CPAP

[orezok]

I just got back from my follow-up to my home sleep test. Yup, moderate to severe sleep apnea. CPAP machine on the way!

 

[kf4uda]

I am sorry. I have been wearing one for around 20 years. I learned to live with but still hate it however, I would probably have died in my sleep several years ago if I hadn’t got it. Good luck with yours!

 

[not2old]

I hate mine but can't function properly if I don't use it. I quit breathing for 30 seconds or more, more than 50 times an hour during a sleep study. I no longer fall asleep within seconds after sitting quietly. Good luck with yours.

 

[Racer4]

Went through this in June of 2024. The home sleep study machine with all of its wires, made me have the absolute worst night of sleep. 95 episodes where I stopped breathing per hour.

The severe sleep apnea caused heart issues, plus I was tired all the time. Had no idea other than that I snored. All of this came to light as I was referred to a cardiologist before getting hernia surgery.

A year and a half later my heart is much better (normal ejection fraction of 50%+). It was 35% before starting cpap. I sleep great at night, no waking up tossing and turning. Most importantly, I’m not tired all the time.

 

[John0829]

I hate mine but can't function properly if I don't use it. I quit breathing for 30 seconds or more, more than 50 times an hour during a sleep study. I no longer fall asleep within seconds after sitting quietly. Good luck with yours.

My sleep study had me doing the same thing only I was over 60 times in an hour, basically once a minute. Still do not have a CPAP machine, when I went to be "fitted" for it the thing it was suffocating, no way I was ever gong to wear that thing. I will just have to die in my sleep because there is no way I will ever have that thing on.

I read afterwards that a very high percentage of people that get a CPAP stop using them after about 6 months so I figure I am in good company.

 

[etpm]

I have been using a CPAP for about 30 years. It has made a huge difference in my life. I can actually get a good night's sleep. My heart works better as does my brain. Every time I talk to someone who says they can't handle a CPAP and are just going to do without and so are not going to use one I think that they need to re-think their decision. Especially if they have a spouse or children or if they drive. I have a very good friend who needed but would not use a CPAP. I drove with him from Nebraska to Washington. His lack of good sleep was obvious in his bad decisions as he drove his truck. The trip was terrible, it was like driving with a 12 year old at the wheel. Where to eat, what motel to stay at, etc. I convinced him to start using his CPAP and his cognition has improved greatly. His wife has thanked me more than once. If you have sleep apnea and don't use a CPAP you are being foolish and stubborn.
Eric

 

[Alan W.]

After my sleep study I was fitted with a Bipap. Since Ive been using it I no longer have to get up at night to take a leak and I no longer have the terrible acid reflux that I would experience.
The nose pillows were my choice since a mask would not seal around my beard. I feel so much better using it.

 

[orezok]

WOW! I feel lucky as mine was ONLY 26 times per hour

 

[WM75Guy]

I have used one very night for 10 years. Just received a new CPAP machine after 10 years of using one of the Phillips that was recalled. New one works better than the old one. It automatically connects to the cell network for data uploads. I downloaded an app showing statistics such as mask fit quality and number of apnea episodes per hour. No more having to take into the doctor's office for my annual visits to be interrogated. She just downloads the data from a network server.

 

[1 Old Man]

If you have sleep apnea and don't use a CPAP you are being foolish and stubborn.
Eric

Cardiologist and Pulmonologist's are finding that sleep apnea affects your heart and can
also play a significant role in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.......besides falling asleep
when driving, and being drowsy all day ..... see /\ /\ /\ above quote.


Edit: Dream Machine II & Nuance user here.
Edit #2: Nope, that was a old Philips Machine. Currently use ResMed. Much better machine.
Philips still owes me $50 in class action settlement.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I took have been using a CPAP for quite a few years. I could not function without it. I do have two issues with it. One, my pulmonologist insists that I need the high setting at 20 and it's blowing so hard that the leakage disturbs my sleep even if I tighten the mask beyond comfortable. Second, the water reservoir is to small. I cannot run my machine setting on auto or i run out of water and wake up with a severely dry mouth. I recently got a new Resmed machine and I think that the reservoir may be ever smaller than the previous design?

 

[Racer4]

I took have been using a CPAP for quite a few years. I could not function without it. I do have two issues with it. One, my pulmonologist insists that I need the high setting at 20 and it's blowing so hard that the leakage disturbs my sleep even if I tighten the mask beyond comfortable. Second, the water reservoir is to small. I cannot run my machine setting on auto or i run out of water and wake up with a severely dry mouth. I recently got a new Resmed machine and I think that the reservoir may be ever smaller than the previous design?

It’s hard to get a comfortable tension on the mask and not having it blow out around it. Once I get it set, I try not to mess with it. The supply company sent me new headgear a few months ago. Took a couple of days to get it set right. Should have just kept the old one.

I’ve got to set mine differently so it doesn’t dry out my mouth as much. I had it on auto and it felt like breathing hot humid jungle air. I need it cool.

 

[fishin coyote]

Which is better the full mask or the nose plugs? I was set up with the plugs but I’ve found that if I have any kind of allergies or cold it makes it harder to use the machine. I’m needing to replace the hose and headset so I’m thinking of changing.

 

[Racer4]

I use the resmed f40 mask. Never tried the nose thing. I just knew that wouldn’t work well for me.

 

[QRTRHRS]

My previous ResMed 10 and my new ResMed 11 both allow you to set the tube temperature.

I had been using the ResMed Airfit F20 full face mask. When I got the new model 11, I discussed air leakage with the tech. She suggested a full face mask made by Fisher&Paykel, the Vitera. I also switched to a medium mask. With the ResMed mask, a large was to big and a medium, too small. The Vitera medium fit also allowed me to grow my beard (such as it is) back and not loose air.

When I lay down to sleep, I breath out of my mouth more than my nose so I must use a full face mask.

 

[QRTRHRS]

For those new to CPAP, a warning about those cleaning devices if they are still on the market. My wife also uses a CPAP. We bought two of those ozone cleaners and hated the smell. My wife tried it one time and stopped. I persevered about a week then sold both of them.

To top it off, we had bought them from our device provider, not the mask cleaning company so their money back guarentee did not apply.

 

[John0829]

If you have sleep apnea and don't use a CPAP you are being foolish and stubborn.

It is neither foolish or stubborn if you cannot mentally handle the idea of the thing on your face, in my case it set off my claustrophobia BIG TIME and could not get it off fast enough. If you are not claustrophobic you DON'T know what it is like. This is a PERSONAL decision of what you can or cannot live with, not one that you have to agree or disagree with, ESPECIALLY if you do not know all the background.

 

[GrandpaSmurf825]

I've been using a ResMed for 2 years now. I get along with it pretty well. I think just like anything there are okay Dr's on this and there are good one's on it. Mine reports to my cell phone nightly as well. Just looked and it says 2.3 events an hour last night. I sometimes wake up with a bad case of "dry mouth" in the middle of the night. I think lately it's because of getting over a cold and apparently breathing through my mouth. I think my mask is the ResMed F30 but it works good with my beard. It has helped with my falling asleep during the day. I use it faithfully. I think I have missed one or two nights in the last year. I still maintain a CDL so I have to prove use for that.

If your Dr thinks you should do a sleep study you don't have to go to the hospital to do it. That's nothing but a money maker for them. I only had to wear a finger monitor that was connected to an app on my phone. They sent it to me with the instructions and I then had a phone consultation with them to go over the results.

 

[gstrom99]

My CPAP forces me to keep my mouth closed, unless I override it, to talk. No dry mouth here. The tank heater has adjustable settings, maybe SMURF you can turn yours up? I'm on my second CPAP machine. I had a ResMed, then it told me on the display that it was nearing the "end of life", after like 20,000 hours or so. Got a Luna II, this time as during COVID, the ResMed was not available. This one does not have the heated tube, but I don't seem to miss it. I've always had nose pillows. When the Doc (or anyone else) asks if I still use/like my CPAP, I tell them "Yep, I'm a big fan".

 

[GrandpaSmurf825]

It is neither foolish or stubborn if you cannot mentally handle the idea of the thing on your face, in my case it set off my claustrophobia BIG TIME and could not get it off fast enough. If you are not claustrophobic you DON'T know what it is like. This is a PERSONAL decision of what you can or cannot live with, not one that you have to agree or disagree with, ESPECIALLY if you do not know all the background.

Without a doubt claustrophobia hits each person differently. I consider myself pretty claustrophobic. I have to take something to do an MRI otherwise you won't get me in the tube. BTDT! Yet I could squeeze under a machine without issue usually unless it was enclosed. Crawl space under a house.....NO THANK YOU! A face mask doesn't bother me though. Wearing a mask was part of my job and had to be fit test yearly. Silica dust is not something you want to breathe in as are several other types of dust.

They do offer nose plugs for those that can't do a mask so maybe that would be an option for you. A friend of the wife's had a surgical procedure done with some sort of "device" added that now she doesn't have to use a CPap because of it. So there is that as well.