liveaboard stranger roomies

[RJP]

Thanks divengolf. Yep, I have moderate to severe sleep apnea.

Hopefully you've talked to a cardiologist about this as well. There appears to be strong connection/correlation between sleep apnea and CV disease... (Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease: An American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement)

I would also contact DAN about any info they might have about sleep apnea and diving. Might also want to look into ensuring your medical form is up to date and cleared relative to sleep apnea.

I would be concerned about a diver who showed up on a boat with a CPAP machine. Why?

The last diver I heard about using a CPAP machine didn't tell anyone about it, and we didn't find out about his apnea (and underlying conditions) until his hotel room was being cleaned out... to return all his belongings to his widow and kids.

:-(

 

[diverken374]

hmmm, I was thinking it was going to cost double, 1.5 times may be worth it. I will do some experimenting with ear plugs. I'm not sure they can do the job but I'll put my wife the scientist in charge of running the experiments. Thanks for the input. PS, any non snorers want to do the Aggressor in Feb?

I am just in the process of planning a trip To Palau and Truk for Feb. 2011 I was thinking of doing two weeks on the Aggressor and one week land based. My wife is a non diver so going as a single diver although have yet to tell my better half. I am a non snorer. Just in the beginning stages of planning this trip as I just cleared the month for vacation and have been talking about this trip for the last couple of years so thought it was time to go for it. Give me a PM as to when you are planning to be on the Agressor and maybe it will work out for both of us non snorers. I still think that earplugs are a great idea + the Ipod.

 

[divengolf]

Hopefully you've talked to a cardiologist about this as well. There appears to be strong connection/correlation between sleep apnea and CV disease... (Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease: An American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement)

I would also contact DAN about any info they might have about sleep apnea and diving. Might also want to look into ensuring your medical form is up to date and cleared relative to sleep apnea.

I would be concerned about a diver who showed up on a boat with a CPAP machine. Why?

The last diver I heard about using a CPAP machine didn't tell anyone about it, and we didn't find out about his apnea (and underlying conditions) until his hotel room was being cleaned out... to return all his belongings to his widow and kids.

:-(

If he had a CPAP machine, his sleep apnea is under control and his sleep should be peaceful without CV episodes caused by sleep apnea. The dangerous ones are those who are not diagnosed and treated. The correlation between CV disease and UNTREATED sleep apnea is strong. From what I understand, it's extremely unlikely that a diver using a CPAP to control/eliminate sleep apnea is at any greater risk than the average diver based solely on the sleep apnea. When awake the tissues in the throat are not loose and do not cause constricted breathing. There may be other conditions that cause CV episodes when awake, but not TREATED sleep apnea.

I've been on at least three liveaboards who knew I had a CPAP because they had to run a special extension cord for power, and no one word of concern was expressed by the DMs.

Plus my doc who is a diver, has never mentioned any concern about sleep apnea and diving. But it's a good question for DAN as long as they understand we're talking about divers who are using CPAPs, not untreated ones.

PS> I have sent am email to DAN. Will post when I get a response.

 

[divengolf]

Here's the reply from DAN on whether TREATED sleep apnea poses a risk for doiving:

" If the sleep apnea impairs your ability to sleep well and results in fatigue, irritability, impaired concentration and sleepiness, it is probably inconsistent with safe diving. If it is being treated successfully, though, these issues may not be concerns. The other area to consider is your cardiovascular fitness. Sleep apnea is often associated with poor fitness and obesity, and is a risk factor for hypertension and heart disease. If any of these issues are present, it would be advisable to undergo a thorough cardiovascular exam. Your cardiologist or primary care physician might wish to perform a stress EKG. Doctors trained in diving medicine often recommend a score of at least 10-13 MET on this exam to be considered fit for diving. Demonstrating a program of regular exercise is also seen as a sufficient measure of cardiovascular fitness for many physicians."

 

[farsidefan1]

I use a cpap. I'm overweight but in pretty good shape. My weekly routine is 3 days mountain biking 2 days swimming 1.5 miles and 2 days lifting weights. I have 2 c paps, one at home and one for travel. My travel unit has a battery backup in case of a power failure. Both are very quiet. I have been assured by my wife that with the cpap I am absolutely quiet all night. as long as I'm asleep. Fortunately my wife is a non snorer, whew. I also like the snore/diveknife idea. I mean getting rid of the body would be a cinch. Explanations might be a bit more difficult.

 

[Splitlip]

No doubt in my mind, I'd pay the 150%. This is the 21st century and I am very selective when considering with whom I sleep.

Only thing that would really piss me off is if I committed to paying 1.5 for my slot and found there were vacancies on the charter.

Me? I would plan on paying for a single, but try and get a commitment from the op to discount it if there are vacancies.

 

[seacreatures]

Are you going to dive or find a room mete? Your in the room so little who cares??? Go diving and spend most of your time meeting and having fun on deck with the other divers I have had a lot of roomies and non-have been a problem, snoring is another issue, and that would have to be dealt with. I have used ear plugs a couple times One option is get the Bow room it is so noisy you won't care!

 

[Scott L]

I have had a lot of roomies and non-have been a problem, snoring is another issue, and that would have to be dealt with. I have used ear plugs a couple times One option is get the Bow room it is so noisy you won't care!

This is the subject of the entire thread. Your roommate snoring and how to avoid the situation while keeping costs down...

 

[vladimir]

This is the 21st century and I am very selective when considering with whom I sleep.

You realize they give you separate beds, don't you?

 

[RJP]

You realize they give you separate beds, don't you?

The charge is 200% if you want them to arrange a roommate who will bed-down with you as well.