I’ve been using CPAP for about 3 months, my husband has had his for about 8 months.
The doc says once I’ve lost 30 more pounds I probably won’t need it any more. (I’ve lost 55, so far) Even though I tested in the moderate range, (18/hour), I’m on a very low pressure. (6 cm/H2O) Using it hasn’t changed my sleep pattern at all. I don’t feel any different.
Hubby is a different story. His sleep apnea is familial. His mom, and both brothers have it.
He will have to use it forever. He is on a much higher pressure, (13cm/H2O, I think.) He sleeps like a baby with it, can’t sleep without it. He feels more rested too.
I started on CPAP about four years ago. I was comfortable with it right away and find that it does make me less tired during the day, which is why I got tested for apnea in the first place. I use a mask that completely covers my nose, with straps that hold it in place, similar to this one. Shortly after I got it I had also had surgery to correct a deviated septum, which the ENT said was contributing to my sleep apnea.
I don’t have the results of my sleep study handy, but I seem to remember that I was having something like 100 incidents per hour. My pressure is 14cm/H2O. I was never told anything about weight loss affecting my need for a CPAP, although I am nearly a hundred pounds overweight.
I’ve been on it for 3+ years. My pressure is at 9, so I guess that’s mild/moderate. I use a full-face mask because I’m a mouth breather. I’ve also lost 50 pounds in the last 6 months and am curious to see if it has affected my apnea at all. I want to lose another 20 and if I stay at that weight awhile I may request another study (although I HATED the sleep study.)
I have become more comfortable with it over the years, but I am still kind of uncomfortable sleeping the whole night with it. Like my headgear as a kid, sometimes I’ll wake up with the cpap off after strapping in for the night.
My apnea is genetic. Soft palate, deviated septum and the biggest damn tonsils you’ve ever seen. I lost about thirty pounds a couple of years ago and it did make a difference with the number of apnic events during the night (down to 50-60 per hour instead of 100 or so.). Weight does make a difference, but my doc told me that without surgery to take care of the tonsills, septum and uvula, I’ll probably be at about 50-60 incidents per night.
Has anyone else had that surgery? What is the recovery time like for a forty year old having his tonsils out? I know, YANAD, just looking for anectdotes.
I tried it for a few days when I was on winter break and never got used to it. I also knew I wouldn’t keep up with cleaning it. It languished for quite a while until I donated it back to the supplier to recondition and give away. I too have lost weight for the moment and had mild symptoms to begin with, so I don’t think I need it.
If airport security lines are any indication, quite a few people.
I’d say about 80% of the time, I’ll spot one when glancing around the other lines. (They make you take it out and bin it separately just like a laptop)
It wasn’t the mask for me (although that and the ponytail of wires didn’t help at all) but the idea that I was being expected to fall asleep, and people were watching me fail at it! I usually fall right out but it took me what felt like, and what probably was, hours to finally fall asleep. Thank goodness they got the readings they needed or I would have wasted everyone’s time!
A couple of my friends have had their tonsils out in the last few years. One was 37 when he had it done, the other 33ish. It was pretty rough going for them - they were out for 2 solid weeks, then another couple of weeks for full recovery (but they could go back to work).
My boss also recently had a more extensive procedure done to help with his apnea - septum, uvula-ectomy, that schmear. (Probably the one you’re talking about, but notably, he didn’t get his tonsils out at the same time.) He’s, what? 45-50ish? Same story - definitely two weeks out, then a couple more 'till he was feeling more himself.
It’s my understanding that these sorts of surgeries are pretty harsh on adults. Kids have it much easier.
I’ve had mine less than a year. They had to switch me to a full face mask during the first test because I couldn’t get enough air through my nose while laying down. Since using it, I breathe better through my nose. Not sure why. Maybe the humidifier. Maybe the filter. Who knows.
I don’t remember all of the test numbers, but I was in apnea for more than half of the night. The insurance company took a shot at not paying for the machine, presumably because I never de-satted below 53%. The doctor must have had a few words with them without telling me, because the next thing I knew, the acceptance paperwork came through.
I sleep better and have more energy. I fall asleep faster, too. I think that’s because putting on the mask triggers a sleep association.
It took me awhile to learn to adjust the mask so that it was comfortable. It took the cats a couple of days to adjust to the hose. This is why my hose has duct tape on it.
I have to be sure my face is very clean or I’ll end up with a crop of magic zits on either side of my nose, where the mask hits. They pop up overnight like mushrooms.
But the way the bottom of the mask presses on my lower jaw seems to diminish my bruxism some. So that’s a nice bonus.
My number is 12, and I was having 55 episodes per minute. Been using it for about 2.5 years and switched to nasal pillows with a side mount about a year ago. I do know someone who was re-tested after losing 50+ lbs. and she was taken off her machine altogether.
I just got my mask 2 weeks ago, and I think I’ve only kept it on all night once. I don’t remember taking it off, but my boyfriend wakes me up sometimes to tell me to put my face on. I’m having a hell of a time getting it positioned right. The respiratory therapist got it situated in seconds, but I fumble around every night… tighten the straps, wait now they’re too tight, ok now let’s angle it up, now down, now scoot it over a little… I hope I get the hang of it soon.
So far even the couple of hours a night has started to make a difference. I’m still exhausted all the time, but then, it’s only been 2 weeks
Does anyone have problems with condensation? I have the whole hose covered but the little part of the mask itself still collects water. It wakes me up periodically when I move wrong and inhale the water up my nose.
Do you keep it particularly cold in the room where you sleep? Do you have a humidifier with your unit? The only time I’ve had condensation problems is when I have had the humidifier turned up too high.
It’s cool in my room, but even during my sleep study when there was just a fan on (not even blowing on me!) there was condensation. The humidifier is on the second-lowest setting, too. Since I have trouble sleeping if I’m too warm, it sounds like my options are get used to the water, or get used to being hot.
My doctors thought the hose cover would prevent it, but I don’t notice a difference.
Ahhhhhh. the Breeze. Best mask out there. I tried several when I was just getting into the CPAP thing and I am much more comfortable with this one because I am a stomach sleeper. All the other masks interfered with that in some way.
When I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I was surprised because I never had a problem sleeping and never felt tired when I woke up. I guess it was primarily that the oxygen level was low.
Not a Platypus - The unit shouldn’t fill up with water that way. I have the humidifier on my machine and have only had the problem when I the temp turned up too high. I would take the machine your respitory therapist for testing (if that is where you bought it) or try to get a replacement.
The sudy was nothing. Just got fitted for the device took it home and put it on at night. Next day too it back to the medical center. Two days later got a call to come in for a class and a test unit fitting. I had had 15 episodes. Went to the cass, then was given two maskes one covered the nose the other under the nose. Used each mask over two nights. Took the test unit back to the medical center, two days later recieved my unit with it set at 7.
I sleep differently and have to nap less durring the day. My wife loves it. If I get a head cold with a stuffy nose I can not make through the night with it.
