Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Sleep Well, Feel Better

5 Responses to “Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Sleep Well, Feel Better”

1. David Kleist says:

   August 27, 2010 at 6:08 pm

   Review by David Kleist for Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Sleep Well, Feel Better
   Rating:
   Although my dad was a champion snorer, I never suspected that I myself had inherited a tendency toward sleep apnea. However, I’ve got it (moderately), and Pascualy’s book has been a big help in allowing me to navigate this new medical field in which I am now an unwilling participant.Before I went to a sleep clinic for a formal test, I read this book. It prepared me for what was to come, which was not particularly pleasant, despite disclaimers which say that the procedure is painless and non-invasive. That largely was true, but the same might be said for most enemas, and they, too, are not particularly enjoyable.I was prescribed a CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) device, and I currently am in the midst of trying to adjust to it. To be blunt, I loathe the thing. Were I not married, I doubt that I would have the willpower to try to solve my moderate problem which, though annoying (that is, a gnawing and nearly constant fatigue), is livable. But to please her (who has endured my snoring for years), and because she does have my best interests in mind, I will persist. The three chapters on CPAPs in this book are essential for anyone who wishes to truly solve his/her sleep apnea problem with one. There is no chapter of the support group AWAKE in my area, so Pascualy’s words of encouragement and wisdom on the subject have been transformative for me. If I succeed with a CPAP, it will be because I read this book and took it to heart. Otherwise, without question, I just wouldn’t bother.I am a high-school teacher, and I have at least three colleagues who have got sleep apnea and either are undiagnosed or are in the midst of trying to troubleshoot/solve the condition. When I mentioned my dilemma to my current classes, a substantial number of students had fathers who used a CPAP. I acknowledge that this truly is a widespread problem in America and that the CPAP doubtlessly is the best solution currently available.Read this book if you, too, are a sufferer (or the spouse of one); but be prepared for a substantial period of adjustment to the CPAP and its “magic”!!
2. Anonymous says:

   August 27, 2010 at 6:50 pm

   Review by for Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Sleep Well, Feel Better
   Rating:
   Like my title says, this is the best book around on sleep apnea. The authors do a superb job of describing the symptons and treatment of sleep apnea. They also dispel common misconceptions about sleep apnea- like “thin and young people can’t have it”-something which, most dr.s still believe. Unfortunately, most dr.s are very ignorant about sleep disorders, and often, it’s the last thing they check for.My only problem(s) with this book are: that it doesn’t elaborate on Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, a close cousin to apnea and hypopnea; and while it states that UPPP surgery can eliminate snoring w/o treating the underlying apnea, it doesn’t explicity state that it’s possible (albeit admittedly less common) to have apnea w/o snoring in the first place. Finally, IMO, the authors should have stressed the importance of heated humidifiers in CPAP treatment (a breathing machine, which is the most common treatment for apnea).

   This sounds like a lot of “complaints” but the overall excellence of the book doesn’t keep me from giving it the 5-stars.
3. Albert Mo says:

   August 27, 2010 at 7:48 pm

   Review by Albert Mo for Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Sleep Well, Feel Better
   Rating:
   I am not a very successful CPAP user. I find this book easy for reading and technical material is converted to an interesting and well-organized book. The negative side is that it is too positive and optimistic, giving a wrong impression that CPAP is the ultimate panacea. If it can say more about the numerous and various problems that CPAP users encountered, and give more practical though not perfect advices, this book will be much better. Hope also it talks more about smart CPAP.
4. The Sleep-e Times Book Review Editor says:

   August 27, 2010 at 8:39 pm

   Review by The Sleep-e Times Book Review Editor for Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Sleep Well, Feel Better
   Rating:
   If you’re struggling to stay awake during the day and find yourself nodding off if you are not actively doing something — you should read this book.

   If you are the bed partner of someone who snores loud enough to
   
   keep you up at night — this book is a must read.

   If you have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea you should
   
   read this book.

   “Snoring and Sleep Apnea” guides you down the path from the first realization that something might be wrong through the
   
   diagnostic process and possible treatment options available to people with apnea.

   The authors are sleep specialist Ralph Pascualy, paired with the wife of one of his patients, Sally Warren Soest.

   This writing team may seem to be a little different at first look, but they do an excellent job of presenting the medical
   
   information in clear, easy-to-understand language.

   Pascualy and Soest take the reader through recognizing the symptoms of a sleep apnea, what to expect during a sleep study, how to locate a board-certified sleep specialist, and why you want to be treated by one.

   The writing team provide real world examples of the various treatment options, and go on to explain who might benefit from each procedure or device — and why.

   The 272-page book includes pictures and descriptions of various masks and xPAP machines. It also provides a general overview of the features that can be found on these devices, and the problems that are solved by those features.

   Although the information is slightly dated because it has been in print since 2002, most of the general information remains
   
   constant and practical today.

   The duo also discuss various surgical options available to people with sleep apnea, including the additional hazards general anesthesia poses on people with sleep apnea. They explore why a procedure that will help a 10-year-old child with apnea is useless to an adult.

   The use of short case studies helps the reader to grasp the importance of understanding pros and cons of the treatment options before selecting one.

   I cannot praise the frankness with which they discuss dealing with durable medical equipment suppliers. This area often proves to be the weakest link in the patient’s chain of treatment. Frequently patients don’t understand they have the right to demand better service, that they have the right to select another home health care company if necessary to get the proper level of customer service, as well as patient care, that should be expected.

   A home health care company is the company that you will be dealing with if you need replacement parts or technical assistance at 2 a.m. because your machine has malfunctioned.

   The authors demonstrate how proper follow-up, coupled with good communication with the home health care company is critical.

   Unlike many books, especially books that deal with medical issues, this one can be read from front to back — or you can bounce around from one chapter to another — totally out of sequence, finding the information that interests you most.

   I wish I had known such a high quality resource was available in the early days of my family coping with sleep apnea and contending with some of the issues it presented. Instead, we walked the narrow road, learning as we went, and often getting bits of conflicting, often inaccurate, information about the disorder.

   The authors show compassion to patients and their families coping with this strange condition that has stolen the productive person they used to know and love and guide them along the path back to a productive life.
5. Janet M. Bennett says:

   August 27, 2010 at 9:22 pm

   Review by Janet M. Bennett for Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Sleep Well, Feel Better
   Rating:
   Snoring and Sleep Apnea provides a thorough coverage of sleep studies and the use of the CPAP machine. It even offers drugs that can make sleep apnea worse – something not usually mentioned. Chapter 16 offers ideas on Alternative Medicine and Sleep Apnea which is also a topic that is rarely addressed. It discusses alternative medicine in a positive way while still warning the reader and suggesting some basic “rules of thumb” when investigating different treatments.