1. < Sleep Health

Sleep apnea and potential treatments

Posted by wgatap21 @wgatap21, Nov 5, 2019

  1. Twice I have had sleep tests in 15 years. Both resulted in moderate/severe apnea! Tried CPAP! OMG. God bless those that can sleep with them and I know a few! Not a chance for me!! I came across Inspiresleep.com and have done some research. It seems to be gaining support. Wondering if anyone has tried and are using it and their thoughts. Thanks

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elwooodsdad | @elwooodsdad | Jan 17, 2020

Consider a change to a bi-pap. The cpap is continuous pressure, and the bi-pap supplies inhalation air pressure, but allows exhalation without pressure, which seems to be an issue for adjusting to a cpap. I have never used a cpap, but a bi-pap has been part of my life for over ten years. Just my experience and $.02...

REPLY
Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Jan 18, 2020
In reply to @wgatap21 "in my original message, I said"I tried CPAP"...twice!!! Also, my wife is a very light sleeper...the..." + (show)
@wgatap21

in my original message, I said"I tried CPAP"...twice!!! Also, my wife is a very light sleeper...the does make a humming noise in a quiet bedroom. Trust me me if it worked 12yrs ago..and again 6 yrs ago, I would have usedit!!!

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@wgatap21 I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 15+ years ago. I'm claustrophobic, so I didn't expect to be able to use the mask. Surprise! I was so sleep deprived, I slept 12 hour nights plus naps the first month. I used the full face mask for more than 10 years, and yes, it did make some noise. The machine didn't make much noise but I fought for years with the leaking mask. I think that part of the reason was my beard. A couple of years ago I had a sleep study and the doctor thought that a Bipap machine with nasal cushions would work better for me.

The new machine makes no noise at all. The cushions are so much better than the mask. Sometimes my moving around in my sleep, the cushions get pushed out of where they need to be, and will make a little noise, but when I put them on and adjust them, they are totally silent. Sometimes I take it off because I can't tell if the Bipap is on.

My wife was unhappy with the leaking noise for years and threatened to make me sleep in the guest room. The new machine is a ResMed air wave 10. I use it with a humidifier, and it has a heated hose. Medicare pays for two cushions and filters each month, and I learned with the full face mask the importance of replacing the mask/cushions twice a month.

I know that a lot of people can't get used to a mask, but there are several options that are pretty recent that have improved the functionality of the machine.

The other, compelling reason, that I started using a CPAP was my snoring. No more snoring. If you snore and/or stop breathing when you're on your back, the doctor told me that I could try the low tech solution, sewing a tennis ball in the back of a t-shirt. I never tried it, but it would possibly work for me. But I'm so used to my mask I don't want to quit using it.

I hope you can find a way to treat your apnea. The health risk list for untreated sleep apnea is a long one.

Jim

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2 replies
wgatap21 | @wgatap21 | Jan 19, 2020
In reply to @jimhd "@wgatap21 I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 15+ years ago. I'm claustrophobic, so I didn't expect..." + (show)
@jimhd

@wgatap21 I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 15+ years ago. I'm claustrophobic, so I didn't expect to be able to use the mask. Surprise! I was so sleep deprived, I slept 12 hour nights plus naps the first month. I used the full face mask for more than 10 years, and yes, it did make some noise. The machine didn't make much noise but I fought for years with the leaking mask. I think that part of the reason was my beard. A couple of years ago I had a sleep study and the doctor thought that a Bipap machine with nasal cushions would work better for me.

The new machine makes no noise at all. The cushions are so much better than the mask. Sometimes my moving around in my sleep, the cushions get pushed out of where they need to be, and will make a little noise, but when I put them on and adjust them, they are totally silent. Sometimes I take it off because I can't tell if the Bipap is on.

My wife was unhappy with the leaking noise for years and threatened to make me sleep in the guest room. The new machine is a ResMed air wave 10. I use it with a humidifier, and it has a heated hose. Medicare pays for two cushions and filters each month, and I learned with the full face mask the importance of replacing the mask/cushions twice a month.

I know that a lot of people can't get used to a mask, but there are several options that are pretty recent that have improved the functionality of the machine.

The other, compelling reason, that I started using a CPAP was my snoring. No more snoring. If you snore and/or stop breathing when you're on your back, the doctor told me that I could try the low tech solution, sewing a tennis ball in the back of a t-shirt. I never tried it, but it would possibly work for me. But I'm so used to my mask I don't want to quit using it.

I hope you can find a way to treat your apnea. The health risk list for untreated sleep apnea is a long one.

Jim

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thanks very much for your story and advice. I will look into it. Have a good day

REPLY
elwooodsdad | @elwooodsdad | Jan 19, 2020
In reply to @jimhd "@wgatap21 I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 15+ years ago. I'm claustrophobic, so I didn't expect..." + (show)
@jimhd

@wgatap21 I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 15+ years ago. I'm claustrophobic, so I didn't expect to be able to use the mask. Surprise! I was so sleep deprived, I slept 12 hour nights plus naps the first month. I used the full face mask for more than 10 years, and yes, it did make some noise. The machine didn't make much noise but I fought for years with the leaking mask. I think that part of the reason was my beard. A couple of years ago I had a sleep study and the doctor thought that a Bipap machine with nasal cushions would work better for me.

The new machine makes no noise at all. The cushions are so much better than the mask. Sometimes my moving around in my sleep, the cushions get pushed out of where they need to be, and will make a little noise, but when I put them on and adjust them, they are totally silent. Sometimes I take it off because I can't tell if the Bipap is on.

My wife was unhappy with the leaking noise for years and threatened to make me sleep in the guest room. The new machine is a ResMed air wave 10. I use it with a humidifier, and it has a heated hose. Medicare pays for two cushions and filters each month, and I learned with the full face mask the importance of replacing the mask/cushions twice a month.

I know that a lot of people can't get used to a mask, but there are several options that are pretty recent that have improved the functionality of the machine.

The other, compelling reason, that I started using a CPAP was my snoring. No more snoring. If you snore and/or stop breathing when you're on your back, the doctor told me that I could try the low tech solution, sewing a tennis ball in the back of a t-shirt. I never tried it, but it would possibly work for me. But I'm so used to my mask I don't want to quit using it.

I hope you can find a way to treat your apnea. The health risk list for untreated sleep apnea is a long one.

Jim

Jump to this post

Sounds like something I would have written. I am claustrophobic and never have used anything but the nasal cushions. So pleased the combination of the BiPap and nasal cushions are working for you. I have the same equipment, and it makes life better, and longer, according to medical studies. Great news!

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star20284 | @star20284 | May 10, 2021

I have been using CPAP device for nearly 9 years. To begin, any Dr or sleep specialist who tells you by using CPAP you'll get the best sleep of your life is blowing smoke. I started with a solid plastic nose piece but found every time I moved my head even slightly, the seal would break and the hissing would wake my wife. After several adjustments I learned of the Dreamwear nose cushion. It can be used with either pillows which have a flange-like pad that sits just inside the nostril, or there is a pillow that rests on the upper lip just below the nostril. the pressure setting allows for air to gently blow into the nose to the back of the throat and out the mouth keeping the airway open. It attaches to the head by a soft very flexible head piece, and the air is supplied via a flexible hose attached to the top of the head gear. Thus no snoring. Nevertheless, I still need to adjust once or twice throughout the night. It works, but its not great. If I do not wear it I am guaranteed what I describe as panic dreams where I am in crazy situations and gasping for breath. I've read, that is my brain telling my body to wake up.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 11, 2021
In reply to @star20284 "I have been using CPAP device for nearly 9 years. To begin, any Dr or sleep..." + (show)
@star20284

I have been using CPAP device for nearly 9 years. To begin, any Dr or sleep specialist who tells you by using CPAP you'll get the best sleep of your life is blowing smoke. I started with a solid plastic nose piece but found every time I moved my head even slightly, the seal would break and the hissing would wake my wife. After several adjustments I learned of the Dreamwear nose cushion. It can be used with either pillows which have a flange-like pad that sits just inside the nostril, or there is a pillow that rests on the upper lip just below the nostril. the pressure setting allows for air to gently blow into the nose to the back of the throat and out the mouth keeping the airway open. It attaches to the head by a soft very flexible head piece, and the air is supplied via a flexible hose attached to the top of the head gear. Thus no snoring. Nevertheless, I still need to adjust once or twice throughout the night. It works, but its not great. If I do not wear it I am guaranteed what I describe as panic dreams where I am in crazy situations and gasping for breath. I've read, that is my brain telling my body to wake up.

Jump to this post

Hello @star20284, Welcome to Connect. Thanks for sharing your experience. I've had a great experience with my Mayo sleep medicine doctor and therapist at my follow up appointments but then they never told me I would get the best sleep of my life 🙂 They gave me a target of an AHI of 4 to improve my sleep which I'm close to most of the time since using a CPAP almost 3 years. I have struggled with the face mask as I have issues breathing through the nose and have to use some form of a full face mask. The Dreamwear full face mask was the second one I tried and it worked for a couple of weeks before I had to find something else. I have an ENT consult coming up later this month to see if there is anything that can be done to fix my problem breathing through the nose. I hope it goes well because I want to try a mask similar to the Dreamwear one again.

It sounds like the mask you have is doing it's job for you even if you have to adjust it during the night. Have you thought about asking your sleep specialist if they have any suggestions to help with the adjustment problems?

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