Learn Me: Cpap Machine

Tom_Spangler said:

We never experienced the whole "Best sleep I ever got!" thing that some people do when they use them, but they do help, I feel more rested if I use it. It takes a few nights to get used to having that thing on your face, though. 

Same here.  I've had one for a little over a year.  I snore terribly without it, so it's worth it just for appeasing the wife.  

That said, by using it regularly, I do find I'm substantially more rested.  I used to sit down and fall asleep in a chair or couch or whatever at any given time with ease much to my wife and kid's annoyance.  After using the CPAP routinely I find I can function and stay up in evenings and watch tv or something if I choose.  It's more of a cumulative effect for me.  I can go a night without it and not really feel any different... but if I go a few days without it I'm back to feeling more exhausted in the day time.  I've also found that I was so used to being exhausted (and not realizing it) that I could get by on substantially less sleep with a CPAP (say 5 hours) and actually end up feeling better than 8 hours without it because I actually got some proper sleep there. 

One big upside for me that was unplanned, I used to wake up at random with acid reflux something terrible.  Since using the CPAP I have not had that happen at all.  

It does take awhile to get used to the mask.  It'll be more uncomfortable and feel counter-productive for awhile, but it works eventually.  I personally am able to get away with just a nose guard cover, so it just puts air up my nose, I don't actually wear a whole mask.  

I tried one of the units that includes a water supply and instantly concluded I was drowning, so I dismissed that idea right quick.   Just air is just fine with me; YMMV.  Yes, the hose is a pain, but it's ten cents' worth of annoyance versus a couple of thousand bucks of getting your life back.  If you live in an area that is subject to power failures, give serious thought to some kind of UPS arrangement.

Don't forget to introduce your kids to the idea that Daddy will be using this machine to help him sleep better ("Doesn't Daddy look silly with his mask on? We can pretend he's an elephant!") , so they don't come into your room when they're upset after a bad dream and freak out even more.

The follow up appt was this morning.  Seemed to mostly be a bunch or questions to "base-line" so they can look back at the question in 3 months and see if there is improvement.  

I did this sleep study 3  or so days after return from One Lap of America.  I don't think OLoA affected my actual sleep study but it could have certainly affected my answers to these questions.  I had to remind myself answer with the thought of "on weeks other than OLoA."

Questions included: 

How often do you feel so sleepy while driving that you have to pull over?  Any other week-Never.  Last week-a couple of times.  

As a passenger, do you fall asleep in the car? Any other week - Never.  Last week-every time. 

How many hours of sleep have you gotten in the past weeks.  Any other week - 7-ish hours per night.  Last week - as little as 2.5 hours

Like many in this thread, I wish I would have done it years sooner. Really was a life-changing thing for me getting a machine.

Your insurance may differ, but for me it was cheaper and easier to just buy a machine. My insurance would allow me to "rent" one, but the copay was like $30/month forever. Or I could just buy a $500 machine and I'd own it. 

I got one of these:

https://www.cpapsupplyusa.com/Respironics-System-One-Auto-CPAP-Humidifier-Bluetooth.aspx

That website actually has a lot of great deals, and they ship quickly. And once they have your prescription you don't have to worry about proving you have a scrip again.

As for masks, that's harder to recommend, because everyone's face is different. I use these:

https://www.cpapsupplyusa.com/fisher-paykel-simplus-mask.aspx

But I do a few mods to the headgear and the mask for a better fit and better seal and more durability. Your doctor should be able to hook you up with a fitting appointment where you'll be able to try on a bunch of the sample masks they have, and they may even send you home with a couple. I'm guessing sleep docs get mad samples of that stuff from sales reps.

One thing I will recommend is once you find a mask you like, buy two so you always have a backup and you don't have to wait for a new one to be shipped. Most common mask failure mode is air leaks, which means the machine stays on "scramjet" mode all night as it basically assumes you stopped breathing. A good mask fit usually means a much quieter machine. 

TL;DR: Breathing the old way is for suckers. If someone recommends one of these babies to you, do not hesitate. You will not regret it.

Also, don;t think for a second that I haven't thought about getting one of these and turning it into a CPAP mask just because it would be awesome.

The few things I’d add to the previous comments:

if you get the humidifier (I’d recommend  it) get the heated hose. Before the heated hose I would get the snorkel with water sputter if the bedroom was cool enough for the moisture to condense in the hose.  

A good old pillow can make it a lot easier to sleep with the mask. Im a side sleeper and I have a buckwheat pillow that is filled to be pretty firm. Because it doesn’t compress during the night I don’t have the pillow pressing against the mask causing leaks. 

I’ve had respironics and resmed machines in the past. I found the resmed to be quieter. 

Everyone is talking about CPAP machines, do they still offer or use BiPAP machines? The former being constant pressure, the latter being 2 pressure, inhale and exhale if you will. 

My dad was the first in the family to get one in the early 90s, because he would start to doze at red lights or any time just sitting around. Started with a Bipap machine, then after esophageal cancer and radiation changed to a CPAP machine in 2000. Mom got here in the late 90s, she went straight to CPap. 

Of note, it took about 3 months for the rest of the house to get used to the noise of the first machine. Within a year though, if we went to Erie and left mom at home, she couldn't sleep because she got so used to the machine nose before she got her own. 

I took a sleep study in my late teens, they gave me a machine, but I could never use it. Just can't sleep on my back, and still can't. Now I really wish I still had the old one or insurance for a new one because I know the difference it would make. Sure, I could lose 50lbs too, but good sleep is hard to come by for me. And I've been told I snore at a rather frightening volume. 

It was strange seeing the masks evolve through the years, I still haven't seen that nose only thing yet, but I feel like it could work for me. 

I tried the nose pillow thing, and it really irritated my nostrils, so I have the small mask that just covers my nose. It's actually hard to open my mouth with the machine on because of the pressure. I'm a side sleeper, and that mask works great for me once I have it arranged to a good spot. But I don't move much once I'm asleep.

My insurance replaces supplies close to this recommendation: CPAP supply replacement. I prefer to replace more frequently so been buying extra tubing, filters and cushions on ebay or Amazon. While I keep my stuff clean, I replace tubing at 1.5 months and filters once/ week. Pretty cheap too in bulk.

1st gen CPAP machines were loud and bulky, PITA to transport. My new Resmed Airsense 10 is quiet enough I've never noticed noise and it's about the size of a tissue box, easy transport. 

Your SO will let you know w/ elbow to your ribs that you just quit breathing in your sleep and it scared the E36 M3 outta her. Get tested. Sleep apnea stresses the heart, one reason there was not many older patients 65 plus getting diagnosed, prolly died from heart attack. 

The sleep clinic should fit you w/ different type masks to find your liking, if they don't just ask. Amount of hair and beard may affect seal. During the test, try different positions to suit your sleep style. I started w/ a full face mask but that was irritating and leaked w/ facial hair. Later switched to nasal cushions, only some irritation at first but soon became my fav once I dialed in. 

If you have any suspicion you might have apnea please get tested.

Did the sleep study, was told I need a cpap, I tried it for months, it made me wake up constantly because I felt like I was suffocating, they kept readjusting it so I would stop breathing my exhales, to no avail. I don't use it anymore. Those breathe rite nose strips seem to be my solutuon.

I started CPAP a month ago, and wa surprised that I adapted almost immediately.  I have a resmed machine(same one as fasted 58)  that I literally cannot hear run, and a nose and mouth mask that isn't particularly annoying.  I move around a lot, but I quickly learned to move the hose with me, so that's no big deal either.  Does it work?  I didn't think I needed any help before the sleep test, I don't snore, don't have trouble staying awake during the day, don't often take naps, but my BP had gone up and I had developed an irregular heartbeat.  Meds have the BP under control, and I now have a much more regular heartbeat, but I can't say whether the CPAP is responsible, or whether the meds did the job.  First doctor consultation since starting the CPAP is next week, and the med supply company that does the monitoring says the data look really good, so we'll see what the doc has to say.  Medicare and Blue Cross are paying the whole bill, so it's costing me zero, so I'll stay with it.

SWMBO did the sleep study a few years ago, ended up with a CPAP and loves it.  Much less waking up tired and headache-y.  First time she brought it over I thought it would sound like Darth Vader all night (which would be kinda cool) but I barely heard it over my fan.