlessly to reduce my weight while seeing my BP increase and the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Now sleep apart from my partner - understandable but unhelpful
Initially put my trust in the professionals but am increasingly doubting the wisdom of that choice and relying more on my own counsel. The medicos will tell you that losing weight will help alleviate your apnoea but do not want to seem to acknowledge that the weight gain is a result of the apnoea, rather than vice-versa. So its down to me! And you.
Briefly, I took oximeter tests over a number of days, then over night sleep clinic study (with Big Bloody Ben striking on the quarter hour all through the night - St Thomas' is not the most inspired location for a sleep clinic!).
Upshot? CPAP. I did not have any real difficulty adjusting to it but it unfailingly woke me around 4.00am as I swallowed my tongue, causing the air supply pressure to increase and the mask to blow off my face.
Next stop mandibular advancement device, which helped a little but not enough as I am still suffering daytime tiredness. So last week I purchased my own oximeter to gain a better understanding of my physiological workings while asleep: I'm finding it illuminating. In addition, I have also purchased a TRD (tongue restraining device) but it is a little too early to pass any reliable judgment.
So where is all this leading? Well, I am obviously a bit of a dimwit because I did not think to question how the efficacy of the MAD was to be monitored. I was sent off with my new toy. Bearing in mind that apnoea sufferers are usually the last people to recognise their disability, this seems something of an oversight by the clinicians. I would be interested to hear if the experience of others is similar.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. So what does hindsight tell me.
1) My health and well-being has deteriorated needlessly in the last few years because I was too trusting in the advice of professionals.
2) There are a lot of quack remedies out there but also potential solutions which the professionals seem reluctant to look at. Interesting to see that the NHS Choices mentions the didgeridoo as a possibility. There is also Singing for Snorers and other exercise programmes to stiffen up those floppy and saggy bits. I only came across the TRD by accident. There seems precious little about these on the Sleep Apnoea Assoc. website, much less the British Snoring Society retailing site.
3) Although the TRD seems to be effective for my particular tongue swallowing trick (still very early days) if current results continue, I shall explore the wisdom of piercing my tongue and threading a string through it at night which might prove less clumsy than the oversize type dummy (sorry TRD) and rather less drool inducing (euukk). But obviously need to get some reliable advice on the practicalities. Don't want to end up cheese-cutting said organ and ending up with a forked one!
Remind your bosses that you are suffering from a disability and they shouldn't be discriminating against you on those grounds. If you were pregnant or had some serious disease, they could not sack you or otherwise discipline you if you were following doctor's advise and treatment.
So hang in there and don't let the buggers grind you down. Keep after your GP and question your consultant.
What else is there? Knowledge is power. Arm yourself and you will win through.