CPAP Users Thread

tyler.durden

Well-Known Member
I've had sleep apnea as long as I can remember. When younger, it was just a running joke that I was the worst snorer ever. I used to sleep on planes traveling for work, and when I'd wake up, half the cabin would be shooting me contemptuous looks. Sorry folks. Both my wives were the only women who could stand it, most GFs would wake up elsewhere in the house. Sorry ladies, but you know it was worth it ;) When I started to fall asleep at the wheel recently driving back from gigs, I took a sleep test. It showed I had SEVERE sleep apnea, I often stopped breathing for almost a minute! Holy shit, how I survived up until this point, I'll never know. I bought an APAP (automatic CPAP) machine a couple of weeks ago with a full face mask. It took me about a week to get used to it, but now I sleep so hard I rarely need to nap (formerly an everyday occurrence). It is like being on some wonderful drug, it should add some quality years to my life. Anyone else using CPAP?
 

RottyRzr

Well-Known Member
Im supposed to use one but I never could get used to it. I'd wake up with the mask blowing full force due to me rolling over and causing a leak. Once I got tangled up in the hose and when I rolled over I yanked the machine off the night stand and it dumped water all over the floor. Had to get up and clean that mess up. I said f*$k it and stopped wearing it. My pulmonologist fussed of course but ended up giving me oxygen to wear at night. It has the little nasal canula and is waaaay better than that big ass hose.
 

tyler.durden

Well-Known Member
Im supposed to use one but I never could get used to it. I'd wake up with the mask blowing full force due to me rolling over and causing a leak. Once I got tangled up in the hose and when I rolled over I yanked the machine off the night stand and it dumped water all over the floor. Had to get up and clean that mess up. I said f*$k it and stopped wearing it. My pulmonologist fussed of course but ended up giving me oxygen to wear at night. It has the little nasal canula and is waaaay better than that big ass hose.
I hear you. I was determined to make it work. They have workarounds for those inconveniences, but I'd much rather have your current set up if that would work for me. Glad it is working out for you.
 

tyler.durden

Well-Known Member
I just had a sleep test done recently and now I'm scheduled to get one in May. Watching.
Cool. Is your insurance paying for it? I hear that is a real hassle dealing with insurance for CPAP needs. I paid out of pocket for a ResMed Airsense 10, they are top of the line and only $450 since the new model came out. About $600 all in for the climate heated tubing and mask with the machine. I was expecting to pay much more.

 

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
I've had sleep apnea as long as I can remember. When younger, it was just a running joke that I was the worst snorer ever. I used to sleep on planes traveling for work, and when I'd wake up, half the cabin would be shooting me contemptuous looks. Sorry folks. Both my wives were the only women who could stand it, most GFs would wake up elsewhere in the house. Sorry ladies, but you know it was worth it ;) When I started to fall asleep at the wheel recently driving back from gigs, I took a sleep test. It showed I had SEVERE sleep apnea, I often stopped breathing for almost a minute! Holy shit, how I survived up until this point, I'll never know. I bought an APAP (automatic CPAP) machine a couple of weeks ago with a full face mask. It took me about a week to get used to it, but now I sleep so hard I rarely need to nap (formerly an everyday occurrence). It is like being on some wonderful drug, it should add some quality years to my life. Anyone else using CPAP?
My husband has sleep apnea and can't use a machine because he can't tolerate any of the face gear. He's normal weight so a UPP won't work. The snoring doesn't bother me (I've fallen asleep in ICU) but it's the punching associated with waking when I open his airway that is the deterrent.
 

tyler.durden

Well-Known Member
My husband has sleep apnea and can't use a machine because he can't tolerate any of the face gear. He's normal weight so a UPP won't work. The snoring doesn't bother me (I've fallen asleep in ICU) but it's the punching associated with waking when I open his airway that is the deterrent.
As long as he is basically asymptomatic during the day, que sera sera. My sister is a wake puncher, too. We wake her up by yelling across the room or throwing something at her. She'll knock a motherfucker out. I'm almost afraid to inquire about the method you use to open your hubby's airway.
 

tyler.durden

Well-Known Member
I have central and obstructive sleep apnea so I require a bipap. It took a little getting used to but now I can't sleep without it on.
That central apnea is freaky. I thought I had that before the test, but no real sign of it. Apnea is just another indication of how poorly 'designed' our bodies are. What sense does it make that some of our bodies try to kill us while we're simply trying to get some sleep??? Glad the bipap works for you, do you have a ResMed?
 

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
As long as he is basically asymptomatic during the day, que sera sera. My sister is a wake puncher, too. We wake her up by yelling across the room or throwing something at her. She'll knock a motherfucker out. I'm almost afraid to inquire about the method you use to open your hubby's airway.
Depends on where I am and how he's laying. I reach over and use pressure in the arch of the medial pterygoid in the meaty part of the masseter muscle or under the mental tubercles.
 

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
I've had sleep apnea as long as I can remember. When younger, it was just a running joke that I was the worst snorer ever. I used to sleep on planes traveling for work, and when I'd wake up, half the cabin would be shooting me contemptuous looks. Sorry folks. Both my wives were the only women who could stand it, most GFs would wake up elsewhere in the house. Sorry ladies, but you know it was worth it ;) When I started to fall asleep at the wheel recently driving back from gigs, I took a sleep test. It showed I had SEVERE sleep apnea, I often stopped breathing for almost a minute! Holy shit, how I survived up until this point, I'll never know. I bought an APAP (automatic CPAP) machine a couple of weeks ago with a full face mask. It took me about a week to get used to it, but now I sleep so hard I rarely need to nap (formerly an everyday occurrence). It is like being on some wonderful drug, it should add some quality years to my life. Anyone else using CPAP?
I've been using CPAP since 1998 and it has been life-changing.
Keep up the good fight!

My doctor says there's an 80% chance I wouldn't need CPAP if my weight was "normal".

whatever bongsmilie
 

tyler.durden

Well-Known Member
I've been using CPAP since 1998 and it has been life-changing.
Keep up the good fight!

My doctor says there's an 80% chance I wouldn't need CPAP if my weight was "normal".

whatever bongsmilie
I've had this condition even when young and thin, though it is probably worsened with age (as most things tend to do). Both of my parents had it - I remember listening to both of them while sleeping, and it would freak me out that beside the ungodly snoring volume, there were huge pauses in breathing followed by piercing gasps as if someone stabbed them. My kid always said the same about me. Wish I had started this long ago, good for you for stepping up early.

 

Bareback

Well-Known Member
I've had sleep apnea as long as I can remember. When younger, it was just a running joke that I was the worst snorer ever. I used to sleep on planes traveling for work, and when I'd wake up, half the cabin would be shooting me contemptuous looks. Sorry folks. Both my wives were the only women who could stand it, most GFs would wake up elsewhere in the house. Sorry ladies, but you know it was worth it ;) When I started to fall asleep at the wheel recently driving back from gigs, I took a sleep test. It showed I had SEVERE sleep apnea, I often stopped breathing for almost a minute! Holy shit, how I survived up until this point, I'll never know. I bought an APAP (automatic CPAP) machine a couple of weeks ago with a full face mask. It took me about a week to get used to it, but now I sleep so hard I rarely need to nap (formerly an everyday occurrence). It is like being on some wonderful drug, it should add some quality years to my life. Anyone else using CPAP?
No but I really need to.
 

tyler.durden

Well-Known Member
I had one, but I couldn't sleep with it on and finally gave up.
That's pretty common. I first tried one while in the hospital. I swear this machine was from the 70s and just blew 20cm of air at me from go. I hated it and couldn't ever see myself using one. But these new machines have many improved comfort features like the ability to go from very low pressure to progressively higher depending on how their algorithms sense your needs, heat and humidity to your preference, and the ability to give you less pressure on the exhale to make breathing feel more natural like a bipap. These features let me get to sleep before the machine really ramps up. Which machine did you have, and for how long did you give it a shot?
 

raratt

Well-Known Member
That's pretty common. I first tried one while in the hospital. I swear this machine was from the 70s and just blew 20cm of air at me from go. I hated it and couldn't ever see myself using one. But these new machines have many improved comfort features like the ability to go from very low pressure to progressively higher depending on how their algorithms sense your needs, heat and humidity to your preference, and the ability to give you less pressure on the exhale to make breathing feel more natural like a bipap. These features let me get to sleep before the machine really ramps up. Which machine did you have, and for how long did you give it a shot?
I don't remember the machine, it's been awhile. I tried for a couple months and it just didn't work for me.
 
Top