A pulminary dr. recently diagnosed me as having "mild sleep apnea." The one night I used a BiPAP machine in the sleep center, I woke up feeling more alert & refreashed than I'd felt in yrs. & that day, I felt more alert & energetic -wow, like a renewed person!

Last night, at home w/o the CPAP or BiPAP, was just another night -slept OK for 8 hrs, but woke up feeling groggy & slugggish, & felt that way most of the morning. & this is so typical for me.

THe medical equipment store is in process w/ my insurance & their HQ office, to get a CPAP for me. & based on my night w/ it in the sleep lab, I'm looking forward to more deep sleep & an improved life, altho I've read that sometimes it takes several wks to get adjusted to it.

I'd like to take a poll. If you have sleep apnea & use a CPAP or BiPAP, please tell me what your experience was/is like. DId it help? How much? Or did it NOT help for whatever reason? What kind of differences (more alert, rested, refreshed, able to focus better, etc) did you notice after you started using it?

Randall

Originally posted in thread: 2027

After the long recent post on sleep problems, I was expecting a few responses to this poll. This is puzzling.

I repeat:
If you have sleep apnea & use a CPAP or BiPAP, please tell me what your experience was/is like. DId it help? How much? Or did it NOT help for whatever reason? What kind of differences (more alert, rested, refreshed, able to focus better, etc) did you notice after you started using it?

Randall

Originally posted in thread: 2027

Randall,

I used a CPAP for about 10 years and a BiPAP for the last 5.

It has changed my life. Before starting to use the CPAP, I was so grouchy from sleep deprivation that I wasn't sure whether I was going to get divorced first or fired from my job. After I started using the CPAP, I was like a new man. Not only did I feel rejuvenated, but it also improved my personality. And I expect it prolonged my life as well.

It has been so long since I first started using the CPAP I don't remember how much trouble I had adjusting to wearing it. I don't think it took very long. I have been using a machine for so long now, it's second nature. It's like an American Express card, I never leave home without it.

My wife does find the noise of the BiPAP annoying. I understand the newer machines are a lot quieter. I have an appointment in two weeks with my RT and I want to try one of the new machines to see if my wife can tolerate the noise.

Steve

Originally posted in thread: 2027

Steve, if you want your ins to pay for a new machine, I'd tell you RT that the noise bothers you. If you tell them it bothers your wife, I doubt that your ins would provide a new machine.

Glad it has helped you so much. i'm expecting it to help me & make me more alert, energetic, & my memory. & hopefully on a consistent basis.
Randall

Originally posted in thread: 2027

My brother and brother-in-law both use the CPAP machines and swear by them. I recently got the machine with a full face mask and have had difficulty adjusting, however, I will try harder. The wife doesn't care for it because when I move the noise awakens her...(she is a light sleeper)..Please let us know about your experiences....thanks...bill

Originally posted in thread: 2027

My wife got her first CPAP machine several years ago and it has been a tremedous help to her. It goes everywhere with her on trips and allows her to get a full night of sleep. She did have some trouble getting use to the face piece at first and the thing does make a little noise (especially if not properly fitted upgainst her face) but beats not having it. In fact, because her snoring and gasping for air has stopped I also sleep much better. Before she got her first unit we both had trouble getting a good night's sleep. Finally, these things can help save your life. Sleep apnea can be a very serious problem. My wife finally got her first unit after a visit to a cardiologist. She was so exhausted, etc. that she was afraid she might be having cardiac problems. He referred her to a RT and told her to get in ASAP.
Best of luck. Mike

Originally posted in thread: 2027

I've had mine about 8 months now. It took about 3 months before I noticed a real difference. I use earplugs to hide the noise. It used to look like a tornado went thru my room when I woke up in the morning. The doctor said it was because I would kick my legs to wake myself up to keep breathing. Now I barely have to comb my hair or make my bed in the morning. I tried the full mask but it leaked too much air. My biggest problem was that might nose would clog up half way thru the night so I would have to take it off. I finally went into the control program and cranked up the heat and humidifier which solved the problem. Now I really notice the difference if I don't use the machine. My doctor said if you wake up 32 times an hour you have severe apnea. I was waking up 60 times an hour.

Dan

Originally posted in thread: 2027

My experience is only 12 days but I have found the following.

I'm using a Respironics REMStar Pro with Cflex, humidier and nasal pillow.

1. It has taken me this long to get used to the nasal pillow but it still takes a little longer to get to sleep with it.

2. I sleep more deeply, so deeply that I do not hear the alarm clock now.

3. My wife uses an older and noisier machine. Mine is much more quiet.

4. It's worth it just to stop the snoring and now I can sleep all night (I was normally a light sleeper)

5. My wife is now about 100lbs over weight and I am 50 lbs overweight.

6. I'm happy with the setup but might want to try a standard over-the-nose mask.

 

Sorry I did not see your post...I have tried to use a CPAP machine for awhile with little success. I have tried a "full face mask" (covering mouth and nose) and a canula type for nose only and failed in each attempt. I get clausphobic with the full mask and dry mouth with the nose canula. I have relatives that have been using them for some time and they swear by them. The folks I got the machine from have tried to help but it just hasn't worked out. I hope you have success with you machine. Please give a report from time to time. I still try from time to time but unable to obtain the desired results....regards....bill

[quote user="zackem7"]Sorry I did not see your post...I have tried to use a CPAP machine for awhile with little success. I have tried a "full face mask" (covering mouth and nose) and a canula type for nose only and failed in each attempt. I get clausphobic with the full mask and dry mouth with the nose canula. I have relatives that have been using them for some time and they swear by them. The folks I got the machine from have tried to help but it just hasn't worked out. I hope you have success with you machine. Please give a report from time to time. I still try from time to time but unable to obtain the desired results....regards....bill
[/quote]

Thank goodness there is someone out there who can't get used to it. I have mild sleep apnea and have never found a mask that I can go to sleep with. Plus, the force of the air keeps me awake. My husband has severe sleep apnea and has the same problems.

Had a nose only mask, a nose/mouth mask, and a tube-type mask (similar to oxygen tube in hospital). NOTHIN'! Still can't sleep. With these folks who have had success, how long did it take for you to adjust? 

Also, there was a poster a while ago who had surgery to relieve their sleep apnea. I think it was called the Pillar procedure. Is that person still around? Just curious how that turned out for them. 

I have used a CPAP for 13 years. It saved my life. I had just about the worst case of sleep apnea - I had 900+ apneas  in the sleep study (apnea is defined as no breathing for 10+ seconds) and 12 major apneas (60+ seconds no breathing). I was falling asleep all the time everywhere.

It took me about 2 weeks to get mostly used to it, and 2 months to get the point where it was like brushing my teeth - I don't even think about it, I just do it.

There are a bunch of different masks, plus humidifiers - you should exhaust every one to fine one you're comfortable with. I'm currently using:

http://www.cpap-supply.com/Nasal-Aire-II-p/k2a.htm

which is nasal only. Very light and non-obtrusive. I used the triangular cover the nose one for many years. I have a friend that uses the full nose and mouth one.

One of the tricks to getting used to CPAP besides finding the right mask might be using the ramp option. Your cpap should have the ability to "ramp up" to full pressure over say a 20 minute period; that way you're not starting at full blast and getting annoyed. I use the ramp, so it starts off light; usually I fall asleep before full blast; if I don't and the full blast is annoying, I just reset the ramp and start over. If you have severe apnea, you may find yourself snorting a few times if you fall asleep before its fully ramped up. No big deal, either just give it a few more minutes or set it to full right then.

The newer machines are much quieter than the older ones. My current one is 5-6 years old and much quieter than the one I got 13 years ago.

Don't quit! It can be annoying at first but its a life saver. Do everything you can to stay with it. I know 5-6 people using it, its helping everyone of them, and they all got used to it.

Roger