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 | Sep 23, 2018
In reply to @bernese53 "@johnbishop....this is excellent news. I wonder if the foam lessens the amount of markings left on..." + (show)
@bernese53

@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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@bernese53 -- I used the silicon sample AirFit F20 mask last night and my AHI was 5.3 for 8:13 hours which I thought was good to start with it. I already had a nose with a sore spot on top close to the eyes. I put moisturizer on it yesterday and last night before putting on the mask. When I woke up my nose hurt but it didn't rub the skin open again. I'm not sure how it would have been had my nose been OK before I put the mask on.

Tonight I'll crack open the new memory foam mask and give it a try to see how gentle it is on the nose and give an update tomorrow.

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JK | @contentandwell | Sep 23, 2018
In reply to @rachelanne "I know someone whom has early onset Alzheimer's disease and she does very well! I experienced..." + (show)
@rachelanne

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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@rachelanne I am terrified of getting Alzheimer's. After I had my first HE episode (confusion, irrational from cirrhosis) the doctor who at that time was my PCP called me on the phone and told me she thought I had Alzheimer's! A neurologist and two other doctors literally scoffed at that but it left an impression with me. That doctor, the PCP, was not my PCP much longer.

@johnhans That's scary, that interrupted sleep is possibly linked to Alzheimer's. My sleep is constantly interrupted, not by sleep apnea, but by frequent bathroom trips. I presume an interruption is an interruption, regardless of the cause.
JK

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1 reply
johnhans | @johnhans | Sep 23, 2018
In reply to @contentandwell "@rachelanne I am terrified of getting Alzheimer's. After I had my first HE episode (confusion, irrational..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@rachelanne I am terrified of getting Alzheimer's. After I had my first HE episode (confusion, irrational from cirrhosis) the doctor who at that time was my PCP called me on the phone and told me she thought I had Alzheimer's! A neurologist and two other doctors literally scoffed at that but it left an impression with me. That doctor, the PCP, was not my PCP much longer.

@johnhans That's scary, that interrupted sleep is possibly linked to Alzheimer's. My sleep is constantly interrupted, not by sleep apnea, but by frequent bathroom trips. I presume an interruption is an interruption, regardless of the cause.
JK

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Sleep apnea is a constant interruption of your sleep whereas waking up to use the bathroom allows sleep in between. I would not think that would cause the interruption the article referred to. This is a preliminary study and nothing has been proven as yet. It is a correlation which does not always mean a cause and also we do have a treatment for sleep apnea. Using a cpap machine will keep you sleeping if you do have osa.

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1 reply
johnhans | @johnhans | Sep 23, 2018
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @johnhans - That is very interesting about the potential link you mentioned between Alzheimer's and..." + (show)
@lisalucier

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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I am feeling that there might be something to the connection, but I am using the cpap machine so know that even if this link is eventually proven, I already have a treatment. My father had untreated sleep apnea and did develop dementia in his 80s so there is a possible link in my family. Correlation does not prove cause though. it will be interesting to see how research in this goes.

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JK | @contentandwell | Sep 23, 2018
In reply to @johnhans "Sleep apnea is a constant interruption of your sleep whereas waking up to use the bathroom..." + (show)
@johnhans

Sleep apnea is a constant interruption of your sleep whereas waking up to use the bathroom allows sleep in between. I would not think that would cause the interruption the article referred to. This is a preliminary study and nothing has been proven as yet. It is a correlation which does not always mean a cause and also we do have a treatment for sleep apnea. Using a cpap machine will keep you sleeping if you do have osa.

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@johnhans Thanks, I hope you are right. I not only wake, but oftentimes cannot get back to sleep for a couple of hours, particularly when I have gotten up anytime from about 4:00 A.M. on.
JK

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 23, 2018

Well, tonight's the night. I broke the ResMed AirTouch F20 out of the package and am taking it for a test run tonight. The one thing I'm a little edgy on is that they don't last long. They say one month but I've read that if you wash your face before you put it on and then wipe the mask off with a CPAP wipe every morning it will last longer. You are not supposed to wash them or put them in water, etc. as it will reduce the life of the memory foam. With the sore on my honker I'm a little reluctant to try it until it heals but I'm anxious so I'm doing it anyway. Will let you know how it goes tomorrow!

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1 reply
bernese53 | @bernese53 | Sep 23, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "Well, tonight's the night. I broke the ResMed AirTouch F20 out of the package and am..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Well, tonight's the night. I broke the ResMed AirTouch F20 out of the package and am taking it for a test run tonight. The one thing I'm a little edgy on is that they don't last long. They say one month but I've read that if you wash your face before you put it on and then wipe the mask off with a CPAP wipe every morning it will last longer. You are not supposed to wash them or put them in water, etc. as it will reduce the life of the memory foam. With the sore on my honker I'm a little reluctant to try it until it heals but I'm anxious so I'm doing it anyway. Will let you know how it goes tomorrow!

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Good Luck! I mostly like the Amara view but sometimes it feels too tight and irritates my skin. Let us know how it works out!

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 24, 2018

Good Morning Everyone! Well, I am happy to report all went well last night even with an already sore nose. The memory foam on the AirTouch F20 mask didn't aggravate the sore on the top of my nose and my AHI went down from 5.4 the previous night to 5 last night. Now I'll have to see how long it lasts before I have to replace it. I woke up multiple times for my normal trips to the bathroom and I like to disconnect the hose from the mask and then check the mask fit in the bathroom and readjust if needed. I was able to wear this mask a little looser and still didn't notice any air leaks which I have with the silicone mask, especially around the eyes. It does seem like this mask rides a little higher on my nose to between the eyes due to the memory foam but it seals nice and is comfortable.

Time will tell ☺

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1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Sep 24, 2018

Good to hear, @johnbishop. I'm glad that your AHI numbers are doing so well.

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thankful | @thankful | Sep 24, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "Good Morning Everyone! Well, I am happy to report all went well last night even with..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Good Morning Everyone! Well, I am happy to report all went well last night even with an already sore nose. The memory foam on the AirTouch F20 mask didn't aggravate the sore on the top of my nose and my AHI went down from 5.4 the previous night to 5 last night. Now I'll have to see how long it lasts before I have to replace it. I woke up multiple times for my normal trips to the bathroom and I like to disconnect the hose from the mask and then check the mask fit in the bathroom and readjust if needed. I was able to wear this mask a little looser and still didn't notice any air leaks which I have with the silicone mask, especially around the eyes. It does seem like this mask rides a little higher on my nose to between the eyes due to the memory foam but it seals nice and is comfortable.

Time will tell ☺

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@johnbishop- Great to hear your news John! Happy Zzzz's is a happy person! Jim @thankful

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