CPAP machines

Wolfslayer said:
. . .. Full face mask FWIW.
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Agree completely. I tried just a nasal mask, but had to use a chin strap to keep my mouth closed, so as to not short-circuit the entire process. For me, a full-face mask is more comfortable than a nasal mask combined with a chin strap. And the nasal plugs were both ineffective and uncomfortable.
 
Callatoroy said:
Known I needed a CPAP for a decade. Was glad to hear about new methods. what was the process like for your dad.
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Most insurance will pay for Inspire (or competitive implants) only after a patient has tried and struggled with CPAP therapy. Cost without insurance is $30-$40K.
 
How do I skip the CPAP and go straight to the implant... Inspire, I think it's called. I HATE anything on me when I sleep. I don't even like clothing. I barely tolerate a sheet. The thought of sleeping with a CPAP gives me the shivers... but I know I need one.
 
NYCBlueBlood said:
Will that work? Early on when I looked into it, the only way they would talk to you was if you'd tried a CPAP and it had failed for you.
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Well that's certainly what insurance companies require. I bet you can find a sleep clinic that will implant Inspire if you're willing to by-pass insurance. It costs $30-40K with no insurance from what I understand. I'm guessing they were telling you insurance requirements and never considered someone with insurance willing to pay cash.
 
farce© said:
Well that's certainly what insurance companies require. I bet you can find a sleep clinic that will implant Inspire if you're willing to by-pass insurance. It costs $30-40K with no insurance from what I understand. I'm guessing they were telling you insurance requirements and never considered someone with insurance willing to pay cash.
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You're probably right. Everything I was seeing said the procedure was around $10k. I'll hand them $10k cash tomorrow to do it. For $40k... well, I'd like to say I'll try the CPAP first... but truthfully I'll just keep hoping that if I ignore it, it'll go away...
 
NYCBlueBlood said:
How do I skip the CPAP and go straight to the implant... Inspire, I think it's called. I HATE anything on me when I sleep. I don't even like clothing. I barely tolerate a sheet. The thought of sleeping with a CPAP gives me the shivers... but I know I need one.
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I’ve always had sensory issues with regard to getting to sleep. Funny enough I can fall asleep on a couch at night no problem. But when it comes to going to bed, everything has to look, feel, and sound perfect. So wearing the thing on my face and being connected to a tube has been quite an adjustment.
 
05C40 said:
Agree completely. I tried just a nasal mask, but had to use a chin strap to keep my mouth closed, so as to not short-circuit the entire process. For me, a full-face mask is more comfortable than a nasal mask combined with a chin strap. And the nasal plugs were both ineffective and uncomfortable.
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I am a mouth breather when I sleep. I started with the chin strap but couldn’t stand it. I then went to mouth tape and that was a little better, but still pretty bad. I eventually just said “screw it,” and tried without anything keeping my mouth shut. It seems to be working out okay in that I seem to be keeping my mouth shut. Though when I do open it, I think that wakes me up as it’s such a weird feeling.
 
I just wear a nasal cushion that sits under my nose but does not have the pillows that are in the nostrils. The tube is on top of my head which I much prefer to a tube coming from my face as a full-face mask requires. With the tube connecting on top of my head it is behind my pillow so I can move side-to-side without getting tangled up in the tube.
 
farce© said:
I just wear a nasal cushion that sits under my nose but does not have the pillows that are in the nostrils. The tube is on top of my head which I much prefer to a tube coming from my face as a full-face mask requires. With the tube connecting on top of my head it is behind my pillow so I can move side-to-side without getting tangled up in the tube.
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Mine’s on top of my head too. Still bothers me.
 
When I first went on CPAP a while back, I used it for months and then stopped for at least a year. Once I started using it again, it worked much better for me and now I even use it if I take a 20 minute afternoon nap.
 
farce© said:
Most insurance will pay for Inspire (or competitive implants) only after a patient has tried and struggled with CPAP therapy. Cost without insurance is $30-$40K.
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Well my sleep study from virtuox is in the mail. This will be my 4th sleep study. I actually had the snoring surgery (I would never suggest anyone ever do that) I'm committed to getting the cpap this time if it is the only path to the implant.
 
Icky Mettle said:
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.
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I started using one last year, and now can’t imagine sleeping without it. Trying different masks may help. I also didn’t think I needed it because I didn’t feel like I was getting tired, but after I started using it, I felt more energy. Also, I never have to wake up to use the bathroom. When you have untreated apnea, your body doesn’t fully rest, and your kidneys function like you’re awake. That’s also added stress to your body.

I also got a second sleep study for them to adjust the titration and once they did that, it made sleeping even better. My wife is happy that I no longer snore, and I feel it helps breathing in general.
Hang

Just hang in there and try it for a few more weeks. It may take some people 4-6 weeks to adjust. If you still have issues, then there could be other options.
 
RaiGuy said:
I started using one last year, and now can’t imagine sleeping without it. Trying different masks may help. I also didn’t think I needed it because I didn’t feel like I was getting tired, but after I started using it, I felt more energy. Also, I never have to wake up to use the bathroom. When you have untreated apnea, your body doesn’t fully rest, and your kidneys function like you’re awake. That’s also added stress to your body.

I also got a second sleep study for them to adjust the titration and once they did that, it made sleeping even better. My wife is happy that I no longer snore, and I feel it helps breathing in general.
Hang

Just hang in there and try it for a few more weeks. It may take some people 4-6 weeks to adjust. If you still have issues, then there could be other options.
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I’m on about week 12, but I have an appointment to try out a new mask next week.

It is interesting that while I do wake up in the middle of the night with the CPAP, I almost never have to use the restroom in the middle of the night. I used to wake up once or twice every night to use the restroom.
 
RaiGuy said:
. . .. Also, I never have to wake up to use the bathroom. When you have untreated apnea, your body doesn’t fully rest, and your kidneys function like you’re awake. That’s also added stress to your body. . . ..
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The following take on urination is 25 years old, so take it for what it's worth. When I mentioned to the sleep tech that I was sleeping through the night, i.e., not waking up to urinate, he told me that when I go into a deep sleep the urge to urinate is suppressed. So sleeping through the night is a sign of deep sleep. And being awakened by the urge to urinate is a sign of disrupted sleep and the absence of deep sleep.
 
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