Adventures in CPAP-landia

EIEIElenaO

After years of my BF swearing to me that I stop breathing when I sleep, I finally decided to have a sleep study. Huh. Pretty enlightening. Those sinus headaches I had been waking up with were actually a sign of low oxygen (73%). And yes, I was stopping breathing while I "slept" to the tune of 53.1 timer per HOUR. Apnea is considered severe above 30.

Also, I have been fretting about why weight loss has seemed so impossible. Well, I now see the viscous cycle that I have been enduring.

I am now 2-weeks with my APAP (like a bit more advanced of a CPAP). I hate it. I use it. I am so glad that there's an app that it connects to that proves to me I am sleeping better (1.8 to 4.9 now). About 3 days ago it finally felt possible to log back in here and start my long journey back to health.

I share this all in the hopes that some others will join me.

AnnPT77

Sounds like this could be a productive change for you, and certainly a health-promoting one, even in itself. Substantial risk of things like heart disease longer-term from untreated sleep apnea!

I hope it may become less hateful, too, as it becomes more familiar/routine. I don't know whether any of this is relevant for you, but in case it is, these are some random things I've discovered over about 20 years of CPAP/APAP use (or learned from friends who use them):

* It can be worth trying different mask types, if you haven't.
* If some of the comfort is about mouth drying out, I've found a single strip of paper tape (the kind used for bandages) is more effective than a chin strap, and less annoying than I would've thought. It's applied vertically from chin to just under nose, doesn't cover the whole width of mouth. I thought it wouldn't work, would come off. Nope.
* Assuming you have a humidifier attached, sometimes messing with the humidity or heat settings will improve comfort. I usually find I need to adjust mine seasonally, as the temperature/humidity of my bedroom changes.
* If you don't already have it, and condensation in tubing/mask is a problem, heated tubing can help. Before I had that, even tucking the excess tubing length under my blanket helped.
* They make special pillows for use with CPAP/APAP, if that's contributing to comfort issues. Not cheap, may be worth it. I got similar results just by experimenting with the type/configuration of pillows I use, though.

I'm sure you've heard that many people find that apnea improves with weight loss, sometimes to the point that it's gone at healthy weight. I wasn't that lucky, still need mine. Fortunately, after all this time, I'm entirely comfortable with it.

Best wishes!

MargaretYakoda

I’ve had my CPAP for six years. It’s amazing. I was stopping breathing for 30 seconds or more 60+ Times an hour. I had always snored my entire life. The CPAP is a game changer.

And definitely check out different masks and head gear.
I didn’t like any of the head gear options so I sewed my own. But…. you don’t have to go that far. Most of them are pretty good once you get used to them.

EIEIElenaO

AnnPT77 wrote: »

Sounds like this could be a productive change for you, and certainly a health-promoting one, even in itself. Substantial risk of things like heart disease longer-term from untreated sleep apnea!

I hope it may become less hateful, too, as it becomes more familiar/routine. I don't know whether any of this is relevant for you, but in case it is, these are some random things I've discovered over about 20 years of CPAP/APAP use (or learned from friends who use them):

* It can be worth trying different mask types, if you haven't.
* If some of the comfort is about mouth drying out, I've found a single strip of paper tape (the kind used for bandages) is more effective than a chin strap, and less annoying than I would've thought. It's applied vertically from chin to just under nose, doesn't cover the whole width of mouth. I thought it wouldn't work, would come off. Nope.
* Assuming you have a humidifier attached, sometimes messing with the humidity or heat settings will improve comfort. I usually find I need to adjust mine seasonally, as the temperature/humidity of my bedroom changes.
* If you don't already have it, and condensation in tubing/mask is a problem, heated tubing can help. Before I had that, even tucking the excess tubing length under my blanket helped.
* They make special pillows for use with CPAP/APAP, if that's contributing to comfort issues. Not cheap, may be worth it. I got similar results just by experimenting with the type/configuration of pillows I use, though.

I'm sure you've heard that many people find that apnea improves with weight loss, sometimes to the point that it's gone at healthy weight. I wasn't that lucky, still need mine. Fortunately, after all this time, I'm entirely comfortable with it.

Best wishes!

Thank you for your 20 years out perspective.

It makes me feel claustrophobic, but I guess that's something to just get over. I am at my heaviest weight ever right now and know that losing it may help (or not -- but it's still otherwise healthful).

My DDS is an airway specialist and has identified some structural problems in my mouth that are contributing to the problem. In a month I am meeting with an orthodontist that she recommended to hear about a proposed treatment plan. I have already met with him once, and he was the one who finally convinced me to use the CPAP. Even if I do the treatment plan, the fix would not be overnight and I need the CPAP therapy until and if it works.

So I am focusing on what I have power over and getting my nutrition back in line with my goals. This is starting to feel a bit easier as the CPAP allows me to get some good quality sleep.

EIEIElenaO

MargaretYakoda wrote: »

I’ve had my CPAP for six years. It’s amazing. I was stopping breathing for 30 seconds or more 60+ Times an hour. I had always snored my entire life. The CPAP is a game changer.

And definitely check out different masks and head gear.
I didn’t like any of the head gear options so I sewed my own. But…. you don’t have to go that far. Most of them are pretty good once you get used to them.

Yes, it does appear to be a game changer!

Already the "permanent bags" under my eyes are starting to go down and I don't feel that sand-under-my-eyelids exhaustion feeling any more. I can only guess that I will continue to feel better as my body heals from chronic sleep deprivation.

Funny thing is that the sleep survey made me thing I didn't have a problem. I've never nodded off in my soup and never felt a need for naps. But wow oh wow, the sleep study really showed that I had to address this!