OT Cpap for Sleep Apnea

[salsa red]

Anyone use a cpap for sleep apnea? Been snoring a lot and got a home sleep test. AHI was 9 and rdi was 14 which means I have mild sleep apnea. About 15% of my sleep was snoring and blood oxygen never went below 91%. I was recommended to get a cpap. Tried mouth taping and exercises for snoring. BMI is around 26 but I even snore when I was fitter

Wondering if it'll help me out. Have dark circles under my eyes and do wake up tired a lot more even with good sleep. Feels like I'm losing the battle and need to just get the cpap.

 

[baseball31ne]

Anyone use a cpap for sleep apnea? Been snoring a lot and got a home sleep test. AHI was 9 and rdi was 14 which means I have mild sleep apnea. About 15% of my sleep was snoring and blood oxygen never went below 91%. I was recommended to get a cpap. Tried mouth taping and exercises for snoring. BMI is around 26 but I even snore when I was fitter

Wondering if it'll help me out. Have dark circles under my eyes and do wake up tired a lot more even with good sleep. Feels like I'm losing the battle and need to just get the cpap.

Use one that does over the nose only. It helps but is a process to get used to. I haven’t been able to do all the time but usually 5 or 6 days a week and it does help n

 

[timnsun]

Use one that does over the nose only. It helps but is a process to get used to. I haven’t been able to do all the time but usually 5 or 6 days a week and it does help n

I tried the nose one, just couldn’t get used to it… I have been much better off with the mask. Sleeping much better overall. @salsa red, I would recommend it.

 

[Laner2]

I tried the nose one, just couldn’t get used to it… I have been much better off with the mask. Sleeping much better overall. @salsa red, I would recommend it.

Ditto. You should adjust your machine to get an AHI of around 6. That's an ideal so you may have to go up from there.

 

[Bruce1981]

Yes get the nose covering mask. Don't go full face. And if it's recommended you get one, go ahead and do it. Try some melatonin along with it.

 

[baseball31ne]

Your experience will determine. I couldn’t get comfortable with the full face type. Try and see what works for you. It’s helpful for me. Find what works best for you.

 

[HuskerHusaria]

I really need to try it again. I really hate shit covering my face

 

[timnsun]

My problem is when I sleep my mouth is open. The nose mask didn’t work for me as I would just breathe through my mouth. The nose mask just wouldn’t work for me. But it obviously works for many, so try it out. I tried 3 different masks before finding one that works for me.

 

[huskerfan66]

I couldn't make cpap work full face and never tried nose. My sleep is terrible.

My wife says I quit breathing a lot. I am a side sleeper which complicates things.

Tried sleeping in recliner while trying cpap but no help. I see they have an implant. Bet that's not cheap

 

[Vanhusker]

Have a CPAP because I snored horribly and wife couldn't sleep. I was taking a super deep nap everyday at lunch, haven't had to since I got mine. It sucks but it has improved both our lives. Oh, and I use the nose only mask. Love to get the implant but I heard 20-30k which if remotely true is crazy.

 

[salsa red]

My problem is when I sleep my mouth is open. The nose mask didn’t work for me as I would just breathe through my mouth. The nose mask just wouldn’t work for me. But it obviously works for many, so try it out. I tried 3 different masks before finding one that works for me.

mouth taping does help. I use a snore recorder app and the amount of snoring goes down some when i tape. And you get less bad breath

 

[SaltyIowaTears]

Apologies in advance if this is a controversial take and not sure of any other health issues you may have OP, but I had obstructive sleep apnea and a CPAP machine for awhile. I could never get a comfortable fit with it so it remained largely unused. I was exhausted in the day time because of the poor sleep I was getting and my wife was about ready to kill me even if the sleep apnea didn't due to my snoring and gasping for air during the night.

Had a nurse tell me "lose some weight and your sleep apnea will likely go away." I think estimates are that something like 70-80% of Americans with sleep apnea are overweight or obese. Oddly, the doc that prescribed the CPAP didn't tell me that, it was a nurse when I was being prepped for a colonoscopy.

Lost 40+ pounds and the sleep apnea has disappeared. It was a lot of work and not always fun, but I have kept off the weight for a couple of years. Lots of other benefits to having lost the weight as well as losing the sleep apnea.

TL/DR: Losing weight will often lead to sleep apnea going away and eliminate the need for a CPAP machine.

 

[Baxter48]

I couldn't make cpap work full face and never tried nose. My sleep is terrible.

My wife says I quit breathing a lot. I am a side sleeper which complicates things.

Tried sleeping in recliner while trying cpap but no help. I see they have an implant. Bet that's not cheap

I believe they make an all cotton mask, not sure how it works, you should really try the nose if the mask doesn’t work well for you. From what I’ve read sleep apnea is hard on your heart if you start and stop breathing. I’ve been on one for 12+ years it didn’t take me long to the full face mask. Before I started the therapy I never dreamed, now every night from what I understand I wasn’t getting into rem sleep

 

[Bruce1981]

My problem is when I sleep my mouth is open. The nose mask didn’t work for me as I would just breathe through my mouth. The nose mask just wouldn’t work for me. But it obviously works for many, so try it out. I tried 3 different masks before finding one that works for me.

I'm the same way. Tell them about it and they'll give you a chin strap you put on before the mask.

 

[salsa red]

Apologies in advance if this is a controversial take and not sure of any other health issues you may have OP, but I had obstructive sleep apnea and a CPAP machine for awhile. I could never get a comfortable fit with it so it remained largely unused. I was exhausted in the day time because of the poor sleep I was getting and my wife was about ready to kill me even if the sleep apnea didn't due to my snoring and gasping for air during the night.

Had a nurse tell me "lose some weight and your sleep apnea will likely go away." I think estimates are that something like 70-80% of Americans with sleep apnea are overweight or obese. Oddly, the doc that prescribed the CPAP didn't tell me that, it was a nurse when I was being prepped for a colonoscopy.

Lost 40+ pounds and the sleep apnea has disappeared. It was a lot of work and not always fun, but I have kept off the weight for a couple of years. Lots of other benefits to having lost the weight as well as losing the sleep apnea.

TL/DR: Losing weight will often lead to sleep apnea going away and eliminate the need for a CPAP machine.

Weight is an issue for sure with apnea. My weight is usually pretty good and last summer my body fat was under 20% (about 24% now). Also lifting increases your chance of sleep apnea and I usually lift 3-4 times a week, I'm not ripped or anything but I am trying to resist the dad bod.

 

[Antwill]

Been using over a year. Highly recommend (and my wife more so).

Pro-tip: you don't have to put water in the water tank to use it. I was having to shake water out of the tube in the middle of the night and it made a bad noise. Now that I don't use water it is way better. I use the mask that covers mouth and nose. Tried the nose only but couldn't keep the seal.

 

[Vanhusker]

Been using over a year. Highly recommend (and my wife more so).

Pro-tip: you don't have to put water in the water tank to use it. I was having to shake water out of the tube in the middle of the night and it made a bad noise. Now that I don't use water it is way better. I use the mask that covers mouth and nose. Tried the nose only but couldn't keep the seal.

My machine heats the tank to vaporize the water. Pretty standard I assume. Do you just leave it there or is there a "heat off" function?