British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

I guess I was really lucky then, not only am I only an hour away from Papworth who are just great. But it only took 13 weeks from my GP referring me to when I got my cpap machine, it just seems incredible that there should be such a difference between treatment times up & down the country.

Does anyone currently have an active petition that I could sign to show my support, I'm relatively new to this site having only been on treatment for just over 9 weeks now.

Gerry.

I totally agree ceejay...I often feel like I'm on an information mission as soon as I mention OSA. In fairness though more people now recognise it and have some idea of what it is (even if some wildly interesting idea that's not too close to reality). I used to have to explain much more, but a lot of people now say 'oh I have a friend/uncle/relative' with that.

There is a slow but sure increase in knowledge (if not understanding) going on - but I think that having leaflets in surgeries, occupational health departments in workplaces etc would increase the chance of the undiagnosed asking themselves some key questions and perhaps getting the treatment they need sooner rather than later!

Thanks Alsacienne.

OSA is such an easily treatable condition, but its a horrible condition and I hate looking & sounding like Darth Vader - although my 2 year old granddaughter thinks its really funny and I have to put the mask over her face (I don't turn it on!). It shouldn't be a lottery as to whether you get it or not, although I suppose now that my local health authority is bankrupt (true - been on the news!) funds will not necessarily be available for everyone to have a machine as quickly as I got mine (13 years ago now). I sometimes think people who are newly diagnosed or who have someone in their family who has OSA don't appreciate just how much a difference having a CPAP will make to their lives. Its important that people don't give up using the machine and if they have problems with the mask they must ask their clinic for an alternative.

I'm very lucky, my clinic is very supportive and will always answer questions over the phone or if something goes wrong with the machine or the mask then they will put it right immediately and tell me to come to the hospital to get it sorted or post out new filters etc.

When I was first diagnosed people said to me that they expected me to only have to use the machine occasionally, but I had to explain that I cannot go to sleep without it or I stop breathing and when I do start breathing again the noise from my snoring would shake the windows! Despite there being some tv programmes over the last couple of years I still worry that people don't know more about OSA and really wish that there were leaflets in doctors' surgeries and hospital waiting rooms like there are for diabetes, high blood pressure etc.

WELL SAID CEEJAYBLUE!!!

I had the same experience as you but there are others on here who have had to wait for quite awhile or buy their own machines.

You will find that your quality of life will improve greatly once you start using your machine. My life was a wreck before I got mine. Now it goes with me on holiday, if I nap at home during the day and has basically saved my life.

This is the first I have heard of this, although I am quite new to the world of SA.

My route was referral from my Dr.

Appointment at Harefield Hospital within 3 weeks where I was given a machine to take home for a sleep test. Took machine back the next day.

Appointment within a month where I was told yes I have SA. Then saw the person who issues out the machines who said they will order one that day for me and to come back in a week to be given it.

I was not aware that this was a postcode lottery situation

I will sign this when I get home and then cajole or bully as many of my friends, relatives and colleagues as I can manage into signing.

Edit:
Sorry the link just goes to the general epetion page- has it 'expired'?

Thanks

Hi Sue

lol yes, he can

Hi Jip,

My Dad lives in Spain, could he sign ???

Our posts crossed, I see he can.

Hi Alsa and Sue

Thanks for signing and being willing to sign

There is a drop down box for expats to choose where they are now

Hi Alsa,

Excuse me jumping in, I've just been there, think you have to have a resident uk address, don't know if there's another way round that?

Take care,
Sue

Is it permissable for me to sign your petition even though I don't live in the UK anymore Jippity?

PLEASE sign my petition for everyone in the uk with sleep apnoea to recieve treatment! Pass it along to your friends, family and colleagues!

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/CPAP-for-all/

mac

The post code lottery style of approach to cpap, is frustrating, but not only does it include supply of equipment as I found out with my local authority.

I first complained about osa symptoms about 5 years ago, but at that time the health authority localy did not have a nhs clinic, so never got refered, investigated or diagnosed.

The issue with DVLA from what I understand, once the condition is being treated and managed by the clinic, you will not have a problem. I also informed my insurance companies, knowing they would wriggle away from any payment if they could, but none of them had an issue with it. (With reflection the wording managed and undertreatment from the clinc, & following medical recomendation, may be the words that come in handy.)

OK, first of all, you have been very lucky to get a CPAP machine easily. Secondly, your attitude could land you in jail. If you have an accident as a result of OSA then you will be investigated. Your CPAP machine will be capable of recording how many times you use it, and for how long.
Get used to it, because it could save your life and maybe that of an innocent person. Nobody "likes" CPAP, but it is necessary for us to lead a normal life.