British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Often with metformin it can kick start the pancreas to start producing insulin again, although it may not go to its original ability.

It's good your blood sugars are in the green, as often it is the complications of diabetus that is the most disabling in the longer term so look after your feet, being the outer extremity they will suffer the worst.

I am coping OK with my diabetes, but have really had to educate myself, as endocinologists are overwhelmed with work, and as I've now been referred to a specialist, my GP doesn't want to get involved. Unfortunately my endo told me that she had personally trained my GP and wanted her to take over daily active management, which she asked me to pass on, and which I willingly did.

I'm on metformin 2x850 daily and for the first time ever, my body is starting to produce the insulin that I've been without for so many years. I've lost weight and generally no longer feel as hungry as a hunter. Most of the time I'm ok with just being careful to avoid sugars and fats or eat the minimum possible and my latest bloods showed that I'm in the normal range for all the conditions checked, except that my thyroid is now way too overdosed, and I'm trying to get it back in balance not least so I can avoid the hot flushes. I have to admit that it's quite hard to be 'good' when I'm in the UK because when we are invited out either to a friend's house or to a restaurant, there are too many dishes prepared with sauces that I cannot ask for 'on the side' as I do in France, and there are often too many chips or roast or fried potatoes and no one seems to do plain boiled!!

But in general life is treating me very well, except for my psoriasis/eczema on my feet which is chronic and accute, but I live in hope of windows of good times. I have to manage my feet very carefully and was rewarded with 2 really good days last week, which really boosts my morale.

Thanks luv, I always wondered how the system worked knowing we hear so much about how much better it is than ours.

From what I the initial disgnosis seems confusing compared to me in sx, but am aware different pasts of uk, still have waiting lists for the cpap, although they seem to sacre people with frist contact before being equiped. I feel one of the biggest let downs here though, is no set standard of what we can expect from our clinics, so speaking for myself I have tried to become as self sufficient as possible without them knowing, hence my spare mask.

How you getting on with the diabetus I for one I have always liked your bread better than ours, but alas may be biased as I have always liked the french dietry way of life and we in uk have a lot to benefit from adapting your customs.

Thank you Leng for the link, which I intend to look at in detail after I've finished my post.

In France there are no OSA clinics. The procedure is that you go to a PNEUMONOLOGUE - a lung specialist, and s/he will give you the Epworth test (in French!!) and then take various measurements as regards lung capacity and blood oxygen levels. You will then be invited to try a very simple machine overnight, basically a microphone that hangs under your nose, rather like wearing a stethoscope, and also a finger monitor. You return this after a nights's sleep at home. The results of this will tell the doc whether you need to be seen at a sleep centre - few and far between often with a large clientele! - or whether the machine has recorded enough info to determine whether you have OSA. You are also asked to keep a sleep diary, showing all the hours of day and night on a line and ticking the boxes under them for the hours you slept. You need to do this for a month.

You will be seen very quickly after the results of your overnight machine data capture are analysed and fitted out with a CPAP to keep you going until the medical help agency connected with the docs, come to visit you at your home to give you a CPAP of your own, set it up and explain it. You then go back to the doc about a month later with your sleep diary and the machine. Further tests will be done at the docs to check that the pressure is correct, and normally you would then have a visit from the medical agency every six months to replace masks and accessories, and they will send the current results to the doc for his approval. If he wants to adjust the machine, he will call you in to see you and put the machine to what he considers is the correct pressure.

Once a year you go for a check up, and repeat the Epworth and lung tests.

I can only speak for my agency, called AUXILIA, who bring the necessary supplies, and often different masks to try. They are excellent and always come out in an emergency for broken hoses or masks. I think they generally use RESMED because they are the largest firm in Europe, and there is some talk that Resmed may eventually buy Respironics over here.

I hope that this helps, but if I've not covered what you would have liked to learn, please send me another message! Oh and incidentally you pay for your CPAP monthly - or at least the state 'coughs up' at least 90%, and either you pay the rest directly or your employer (or spouse's employer) meets the rest from their health insurance company (almost a legal requirement in France). Machines are replaced regularly and updated as better machines come on the market, at no cost to the user.

Hi and thanks for your thoughts I feel about your problem Alsa, especialy when we take into consideration the amount of attachment we aquire to these wind blowers!

Here is a link I found interesting, burried in the site, shows a nasal pillow system especialy designed for the fairer sex. Ironic I wrote to resmed few weeks back about the design of masks, as I had conerned they often did not take into consideration weight, or paid little attention to the syle of fastening or different shape of peoples faces. Also I came across a total new design via an alternate company in the states, that showed the securing method as a one piece lighter cloth style approach, supposedly doing away with the sweat marks on the face.
http://www.cpapsupplyusa.com/

What do your sleep clinics in France provide you with? and do they restrict you to certain makes and models?

Thanks Leng and Nuneatonman!

I'm doing very well with my CPAP but have had problems with a design flaw on the Ultra Mirage because the 'peg' that adjusts the angle of the forehead bar keeps shearing off.

I've got the last one my agency have in stock, and am preparing to move on to the Micra once it becomes available here in France.

Thank you to both of you for the excellent work you do for the members of this forum. I for one am very grateful. xxx

I was supplied with a mirage micra last year, although I only used it for 6 weeks, but because I have a full beared I found it hard to get a proper seal and tore the seal, which I have just replaced and was secretly hoping to keep it as a spare, as I now use the nasal pillow system. I only spoke to resmed couple of months ago, and from what I gather was quite happy to supply direct to customers, even at this moment of time nuneatonman is entering into some discussions of supplying filters at a discounted bulk purchase which from his quote was an extremely wise thought. Whilst we were having these discussions in the public domain, Dan gave a link from an american company that is supposed to be willing to sell to Britain. I noticed several new masks on their site different than the one we see advertised localy

Unfortunatly my mask in question is supposed to belong to the Hastings sleep clinic, although I have forgotten to return it but have an appointment next week when I was going to give them the chance of it back if I could not keep as spare.

I am treated where I live - in France - and have been told by my CPAP supplier that Resmed have scaled down their Ultra Mirage nasal mask production and although I tried another mask, it didn't have an adjustable gadget on the 'nose' of the mask to help make the mask sit more comfortably on my forehead. I asked about any alternatives and the technician mentioned that Resmed have developed/are developing a 'micro' mask range, but which is not currently available in France.

Does anybody use this type of nasal mask? Information and comments invited! Thanks in advance for all your help.