Cpap - ThinnerTimes

rico_sd · 06-08-2004, 02:44 PM

hello all, today i just picked up my cpap machine and all i can say is WOW! i feel like im going 100mph on the freeway with no helmet on,,,, unreal im not sure if i can actually sleep with this air pump on,,, sheeesh my son loves it, especially when i turn it on and talk with the air comming out of my mouth,, anyway has anyone else had difficulties with one? just wondering

CLAIRE · 06-08-2004, 04:59 PM

I Have Used Cpap For Some Time And Now Since I Lost Almost 100 Lb I No Longer Need It. It Takes Some Time To Get Used To It While Sleeping. I Had To Get A Chin Strap For Mine So It Would Stay On Because I Move A Lot While I Sleep And It Would Come Off Or Get Out Of Position. The Chin Strap Made A Lot Of Difference. It Did Help The Quality Of My Sleep As I Went Through The Adjustment To Get To The Right Pressure Too. I Would Be Glad To Help With Any Other Questions.

Claire

lealphachienne · 06-09-2004, 06:55 AM

Mine makes a nice cat toy

I used mine for maybe a week and never got use to it. I slept less with it on than off. It's just sitting there collecting dust. My biggest difficulty was trying to breathe out against the pressure, and I only had a setting of 8 cm, which is mild. I felt quite claustophobiac and it gave me worse headaches. The tech said it could take 2 months to get use to. At least it was a quiet machine.

I had to bring the monster to the hospital with me, even though I wasn't using it. Dr. Potts insisted I use it in ICU and afterwards. I never did. When you're up every 2 hours walking, there's not much chance of sleep. Plus, the beds were so uncomfortable, you couldn't get more than a few minutes of shut eye.

Anyway, I did what I needed to do to strengthen my case for the bypass. I think the insurance companies are using the CPAP machines more. Theoreticly, if the CPAP works, you sleep better, have more energy, and lose weight.

My husband had sleep apnea diagnosed prior to his WLS 2.5 years ago and he didn't need a CPAP machine. Go figure...

Since my surgey, I haven't snored once or waken up my hubby. For the first time in years, I have been able to sleep through the whole night each night the past week.

Marie
lap 5/28/04
235/219/120

deblaff · 06-09-2004, 08:17 AM

What a Godsend that machine was for me! I thought the only reason I dragged myself through the day, falling asleep if I sat down, or at a traffic light, or on the toilet, etc. was because of my weight. Within a couple of weeks of using the CPAP I felt almost human again. My 22 year old daughter said she first noticed an increase in my energy level and a more upbeat attitude when I began using the machine, not after some weight loss. Some people adjust after a week or so, some never do. But it's worth a real effort to do so.

The risk is that after anesthesia if you go into an apnea episode your response to begin breathing again may be dulled and you could go into respiratory arrest. That's one reason Dr. C & P send us to ICU. I actually met a woman at one of the support groups who had that happen and was in a coma for 8 months. Good luck!

After losing about 100 lbs. I no longer needed the CPAP. My husband says I no longer snore, just purr like a kitten occasionally.

Deb
1/14/03
333/178/150

pambragg · 06-09-2004, 10:52 AM

It has taken me awhile to adjust to mine. I've had it 2 months and have just in the last few days been able to wear it all night. I do feel really good when I am able to use it more. I recently went to Hawaii and the friend that went with me said that she noticed I slept a lot better and had more energy the next day after using it. It took me two days to unpack the darn thing because I am not too fond of it. It is definitely something that needs breaking in. Good luck with it.

Bigbaldbuddie · 06-09-2004, 11:22 AM

I have one too. have had it for about 9 months. When i remember to use it

, I seem to pull it off after 2-3 hours of sleep and i wake up with it laying next to me.

I have a full head strap too

, so it doesn't fall off...I must be pulling it off at night. It also makes my mouth and throat dry even though I have the humidifier add-on.

Mine goes over my nose like a little air mask and you are supposed to sleep with your mouth closed, which I do, and breath through your nose back into the mask.

It's got it's good points and bad points.

I gotta to remember to put it on.

HapBird · 06-10-2004, 07:18 PM

Hi - welcome to CPAP. I've been on it for almost a year; takes lots of time to get used to (well, for a lot of us anyhow). What pressure are you at? I'd guess the higher it is, the harder to get used to. Your machine should have a RAMP button, which will start you off at a lower pressure for 20 minutes or so, giving you a chance to get to sleep before the full pressure kicks in (gradually so you don't notice...) You can press the ramp button again if you wake up later on and are uncomfortable with the pressure...

You can also spend some time using the CPAP while awake (while watching TV or whatever) - this helps you get used to the feeling of the air being pumped in, the feel of the headgear, etc. I did this for a couple of evenings at first and I think it helped.

I posted another reply in another area of the forum, so won't repeat everything here... Good luck!

Karen Wright · 06-11-2004, 08:24 AM

I didn't have sleep apnea but my hubby does. He hated that thing for the first few weeks and now, WE can't sleep without it!!

He doesn't snore or flop all over the bed when he wears it and now he cannot get a restful nights sleep without it. He travels with it and we are looking into getting some kind of battery pack for it when we go camping!

You will get used to it as long as you are persistant with it.

Oh yeah....and Gerry, nice to put a face with your name!!

Are any of you going to the east county meeting on wednesday???