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.

carmella6 | @carmella6 | Jun 26, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi, @carmella6 – I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @lisalucier and..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi, @carmella6 – I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @lisalucier and other members. I have not experienced memory loss from using a CPAP machine but I have learned that severe sleep apnea can cause memory loss.

If You Have Sleep Apnea, Your Memory May Decline Earlier in Life
-- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/if-you-have-sleep-apnea-your-memory-may-decline-earlier-in-life/

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Thank you I will look at that website.

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granny55 | @granny55 | Jun 26, 2019

Don't send anymore e-mails!!!!!!!

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jun 26, 2019

@granny55, To stop all notification emails from this discussion, click Unsubscribe at the bottom of this email notification when you receive it.

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Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Jul 3, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi Jake @jakedduck1 -- There is a scale of sorts. Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) measures sleep apnea..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi Jake @jakedduck1 -- There is a scale of sorts. Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) measures sleep apnea severity. The AHI is the sum of the number of apneas (pauses in breathing) plus the number of hypopneas (periods of shallow breathing) that occur, on average, each hour. ... Fifteen to 30 is moderate, while a greater than 30 AHI is considered severe. When I did my overnight sleep study at Mayo Clinic mine was at 52 which the doctor told me was severe obstructive sleep apnea. Now with a CPAP machine mine is running between 3 and 5 most days.

More info here: https://www.sleephealth.org/ufaqs/what-is-ahi-represent/

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Hi, @johnbishop - great that you've reduced your AHI with the CPAP machine. How's it gone getting used to the machine and the mask?

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 3, 2019
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @johnbishop - great that you've reduced your AHI with the CPAP machine. How's it gone..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Hi, @johnbishop - great that you've reduced your AHI with the CPAP machine. How's it gone getting used to the machine and the mask?

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Hi Lisa @lisalucier -- Thanks for posting...I was actually thinking about posting an update as I am used to the CPAP and the AHI has gotten fairly consistent with a few bumps in the road. I have been CPAP mask shopping again but haven't decided. The one I have is the ResMed AirFit F20 full face mask and I use a cloth comfort cover (https://cpapcomfortcover.com/fits-airfit-and-airtouch-f20-full-face-mask/) which really helps. Even with the comfort cover I have nights where I feel claustrophobic and still get a sore spot on the top of my nose.

I can generally tell when I go to bed at night whether it's going to be a good night or a so-so night. Mainly it's from how I can breath through my nose with my mouth closed. If it's not really clear and my right nostril seems plugged it's not looking good. When it's like this it doesn't matter what I do - blow my nose, try to irrigate it, etc, nothing works to make it open up. I found out when I was first diagnosed that I have a deviated septum and I had asked the doctor about it but he didn't think it would make any difference as to the obstructive sleep apnea. Right now I'm thinking maybe it will but don't know if it's worth getting it fixed. I was going to discuss with my doctor but need to set up another appointment with him.

Anyone out there with a deviated septum that has had it fixed? Did it make a difference using your CPAP?

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1 reply
johnhans | @johnhans | Jul 3, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi Lisa @lisalucier -- Thanks for posting...I was actually thinking about posting an update as I..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi Lisa @lisalucier -- Thanks for posting...I was actually thinking about posting an update as I am used to the CPAP and the AHI has gotten fairly consistent with a few bumps in the road. I have been CPAP mask shopping again but haven't decided. The one I have is the ResMed AirFit F20 full face mask and I use a cloth comfort cover (https://cpapcomfortcover.com/fits-airfit-and-airtouch-f20-full-face-mask/) which really helps. Even with the comfort cover I have nights where I feel claustrophobic and still get a sore spot on the top of my nose.

I can generally tell when I go to bed at night whether it's going to be a good night or a so-so night. Mainly it's from how I can breath through my nose with my mouth closed. If it's not really clear and my right nostril seems plugged it's not looking good. When it's like this it doesn't matter what I do - blow my nose, try to irrigate it, etc, nothing works to make it open up. I found out when I was first diagnosed that I have a deviated septum and I had asked the doctor about it but he didn't think it would make any difference as to the obstructive sleep apnea. Right now I'm thinking maybe it will but don't know if it's worth getting it fixed. I was going to discuss with my doctor but need to set up another appointment with him.

Anyone out there with a deviated septum that has had it fixed? Did it make a difference using your CPAP?

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I believe we may have discussed this previously, but repetition is good. It helps to review what we know and besides I am not certain we did discuss this before. I have not had my deviated septum operated on, but I did try to get approval for it. The doctor told me that it was a major operation as the whole nose would have to be rebuilt. He said Minnesota by law does not allow medically unnecessary operations. I could use a decongestant spray to relieve the congestion. The spray did not work so I am left with having to take off my mask during the night and blowing my nose. It will be interesting to see what your doctor says as this was many years ago that I was told this. I too am using the same mask as you and am considering going back to the blue gel face mask. It is huge, but seems to work better at reducing leaks. Thank you for the update and congratulations on getting your events so low.

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 3, 2019
In reply to @johnhans "I believe we may have discussed this previously, but repetition is good. It helps to review..." + (show)
@johnhans

I believe we may have discussed this previously, but repetition is good. It helps to review what we know and besides I am not certain we did discuss this before. I have not had my deviated septum operated on, but I did try to get approval for it. The doctor told me that it was a major operation as the whole nose would have to be rebuilt. He said Minnesota by law does not allow medically unnecessary operations. I could use a decongestant spray to relieve the congestion. The spray did not work so I am left with having to take off my mask during the night and blowing my nose. It will be interesting to see what your doctor says as this was many years ago that I was told this. I too am using the same mask as you and am considering going back to the blue gel face mask. It is huge, but seems to work better at reducing leaks. Thank you for the update and congratulations on getting your events so low.

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@johnhans I think you are right. I talked with another person who had the operation to correct the deviated septum and was told it was pretty painful and took a long time to heal. Pretty sure all of that healing time would be with no CPAP mask ☺ I was looking at the new ResMed AirFit F30 full face mask. It's similar to the Amara View and Dreamwear Full Face Mask in that it fits under and up against the nose but it looks like it would be a better fit for me. Actually, the Dreamwear Full Face Mask was the second one I tried and I used it a couple of months and thought it was good. Then all of sudden I couldn't stand it. After that I tried the Amara View full face mask and used it for less than a month before I switched back to the ResMed AirFit F10. Then I went to the ResMed AirFit F20 and it seemed easier to breath but it was always chaffing my nose. Then I tried the ResMed AirTouch F20 memory foam mask and it seemed pretty good for awhile. That was about the time I had to take my CPAP machine back to the sleep medicine doctor for my Medicare compliance readings. While I was talking with the nurse and telling her what has been bugging with the nose chaffing, she told me about the comfort cover that fits over the mask and is washable. I've used that combination ever since with my ResMed AirFit F20.

So that's kind of my dilemma. Kind of like throwing money down a CPAP pit ☺ and that got me to thinking about what if I could fix the breathing issue with my deviated septum.

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beatricefay | @beatricefay | Jul 24, 2019

Does anyone have problems with the Luna H60 heated humidifier? I keep getting a "humidifier failure" message after using it for a short time. I have a new humidifier and a new water container and have not changed the way I sleep. This is a new development and is baffling. The CPAP machine works fine without the humidifier but I'd prefer being able to use both together.

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 24, 2019
In reply to @beatricefay "Does anyone have problems with the Luna H60 heated humidifier? I keep getting a "humidifier failure"..." + (show)
@beatricefay

Does anyone have problems with the Luna H60 heated humidifier? I keep getting a "humidifier failure" message after using it for a short time. I have a new humidifier and a new water container and have not changed the way I sleep. This is a new development and is baffling. The CPAP machine works fine without the humidifier but I'd prefer being able to use both together.

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@beatricefay have you called the medical store where you purchased the humidifier? I did see a discussion here about the problem that sounds like it's an issue with the humidifier that needs servicing or replacement.

http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t60418/Humidifier-ErrorAgain.html
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2 replies
beatricefay | @beatricefay | Jul 24, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "@beatricefay have you called the medical store where you purchased the humidifier? I did see a..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@beatricefay have you called the medical store where you purchased the humidifier? I did see a discussion here about the problem that sounds like it's an issue with the humidifier that needs servicing or replacement.

http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t60418/Humidifier-ErrorAgain.html

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I just had the humidifier replaced. Am checking with the supplier. Hope I can get an answer.

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