Sleep Apnea Stories

Emma is reunited with her first podcast guest, Karen Wolk. Together they discuss: * Karen talks about her journey with her Inspire Implant. * She explains how the hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy works to move her tongue out of her airway and demonstrates the remote control, turning it on and off. * Karen describes working with Dr. Sarah Silverman on CBT-i techniques to help adjust to CPAP th...

Emma is joined by Dr. Pat McBride, Executive Director of the Foundation for Airway Health and a Board member at the American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry (AAPMD). Together they discuss: * Dr. McBride's background working with her late husband in his dental sleep medicine practice. * The founding of the AAPMD and developing a new collaborative approach to the treatment of air...

Emma is joined by Trent and Theresa Tidball to discuss Trent's journey with OSA. Together they discuss: * Trent's symptoms of daytime sleepiness as a teen and doing a sleep study but not following up. * Undergoing a UPPP, tonsillectomy, septoplasty, and turbinate reduction at the same time with an ENT without ever having a sleep study. * Getting a sleep test and diagnosis of obstructive sl...

Emma is joined by Dr. Jill Ombrello, a dentist from Dallas, Texas. Together they discuss: * Dr. Ombrello working with families to get to the root airway causes of problems she sees in many of the kids in her practice. * Moms dealing with poor quality sleep and being told they are fine because their AHI is too low for a sleep apnea diagnosis. * Dr. Ombrello stepping in as "Quarterback of Care&...

Emma is joined by Maggie Carr, a small business owner from Vermont. Together they discuss: * Maggie describes having a tonsillectomy as a child to improve her airway. * Having 8 teeth extracted for braces and Dr. Bill Hang's concept of "Extraction, Retraction, Regret Syndrome". * Getting a diagnosis of Sleep Apnea and finding a CPAP during a recall and shortage. * Maggie's decisi...

Emma is joined by Ken Hooks, a Sleep Tech and owner of True Sleep Diagnostics.  Together they discuss: * Difficulties trying to integrate oral appliance therapy into the current medical system. * Women with an AHI under 5 testing negative for Sleep Apnea but still trying to find answers and treatment options for their symptoms. * RERAs - Respiratory effort-related sleep arousals and the diagn...

*trigger warning* - discussion of suicidal thoughts Emma is joined by Jason Webb who comes from a small town in Queensland, Australia.  Together they discuss: * Jason's debilitating sleep apnea symptoms and his difficulties in getting a diagnosis. * Doctors' attitudes that sleep apnea is only for "older, overweight men". * Jason's mental health deteriorating to the point of feeling suicidal....

Emma is joined by Dr. Keith Matheny M.D., an ENT surgeon specializing in Rhinology and Sleep.  Together they discuss: * How the current healthcare system is failing so many patients with obstructive sleep apnea. * The importance of looking at the nose when treating sleep apnea. * Insurance issues patients come across when trying to get nasal surgeries covered when they have OSA. * How Dr. Mat...

Emma is joined by Dr. Nora Ghodousi-Zaghi from "Breathe Kids Dental" at the Breathe Institute in Los Angeles, California.  Together they discuss: * The signs Dr. Nora looks for in children to spot pediatric sleep-disordered breathing, including mouth breathing, mentalis strain, tonsil hypertrophy, ankyloglossia, dental wear and a narrow high arched palate. * Fairest.org - Functional Airway Ev...

Emma is joined by Heather McAdoo who has found an excellent treatment plan for her sleep apnea using Empower Sleep and combining therapies. Together they discuss: * Heather's experience of trying Vivos DNA appliances to help her sleep apnea and being disappointed with the results.   * Her referral to Dr. Chopra at Empower Sleep by her dentist. * Heather describes having a one-hour one-on-one...

Emma is joined by Jody Martin, a marine corps veteran and business owner who shares his personal experience of using Lofta home sleep apnea testing. Together they discuss: * The symptoms Jody was experiencing from undiagnosed sleep apnea such as loud snoring and daytime sleepiness. * Jody explains the process he went through to get his BiPAP - from his GP to a respiratory therapist to a sleep stud...

Emma is joined by Drew Copeland, a Sleep Tech and Sleep Coach with Sleep Better NYC.  Together they discuss: * Drew talks about his background in sleep medicine working as a sleep tech and running a sleep program. * Working with Sleep Better NYC as a sleep coach to help people navigate sleep testing, sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment. * Some of the problems patients come across when trying...

Emma shares all about her recent failed palate expansion using "The Vivos Method".  In this episode, Emma discusses: * the timeline of her palate expansion and descriptions of the DNA and mmRNA appliances she used. * experiencing improvements in nasal breathing and facial pain and tension soon after beginning palate expansion. * switching from a DNA appliance to an mmRNA appliance part-way th...

Emma is joined by Dr. William Noah, a sleep specialist, and inventor of the V-Com.  Together they discuss: * Dr. Noah shares about his background in sleep medicine and running a large sleep center. * Encouraging PAP adherence among patients and how introducing remote monitoring helped to identify patients struggling with their PAP therapy. * Dr. Noah explains IPAP (inspiratory positive airway...

Emma is joined by Dr. Steve Lamberg, a dentist and author of the book "Treat the Cause...Treat the Airway".  Together they discuss: * Dr. Lamberg's background as a general dentist and how he got into dental sleep medicine. * His interest in obstructive sleep apnea in pregnant patients and how dentists can help screen for it. * Developing the "Lamberg Questionnaire" to help dentists join the d...

Emma is joined by Jeff and Kattia Krouse, parents to Nathan, a child with Down Syndrome and Sleep Apnea.  Together they discuss: * Nathan's Down Syndrome coming as a surprise to Jeff and Kattia. * Going for a sleep study and receiving a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and beginning CPAP therapy. * Difficulties finding a well-fitting CPAP mask for a non-verbal child. * A tonsillectomy tha...

Emma is joined by Thomas Hinton from Circadian Health Systems, together they discuss: * Thomas losing his father tragically young to a heart attack, the family now suspects came from undiagnosed sleep apnea. * His training as a Sleep Tech and working shifts supervising sleep studies. * Being in denial about his own sleep apnea symptoms. * Thomas going for a sleep study where he worked to get a dia...

Emma is joined by Craig Baker for a follow up interview.   Together they discuss:  * Craig briefly recaps his long journey to diagnosis with sleep apnea.  * The surgeries recommended for him by an ENT/Otolaryngology Surgeon - tonsillectomy and septoplasty.  * Paying to have the procedures privately to avoid a long wait time.  * Emma and Craig discuss their experiences of t...

Emma is joined by Olivia Arezzolo, an Australian Sleep Coach and author of the book "Bear, Lion or Wolf".    Together they discuss:  * Olivia's experience with sleep coaching clients who have sleep apnea.  * Her decision to move to Italy (not entirely sleep-related but so exciting!).  * Olivia's struggles with depression, anxiety and anorexia during her teenage years. &nbs...

Emma is joined by Sandy Smith, EnsoData's Director of National Accounts.  Together they discuss: * The very personal and tragic loss Sandy experienced because of lack of awareness about sleep apnea and its symptoms. * Sandy explains how EnsoData are improving sleep testing by applying new artificial intelligence technology. * The huge number of people still going undiagnosed with obstructive...

Emma is joined by Dr. Madiha Ellaffi, a French Pulmonologist, Allergist and Pediatric, and Adult Sleep Specialist.  Together they discuss: * Dr. Ellaffi's experiences as the mother of 4 children who developed sleep problems.   * The book and app she developed, along with a dedicated team, about pediatric sleep apnea, to help children and parents that struggle with sleep issues to underst...

Stacy Erickson Edwards joins Emma for an update.  Stacy was last interviewed on the podcast in March 2021.  Listen to her first interview here .  Together they discuss: * Stacy's continued daytime sleepiness and taking a medication at night to improve her wakefulness during the day. * The search for answers about new symptoms which seemed hormonal. * Gaining weight and developing ot...

Emma is joined by Karen Moore, a woman living with sleep apnea and the founder of CPAP accessories company "Pad A Cheek".  Together they discuss: * The brain fog and cognitive impairment Karen experienced and how it is often mistaken for menopause symptoms. * Karen shares about her diagnostic sleep study and titrating study and how they differed. * Learning about CPAP through forums and readi...

In this shortie episode, Emma reminds listeners that they are not alone.  She talks about some past interviews where guests discussed the mental health challenges they were dealing with along with sleep apnea.  The episodes mentioned were: Karen Wolk - cognitive impairment and depression listen here David Madow - anxiety listen here Kajsa Bradley - depression listen here This episode is...

Emma shares some lifestyle tips for living with sleep apnea.   Episodes Emma mentioned:  Episode 4 on weight loss: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/lPHwSFdVJsb Episode 69 on bariatric surgery: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/ux1E4hbVJsb Episode 36 on "health at every size": https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/E2nP7ymVJsb Vik Veer's throat exercises https://youtu.be/2nq8YjWIIUI...