Has anyone on here suffered from sleep apnea and have to sleep with a C-PAP machine? What's it like?

First off, they are somewhat difficult to get used to, but well worth it. I work in a sleep center and have heard some patients say they can't do it but the majority of patient's can't sleep without it once they acclimate. It also depends on the pressure level you need. There are lower pressures (starting at 4) ranging up to the 20s. If your Apnea Index ( # of times per hour you stop breathing) is not that high chances are you will need a lower pressure and those are easier to tolerate. If higher it make take a little time but being persistant is the key. If having difficulty consider wearing it for a few hours a night at first then increasing it until you adjust. Or even try wearing it while awke to get the feel. CPAP can save your life. Lower your blood pressure, reduce risk of stroke, and not to mention make you an easier bed partner!!

First of all they take one or two weeks to get use to! I have used one for around 2 years and I wish it had been 20! Get the kind of nose piece or face mask that is the most comfortable for you! Most people do not like their whole face covered! Well at lease I know I for sure didn't! There are probably 50 different designs for masks or nose pieces! Get the one or ones that seem the most comfortable for YOU! YOU are the one that will sleep in it! I use a thing that just goes in my nose some people use a chin strap with this type.

Your at home CPAP will be much quieter than the one at the lab when you are being tested. They will be using different pressures to see which one is the best one for you during your next session! I know that you will feel much better once you get used to it! All the new units have a humidifier. They will keep your nose from drying out during the night.

Good luck and Sweet Dreams I know that you will feel much better !

APS

I have to agree with the other answers. I have sleep apnea and it took a week or so to get used to the c-pap. I feel 100% more rested when I use it and feel like crap when I don't. I had a lot of problems with drying out and got a heated humidifier that attaches to mine and that made a world of difference. Definitely use it and I am sure you will see a lot of difference.

really the only thing ti compare it to is an oxygen mask. Mom had on that blows hot air, Dad has one that blows cool air. Personally I would get the one with the cool air vs' the humid like one. Talk to your doctor to see what and if you have an option between one or the other. My dad sleeps well with his, doesn't wake up or snore, my mom refuses th wear it because of the humid, hot air from it. Hope this was sort of an answer you were looking for.

Tell you what I know, my doctor tried to get me to go thru that, and what I did was get me a real good air purifier and that did the job..my room air had so much dust it caused me to fill up with junk in my nose and throat,,I didn't get that ion filter joke, I bought one that recirculates room air three times an hour, bought it on Amazon, look at the reviews, cost me $49.. and I really, really sleep well now and feel much better thru the day..

My husband had the same issues for roughly two years after deployment the first time which was in 04 and it got pretty bad, I dont care to go into detail but the restless sleep was the most mild issues, we nearly divorced but pulled through. Now his other deployments werent as bad but yes there were sleep issues again. Be patient

My brother in law uses one and he said the first time he used it - it was the first time he got a full, good night's sleep in years.

Insomnia (sleeplessness) is due to stress, dietary and medical

problems. By making small lifestyle changes like having a fixed

daily routine, relaxing and eating properly, insomnia can be

cured. I found the information at http://tinyurl.com/jfzpz useful

for getting sleep.

my mother-in-law has one and it took her about 1 1/2 weeks to get use to, it does make her feel alot better, she sleeps all night and wakes up feeling refreshed not tired like she was all the time before it ,,,its like getting use to using any medical device but you will get use to it

I use a biPAP machine, my hubby uses CPAP, and we both sleep better. They were easy to get used to, and we feel better as well. Good luck on your second study!