Any CPAP users here?

[IndelibleDotInk]

Got any tips for use? I have a Philips Dreamstation 500 series.

Stopped using it for several months and have restarted recently. Seems to be ok, though I don't clean it as often as instructed.

Went through a period of starting the night off sleeping on the couch and switching to my bed without putting it on, and some nights of just not being able to stop the feeling of being smothered and ripping it off after a few minutes.

Currently adjusting back to it, get good sleep, not feeling tired all day.

[Quercus]

I use a BiPAP machine which is much like a CPAP machine except instead of the air flowing in at a constant rate, it flows in faster while inhaling than it does while exhaling. I love it. It's made an enormous difference in the way I feel every day. When I don't use it, my resting heart rate starts to climb and I feel less energetic the next day. It did take a little while to get used to the mask but wearing it now is second nature. I tried the nasal tubes but those only work if you never sleep with your mouth open, so that let me out.

The one problem I had, and it's a big one, is getting the mask to fit. This was due primarily to miscommunication between the sleep lab and the medical equipment supplier so hopefully you won't run into a similar situation. What I didn't realize is that it's not just the mask that comes in different sizes. It's also the headgear. I didn't learn that until I spent two years being wakened by leaks and having to readjust the straps multiple times a night. In fact, I only got the right size headgear last week. It's amazing how much comfortable it is, too.

One other thing: if you're going through a medical equipment supplier and filing for insurance, consider looking elsewhere and just paying out of pocket. I just discovered that I can buy the identical headgear from Amazon for less than half the price I've been paying AFTER insurance.

As for cleaning it, I wasn't the best at following the recommended cleaning schedules so I ended up buying a Sleep 8 sanitizing device with some of the money from the first stimulus check. It cost about $250 and I'm glad I have it but it's not really necessary if you can keep on top of the cleaning routines.

My device is a ResMed/myAir model, FWIW.

[IndelibleDotInk]

I'm lucky, the headgear and nosepiece together fit me right outta the bag. I was looking at it recently and was like 'damn, if I had to adjust this stuff, it'd take a lot of time tweaking it and trying it on, taking it back off, making changes' lol.

[IndelibleDotInk]

My CPAP doesn't display AHI, apparently the model is a 'brick' with limited function.

[Adorable45Deplorable]

My mom gave me her old one. I guess its one that doesn't have a tank, not sure. I used her old one with a tank once and I felt like it was smothering me and choking me out and I got sleep polarises and felt like I couldn't wake up and couldn't breath. I have to put that one slightly terrifying experience behind me and give it a real shot.

[Playerpiano72]

I used one for about a month, a few years ago after some medications caused me to gain about 70lbs. in the span of a few months. I couldn't get used to it. It was way too loud for me to sleep, and if I was able to fall asleep, it would wake me up within ten minutes. I also didn't like the feeling of not being able to breathe, I was too anxious to get much sleep with it on anyway. And as a side sleeper who shifts a lot, it was really hard to get comfortable with it, and often it just wouldn't stay on. Unless you're a back sleeper, which makes the apnea even worse, it didn't seem feasible. I ended up preferring the sleep apnea to wearing the mask. There's also a lot of maintenance to keeping it clean, and you're only supposed to use distilled water, which was kind of inconvenient. After a month, I said to hell with it and returned it. I ended up switching medications, started to exercise, and changed diet, and over the next few months was able to lose enough weight to not have sleep apnea anymore. 0/10 would not recommend.