# New CPAC Machine **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 28, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573 "2012-06-28T12:52:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573/61 "2012-07-12T04:27:04Z")
> [@akennett](#): > > Most drivers are referred either because of their BMI or their neck size. Screenings may also include history questionnaires that ask about associated symptoms. It was my neck size. I have a larger than average one left over from wrestling in high school, and I occasionally snore, so in for testing I went. The machine is a pain, since it is one more thing I have to lug around when I sleep somewhere besides my truck. Such is life. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573/62 "2012-07-12T18:19:57Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Did you make changes to the settings or the mask to get to that point? Or was it just your body getting used to it? > > My AHI tends to be in the 4.5 range or thereabouts, but has been since day one. Actually, it was both. Slightly. When I first started on cpap, my RT told me that it would take a while for my centrals to decrease. After about 3 months without much change in centrals, my doctor ordered another sleep test. The results (with a different sleep tech) showed that my correct pressure should have been 13 instead of the original 14. :dubious: I made the change to my machine and things slowly continued to get better. I was afraid that I was going to have to go on VPAP, which doubles the cost, but so far, I haven’t. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573/63 "2012-07-12T18:30:21Z")
> [@wonderlust](#): > > Most of it was covered by insurance. There are dentistry practices that specialize in these and related oral appliances, but since it’s treatment for a medical condition, health insurance may cover it. How uncomfortable is it? I’m talking with my dentist and doctor about trying one of these, and just had a sleep study that I haven’t heard the results from. (I know I snore, and suspect it will indicate mild apnea as well.) I’m accustomed to wearing a night guard already for bruxism, but I know the Somnomed is designed to force your lower jaw forward quite a bit, which seems like it would be uncomfortable at first. There was an obvious strong push toward CPAP at the sleep center (including a mandatory video extolling the wonders of the device, produced by the manufacturer) but I’m really not interested in using one, and fear it would be a waste of time and money. From what I gather, a lot of them end up in the bedroom closet after the wearer decides they can’t deal with it. They strapped one on me for a few minutes before my sleep study and it was like wearing a scuba mask in bed. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573/64 "2012-07-12T19:12:39Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > There was an obvious strong push toward CPAP at the sleep center (including a mandatory video extolling the wonders of the device, produced by the manufacturer) but I’m really not interested in using one, and fear it would be a waste of time and money. From what I gather, a lot of them end up in the bedroom closet after the wearer decides they can’t deal with it. They strapped one on me for a few minutes before my sleep study and it was like wearing a scuba mask in bed. If you reconsider, you should take a look at the [mask](http://www.thecpapshop.com/resmed-swift-fx-nasal-pillow-mask-2?___SID=U&options=cart) that several of us use. It really feels nothing like wearing a mask that covers your nose or nose and mouth. No “scuba-y” feeling at all. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573/65 "2012-07-12T22:44:37Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > How uncomfortable is it? I’m talking with my dentist and doctor about trying one of these, and just had a sleep study that I haven’t heard the results from. (I know I snore, and suspect it will indicate mild apnea as well.) I’m accustomed to wearing a night guard already for bruxism, but I know the Somnomed is designed to force your lower jaw forward quite a bit, which seems like it would be uncomfortable at first. > > There was an obvious strong push toward CPAP at the sleep center (including a mandatory video extolling the wonders of the device, produced by the manufacturer) but I’m really not interested in using one, and fear it would be a waste of time and money. From what I gather, a lot of them end up in the bedroom closet after the wearer decides they can’t deal with it. They strapped one on me for a few minutes before my sleep study and it was like wearing a scuba mask in bed. I also used a bruxism guard at night, so for me it was not a difficult transition at all. Initially the device is set at a very mild lower jaw extension, then you make adjustments at home in tiny increments, with 2 days inbetween, so it never feels like a huge jump. Because of the compliance issue for many CPAP users, these oral appliances are becoming more popular. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573/66 "2012-07-13T00:31:53Z")
Wait until the power goes out one night. You’ll see just how much you need that machine to sleep well. When that happened to me, it was torture. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573/67 "2012-07-13T02:26:50Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Wait until the power goes out one night. You’ll see just how much you need that machine to sleep well. When that happened to me, it was torture. Like I said, it doesn’t help me sleep because of other issues, but it did have an affect on me in other ways. My first tractor had something wrong with the batteries. Running my food cooler and my CPAP machine at night almost always drained the battery. Which caused the CPAP to shut off. I kept waking up from nightmares about smothering. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573/68 "2012-07-13T05:34:10Z")
Just by the way, I suppose I have been using mine for a week or two now. It has worked out very well and for the first time in years I am able to sleep through the entire night. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573/69 "2012-07-13T13:25:49Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Just by the way, I suppose I have been using mine for a week or two now. It has worked out very well and for the first time in years I am able to sleep through the entire night. When you say that you sleep through the entire night, do you mean that you go to sleep and the next thing you wake up in the morning? I still toss and turn quite a bit and have to readjust my mask and hose. I’d be in a lot of pain if I went to sleep and woke up 8 hours later in the same position. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573/70 "2012-07-13T14:01:27Z")
> [@wonderlust](#): > > I also used a bruxism guard at night, so for me it was not a difficult transition at all. Initially the device is set at a very mild lower jaw extension, then you make adjustments at home in tiny increments, with 2 days inbetween, so it never feels like a huge jump. Sounds tolerable as long as I don’t end up with a Habsburg Jaw. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573/71 "2012-07-14T01:35:34Z")
I haf-awaken to roll over and then go right back to sleep. It is pretty amazing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cpac-machine/626573.md?page=3)