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.

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johnhans | @johnhans | Sep 20, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "Thanks Dawn @dawn_giacabazi. It's funny how I really liked the Dreamware mask which is similar to..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Thanks Dawn @dawn_giacabazi. It's funny how I really liked the Dreamware mask which is similar to the Amara View but I'm not sure why all of a sudden I felt like I couldn't breathe with it on even though the mouth part was open and OK. I asked the therapist about the Amara view the last time I went in to see if I could get a larger head frame for the Dreamware because I thought the medium head frame with the large mask was my problem. She told me it leaks more than the Dreamware but I'm thinking it's different facial structures that makes it harder for each of us. I am going to take a look at it Saturday though. There is also an Air Touch F20 full face mask that's the same as the Air Fit F20 except it has a memory foam mask instead of the regular stuff that is used for the edges. The only problem I see with that is that it has to be replaced every month. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

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I believe you are right about the different face structures causing a fit to be different for people. As for the nose sore, there is a soft gel-like nose guard you can get to put on your nose before you put on a full-face mask. It works well for me. I do not have to use it for more than 2-3 days and then my nose heals and is OK. Maybe your mask is a little to tight at the top. For me and my face structure, I find it best to tighten the bottom straps first and then lightly tighten the top straps.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 20, 2018
In reply to @johnhans "I believe you are right about the different face structures causing a fit to be different..." + (show)
@johnhans

I believe you are right about the different face structures causing a fit to be different for people. As for the nose sore, there is a soft gel-like nose guard you can get to put on your nose before you put on a full-face mask. It works well for me. I do not have to use it for more than 2-3 days and then my nose heals and is OK. Maybe your mask is a little to tight at the top. For me and my face structure, I find it best to tighten the bottom straps first and then lightly tighten the top straps.

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Thanks @johnhans, I appreciate the tips.

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oldkarl | @oldkarl | Sep 20, 2018
In reply to @johnhans "I believe you are right about the different face structures causing a fit to be different..." + (show)
@johnhans

I believe you are right about the different face structures causing a fit to be different for people. As for the nose sore, there is a soft gel-like nose guard you can get to put on your nose before you put on a full-face mask. It works well for me. I do not have to use it for more than 2-3 days and then my nose heals and is OK. Maybe your mask is a little to tight at the top. For me and my face structure, I find it best to tighten the bottom straps first and then lightly tighten the top straps.

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@johnhans I gave up on the canvas and elastic straps. I like the plastic solid headgear from Resmed much better. Years ago a sleep tech of some kind at Las Vegas University hospital made me wear my own mask, but said the protocol was that he had to tighten it. The S_B pulled the straps so tight I could not even think. So as soon as he was gone, I loosened them up for comfort. This year, after 30 years, I got the new ResMed gear, with a very small nosepiece. I sleep a lot better now. I can even roll over and sleep on my side occasionally without problems.

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rachalanne Shelley | @rachelanne | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @johnhans "I just read an article from the Medical News Today website on Alzheimer's and its possible..." + (show)
@johnhans

I just read an article from the Medical News Today website on Alzheimer's and its possible link to sleep apnea. There seems to be a correlation to sleepiness during the daytime and getting sleep apnea. The article speculated that the interrupted sleep from the sleep apnea keeps the brain from clearing up the amyloid deposits found in the brains of those with sleep apnea. Detecting amyloid deposits in the brain by a scan is now the accepted way of diagnosing Alzheimer's. Another reason to keep up on your sleep apnea treatment with the cpap machine.

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I know someone whom has early onset Alzheimer's disease and she does very well! I experienced a Major Stroke and am honestly terrified of getting the disease; as one of my oldest cousins passed away from Alzheimer's disease in her eighties! I'm very aware of the changes in my mood lately and it's due to increased stress (Cortisol and my flight or fight responses to my environmental situations)!!!!! My Stroke was a bleed which affected my personality, thought processes, memory, Epilepsy, mood swings and everything else in my life!!!!!

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johnhans | @johnhans | Sep 22, 2018

I just read an article from the Medical News Today website on Alzheimer's and its possible link to sleep apnea. There seems to be a correlation to sleepiness during the daytime and getting sleep apnea. The article speculated that the interrupted sleep from the sleep apnea keeps the brain from clearing up the amyloid deposits found in the brains of those with sleep apnea. Detecting amyloid deposits in the brain by a scan is now the accepted way of diagnosing Alzheimer's. Another reason to keep up on your sleep apnea treatment with the cpap machine.

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2 replies
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @johnhans "I just read an article from the Medical News Today website on Alzheimer's and its possible..." + (show)
@johnhans

I just read an article from the Medical News Today website on Alzheimer's and its possible link to sleep apnea. There seems to be a correlation to sleepiness during the daytime and getting sleep apnea. The article speculated that the interrupted sleep from the sleep apnea keeps the brain from clearing up the amyloid deposits found in the brains of those with sleep apnea. Detecting amyloid deposits in the brain by a scan is now the accepted way of diagnosing Alzheimer's. Another reason to keep up on your sleep apnea treatment with the cpap machine.

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Hi, @johnhans - That is very interesting about the potential link you mentioned between Alzheimer's and sleep apnea. I'm guessing you may have read about this study or similar: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/2017/study-provides-new-evidence-sleep-apnea-may-increase-risk-alzheimers-disease.

I merged your post here, as I thought all the members talking about CPAPs in this discussion might be interested in this possible connection and want to talk with you about what you read, like @oldkarl @johnbishop @dawn_giacabazi @ecook @bernese53 @etaniguchi and others.

@johnhans - how are you feeling about this potential link between Alzheimer's and sleep apnea?

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 22, 2018

Well, I feel like I just won the CPAP lottery. I had my appointment this morning with medical store to look at another mask even though it is out of pocket since you are only eligible to replace a mask every 3 months when you are on Medicare. I looked at the Amara View and the ResMed Air Fit F20. She also showed me the ResMed Air Touch F20 which uses the same headgear but has memory foam around the edges instead of the silicone. She had a small sample mask of the Air Touch with the memory foam and it felt great. She gave me the headgear and frame and the Air Fit F20 which was one of their sample masks. She said then all I have to do is buy the Air Touch cushion at out of pocket cost since they both use the same frame. So tonight I'm using the sample and then tomorrow will try the new memory foam version. Great doing business with a small local medical store.

Happy Zzz's to all out their living the dream ☺ (or trying to!)

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1 reply
Dawn, Alumni Mentor | @dawn_giacabazi | Sep 22, 2018

Prayers for restful sleep!!!

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thankful | @thankful | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "Well, I feel like I just won the CPAP lottery. I had my appointment this morning..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Well, I feel like I just won the CPAP lottery. I had my appointment this morning with medical store to look at another mask even though it is out of pocket since you are only eligible to replace a mask every 3 months when you are on Medicare. I looked at the Amara View and the ResMed Air Fit F20. She also showed me the ResMed Air Touch F20 which uses the same headgear but has memory foam around the edges instead of the silicone. She had a small sample mask of the Air Touch with the memory foam and it felt great. She gave me the headgear and frame and the Air Fit F20 which was one of their sample masks. She said then all I have to do is buy the Air Touch cushion at out of pocket cost since they both use the same frame. So tonight I'm using the sample and then tomorrow will try the new memory foam version. Great doing business with a small local medical store.

Happy Zzz's to all out their living the dream ☺ (or trying to!)

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@johnbishop- Great to hear about your experience at the medical store John! I have the same type of thing here. They are very accommodating. Let us know how the new mask works out. Happy Zzzz's to you and our other C-pap users. Jim @thankful.

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bernese53 | @bernese53 | Sep 23, 2018

@johnbishop....this is excellent news. I wonder if the foam lessens the amount of markings left on my face by the mask. On occasion, I look like I have fallen across a storm drain with all the markings on my face at the end of a restful night of sleep.

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