Adjusting to CPAP: an update

After being diagnosed with severe sleep apnea several months ago, I was delighted to learn that there is a simple yet effective treatment.

I wasn’t so delighted however, when I found out what the solution was – but decided to give a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine a trial anyway.

In just a week I started noticing an improvement to my energy levels, and soon invested in my own CPAP machine from CPAP Direct.

So how’s it been going?

Truth is, adjusting to CPAP does not happen overnight.

And, it seems a lot of folk are curious about what it’s like to use CPAP, and if it really works … so here are the answers to some of the questions I have been asked over the past few months:

Don’t you find it hard to go to sleep with the mask on?

Honestly? Yes, I do. So I don’t go to sleep with it on. Instead, I wait until I need to go for a “wee walk” (usually about an hour after I go to bed), and put it on then.

Getting the mask to fit properly can be a bit fiddly. It might feel comfortable and have a good seal – until I lie down or change positions, and then it starts to leak so I have to adjust it. One night I got so sick of it I took it off!

Are there any side effects of sleeping with CPAP?

The main thing I’ve noticed is that I often wake with a sore neck and stiff shoulders. I did a bit of hunting around online, and ended up buying a special CPAP pillow (not cheap!) in the hope that it would solve the problem.

However it hasn’t really helped. Supposedly it is specially shaped to accommodate a CPAP mask and hose when you are a side sleeper, but it doesn’t seem to really work for me.

Personally I think the best (and cheapest) option would be to use any normal, flat, very firm pillow.

Can you sleep on your side with a CPAP machine?

You sure can!

But wouldn’t it be hard to sleep on your stomach?

Yes, but although that was my preferred sleeping position for a long time, like many tummy sleepers as I got older I found it hurt my neck and shoulders so have pretty much got out of the habit anyway.

And surprise surprise – sometimes I even wake to find I’ve been lying on my back, something I never did before. Maybe it makes a difference now that I can actually breathe when I lie that way?!

What is the worst part of using a CPAP machine?

The worst part for me is not the mask, or even the machine itself. It’s the hose that annoys me the most. It sometimes gets in the way, but what really bugs me (and the hubster!) is that it creaks a lot when I move, particularly where it joins the mask.

What does your husband think?

LOL. Hubster calls my CPAP setup my “scuba diving equipment” because that’s what I look like once I’m all hooked up!

Apparently I no longer snore (not that it bothered him anyway, or so he says), and as the machine is also barely audible, he says it is eerily quiet at night now!

On the down side – it’s not the most romantic bedtime look, but as mentioned above I don’t actually put it on until after he’s gone to sleep. The air from the vent can also blow on his face at times, which can be a bit annoying – although he doesn’t notice it if we have the ceiling fan on.

Hubster says he feel sad for me that this is something I will need to do pretty much every night for the rest of my life, but personally? I think the results are worth it!

How long did it take for you to really notice a difference?

At about the 6 week point, we went out on a “date” one Saturday afternoon and it was memorable for a couple of reasons. It was our way of celebrating 10 000 days of marriage; but it was also the first time in forever that I felt excited to be going out and doing something fun in the afternoon, rather than dragging myself because I was just so darn tired all the time.

So what results have you noticed? Has it really made a difference?

I’ve noticed that I sleep a lot more deeply at night. Less “wee walks”, and once I have my mask on and am asleep, I am absolutely out to it til morning. If hubster gets up or moves around, I don’t even notice!

When I wake up in the morning I feel bright and ready for the day, instead of headache-y and sluggish, wishing it was still night and I could sleep some more.

I definitely have more energy, and although I still enjoy a nanna nap I don’t “need” them like I used to.

My blood pressure is not as high; if CPAP hadn’t helped with that I would be on medication now.

And, I think my immunity has also increased.  Recently both the hubster and Mr 23 had the flu and were laid low for over a week. I did get a bit of it, a sore throat which hung around, but it certainly didn’t leave me bedridden like they were. (Or maybe they just had man flu?!)

Can you recommend any helpful resources?

I found some videos called “CPAP Secrets” a few weeks after I’d started treatment, and wish I’d watched them right from the start. They really helped me with the finer points of adjusting to CPAP therapy!

For example, here’s one on what to do when you need to go to the bathroom:

I was taking the whole mask off and then having to re-adjust everything when I came back to bed, but upon watching the video I realised I could simply pull the hose out, and plug it back in. Seems so obvious now, but I had no idea!

What would you say to anybody contemplating CPAP therapy?

If you are as tired of being tired as I was, it’s definitely worth trying – and persevering – with CPAP.

What I didn’t realise before is that when you purchase a CPAP machine, it includes after care (or mine does anyway).

Every couple of months I take the USB out of my CPAP machine, and plug it into my computer. The data is sent to my CPAP supplier, and they can then change the settings (humidity, air pressure etc) to better suit my needs. These settings take effect when I put the USB back into my CPAP machine. It’s all very high tech – but it makes for a great night’s sleep!

Do you have any other questions about adjusting to CPAP? Feel free to ask in the comments below and I’ll be happy to answer!