Going into the Beyond... of PAP Therapy

Educate, Educate, Educate...

Kim Curtis — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:41:00 GMT

...In the medical field, this is the general rule. In times past, people never received information about diseases or explanations about treatment modalities. We went to the doctor with a backache, received a prescription, and just went home and took...(read more)

White Noise for Better Sleep

Kim Curtis — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:18:00 GMT

Most babies sleep better in the car, on top of a dryer or listening to the sound of a heart beat. These noises are sometimes referred to as white noise and they're something we start out as infants craving. White noise machines and other similar products...(read more)

Solutions to The Problem of Mask Marks

Kim Curtis — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Mask interfaces are constantly changing. Some of the latest are beginning to take shapes that answer the demands of users. But for many years, being a PAP user and a woman has not been a good combination. Questions are asked by PAP users and non-PAP users...(read more)

Research Reveals Root of Sleep Dispositions

Kim Curtis — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:40:00 GMT

Well-known celebrities including Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger and some professional football players have suffered from sleeping problems. Although some may have only been transient, some people suffer with sleep problems their entire lives. New research...(read more)

Are You the Next Idol?

Kim Curtis — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:56:00 GMT

You could be the next Idol in your bed partner's book! That means that using your PAP device is a win-win situation. Although when educating patients and their families, I still hear PAP users saying, "the mask is not very sexy". Of course my next response...(read more)

Tips for Traveling With CPAP

Kim Curtis — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:55:00 GMT

Have you ever had to run through the airport hanging on to everything, including your britches? This is when you come to the realization that the CPAP machine you are carrying is heavier than you thought. Most CPAP users know that checking that expensive...(read more)

Next Biggest Loser: Who's the Winner?

Kim Curtis — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:08:00 GMT

Who's the biggest loser? Would it be the PAP user or the medical equipment supplier? With restrictions tightening the belts of compliance guidelines, how can we continue to ensure that what we are doing is actually in the best interest of the PAP user?...(read more)

Sleeping Without CPAP: Gastric Bypass, PAP Therapy and Me

Kim Curtis — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:56:00 GMT

Since I had gastric bypass surgery in January-- about 24 weeks ago now--I have lost about 80 pounds. After using PAP for nearly nine years, I am currently sleeping without it. It does seem a little strange, seeing it sitting on my nightstand and knowing...(read more)

Snoring: No laughing matter

Kim Curtis — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:13:00 GMT

Snoring is no laughing matter. It comes in all shapes and sizes, has no age barriers, and affects children and adults, males and females, even pets!! When I tell people that we are predisposed for snoring by our gene pool, they look at me in disbelief....(read more)

More Alternatives to PAP Therapy

Kim Curtis — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:59:00 GMT

You always face the patient who needs a reality check. He wants to tell you how he saw some liquid, throat spray or nose sticker that will cure his sleep apnea. We all wish it was this simple. Some patients are just searching for answers they will never...(read more)

Alternatives to PAP Therapy

Kim Curtis — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:23:00 GMT

Oral appliances, also called dental appliances, may be an option for patients who cannot tolerate positive airway pressure therapy. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends oral appliances for patients with mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep...(read more)

Speaking Out About Dry Mouth - An Understated PAP Therapy Barrier

Kim Curtis — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:05:00 GMT

When I first started using PAP therapy almost nine years ago, I had a real issue with dry mouth. Dry mouth, dry nose, nosebleeds, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing can be big barriers to PAP use. All of these become an especially...(read more)

If at first you don't succeed......

Kim Curtis — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

It's an old saying, but it has a lot of meaning especially when it comes to PAP therapy. Before coming to the Birmingham VA, I didn't have an opportunity to do as much follow up with patients as I do now. Many of them come in our office and tell me, "Well,...(read more)

Monkey see monkey do

Kim Curtis — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:00:00 GMT

When I first entered the respiratory field that was the way most of the therapists learned. Someone who was training would demonstrate how a specific procedure was done and then you would follow their lead and also attempt to do the same. Instead of monkey...(read more)

Tongue tied... about PAP Therapy

Kim Curtis — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:34:00 GMT

It's really not necessary to tie up your tongue but successful PAP use does involve the mechanics of the tongue. Proper tongue placement seals up the airway, allowing the patient to breathe through their nose. Patients need to know how important proper...(read more)