Lets Talk About Sleep Apnea/CPAP Machines

[Fuzz]

Huh? I was looking for solutions, not to hurt her. Sorry if you think going with 3 hours sleep is a sacrifice I should make.

Anyway, she is having issues with the mask fitting, took it off halfway through last night. Sliver, you say the full face one works well? I'll suggest she gives that a try. She has a small head and the smallest nose one is to big, and for some reason doesn't have adjustable straps. Do the full face ones? It's for a resmed unit. In the meantime might try the theravent with an O2 monitor and see how that works.

[ernie]

I have to use the full face. More comfortable for me and I'm a mouth breather when I sleep. But I'm very used to using full face respirators etc.

The mask is a very personal fit type thing. Some masks designs simply will not work for a person. You have to do a fitting and try many different types and settle on the one that seals and is most comfortable.

The full face ones do have adjustment straps but the trick is finding the one you don't need to completely press hard against your face to seal. You don't want marks on your face that take until lunch to go away. You can get some cloth liners to absorb sweat and lessens marks but in practice I feel these cause the mask to slip more and you end up with loose fabric flapping around tickling your skin.

Also it is not unusual to remove the mask during the night when first getting used to the CPAP. This will likely happen quite often the first month or so and then gradually taper off. It is noticeably hotter and your half awake self will very quickly say "screw this and take it off" but you get over it.

The other person in the bed will also get used to it...your 3 hours sleep won't last long. You to will get used to the noise and air and when you do you will also notice how much better your sleep is not having someone beside you constantly moving, waking etc.

[Fuzz]

Like I said, the noise is 1 million times better since I moved it off the night stand. I think the pump was reverberating through the stand and the bed. So not an issue for me anymore, though I'll have to build something as the ghetto 2 cardboard box/bubble wrap is not going to cut it long term. I'm not sure my sleep will change at all from before CPAP as she never really had issues through the night. The difference will be she gets a better night rest and is able to help me do dishes!

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Like I said, the noise is 1 million times better since I moved it off the night stand. I think the pump was reverberating through the stand and the bed. So not an issue for me anymore, though I'll have to build something as the ghetto 2 cardboard box/bubble wrap is not going to cut it long term. I'm not sure my sleep will change at all from before CPAP as she never really had issues through the night. The difference will be she gets a better night rest and is able to help me do dishes!

Just be aware that the air comes in the back at the bottom of those units, so I would think you don't want to restrict that flow.

[ernie]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Like I said, the noise is 1 million times better since I moved it off the night stand. I think the pump was reverberating through the stand and the bed. So not an issue for me anymore, though I'll have to build something as the ghetto 2 cardboard box/bubble wrap is not going to cut it long term. I'm not sure my sleep will change at all from before CPAP as she never really had issues through the night. The difference will be she gets a better night rest and is able to help me do dishes!

Perhaps. My wife believed the same thing. That she had a good nights sleep and I didn't really wake etc etc etc. Hell I assumed my sleep was normal as it was all I knew. She will readily admit she was wrong. If my recollection of the thread is accurate if your wifes O2 levels were dropping then she wasn't having a good sleep and likely waking, moving an awful lot even if she and you don't consciously notice it. Likely waking in a panic here and there (even if she doesn't remember) and waking in the morning with slight nausea. I've been there. It sucks...and suck even more than I went 25 years thinking that was somehow normal. It's why you do the test with electrodes on your arms and legs etc (or at least my test did) as movement is an indicator of how well you are sleeping.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Just be aware that the air comes in the back at the bottom of those units, so I would think you don't want to restrict that flow.

Ya, I checked and it comes through the side. I don't close the box, it's a wine box so just set inside.

I'll check her printouts form the sleep clinic and see how much it says she is moving. I think she only had one instance of O2 at 80%, the other lows were around 85-90. When we tested the home O2 unit there was one 80% as well.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Sliver

You don't believe what I'm selling, yet the machine has improved your quality of life and even though nobody is forcing you to wear it, you choose to wear it because the benefits outweigh the negatives? I'm pretty sure you are, in fact, buying what I'm selling.

Where did I question it's health benefits? I said that your comment that people will just get used to it is not accurate. I've had it two years and I hate every single second of it, and know of many other people in the same boat.

I hate the mask, absolutely can't stand wearing it. I'm pretty much stuck with it though because I am a complete mouth breather.

[MoneyGuy]

Where do you guys buy CPAP supplies online that's Canadian?

[Cuz]

I haven't used them, but the prices look reasonable from this site:

http://canadacpapsupply.com/

[doctajones428]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Where did I question it's health benefits? I said that your comment that people will just get used to it is not accurate. I've had it two years and I hate every single second of it, and know of many other people in the same boat.

I hate the mask, absolutely can't stand wearing it. I'm pretty much stuck with it though because I am a complete mouth breather.

I don't think anyone enjoys wearing the mask or gets entirely used to it, but it does become tolerable. When I first got my BiPap I couldn't even keep it on for hour before losing my mind, but now I get a good 5+ hours in a night on it. Do I enjoy actually having that hot windy rubber vag on my face? Or the awful bloating in the morning? The dry mouth and god awful taste? Absolutely not, but I do feel proud of myself when I get through a full night with it on

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

I don't think anyone enjoys wearing the mask or gets entirely used to it, but it does become tolerable. When I first got my BiPap I couldn't even keep it on for hour before losing my mind, but now I get a good 5+ hours in a night on it. Do I enjoy actually having that hot windy rubber vag on my face? Or the awful bloating in the morning? The dry mouth and god awful taste? Absolutely not, but I do feel proud of myself when I get through a full night with it on

Dry mouth? Maybe you need to crank up your humidifier settings. These machines can pump almost
a cup of water a night into you.

God awful taste? Are you properly cleaning your machine? I clean my mask every morning with soap and clean my hose with soap 1-2 times per week. It's completely odourless and tasteless. You absolutely have an issue if yours has a taste let alone a God awful one.

[TheAlpineOracle]

I always run out of water at some point during the night. I really wish the water wells were a lot bigger.

[MoneyGuy]

I've never used the water. I go dry.

Thanks for the recommendation for the online sales site.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I always run out of water at some point during the night. I really wish the water wells were a lot bigger.

Yeah I have to fill mine up every night. Maybe it's because Calgary is so dry? Total pita.

[Northendzone]

I am guessing that some of you can't adjust the humidity levels on your machine?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I am guessing that some of you can't adjust the humidity levels on your machine?

The size of the reservoir makes a big difference, too, though. My humidity level is adjustable. My last machine had a way bigger reservoir that I'd only fill up a couple of times per week. Now I can slurp through the whole thing in a night, although it usually can go two if I'm lucky.

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Dry mouth? Maybe you need to crank up your humidifier settings. These machines can pump almost
a cup of water a night into you.

God awful taste? Are you properly cleaning your machine? I clean my mask every morning with soap and clean my hose with soap 1-2 times per week. It's completely odourless and tasteless. You absolutely have an issue if yours has a taste let alone a God awful one.

Baby wipes, man.
I found that soap and water turned turned the rubber on the mask yellow and caused it to degrade quicker.

[doctajones428]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Dry mouth? Maybe you need to crank up your humidifier settings. These machines can pump almost
a cup of water a night into you.

God awful taste? Are you properly cleaning your machine? I clean my mask every morning with soap and clean my hose with soap 1-2 times per week. It's completely odourless and tasteless. You absolutely have an issue if yours has a taste let alone a God awful one.

I crank my water settings to max, don't let it run out, and still get dry mouth. I tend to be a mouth breather in my sleep. As for the taste, it's only the mornings when I get severe dry mouth. My mouth and tongue gets a gross layer of scuzz which has the taste. It doesn't matter how often I clean the hose/mask or how many times I brush my teeth before bed

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

I crank my water settings to max, don't let it run out, and still get dry mouth. I tend to be a mouth breather in my sleep. As for the taste, it's only the mornings when I get severe dry mouth. My mouth and tongue gets a gross layer of scuzz which has the taste. It doesn't matter how often I clean the hose/mask or how many times I brush my teeth before bed

same issues here... it sucks

[CroFlames]

Do you need a prescription for a CPAP, or can you just go buy one off the shelf.

I think i'd like to try one.