Thank you so much for visiting the website and for posting your question for us. Like alysiak, I'm sorry that you are having problems with your CPAP. I know so many people with sleep apnea, it is unreal. Some use CPAPs and others get by with things like Breathe Right strips, and some have had surgery to correct it.
The part of your post that jumped out at me was the comment about your TMJ. Did a doctor tell you that you can't use an oral appliance or did you decide this on your own, based on your jaw issues? The reason I'm asking is that I have a good friend who has a TMJ-like condition (basically she sprained her jaw from clenching her teeth so hard at night) and she sees a dentist specialist who deals with facial pain and he told her that many people with sleep apnea also have TMJ because clenching your jaw can help open your airway. My friend also has a mild to moderate case of sleep apnea and what she was saying makes sense. The dentist/specialist wants to re-test her for apnea to see how bad it is now and will probably fit her for an oral appliance that I believe will treat both the apnea and the TMJ.
So maybe all is not lost with the oral appliance. I can get you the name of the specialist my friend sees if you'd like it. She lives in the Phoenix area. It might be worth getting a second opinion on the TMJ angle.
If there is anything we can do to improve the website please let me know. I would welcome your opinion. Thank you again for your question. Best in health, Michelle
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Hi Anonymous!
Thank you so much for visiting the website and for posting your question for us. Like alysiak, I'm sorry that you are having problems with your CPAP. I know so many people with sleep apnea, it is unreal. Some use CPAPs and others get by with things like Breathe Right strips, and some have had surgery to correct it.
The part of your post that jumped out at me was the comment about your TMJ. Did a doctor tell you that you can't use an oral appliance or did you decide this on your own, based on your jaw issues? The reason I'm asking is that I have a good friend who has a TMJ-like condition (basically she sprained her jaw from clenching her teeth so hard at night) and she sees a dentist specialist who deals with facial pain and he told her that many people with sleep apnea also have TMJ because clenching your jaw can help open your airway. My friend also has a mild to moderate case of sleep apnea and what she was saying makes sense. The dentist/specialist wants to re-test her for apnea to see how bad it is now and will probably fit her for an oral appliance that I believe will treat both the apnea and the TMJ.
So maybe all is not lost with the oral appliance. I can get you the name of the specialist my friend sees if you'd like it. She lives in the Phoenix area. It might be worth getting a second opinion on the TMJ angle.
If there is anything we can do to improve the website please let me know. I would welcome your opinion. Thank you again for your question. Best in health, Michelle
April 28, 2009 - 10:51pmThis Comment
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