Question:
Okay all you people with sleep apnea please fill me in ..........
Please fill me in on what it is like to sleep with the noisy monster. Thursday, Jan 2nd, I will have my 2nd sleep study and be fitted with machine and mask etc. I'd love to hear as much as possible. Do you have CPAP or BIPAP and which do you like better, if you have tried both? What type of mask do you have? With or without headgear? I'm especially concerned about having anything strapped across my face because of pressure on my sinuses in cheeks and forehead. It could bring about monsterous sinus headaches. Do you have problems with drying out the nasal passages? Sometimes I'm a big mouth breather - wake up with a really dry throat - will I end up with a mask over my mouth to, or am I likely to adjust once the airway is nice and clear? I'm sure I have tons more questions but this is a start. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks, Chris D. — zoedogcbr (posted on January 1, 2003)
December 31, 2002
It has been six months since my surgery. I have lost 85 lbs. and do not
have to sleep with cpap anymore. I slept with it for two years and adjusted
quite nicely. My machine was set at 15cm, but it would do what is called
ramping. It would start out at 4cm and gradually increase to 15. I could
not have started out at the full 15 or it would feel like it was blowing
you out of the water. Good luck and enjoy your sleep.
— Sue A.
December 31, 2002
My husband has used a cpap for 5 years. He had a small adjustment period
but uses it with no problems and sleeps much better with it. He has a full
head cap and large nose-cover thing, because the smaller one kept moving
out of position when he turned over, and as a result was ineffective. He
feels much better overall once he started using the mask. The cpaps come
with a moisture attachment so you won't dry out and the way the cpap works,
you won't be breathing out of your mouth when you sleep, as it has a
continuous air pressure to keep the throat/sinus area from closing up.
— Darlene P.
January 1, 2003
I have used a CPAP for 7 or 8 years and adjusted to it the first night I
used it. I woke up feeling SO much better. First, it is not really that
noisy. Once you get the mask on and fitted securely, the noise level is
pretty low. I have used it when rooming with other people on trips and
they say they can't even tell it's on. A humidifier is very helpful. The
one other thing I have found is that the mask has to fit securely around my
nose. If there are any air leaks, then I can feel the air being blown into
my nose and that is uncomfortable. If there are no leaks I can't feel it
at all. I am post-op and still using mine, but at a lower pressure than
pre-op. I'll go in and have another sleep study when I've lost another 20
pounds or so.
— garw
January 1, 2003
i was diagnosed with OSA last November 2001. I fought getting the machine
until December, but I caved. I used it from Dec 01 to June 02--I no longer
needed it! I had a hard time adjusting to having the thing on my head. I
found it uncomfortable and annoying but once I was accustomed to it I felt
great! I had to fet used to not wearing lotion on my face because it is
really bad for the face mask, then I had to figure out how to make it
comfortable. We (husband and I) played around with the hoses and found
that having it attached to the bed over my head was best--I could move
around a bit and not strangle myself! Because of the air pressure and
getting used to it, I was hoarse for 3 weeks. I was not sick, it was just
getting used to the constant pressure. I sounded like I had pneumonia or
bronchitis. I have a small nose and big eyes so I had a really hard time
finding the 'right' spot for the mask, but eventually I did! I was a big
mouth breather until I started using the CPAP--you just don't do it after
you start using the mask. I was advised to use nasal spray when I had a
cold in order to keep using the machine. I did not have any sinus or head
pressure, no dry nose or throat! The dryness went away after a few nights
with the CPAP. I stopped using it in June because it was about killing me!
The pressure setting was relatively low, an 8, and in June I had lost
around 90lbs--I would wake up several times during the night gasping for
air. My surgeon's office said to have my hubby listen to me sleep without
the CPAP to see if I stopped breathing or opened my mouth. He said I di
not so I gave up the machine and slept much better without it after the
weight loss. I'm down 155lbs now and I do not sleep with my mouth open, do
not snore and sleep quite peacefully!
— jenn2002
January 1, 2003
I have been using CPAP for several years. My version of the machine is
much noisier than that newer ones and I am about ready for a swap out. My
wife says that the machine is like 'white noise'. I got a humidifier that
my insurance did not cover and have been grateful ever since. If you have
a problem with your mouth still being open during sleep with the machine
you can get some head gear that will keep it closed...kind of like an
elastic strap that goes over your head and under your chin.
— Thomas J.
January 1, 2003
CPAP. High pressue, 1993 machine (when I was dx). I had the regular
trinagular shaped mask with headgear, and no it didn't make my sinuses
hurt. I got my CPAP in Dec, and continued with my planned sinuse sx in
Feb. By then, I was in love with my CPAP and it was MISERABLE to do
without it for a week (nose was not in use). As for being a mouth-brether,
that's part of the apnea. Once the pressure is right, your mouth will stay
closed (& wet!). I used a humidifier with mine. No extra charge, just
routed the air thru water. Now, my dh has a more modern machine (lower
pressue), and he had a remote control (which we still argue about today,
even tho the machines have been put away since 1996!). He didn't use
water, but the triangle mask didn't work for him with moustache. They tried
this thing that comes over the back of hte head & plunks into the
nostrils, (nose pills, I think they call it). No. Finally, he tried
"the bubble" and it was perfect. I tried both versions, too, but
the triangle was right for me. As to the noise. Oh my, it was wonderful.
People go out and BUY "white noise". We had the two machines,
humming softly & put us right to sleep. For weeks after we no longer
needed them, we left them running at night because the sound was so
soothing. Also, if your nostrils tend to dry out, even with help, there is
a great product called Aquaphor. OTC, but in the pharmacy dept. It's not
petroleum based, and there is no generic for it, as yet. It's kinda spendy
(at first glance) but it lasts FOREVER. No smell, no sting or anything.
I've used it over the years for dry sinus days here or other little
annoyances. Did I cover all the questions?
— vitalady
January 1, 2003
I work at a DME company that rents and sells CPAPS. Ask to see a Mirage
Vista mask when you go for your CPAP set-up. It's Resmed's newest mask and
it does not go over your eye or forehead area - might be helpful if you
really cannot tolerate anything pressing around that area. The Ultra
Mirage is our most popular mask though, it is the "universal"
mask that works for almost all of our patients. If your pressure is low
enough (like 7.5 or less), you might try the CPAP without humidification at
first - they are an added expense and could add to your insurance co-pays
and they aren't always necessary (plus, it's just another thing to clean
and mess with). But for people who have high pressures prescribed for
them, humidifiers often increase compliance and patient comfort. Good
Luck!!
— Kim A.
January 1, 2003
There is a mask that conforms to the shape of your head's profile. It
looks like a snorkel that runs from the top of your head along your nose
line. Instead of having a "mask" it has nose pillows (padded
inserts that go about 1/2" into your nostrils). This mask makes no
contact with face other than the contact points at the nose pillows.
Another benefit is that you can grow a moustache and not have to worry
about seal problems since the mask only makes contact with your nostrils.
The only problem with this mask is that it's not as durable as the regular
triangular padded mask (I snapped 2 of them and converted back to the old
mask).
<p>Sorry I can't remember the name of this mask.
<p> Take Care, Be Well, and Be Happy!
— John T.
January 1, 2003
Thanks everyone for all the input. Based on what I have been able to learn
so far, and not having tried anything yet, I think I would like to try a
NasalAire mask first and an auto-PAP or C-Flex machine with heated
humidifier. I'm not sure if the sleep lab or my doctor will agree with the
choice of machine, so we will see. If they want a regular CPAP then I'll
get one that ramps up and still has the heated humidifier. I'm afraid if I
don't get the humidifier right away I won't be able to get insurance to pay
to add it. I have very very dry nasal membranes as it is from year round
allergies and medications so I think I will need the heated
humidification.<p>The mask is a total new design. It's similar to
the nasal pillows but is minimally on your face, wraps around your ears and
then the hoses are velcroed behind the neck and come down over the chest.
This should allow me to easily sleep in any position I think. It's
essentially like an oxygen feed that rests under your nose with the tubes
sticking up into your nose and then goes across your cheeks and wraps
around your ears, only this one is larger and the nasal tubes provide a
seal. I might hate it when I try it on but right now it looks promising.
The nasal pillows of some sort with a least amount of headgear is my 2nd
choice. My head sweats so badly from one of my medications that any straps
etc. that will be on my hair etc. will get grungy fast. I also have
Rosacea and do not need straps and sponges etc. getting wet with sweat and
irritating my skin. Obviously a lot of this will have to do with what is
available from my local supplier. I hope I'm a lucky one that adjusts
easily. I know the surgeon won't want to do surgery if it's not working
well for me, but then again I won't have had another study before surgery
so he really won't know for sure.<p>The bizarre part for me is that I
already have a diagnosed daytime sleep disorder (primary CNS Hypersomnia).
So when the surgeon insisted I get a new study as he found it hard to
believe someone my size would not have sleep apnea, I was a little unhappy.
However, his insistance likely means this was found 1-2 years before it
would have been. I haven't been sleeping well in bed off and on for 12-24
months and sleep in the recliner a lot. I
even bought a new expensive bed last Feb only to be able to sleep in it
occassionally. But I assumed this related totally to my low back pain. I
would toss and turn and hurt like heck. If I slept in the recliner I
didn't have near the pain issues. I just assumed it was because it was
taking the pressure off the area. In reality it might be that by sleeping
in the recliner it greatly reduce the apneas and therefore I slept better
and therefore I got some restorative sleep helping wiht the pain. I knew I
wasn't as rested as I was the first few years after being diagnosed with
the other disorder, but never thought I had sleep apnea. So pursuing WLS
really may saved my life in more ways than one. Undiagnosed sleep apnea
can really cause severe medical problems. I guess the angels were truly
watching over me. Again thanks for all the input. I'll let you know how
it goes tomorrow.
— zoedogcbr
January 2, 2003
hi i had to wear one and I hated it and once I drop about 40lbs did not
need it any more that was a relief but to be truthfull I hated it and did
not wear it all the time good luck
— ROSEMARY A.
Click Here to Return