CPAP machines

Icky Mettle

Icky Mettle

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Last October I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I’m sure I had it for years before that. As result, it was strongly recommended that I use a CPAP, which was no surprise.

The first few nights I tried to use it, it felt like a form of torture. I couldn’t get to sleep with it on. I became seriously depressed at the thought of having to use it for the rest of my life.

After the first three days of trying to use it, I took a one-night break just so I could get some sleep again. But since then I’ve used it almost every night. It’s now not nearly as bad as it was the first couple weeks of using it, but I still hate it and I sort of dread going to bed as a result. I sleep most of the night now, but I have a harder time getting to sleep with the CPAP mask on, and I have a harder time getting back to sleep when I wake up in the middle of the night. (Early on, I would have panic attacks when I woke in the middle of the night and felt the mask strapped on face.)

I didn’t do the sleep study based on anything I felt. Before the sleep study, I always felt like I slept great and felt fine throughout the day. I almost never got tired or drowsy during the day, and if I did (which was rare) there was an easily identifiable reason for it (like having a big night the previous night). I never take naps during the day and never feel the need to. I did the sleep study because my wife didn’t like me snoring and she told me there were times it sounded scary, like I was struggling to breathe. And there have been some rare occasions where I have woken up gasping for air.

But I can’t say the CPAP has made me feel better during the day. In fact, I don’t think I’ve felt quite as good as I used to because I don’t sleep as well with it on. That said, I have felt fine ever since I started sleeping most of night again after using it. But there are some times I’ll wake up without the mask on and realize I took the mask off in my sleep.

I’m curious of anyone else’s experiences with CPAPs. I know some folks say they love them, but those are mostly people who felt like crap during the day before using a CPAP. But any CPAP stories or advice would be appreciated.
 
I've been using one for about 6 years. It did take some getting used to but I adapted quickly. But the only thing I can say it does for me is I don't snore anymore. Some people rave about how much better rested they felt after they started using one. Not me, I can't tell any difference.
Even though my machine has a heated hose and a humidifier I still have some nights where I get really stuffed up and I end up taking it off. I use a decongestant sometime but they can work almost too well, I can get really dried out from the air blowing in my sinus passages.
 
I am among those who took right to it and love the results. Ranks up there with getting LASIK as good health decisions I've made. I'm not entirely thrilled with the latest machine I got, a Resmed 11, and liked a lot about the Resmed 10 better, but it's not a deal breaker.
As an aside, the DME companies hound the hell out of me to buy unnecessary amounts of the supplies.
 
BubbaOtis said:
I am among those who took right to it and love the results. Ranks up there with getting LASIK as good health decisions I've made. I'm not entirely thrilled with the latest machine I got, a Resmed 11, and liked a lot about the Resmed 10 better, but it's not a deal breaker.
As an aside, the DME companies hound the hell out of me to buy unnecessary amounts of the supplies.
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I so wish I could get LASIK. With my dry eyes and prescription, I'm just not a candidate. Which sucks because I get a 50% discount since my company makes the equipment. Of course I also get free contact lenses, but I cannot wear them due to my incredibly dry eyes.

I hope to never need a CPAP machine, reading the above post, I don't know if I would be able to use it if it makes one's sinus dryer.
 
LASIK was best gift I ever gave myself. Did it 1999 I think . Was blind as hell and wore contacts because of vanity but they always bothered me. Had it And woke up and was 20-30 and became 20-20. As a 67 year old I wear mild prescription glasses for TV, Rx sunglasses for golf and outdoor atletics events and still don't use reading glasses.
 
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My snoring stopped instantly and my wife said I used to twitch in my sleep constantly, which was prob ably me trying to breathe. That all stopped with it. I don’t feel better rested, but I’d like to think there is behind the scenes health improvement going on without me suffocating 9000 times a night.

I have a model that is just the nostril cover, not the whole mask.
 
My husband started using his CPAP about a year ago. He says it doesn’t bother him at all any more, but he also doesn’t notice much change. ie sleeping better, feeling more rested.

However. I notice a huge change. No more snoring, no more tossing and turning, no mumbling in his sleep.

If he did it just for me it was the best present for my own sleep that he could have given me, muchas gracias, mi marido
 
altmin said:
My snoring stopped instantly and my wife said I used to twitch in my sleep constantly, which was prob ably me trying to breathe. That all stopped with it. I don’t feel better rested, but I’d like to think there is behind the scenes health improvement going on without me suffocating 9000 times a night.

I have a model that is just the nostril cover, not the whole mask.
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Yeah. Mine’s just a nostril cover too. Still find it very uncomfortable strapped across my face and shoved into my nostrils.

My wife loves it because I don’t snore with it on.
 
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about two years ago. It was so bad that the doctor monitoring me during my sleep study made me put a CPAP on to complete the study.

My doctors basically told me that I was playing Russian roulette with my life. That it wasn’t a matter of if I’d have a heart attack in my sleep, but rather when.

I was prescribed what’s called a BiPAP. The difference being this machine stops blowing air when you exhale. I too thought that I’d have trouble with the mask, but after using it for about a year, there is simply no way that I would even attempt to sleep without it. I used to fall asleep watching television or movies. In the afternoons I could nod off during conversations. I used to fall asleep behind the wheel. It was really bad. All of that is gone now. I used to be a strictly side sleeper. Now I sleep flat on my back and wake in the same position.

The first time I slept with a CPAP (during my sleep study) I can’t articulate how good I felt the next morning. And that was after just three hours of sleep. I’ve been told that crack is so addictive that the first time it’s used it burns so many brain cells that the addict keeps using hoping to recapture that feeling they experienced the first time (chasing the dragon). I’d imagine it was like that.
 
OldWHEEL said:
My husband started using his CPAP about a year ago. He says it doesn’t bother him at all any more, but he also doesn’t notice much change. ie sleeping better, feeling more rested.

However. I notice a huge change. No more snoring, no more tossing and turning, no mumbling in his sleep.

If he did it just for me it was the best present for my own sleep that he could have given me, muchas gracias, mi marido
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I have a neighbor who sleeps with a CPAP just because he snores. He doesn’t have sleep apnea. No way I’d wear that thing if I didn’t have sleep apnea. He’d clearly do anything for his wife.
 
I’m getting one on Friday and am fairly nervous about starting it. I did a sleep study because I complained of daytime tiredness and apparently I snore like crazy. Very mild apnea but doc said I should try a cpap. We’ll see how it goes. I’m just 37 and hate the thought of using this thing the rest of my life lol
 
I have been on CPAP for a quarter of a century. I am certain that I would be long dead had I not gone on CPAP. During my initial sleep test, when my blood oxygen level dropped to 65%, the sleep techs went ahead and put me on CPAP. I woke up the next morning feeling better than I had in years. CPAP was a life changing event for me, with--as far as I can tell--absolutely no drawbacks.

My father was also on CPAP. In his initial trial, during the late 1970's, he slept for 26 consecutive hours. He said when he finally woke up, he immediately arose, went to the bathroom, and had the longest urination event of his entire life. He then went back on CPAP and slept another 8 hours.
 
my AHI level was 39 during the diagnostic phase.

  • The Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) quantifies the severity of sleep apnea by counting the number of apneas and hypopneas during sleep.
  • Normal AHI is less than 5 events per hour, while severe AHI is more than 30 events per hour.
After the first night of usage I was down to 4.9

It became so routinely normal, I stopped bothering to check the app after the first two weeks.
 
I’ve been using one for 4 years now. It took some adjustment, but I have been able to reduce the dosage of my blood pressure meds in half and unless there is a problem I hope to get off them entirely soon. The difference the CPAP has made in my BP has been remarkable.

I took a 5 mg Ambien for probably the first year to help me get to sleep and stay asleep with the CPAP. Ask your dr at the sleep clinic for Ambien or something else to help you sleep until you get used to it. In my experience the doc at the sleep clinic is more cooperative than your PCP for such a request, but it can make a difference.
 
I can't sleep without mine anymore. I cant say it was life changing, but my wife loves I no longer snore and I'm healthier overall for it. Full face mask FWIW.
 
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