Does anyone have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine to sleep every night?

[meph]

I have moderate-to-severe apnea and was prescribed a CPAP after doing a sleep study. The sleep study experience was fine, but the CPAP settings are crazy aggressive. It starts off lighter, but increases in pressure over time as I ostensibly fall asleep. The problem is that it also ends up waking me up in the middle of sleep when it reaches its peak, and then it stays at that level so it's basically impossible to fall back asleep with it on.

 

[sangreal]

Been on one for a decade.
It's a hassle to adjust at first and you might have to change mask style and prescription settings.
Make sure your sleep doc is receptive. After a year of so-so results one of my docs just prescribed speed or whatever. I just needed a new machine (more comfort tech) and more hours per night of use (needed a full 8 hours of usage to get my events down to under 1 per hour). In their eyes, my evehts at 3 or 4 per hour was considered treated. But for me unless I'm under 2, I still feel not energized and will doze off during meetings.
Got to keep up on cleaning.
Cpaptalk.com was a good forum for questions. If you're interested in really monitoring things, there's an analysis app called sleepyhead that will show the machine usage as charts with events, etc.

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Maybe things have changed, but last I checked Sleepyhead was killed after some drama (https://jedimark.net/2019/02/08/sleepyhead-project-shutdown/) but there are forks out there

 

[RoboPlato]

I do and it changed my life. Felt like I went months without a proper night's sleep before I got it. It can get annoying at times but unchecked sleep apnea is debilitating

 

[Hecht]

I have very mild apnea but I could not get comfortable with the CPAP machine. I sleep on my side and tend to sleep with my mouth open so I had to get the larger mask. Could not fucking get used to the damn thing. Tried for months. My brain just constantly focuses on the fact that there's something on my face and I could never actually fall asleep with it on unless I was insanely tired.

Really hoping I can find an alternative.

 

[Spawnsniper]

I have very mild apnea but I could not get comfortable with the CPAP machine. I sleep on my side and tend to sleep with my mouth open so I had to get the larger mask. Could not fucking get used to the damn thing. Tried for months. My brain just constantly focuses on the fact that there's something on my face and I could never actually fall asleep with it on unless I was insanely tired.

Really hoping I can find an alternative.

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Are you me? I have the exact issue, since I'm always congested i sleep with my mouth open and wearing the mask is no good for me.

 

[The Lord of Cereal]

My mom has been using a CPAP for almost 3 years now I think. Once she found the right attachment for her face, she started sleeping much better, but before then she would get really dry eyes from the machine.
From what she's told me, it's more intrusive for my dad than it is my mom when they are both trying to sleep

 

[Frobert]

I have very mild apnea but I could not get comfortable with the CPAP machine. I sleep on my side and tend to sleep with my mouth open so I had to get the larger mask. Could not fucking get used to the damn thing. Tried for months. My brain just constantly focuses on the fact that there's something on my face and I could never actually fall asleep with it on unless I was insanely tired.

Really hoping I can find an alternative.

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If it's mild, it might be treatable with an oral appliance. I know people who use them and have reported good results. Might be worth checking with your doctor. Mine is mild as well and I had that option. I might still try to get one in the future.

 

[Hecht]

If it's mild, it might be treatable with an oral appliance. I know people who use them and have reported good results. Might be worth checking with your doctor. Mine is mild as well and I had that option. I might still try to get one in the future.

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I've considered them, but I definitely need a doctor to tell me otherwise because I've heard plenty of people tell me that it moved their jaw in....problematic ways

 

[Zoe]

I've considered them, but I definitely need a doctor to tell me otherwise because I've heard plenty of people tell me that it moved their jaw in....problematic ways

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It's supposed to come with a second guard you wear when you wake up to reset your jaw...

 

[Deleted member 9241]

The power went out the other night and for the first time in over a year I tried to sleep without my cpap machine and I thought I was going to fucking die.

 

[Kaelan]

I've considered them, but I definitely need a doctor to tell me otherwise because I've heard plenty of people tell me that it moved their jaw in....problematic ways

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I have the oral appliance - tired the cpap for a couple months, tried every mask type, even bought the dreamwear mask, no dice.

Appliance works like a charm for me. If you get a sonomed one, it has a thing to put in your mouth for 15-20 mins in the morning that "resets" your bite... so far, no long term damage

 

[kai3345]

Been using one since the summer. I like it except for the mask I have makes my nose bleed. I'm a mouthbreather so I cant use the nose pillows or nose mask. The full face mask sucks too because I wear glasses, so I opted for the smaller nose-mouth mask that leaves room for glasses.

It's great aside from the aforementioned nosebleeds. There a little silicone ridge separating the nose and mouth part that I think is rubbing my nose raw in the night. The cpap company gave me like 6 extra masks so I decided to take some scissors to that ridge in the middle and I've been sleeping more comfortably. Hopefully cutting out that ridge doesn't reduce the effectiveness of anything.

 

[BringBackSonics]

My surgeon noticed obstructive sleep apnea, they are sending me a at home sleep study thing.

 

[brisck1]

I've been using a CPAP for the past year or so and it's totally changed my life, I was completely non-functional before getting one.

One thing that worries me is that I've been single since getting one and recently started seeing somebody, and now I'm really anxious about how they might react to finding out I need a CPAP, has anyone else had experience with this kind of situation? I'm worried she might freak out or something...

 

[sangreal]

Been using one since the summer. I like it except for the mask I have makes my nose bleed. I'm a mouthbreather so I cant use the nose pillows or nose mask. The full face mask sucks too because I wear glasses, so I opted for the smaller nose-mouth mask that leaves room for glasses.

It's great aside from the aforementioned nosebleeds. There a little silicone ridge separating the nose and mouth part that I think is rubbing my nose raw in the night. The cpap company gave me like 6 extra masks so I decided to take some scissors to that ridge in the middle and I've been sleeping more comfortably. Hopefully cutting out that ridge doesn't reduce the effectiveness of anything.

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Does your machine have a humidifier? That should help with nosebleeds

 

[sangreal]

I've been using a CPAP for the past year or so and it's totally changed my life, I was completely non-functional before getting one.

One thing that worries me is that I've been single since getting one and recently started seeing somebody, and now I'm really anxious about how they might react to finding out I need a CPAP, has anyone else had experience with this kind of situation? I'm worried she might freak out or something...

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If anyone cares, they've never told me to my face. Usually just get a few questions. I think they've become a lot more common in the last few years and you even see them in movies/tv these days. My girlfriend is the one that enforces usage; she won't let me sleep in the bed without it

 

[SwampBastard]

I don't, but I have a couple friends who do and they love their CPAPs.

 

[Particle Physicist]

I have moderate-to-severe apnea and was prescribed a CPAP after doing a sleep study. The sleep study experience was fine, but the CPAP settings are crazy aggressive. It starts off lighter, but increases in pressure over time as I ostensibly fall asleep. The problem is that it also ends up waking me up in the middle of sleep when it reaches its peak, and then it stays at that level so it's basically impossible to fall back asleep with it on.

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talk to the sleep specialist. They can adjust it. Mine had to be adjusted.

I wish I could use the nasal pillows. I have to use a full mask because of chronic nasal congestion issues despite treatment. Physically I feel better with the cpap but it sucks because I can't really snuggle with my wife due to the face mask I have to wear. I'm also relatively healthy, I don't have a large neck, skinny, etc but my soft palate apparently causes issues.

 

[kai3345]

Does your machine have a humidifier? That should help with nosebleeds

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It does and I use it. It isn't an in-nostril nosebleed, it's literally just rubbing the skin of the little bridge(?) between the nostrils raw

 

[Ablacious]

Maybe things have changed, but last I checked Sleepyhead was killed after some drama (https://jedimark.net/2019/02/08/sleepyhead-project-shutdown/) but there are forks out there

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Bummer. Yeah, I used it regularly when I got my last machine upgrade years ago.

 

[Dalek]

I have been given one by my doctor but I've tried so many times to fall asleep with it on and I cannot. I'll lay awake all night and not get a wink of sleep. But if I sleep without it apparently it sounds like I'm struggling to breathe. I wish I could deal with it.

 

[bounchfx]

I got one and used it for a bit over 3 months straight, got used to it, and when it works it did ok for me. it's really hard to breath through my nose and I like to sleep on my stomach which is bad, so it was difficult to get used to. it definitely helped with breathing through my nose a little, but the pressure sometimes would really freak me the fuck out and I would have to tear off the mask because it wasnt pushing air in sync to how my body was breathing. I want to start using it again soon but honestly I've just been kind of scared. but they are good for you if you get used to it.

oh and the first two weeks were basically a horror story of 'oh god i cant breath'

but you do get used to it

 

[TheCuriousdabber]

I've been on a BiPAP machine for a year now,I think my sleep apnea was just so bad that my brain allowed me to instantly adapt to it without much of a problem because it knew I was on the verge of death if I didn't start getting good sleep.

I had gotten to the point where I would have to pull over at a rest area and take a 15 or 20 minute nap just to keep from falling asleep on a one-hour drive out to see a client for work.

Every single night I would fall asleep on the couch by like 9pm and be woken up by my wife or son when they couldn't deal with the snoring. This was despite the fact that I would sleep in until 11am to keep from being absolutely useless for the day.

I would have to have a total sleep time of 7 to 9 hours to even manage maybe couple hours of real sleep which wasn't even real deep sleep because I would stop breathing every couple minutes and would wake up to piss three times a night.

The first night that I wore the machine after getting it home it took me about 30 minutes to fall asleep but it was the greatest sleep I can ever remember having in my 41 years of life.

I woke up the next day feeling like a completely new man with probably a decade taken off of my age. I haven't fallen asleep on the couch a single time since starting the machine a year ago. I feel younger,way more energetic,less depressed,I've lost weight,it really completely changed my life.

When I took the sleep test I felt like the nasal pillow was going to be a problem but once I got home and used it in my own bed it wasn't an issue at all even though I normally wasn't a back sleeper I still get plenty of good sleep each night even though I do turn on my side a little bit which might keep the thing from having a perfect seal.

I've found that taking melatonin an hour before bed helps me sleep deeper and avoid too much moving around so I remain on my back and get a better seal the majority of the night.

I've only been using it for a year so I'm still content just sticking with the nasal pillow for now while covid is an issue and I don't really feel like doing any additional doctor's appointments unless I absolutely have to but once everything chills out I might experiment with a couple different face masks or something.

Sorry for the long post but I just feel really strongly about these things being life-changing medical devices and I encourage anyone that has an issue to do whatever they can to fight through whatever those problems may be and make it work because it will literally lengthen and better your life in a significant way.

 

[Deleted member 21709]

I've been on a BiPAP machine for a year now,I think my sleep apnea was just so bad that my brain allowed me to instantly adapt to it without much of a problem because it knew I was on the verge of death if I didn't start getting good sleep.

I had gotten to the point where I would have to pull over at a rest area and take a 15 or 20 minute nap just to keep from falling asleep on a one-hour drive out to see a client for work.

Every single night I would fall asleep on the couch by like 9pm and be woken up by my wife or son when they couldn't deal with the snoring. This was despite the fact that I would sleep in until 11am to keep from being absolutely useless for the day.

I would have to have a total sleep time of 7 to 9 hours to even manage maybe couple hours of real sleep which wasn't even real deep sleep because I would stop breathing every couple minutes and would wake up to piss three times a night.

The first night that I wore the machine after getting it home it took me about 30 minutes to fall asleep but it was the greatest sleep I can ever remember having in my 41 years of life.

I woke up the next day feeling like a completely new man with probably a decade taken off of my age. I haven't fallen asleep on the couch a single time since starting the machine a year ago. I feel younger,way more energetic,less depressed,I've lost weight,it really completely changed my life.

When I took the sleep test I felt like the nasal pillow was going to be a problem but once I got home and used it in my own bed it wasn't an issue at all even though I normally wasn't a back sleeper I still get plenty of good sleep each night even though I do turn on my side a little bit which might keep the thing from having a perfect seal.

I've found that taking melatonin an hour before bed helps me sleep deeper and avoid too much moving around so I remain on my back and get a better seal the majority of the night.

I've only been using it for a year so I'm still content just sticking with the nasal pillow for now while covid is an issue and I don't really feel like doing any additional doctor's appointments unless I absolutely have to but once everything chills out I might experiment with a couple different face masks or something.

Sorry for the long post but I just feel really strongly about these things being life-changing medical devices and I encourage anyone that has an issue to do whatever they can to fight through whatever those problems may be and make it work because it will literally lengthen and better your life in a significant way.

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I'm really happy you found a solution!

 

[SpaceCrystal]

I do. I have obstructive sleep apnea. I've used a CPAP machine since July 2018 & I wear a full face mask.

I'll admit, when I've first done my sleep study, I was very scared & frightened to the point where I didn't even want to use the machine or to wear any kind of mask at all. I thought that I wouldn't be able to breathe or anything from all of that air going through my nose. Then later when I went back, I slowly started to build my confidence & I eventually overcame my fear of it.

Now, ever since I was issued a CPAP machine, I've been pretty used to it & I love it. The only problem is that my lips sometimes gets dry & cracked & I had to keep peeling out my skin.

 

[BringBackSonics]

Just got diagnosed with sleep apnea. Tonight is my first night with the nose cpap. I've practiced using it while I'm awake.

for those that use the nose, how do you keep your mouth from opening?

 

[BringBackSonics]

The power went out the other night and for the first time in over a year I tried to sleep without my cpap machine and I thought I was going to fucking die.

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honestly they should have emergency battery power to keep it going

 

[The Scale]

Just got diagnosed with sleep apnea. Tonight is my first night with the nose cpap. I've practiced using it while I'm awake.

for those that use the nose, how do you keep your mouth from opening?

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They sell chin straps and such. Though if it's a constant struggle might want to look into a mask that covers the nose and mouth. I personally use the resmed airfit f30.

 

[Primus]

I've been using OSCAR - https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/ - Since I got my BiPap machine in June, it does a great job of taking the output from my machine and making nice charts and graphs from the data.

 

[kyorii]

Curious how do folks deal with cleaning their cpap. Anyone use the soclean2?

 

[Twig]

I got one recently and I absolutely hate using it. It's so uncomfortable. I hate it so much.

And by recently I mean months ago. And by hate using it I mean I never use it because I hate it so much.

Good job me.

 

[nihilence]

I've been using one for 2-3 months, hasn't been too uncomfortable as I thought.

Sometimes dry mouth, burps and a few sore spots.

 

[Devilgunman]

I just had 2 sleep studies recently and during both studies I had extremely hard time sleeping with a cpap. I think it actually makes my sleeping worse. I'm trying to fix my sleeping disorder by losing weight so I don't have to rely on a cpap. It's just so unbearable.

 

[The Scale]

I just had 2 sleep studies recently and during both studies I had extremely hard time sleeping with a cpap. I think it actually makes my sleeping worse. I'm trying to fix my sleeping disorder by losing weight so I don't have to rely on a cpap. It's just so unbearable.

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Usually if you aren't compliant with cpap they'll have you try a bipap next which lowers the pressure as you breath out so it doesn't feel like you can't breath out and mimics your overall breathing pattern.

 

[Chippewa Barr]

I don't but I see Shatner on tv hawking them and the cleaners all the time lol

 

[BringBackSonics]

They sell chin straps and such. Though if it's a constant struggle might want to look into a mask that covers the nose and mouth. I personally use the resmed airfit f30.

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thanks.! I'm a week in. It's going ok?

has anyone ever during their sleep have just rip their mask off their face? I did it last night on day 7

 

[BringBackSonics]

Usually if you aren't compliant with cpap they'll have you try a bipap next which lowers the pressure as you breath out so it doesn't feel like you can't breath out and mimics your overall breathing pattern.

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I can't talk with mine on my nose. The air escapes out my mouth and is awkward

 

[Lebon30]

I have a CPAP machine myself since the beginning of December.
The real issue I have with using it is that I drool *a lot* in any position other on my back and I don't find it comfortable to sleep on my back. Even if I manage to fall asleep on my back, I always end up on my sides and I end up drooling in my face mask which eventually wakes me up cutting my sleep. Then, I have to clean it up...

All that to be admitted to bariatric surgery.

I'm at the point where I think I might have sleep apnea. I just get so tired and sleepy throughout the day, even though I sleep for 7-8 hours each night. I usually wake up once to go to the bathroom, but I'm certainly not waking up multiple times each night....at least not that I've noticed. I don't get sleepy like this every day, but it's occurring more often than not.

It's weird because I don't have any risk factors for sleep apnea. I'm in my late 20s, thin, don't smoke, exercise regularly, and have no other conditions. And this hasn't really been a problem for me until the last year or so, so I'm not sure what suddenly brought on this daytime sleepiness. I've watched videos on CPAP machines and even though they seem to be effective, they seem rather obstructive and invasive.

I'm kind of worried about a potential diagnosis and having to deal with something like that for the rest of my life. But I guess if it actually helps me get good sleep at night then it would be worth it.

Does anyone else have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine? What has been your experience?

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It is hereditary. So, if anybody in your family snores a lot, like your dad, you might just be snoring yourself too despite doing the good things for your health you describe. If you can afford it, go and take an appointment with a pulmonologist. You'll get a small machine with a cord and small pincer to put on a finger that you wear a night. From that, they can tell if you have sleep apnea.

There are two types of "masks". The full one which covers the mouth and nose. You use this one if you have a tendency to breathe through your mouth the most. The other one is the type to put in your nose if you have a tendency to breathe through your nose.

Personally, 3 months in, I'm still sleepy regardless of the machine or not. Heck, I tend to sleep better without it. However, my pulmonogist and respiratory therapist say that the events dropped from 16+ (severe apnea) to 2-3 (normal). So, it is effective but it may or may not help you on the short term. Might be a long term thing.

 

[BringBackSonics]

I have a CPAP machine myself since the beginning of December.
The real issue I have with using it is that I drool *a lot* in any position other on my back and I don't find it comfortable to sleep on my back. Even if I manage to fall asleep on my back, I always end up on my sides and I end up drooling in my face mask which eventually wakes me up cutting my sleep. Then, I have to clean it up...

All that to be admitted to bariatric surgery.


It is hereditary. So, if anybody in your family snores a lot, like your dad, you might just be snoring yourself too despite doing the good things for your health you describe. If you can afford it, go and take an appointment with a pulmonologist. You'll get a small machine with a cord and small pincer to put on a finger that you wear a night. From that, they can tell if you have sleep apnea.

There are two types of "masks". The full one which covers the mouth and nose. You use this one if you have a tendency to breathe through your mouth the most. The other one is the type to put in your nose if you have a tendency to breathe through your nose.

Personally, 3 months in, I'm still sleepy regardless of the machine or not. Heck, I tend to sleep better without it. However, my pulmonogist and respiratory therapist say that the events dropped from 16+ (severe apnea) to 2-3 (normal). So, it is effective but it may or may not help you on the short term. Might be a long term thing.

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in a week I went from about 40 episodes an hour to about 3-5. Big difference

 

[Lebon30]

in a week I went from about 40 episodes an hour to about 3-5. Big difference

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Like I said, it happens to me too. However, it does not translate to automatic well-rested sleep.

 

[The Scale]

thanks.! I'm a week in. It's going ok?

has anyone ever during their sleep have just rip their mask off their face? I did it last night on day 7

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I can't talk with mine on my nose. The air escapes out my mouth and is awkward

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I use to rip off my mask when I used my philips dreamstation. It takes time to get used to also it could be your pressure is to high. I'd talk to you dr to try & dial in your pressure settings.

Like I said, it happens to me too. However, it does not translate to automatic well-rested sleep.

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I had constantly low AHI scores when I was on a regular cpap but didn't feel rested at all. I sleep way better using the bipap I'm on now.

 

[bwahhhhh]

I had constantly low AHI scores when I was on a regular cpap but didn't feel rested at all. I sleep way better using the bipap I'm on now.

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this is interesting to me... I am in pretty good shape but got moderate/severe AHI in my test. I've felt like a zombie for years. The CPAP helped, but it wasn't the magic bullet I was hoping for. Helped maybe... I dunno, 10-20%? I know it's doing something, because I used to sometimes wake up sometimes at like 4am with heart palpitations and extreme anxiety.

I used to think they were panic attacks, but apparently it was just my SpO2 just dropping so low that my heart was beating like a mofo to try to increase the oxygen in my blood. I didn't particularly snore (soft snoring sometimes) according to the gf. Anyway, I never get those heart palpitations with the. CPAP. Sometimes I'll fall asleep without it, and I get them.

Anyway, I still feel fatigued all the time (blood work was perfect, that was why I had thr sleep test) so I'm interested in hearing more about the bipap. What directed you to that if your AHI on CPAP was low?

 

[The Scale]

this is interesting to me... I am in pretty good shape but got moderate/severe AHI in my test. I've felt like a zombie for years. The CPAP helped, but it wasn't the magic bullet I was hoping for. Helped maybe... I dunno, 10-20%? I know it's doing something, because I used to sometimes wake up sometimes at like 4am with heart palpitations and extreme anxiety.

I used to think they were panic attacks, but apparently it was just my SpO2 just dropping so low that my heart was beating like a mofo to try to increase the oxygen in my blood. I didn't particularly snore (soft snoring sometimes) according to the gf. Anyway, I never get those heart palpitations with the. CPAP. Sometimes I'll fall asleep without it, and I get them.

Anyway, I still feel fatigued all the time (blood work was perfect, that was why I had thr sleep test) so I'm interested in hearing more about the bipap. What directed you to that if your AHI on CPAP was low?

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I often woke up feeling like I had been fighting to breath out all night as I was at or near the max the of the pressure on my machine.

This is a good primer why bipap is good for those that can't be compliant when regular cpap.... https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-bipap-3015273

 

[Sanctuary]

Does anyone else have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine? What has been your experience?

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I don't, but my best friend does. The biggest hurdle was just getting a proper mask fit, but once that was taken care of, he said that with the machine, six hours of sleep feels like what he used to get with eight or nine without it. I don't have sleep apnea, but I do end up waking up 2-4 times each night anymore anyway, and it sucks. It's mainly an issue with the air being so much drier in the winter.

 

[Runwhiteboyrun]

Thanks for the bump on this thread. CPAP has not worked for me, need to look at BiPAP. Avoiding the 40th birthday exam like mad but now got a reason.

 

[NPVinny]

Looking for suggestions on another mask to try.

I have a small-ish nose with small-ish airways that makes it hard to breathe through.

I originally had a Dreamware full face mask (https://www.usa.philips.com/c-e/hs/sleep-apnea-therapy/dare-to-dream/full-masks.html, on the main banner) and it worked for a while but I hated that it seemed I still couldn't really breathe through my nose with it.

I then got the Resmed Liberty Mirage (https://www.resmed.com/en-us/healthcare-professional/products-and-support/masks/mirage-liberty/) and it is a lot better since the nose pieces are separate so you can wiggle them around to get good airflow into your each nostril.

Unfortunately even that is not perfect though and was wondering if any of the full face masks that go around the nose (and not just under) would be even better? If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I'd appreciate it!

 

[Zachary_Games]

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a mandibular advancement device (MAD).

 

[The Scale]

Looking for suggestions on another mask to try.

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Resmed airfit d20 is a popular full face mask. I've also heard good things about the fisher & paykel voters full face mask.

I myself use a airfit f30 & it's been amazing for me.

 

[MilShap]

To echo some others in the thread, I have been on cpap for just over a year. I am fairly certain I had undiagnosed apnea for a large chunk of my life (35 now).

I'm sure if I were in better shape my energy levels would also go up, but I never feel the need to nap anymore and my focus has gone up exponentially.

Nasal pillows and auto-humidifier ftw if your face and sleep style can support it.

 

[NPVinny]

Resmed airfit d20 is a popular full face mask. I've also heard good things about the fisher & paykel voters full face mask.

I myself use a airfit f30 & it's been amazing for me.

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Yeah, that f30 wouldn't be for me because it's very similar to the Dreamwear I mentioned so I'd probably have the same problem with my nose.

I do like though that it is individual nostril holes whereas the Dreamwear one is just one large cutout.

I'll try out the d20 or the FP Vitera next then. Thanks!