Sleep study
- Thread starter cdnlngld
- Start date
I've been using a CPAP for about 10 years and I love it. From talking to others that have Sleep Apnea the ones that immediately love the CPAP are those who were getting the least sleep. The improvement is so immediate that any discomfort around wearing the mask is negligible.
My study found I was waking up every 20 sec and never getting to REM sleep at all. I was actually stopping breathing about every minute and a half. For me the first night sleeping with the CPAP and I woke up feeling better than I had in years.
For those with minor apnea they tend to hate it because the benefits aren't as noticeable.
One recommendation I would have is take time picking out your initial mask setup. There are literally hundreds of options and finding the one that will work best with your sleep position, and that is comfortable will go along way to making it a better experience. Think about how the straps fit, where the mask vent is pointing compared to how you like to sleep, whether you get a good seal around your nose, etc.
If you get one mask and find it isn't working for you try another out. It took me 3 different masks before I found the one I like best and now it doesn't annoy me at all.
Other tips...
have a back up mask on hand in case something on your primary breaks.
Once you are reliant on it, try to get your doctor to authorize you to have a backup CPAP. You'll probably have to pay for it out of pocket but the first time your primary breaks in the night it will be worth it.
Make sure your hose is long enough for how you sleep.
Make sure you get a swivel piece on the hose so it doesn't kink up and shorten as you toss and turn.
Make sure you clean your hose and mask regularly.
The medical supply places will tell you that you need a prescription and approval from your insurance for a new mask, hose, straps, etc. This is because they are incented to go through insurance. The only thing you need a prescription for is the machine. You can go through just about any online retailer and get good deals on masks and other supplies without a prescription.
My study found I was waking up every 20 sec and never getting to REM sleep at all. I was actually stopping breathing about every minute and a half. For me the first night sleeping with the CPAP and I woke up feeling better than I had in years.
For those with minor apnea they tend to hate it because the benefits aren't as noticeable.
One recommendation I would have is take time picking out your initial mask setup. There are literally hundreds of options and finding the one that will work best with your sleep position, and that is comfortable will go along way to making it a better experience. Think about how the straps fit, where the mask vent is pointing compared to how you like to sleep, whether you get a good seal around your nose, etc.
If you get one mask and find it isn't working for you try another out. It took me 3 different masks before I found the one I like best and now it doesn't annoy me at all.
Other tips...
have a back up mask on hand in case something on your primary breaks.
Once you are reliant on it, try to get your doctor to authorize you to have a backup CPAP. You'll probably have to pay for it out of pocket but the first time your primary breaks in the night it will be worth it.
Make sure your hose is long enough for how you sleep.
Make sure you get a swivel piece on the hose so it doesn't kink up and shorten as you toss and turn.
Make sure you clean your hose and mask regularly.
The medical supply places will tell you that you need a prescription and approval from your insurance for a new mask, hose, straps, etc. This is because they are incented to go through insurance. The only thing you need a prescription for is the machine. You can go through just about any online retailer and get good deals on masks and other supplies without a prescription.
That would qualify as a minor case, but one that would benefit from a CPAP. You're not in bad shape, though.
Wow! Scratch my previous comment, wear your CPAP!
I'm a horrible sleeper and had some issues last year that led to me getting a sleep apnea test, along with visiting a sleep psychologist. The sleep shrink worked with me on sleep hygiene, which I didn't even know was a thing. My apnea was minor and I benefitted from the sleep hygiene far more.
I tracked my sleep for a couple of weeks and met with the sleep shrink - it was eye opening. I was in bed over 10 hours a night and averaging less than 4.5 hours of sleep. I rarely fell asleep in less than an hour, I would wake up multiple times and be up for an hour or two. The sleep shrink put me through hell for the next couple of weeks as he forced me to be on a schedule and I HAD to get up at the set time...regardless of how much sleep I had the night before. I also couldn't go to bed before a certain time, so that window was my only option to get sleep. No naps allowed, which didn't matter because I can't nap anyway.
Things are better now. I sleep through the night more often than I don't, and it doesn't take me an hour to fall asleep. I also had a number of bad habits he corrected - some I knew were bad, some I wasn't aware of. It's been about a year and I'm starting to get lazy on the program and probably need to do a reset, but it's still a helluva lot better than what I had before.
If you're a crappy sleeper, check out sleep hygiene. It can be used in combination with a CPAP or as a stand alone program.
I tracked my sleep for a couple of weeks and met with the sleep shrink - it was eye opening. I was in bed over 10 hours a night and averaging less than 4.5 hours of sleep. I rarely fell asleep in less than an hour, I would wake up multiple times and be up for an hour or two. The sleep shrink put me through hell for the next couple of weeks as he forced me to be on a schedule and I HAD to get up at the set time...regardless of how much sleep I had the night before. I also couldn't go to bed before a certain time, so that window was my only option to get sleep. No naps allowed, which didn't matter because I can't nap anyway.
Things are better now. I sleep through the night more often than I don't, and it doesn't take me an hour to fall asleep. I also had a number of bad habits he corrected - some I knew were bad, some I wasn't aware of. It's been about a year and I'm starting to get lazy on the program and probably need to do a reset, but it's still a helluva lot better than what I had before.
If you're a crappy sleeper, check out sleep hygiene. It can be used in combination with a CPAP or as a stand alone program.
I had mine done about 2 years ago now and it has been life altering. I had no idea how tired I was until I got my CPAP. While I can't remember the exact numbers, mine was classified as a severe case and as the math worked out I was maybe getting an hour of actual sleep each night.
I'd recommend getting tested to anyone who has trouble with sleep.
I'd recommend getting tested to anyone who has trouble with sleep.
Playing around with the humidity and temperature settings helped reduce a lot of that feeling for me. I still have to tweak at different times of the year though. The biggest one being the air temperature was waaaaay too warm when they gave it to me to be any sort of comfortable.
I'm with you. I tried multiple mask types and just cannot sleep with it on. I actually find it relaxing lying there with it on, but sleeping with it is a challenge.
For those of you on the fence about it, the first sleep apnea test is usually done at home and it may be your only test depending on the outcome.
Agreed. I had mine done through the Iowa Clinic and they just sent me home with a thing to put on my head. It was super easy.
I've had 2 nights wearing it. It's going to take some getting used to. I haven't noticed my sleep quality improving yet. My machine transfers data to the company who I got the machine from. I have a person who is my primary contact so I called her after night 1 to hear results. That first night wearing it my breathing stops in a hour went down to 2. So it's working. The machine still has me waking up a few times in the night. I'm waiting for the put it on and I'm out for 6-8 hours straight.
I took me a good 6 months to get used to wearing my CPAP. Had to learn how to breathe with it on, basically just have to leave my mouth open to force the air in. I didn't think it helped that much at first. But, forgot to bring it on a long weekend trip, and three nights without the CPAP I was drained. Hang in there, the it's worth it in the long run.
How often do you guys get a sleep test and the CPAP adjusted? I think you're supposed to do it yearly. It's been 5 years since I've had my initial test. I'm scheduling a doctor visit next month and a sleep test. Will be interesting to see how much has changed in my sleep apnea and hopefully a new, smaller CPAP machine.
this is good to hear. As others have said it isnt instant. I remember my first night i could only deal with it for 4 hours but gradually it got better and im now getting 7-8 hrs of quality sleep a night. You will notice the personal changes as your longevity increases.
also, depending on the maker of your machine they may have an app that you can download and personally track your data such as hours sleep, leakage, events per hr, and so on. PM me if you’d like more info.
OP here. I had forgotten about the thread until it popped back up.
I did end up getting the study and found that I needed a CPAP machine. I am happy to report that it has drastically improved my sleep. At the time, I was falling asleep at my desk, and I can't say as this has happened since I got my CPAP. At my sleep study, they put me on a CPAP, I guess my instances of not breathing were concerning to them. First they tried the nose only, and absolutely I could not use that. I found that I was going to need the mask over nose and face. I don't believe I have gone a single night without. Morning headaches have gone a way, and I am far less exhausted, far less often. The only downside to the whole thing, is that occasionally, if I drool in my sleep, I can wake up with a mask full of slobber.
I did end up getting the study and found that I needed a CPAP machine. I am happy to report that it has drastically improved my sleep. At the time, I was falling asleep at my desk, and I can't say as this has happened since I got my CPAP. At my sleep study, they put me on a CPAP, I guess my instances of not breathing were concerning to them. First they tried the nose only, and absolutely I could not use that. I found that I was going to need the mask over nose and face. I don't believe I have gone a single night without. Morning headaches have gone a way, and I am far less exhausted, far less often. The only downside to the whole thing, is that occasionally, if I drool in my sleep, I can wake up with a mask full of slobber.
I was the one to bump it. I apologize for you being like why I am I being responded to in a 6 year old thread. I'm just starting out. My cpap is also over nose and face. 3 nights in. First night wasn't great but it's to be expected. Same with night 2. Last night I got extremely frustrated with it and after 3-4 hours I took it off. In order for my mask to not leak I have tighten it so damn tight and it's uncomfortable as ****.
Figuring out how tight the mask needs to be, takes a bit of time. I think you will see that sometimes the fit might change from night to night. I would say about 90% of the time I don't have to change it, but items like facial hair, congestion, sleeping position(mine isn't always the same) have an effect. Trust me, you will eventually get used to it... And don't worry, the mask does not need to be hermetically sealed in order to work. You will also find that over a period of time, the seals at your 90% adapter to the hose will get worse and worse, only to work fine the next night, no matter how many times you remove and reinstall. One word of advise, is to be careful and monitor your water tank, if you have one. I don't have a cleaning system, and usually rinse my tank with soap and water every night. But even then, you will eventually build a kind of scum in the corners that can only be cleaned out with a wire brush or a q-tip. I am not sure who designed the tank but cleaning care was not part of the equation. Getting in the corners which are really tight can be a pain. my tank has ribs in all of the corners and the only thing I can get into those spaces is a q-tip and a lot of pressure. I will usually wash my mask 1 or twice a week. If I had some drool the night before, I will wash the next morning.
