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Cpap and getting better sleep: What's your experience?
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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Hi @mattie77 - You are not alone. I had some trouble also and think everyone does when they first start using a CPAP. My sleep medicine doc suggested I wear it while watching TV for 20 or 30 minutes to get used to it and that did help a little. One of the things that I struggled with was the pressure settings on my CPAP. It was originally setup with 8 to 12 for the operating pressure and I would fall asleep for awhile and the pressure was too much for me and it would wake me up. I found out that the ramp up feature starts it at 4 and it works up to around 8 which is supposed to be the optimum for my sleep apnea. Now when it wakes me up I reach over and tap it to set it back to the ramp up pressure and I can fall back asleep. I don't have to do that often now but was doing it regularly the first few months.
I had a follow up appointment with the sleep medicine therapist a month or so after I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and she was my best source of tips for using the CPAP. Finding a mask that you are comfortable with and feels good is probably the hardest thing for most people starting out. I went through 3 different full face masks the first 2 months after I started using a CPAP. Then the sleep medicine therapist told me about cloth covers for the mask that make it feel better on your face so I ordered some and have been using them ever since. It might be something to try if you think the mask is a problem - https://cpapcomfortcover.com/
I'm not sure if you have seen this article but you might find something that helps...
- CPAP machines: Tips for avoiding 10 common problems: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/in-depth/cpap/art-20044164
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1 ReactionThanks John for these helpful tips. Patience is a virtue!
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1 ReactionYears ago I tried a full face mask but did not succeed in falling asleep so I gave up on the CPAP. Then a couple of years ago I tried again. After a week of not sleeping the salesman gave me a nasal pillow mask to try. Much more pleasant. I got used to it after a few weeks. Maybe try one. Mine is a Resmed p30i. Good luck!
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2 ReactionsGramps, thanks for your post. I started my journey 1/6/21. I went to pick up my equipment and they started me out with the F20, medium. After about 10 days and much frustration from nonstop leakage, I went back to my home care store. The tech went through all the various masks available, asked questions on my sleeping habits, etc. great tech! My main issue with the 20, besides being too large was feeling claustrophobic. He felt the F30i, small would work best. I’ve been using this new mask and prefer it much more than the 20. It has a good fit, I really like the top hose fitting that moves with me. It’s just taking time to get adjusted to falling asleep with it on. I’m contemplating a CPAP pillow as I’m a side and back sleeper. I feel this mask isn’t very comfy sleeping on my side. I’ll get there but it’ll take time.
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1 ReactionHas anyone tried Clyn CZ001 CPAP cleaner machine? My friend said it with the activated carbon filters and could help remove the ozone odor left after cleaning, I am planning to buy one recently. Any recommendation?
Hello @marvell, Welcome to Connect, an online community where patients and caregivers share their experiences, find support and exchange information with others. I have not heard of the Clyn CZ001 CPAP cleaner but it looks to be a little better than the one that I am currently using. I started out with a SoClean 2 cleaner and liked it a lot but needed one for travel also so I found a Respify CPAP cleaner that at the time came with a bag and a small plastic air tight tub for use at home. I liked the tub so much that I stopped using the SoClean 2 and switched to using the Respify CPAP cleaner daily at home but I have to charge it frequently. I like that the Clyn can also connect directly to the hose so that the cleaning action is forced through the hose to the mask vs all of it in a bag or box like I'm doing now. They are certainly both priced better than the latest SoClean 3 (https://www.soclean.com/soclean3/product/soclean-3)
Clyn CZ001 - https://clyncare.com/products/cpap-cleaner-cz001
Respify - https://respify.com/products/respify-active-air-2-0-cpap-cleaner-sanitizer
Are you currently using a CPAP cleaner?
I have had my Bipap machine for over 2 years now and my apnea events are still showing very high at an average of 55-65 per hour. Sometimes when I take a daytime nap for an hour or so, the apnea events are sometimes very very high like 60 per hour. That is an apnea every minute! This is unbelievable! After reading many stories from many people, it seems that an overnight sleep apnea test usually shows an average of close to 60 events an hour. If you think about it, your doctor is and will make lots of money on your "apnea problem". The apnea machine people will make lots of money on your machine and the medical supply company will make a ton on money on your supplies! What is really going on here??
Hi @roserivitar, Welcome to Connect. Sorry to hear that your BiPAP is not providing the results to help with your sleep apnea. I have been using a CPAP for over 2 years with good results. When I had my sleep test I had around 55 obstructive apneas per hour. My sleep medicine doctor told me the goal of my CPAP treatment was to get the event to 4 or less per hour. It's only been this past year when I've had an average of 1+ to 2+ events per hour. Most nights I'm around 1.5. Here's some information on the goals for events that might be helpful.
What Is the Goal AHI for CPAP Treatment of Sleep Apnea?: https://www.verywellhealth.com/sleep-apnea-what-is-my-goal-ahi-with-cpap-treatment-3015054
Did your doctor give you any goals for using your BiPAP or have discussed why the BiPAP is not working for you with your doctor?
I've been using a cpap for 3 months as part of therapy for A-fib. I've never come close to 5 events, typically I'm under 2 and wonder if I'm benefiting from this less than wonderful experience?
After 15 plus years of using a CPAP machine my sleep study last month demonstrated that I no longer have events at night! I lost 10lbs and changed medicine over the years and now last night was my third night without the CPAP and it is so awesome!