Sleep Apnea Stories

Emma gives listeners advice on: * how to find the right CPAP mask. * resolving problems with leaks and face marks. * 2016 study showing nasal pillows masks improve compliance:   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27648308/ * two mask options you might not have heard about. For the Amazon affiliate links mentioned on the podcast go here: https://www.sleepapneastories.com/services Pad-a-cheek: htt...

In this "shortie" episode, Emma answers listeners' questions about their CPAP problems.  Listen for advice and help on what to do if: * you can't access CPAP data beyond what the myAir app provides. * your hose is causing problems and tugging on your mask. * you are looking for a backup battery supply recommendation. Emma's Amazon Suggestions here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/sleepapneastorie...

Emma is joined by Dr. Louise O'Brien from the University of Michigan.  Together they discuss: * How Dr. O'Brien got interested in researching sleep in pregnancy and how it brought her to the United States from the UK. * Pregnancy and obstructive sleep apnea, common signs and symptoms. * Various research projects showing the rates of OSA in pregnant women from specific groups e.g. high blood p...

Emma is joined by Tairis Morales Medina who shares about a successful bariatric surgery that resolved her sleep apnea along with other health problems.  Together they discuss: * The mini-stroke that alerted Tairis to her high blood pressure. * Considering bariatric surgery to resolve obesity and other health problems. * Doing a sleep study as part of qualifying for bariatric surgery and getti...

Emma is joined by Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, a board-certified pediatric pulmonologist and sleep medicine physician.  Together they discuss: * Signs to watch for in kids that could indicate a sleep problem. * Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in kids with obstructed airways. * Dr. Afolabi-Brown's participation in an American Academy of Sleep Medicine task force to explore the safe use of CPAP and...

Emma is joined by Dr. Sam Kashani M.D., a board-certified Sleep Medicine Specialist.  Together they discuss: * residual daytime sleepiness in people with obstructive sleep apnea. * language used to describe symptoms to primary care physicians. * the STOPBANG questionnaire used to screen for sleep apnea. * how important CPAP education and support is for newly diagnosed patients. * AHI and...

Emma is joined by Matt Horsnell and together they discuss: * Matt's journey to a diagnosis of narcolepsy with cataplexy and how obstructive sleep apnea did show up on his original sleep test but wasn't deemed severe enough to treat. * Coping with depression and anxiety along with sleep disorders. * Getting a diagnosis with severe obstructive sleep apnea and beginning treatment with CPAP. * Ma...

Emma is joined by Mayka Goodstone who just underwent Orthognathic Surgery to move her jaws forward resolving her obstructive sleep apnea. Together they discuss: * Mayka shares about her childhood growing up in Spain with asthma, allergies and mouth breathing. * Developing snoring during her 20s. * "Long Face Syndrome" and how Mayka and Emma both developed long faces as a result of mouth breathing...

Emma is joined by Dr. Robert W Turner II, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Research and Leadership at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Science. He earned his Ph. D. in sociology at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. He also holds a position as a Research Scientist in the Center for Biobehavioral Health Disparities Research at Duke...

Recently Emma attended the SLEEP 2022 Conference run by the Association of Professional Sleep Societies (APSS) which is a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Sleep Research Society (SRS).  Emma used the opportunity to interview as many people as she could.  Interviews featured include: * Julie Flygare, Founder, and CEO of Project Sleep, talks about the...

Emma is joined by Kristen Cascio, together they discuss:  * Kristen going undiagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea for years.    * Thyroid issues and how those were a convenient excuse for fatigue and daytime sleepiness.  * Getting diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea using an at-home sleep study.  * Feeling relief to have answers to sleep problems.  * Adjusting to...

Emma is joined by Dr. Allan Pack, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.  Together they discuss: * How obstructive sleep apnea patients don't fall neatly into one category. * Use of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and other questions to group participants based on their sleepiness and how likely they were to doze. * Looking at participants in different sleepiness groups and what happene...

Emma finishes up season 6 with an update on her own journey to improve her sleep apnea.  She covers: * Her progress with using removable palate expansion appliances and switching from DNA appliances to an mmRNA appliance - seeing airway expansion on a CBCT scan. * Consulting with an ENT on nasal inflammation solutions. * Emma explains working with a sleep tech to improve her CPAP settings. *...

Emma is joined by Dr. Mike Pagano, a dentist specializing in oral appliance therapy and Mike Durkee, Executive Director of the Wounded Veterans' Relief Fund.  Together they discuss: * Dr. Pagano and Mike Durkee both share details of their active duty military service. * Some of the systemic problems preventing oral appliance therapy from being used more widely in the military. * Dr. Pagano ex...

Emma is joined by Renata Nehme, a Myofunctional Therapist and founder of the Airway Circle.  Together they discuss: * Beginning as a Dental Hygienist and then discovering Myofunctional Therapy training. * Renata's own story of mouth breathing as a child which she thinks affected her facial development. * How Myofunctional Therapy can help people with sleep apnea as a secondary therapy, not a...

Emma is joined by Ryan Jensen, a professional football player with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Together they discuss: * Working as a professional athlete and not getting the good quality sleep needed for recovery from training sessions. * Ryan's journey to diagnosis with sleep apnea and his familiarity with CPAP because his parents both used one.  * Using a full face mask and struggling w...

Emma is joined by author and journalist, James Nestor.  His book "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" was released in 2020 and became an international bestseller.  In the book, James discusses how the human species has lost the ability to breathe properly - and how to get it back.  Together Emma and James discuss: * Some of the issues with the current medical system and its appro...

Emma is joined by Dr Sairam Parthasarathy MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine and the Director of the UAHS Center of Sleep & Circadian Science.  He's also the Medical Director for the Center for Sleep Disorders at the University of Arizona. Together they discuss: * Dr Parthasarathy's research into supporting sleep apnea patients with a pe...

Emma is joined by Jared Scofield.  Together they discuss: * Jared's experiences with testing for sleep apnea at home and in a sleep clinic. * Being prescribed CPAP and struggling to adjust to it. * Jared's experience trying oral appliance therapy. * Turbinate reduction, sinus surgery and septoplasty with an ENT. * Trying new treatment options: iNAP and eXciteOSA. * Jared's experience with position...

Emma is joined by Dr. Xiaochuan Yan, a general surgeon working in China sharing his own story of being diagnosed and treated with sleep apnea.  Together they discuss: * Symptoms Dr. Yan experienced for years prior to diagnosis with obstructive sleep apnea. * Lack of adequate training about sleep apnea in medical school. * Dr. Yan's life-changing diagnosis and treatment with a CPAP. * Healthcare pr...

Emma is joined by Jason Sazama, the man behind "The Lanky Lefty 27" YouTube Channel.  Together they discuss: * Emma's discovery of Jason's YouTube channel and the video topics she found helpful. * Common CPAP problems and how Jason addresses them. * OSCAR software for analyzing CPAP data and what to look for. * Jason's own journey with Hashimoto's and diagnosis with obstructive sleep apnea. * The...

Emma is joined by Christina Sanghera, a holistic health coach who helps burned-out women with chronic illnesses.  Together they discuss: * Christina's own health journey with a thyroid condition, Hashimoto's; * How Christina felt waking up at night before her obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis; * Misdiagnosis with panic attacks and anxiety and calling 911; * Stereotypes in sleep apnea diagnosis and...

Emma is joined by Bob Stanton, a former over the road (OTR) truck driver with experience of all the issues facing truck drivers with sleep apnea.  Together they discuss: * Bob's personal journey to diagnosis with sleep apnea and his treatment with CPAP; * Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations relevant to obstructive sleep apnea; * Department of Transport medical examinati...

Emma wraps up season 5 with an update about what she's working on to raise awareness about sleep apnea in 2022.  In this episode she shares: * Project Sleep recently appointed Emma to its Board of Directors.  Emma shares how she hopes to help Project Sleep expand its programs to include sleep apnea; * Emma is looking for people interested in joining her fundraising team for Project Sleep's "Sleep...

Emma is joined by Dr Joshua Roland, a board-certified sleep medicine physician to talk about erectile dysfunction and sleep apnea. Together they discuss:  * the shame and stigma surrounding erectile dysfunction; * the possible relationship between untreated sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction; * men being reluctant to see the doctor and what can be done about it; * reduced libido/sex drive and ho...