1. < Sleep Health

Cpap and getting better sleep: What's your experience?

Posted by steve1948 @steve1948, Feb 24, 2017

I was in the hospital for pneumonia and while I was getting a nebulizer treatment the therapist asked if I use a Cpap at home, at the time I didn't have one. Now mind you I was only sleeping for 2 hrs a night during my pneumonia bout (2 weeks) and the therapist asked if I were open to using a BPAP (what they call it in a hospital) it was a large machine and I said of course. Upon using it I still only slept for 2 hours but it was a very restful 2 hours of sleep and was welcomed. I told my Pulmonologist and got set up for a sleep study, and it is all history. I sleep more restful (have much less visits to the bathroom at night) and use it religiously. Medicare covered my testing and machine. After my test my doc told me I stopped breathing x amount of times a minute, and was restless (tossed and turned) an ungodly amount of time during my test. On the follow up test (with the Cpap) the number decreased significantly. My sister snores like a constant thunder storm and she went for a test and got her Cpap, and now she doesn't snore at all and tells me she sleeps much better.
There are two ways to use the machine, with a nostril mask (so to speak) and a full mask (you usually see on TV movies). The latter is what I use, I couldn't get use to the nostril application, and if you were to catch a cold, I don't know how well it would work, but I use the mask never the less. Hope this helps, and do read the instructions about your machine.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sleep Health Support Group.

Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 19, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "Thank you for the post @colleenyoung. @DrDonaLocke I'm looking forward to part two of the series...." + (show)
@johnbishop

Thank you for the post @colleenyoung. @DrDonaLocke I'm looking forward to part two of the series. I'm too new in the CPAP arena to add any tips but I can relate to the issues discussed in part one. I'm a mouth breather so needed a full face mask and did not like the mask from the overnight study nor the one I picked out to go with my CPAP machine - Dreamstation with ramp up and humidifier. After 7 days I started looking and found the Dreamware full face mask and loved it the first night but had issues with it also. My pressure was set for 8 to 18 with 4 for the 15 minute ramp up. Now the mask gets vibrating off my face when the pressure gets up so I tighten it more and it seems better but feels way too tight. I had thought the cushion might be too small - it was a medium with the medium frame and my other F&P Simplus was a large. I went to the medical store and was able to get the large cushion for the Dreamware full face mask and it seemed OK the first night but now I'm back to square one. I did find that the Sleep Medicine store turned off the resistance feature so I set it to X1 thinking it would help but it didn't seem to make a difference.

So, I'm planning to try and be more proactive and learn from my fellow CPAP Connect members. Hey, maybe now I can learn more than one new thing a day!

Sweet Dreams everyone...

John

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I do like that I can see the results of how I slept with the app on my phone and the computer. The sleep medicine doctor wants to get me down to 4 for the AHI. My best night so far is 6.1. I do like the air hose on the top of the head vs on my nose.
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doodle75bug | @doodle75bug | Aug 19, 2018

I like it too the hose on top of my head.

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doodle75bug | @doodle75bug | Aug 19, 2018

I wear dreamstation cpap too the full mask one. I have noticed that if the face mask does not fit snug then it is not helping me at night. Now that I have the right adjustment of my mask. I can sleep with it on almost the whole night. Before I was only wearing it 4 hours a night. You just need to find a mask that fits. I also have noticed that the facemask tubing it stretches after a while of use.

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johnhans | @johnhans | Aug 19, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "Thank you for the post @colleenyoung. @DrDonaLocke I'm looking forward to part two of the series...." + (show)
@johnbishop

Thank you for the post @colleenyoung. @DrDonaLocke I'm looking forward to part two of the series. I'm too new in the CPAP arena to add any tips but I can relate to the issues discussed in part one. I'm a mouth breather so needed a full face mask and did not like the mask from the overnight study nor the one I picked out to go with my CPAP machine - Dreamstation with ramp up and humidifier. After 7 days I started looking and found the Dreamware full face mask and loved it the first night but had issues with it also. My pressure was set for 8 to 18 with 4 for the 15 minute ramp up. Now the mask gets vibrating off my face when the pressure gets up so I tighten it more and it seems better but feels way too tight. I had thought the cushion might be too small - it was a medium with the medium frame and my other F&P Simplus was a large. I went to the medical store and was able to get the large cushion for the Dreamware full face mask and it seemed OK the first night but now I'm back to square one. I did find that the Sleep Medicine store turned off the resistance feature so I set it to X1 thinking it would help but it didn't seem to make a difference.

So, I'm planning to try and be more proactive and learn from my fellow CPAP Connect members. Hey, maybe now I can learn more than one new thing a day!

Sweet Dreams everyone...

John

Jump to this post

Welcome to the world of CPAP problems. I have used mine for many years and have always had the problems you have experienced. It seems either too tight of if just let out a little than it leaks all over. Then I get the red frowning face on my CPAP screen. Full face masks are very hard to get to fit properly. The nasal pillows have much less space to leak from, but for us mouth breathers, it is needed. I did try a chin strap, but with my double chin, it just slipped off of my chin. Also when you have a cold or you are like me with a deviated septum that keeps me from being able to breath right with my mouth closed, a full face mask is a necessity. My lung doctor says the reading from my CPAP shows great effect and I am no longer getting sleep apnea episodes. Thus I must conclude that even though the mask does sometimes leak, it still is effective.

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johnhans | @johnhans | Aug 19, 2018

I think it is important to note that sleep apnea patients who sleep on their side need to have their face half off of the pillow. Otherwise the pillow will move a full face mask over and cause it to leak. There are also special pillows that are available to buy for those who want something just for sleep apnea patients, but I have always used the sleep halfway off technique. I do not know how many of us sleep on their side, but it was recommended to me when I first started on CPAP therapy years ago. I was told that it lessens the incidence of sleep apnea. When I did my sleep study I was told to sleep on my back so as not to disturb the electrode placements. Before the study, I always slept on my back.

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19 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 20, 2018
In reply to @johnhans "I think it is important to note that sleep apnea patients who sleep on their side..." + (show)
@johnhans

I think it is important to note that sleep apnea patients who sleep on their side need to have their face half off of the pillow. Otherwise the pillow will move a full face mask over and cause it to leak. There are also special pillows that are available to buy for those who want something just for sleep apnea patients, but I have always used the sleep halfway off technique. I do not know how many of us sleep on their side, but it was recommended to me when I first started on CPAP therapy years ago. I was told that it lessens the incidence of sleep apnea. When I did my sleep study I was told to sleep on my back so as not to disturb the electrode placements. Before the study, I always slept on my back.

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@johnhans -- Thanks for the tip about side sleepers should have the face partially off of the pillow. I thought I slept good last night but the AHI number jumped to 10.1 from 7.4 from Saturday night. I woke a few times and know I slept on my back for a large amount of the time which I usually don't do. I may look at getting a CPAP pillow even though the hose doesn't go off the side with the Dreamware full face mask. I'm using the Large nose and mouth mask cushion with the medium mask frame/tubing. I'm not sure how much bigger the large frame would be or if it would be better in my case. I like the mask when I first put it on. It's not too tight and seems to work OK most of the night. The pillow might be causing the mask frame to move on my head but I'm not sure.

I prefer sleeping on my side but lately my hip and knee bother me sometimes during the night and cause me to switch sides frequently.

John

REPLY
johnhans | @johnhans | Aug 20, 2018
In reply to @johnhans "I think it is important to note that sleep apnea patients who sleep on their side..." + (show)
@johnhans

I think it is important to note that sleep apnea patients who sleep on their side need to have their face half off of the pillow. Otherwise the pillow will move a full face mask over and cause it to leak. There are also special pillows that are available to buy for those who want something just for sleep apnea patients, but I have always used the sleep halfway off technique. I do not know how many of us sleep on their side, but it was recommended to me when I first started on CPAP therapy years ago. I was told that it lessens the incidence of sleep apnea. When I did my sleep study I was told to sleep on my back so as not to disturb the electrode placements. Before the study, I always slept on my back.

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It is not the hose that is the problem. It is the mask touching the pillow. The half off is approximate, as long as the part of the face closest to the mask is off of the pillow, you should be OK. A tip I was told to ensure sleeping on your side was to sew or attach something to the back of your top you wear to sleep so that it makes it uncomfortable to sleep on your back. A tennis ball was suggested. I have wondered though if the CPAP should not take care of the problem. It would be interesting to see since you have a machine that shows you your events, if keeping off of your back does lower the number of sleep apnea events.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 20, 2018
In reply to @johnhans "I think it is important to note that sleep apnea patients who sleep on their side..." + (show)
@johnhans

I think it is important to note that sleep apnea patients who sleep on their side need to have their face half off of the pillow. Otherwise the pillow will move a full face mask over and cause it to leak. There are also special pillows that are available to buy for those who want something just for sleep apnea patients, but I have always used the sleep halfway off technique. I do not know how many of us sleep on their side, but it was recommended to me when I first started on CPAP therapy years ago. I was told that it lessens the incidence of sleep apnea. When I did my sleep study I was told to sleep on my back so as not to disturb the electrode placements. Before the study, I always slept on my back.

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I will try and see if sleeping on my side makes a difference tonight. I did plan to use a smaller pillow that I have before buying a CPAP pillow. My normal one is a ginormous My Pillow that I really like but it may be part of the problem with the mask.

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johnhans | @johnhans | Aug 20, 2018

I just saw a video on youtube about how to fit a resmed full face mask. It suggested tucking the hose under the top of the pillow to keep the hose from getting caught and pulling on the face mask. This of course means allowing an ample amount on the hose to allow you to turn before tucking the hose under the top of the pillow. Another suggesting was when adjusting the side straps be sure to adjust both sides at once. They allude to the fact that you do not need a perfect fit and that tightening too much can make things worse. They do show that the mask is tightened to the point of a little pressure on the face. Just loosely sitting on the face will not work. All of these are suggestions I have used except for the tucking of the hose. I will have to try that tonight.

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2 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Aug 20, 2018
In reply to @johnhans "I think it is important to note that sleep apnea patients who sleep on their side..." + (show)
@johnhans

I think it is important to note that sleep apnea patients who sleep on their side need to have their face half off of the pillow. Otherwise the pillow will move a full face mask over and cause it to leak. There are also special pillows that are available to buy for those who want something just for sleep apnea patients, but I have always used the sleep halfway off technique. I do not know how many of us sleep on their side, but it was recommended to me when I first started on CPAP therapy years ago. I was told that it lessens the incidence of sleep apnea. When I did my sleep study I was told to sleep on my back so as not to disturb the electrode placements. Before the study, I always slept on my back.

Jump to this post

@johnbishop It sounds like the CPAP causes a lot of changes in your lifestyle, other than just the mask and the equipment. It takes a real high tech mind and lots of advice to adjust to it all.

I really admire folks who have been using this for many years. By the way, is this small enough to take on trips or on a plane?

Teresa

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