How to Successfully Use a CPAP Machine in the Treatment of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea affects millions of men and women, but unfortunately there is no cure. The condition can be treated through various means, the most common of which is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. This is a machine that uses a mask over the nose (or both the nose and mouth) to send air down the throat, to keep it from closing during sleep. While the treatment is very effective, many patients choose not to use the machine, or have difficulty with it. The intent of this article is to provide tips in getting used to the machine, and incorporating it into your nightly routine.
My Struggle With the CPAP Machine
When I got my first machine from a DME (durable medical equipment) supplier affiliated with my sleep clinic, the specialist gave me several tips to get used to it. The first was to not wear it to sleep right away. For the first several nights, I was to wear the mask and let the machine run for a while before bedtime – while I was sitting in a chair reading a book or watching TV, for example. This would help me get accustomed to the sound and feeling of the machine, without the pressure of actually trying to sleep with it. I did that for about a week and a half, and then tried to wear it to bed. I lay in bed for a while with the mask on and tried to sleep. For several nights I was unsuccessful, and ended up removing the mask after about a half hour. At my next appointment with the DME supplier, I told the specialist about my troubles. He asked me if I ever woke up in the night. (Since I have sleep apnea, of course I woke up in the night – dozens of times. But he was referring to the times I fully wake up and am actually conscious.) I said that I did, and he suggested not wearing the mask to bed. Instead, I should put the mask on after those times when I wake up in the middle of the night, because I would be able to more easily fall asleep at that time. I tried his suggestion with great success.
However, things were not perfect. I went through different phases with the machine, sometimes being able to wear it for several weeks, while at other times I found that the sound of the machine bothered me and I was not able to sleep. Still, I was determined. As silly as it sounds, I remembered the words of Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back: “Do or do not. There is no try.” I would not “try” to get used to the machine, I *would* get used to it.
My Success With the CPAP Machine
Eventually, I relapsed, and found that the sound of the machine’s motor, while not very loud, bothered me enough to make sleeping with it very difficult. For several months I wore the mask to bed, and removed it after a half hour (or sometimes an hour). Then I got married, and once I was on my husband’s health insurance, I found that they had 100% DME coverage. Through my new insurance I was able to get one of the latest CPAP models from Resmed – the S8 Escape. This machine was smaller (about the size of a shoebox) and quieter. With this new machine I incorporated all the previous tips and tricks, and was finally able to get used to it. Although it did take me about 6 months to become completely used to the machine – meaning, I am able to fall asleep relatively quickly, and only rarely resort to taking a sleeping pill. During the first few weeks I experienced a phenomena that is common to many sleep apnea sufferers – waking up in the morning to find the mask on the floor. Apparently many people with this condition wake up in the night, and even though they are not fully conscious, they are annoyed enough with the mask to remove it, an not remember what happened the next morning. Once I became more accustomed to the machine, this stopped happening.
There are many different types of machines, as well as many accessories, that can make your experience more comfortable. For me, switching to a different model made a world of difference in my ability to get used to the machine. If your insurance won’t pay for a machine, you still may be able to buy one yourself from a DME supplier, and many websites also sell these machines. I recommend getting one with a heated humidifier, to make breathing more comfortable and prevent getting a dry mouth. Different masks are available too, ranging from triangle-shaped masks that cover your nose, to larger masks that cover the mouth also. For people who don’t like having their entire nose covered, there are also masks made of nasal pillows that fit into your nostrils.
If you find that you are opening your mouth in your sleep (causing the mouth to dry out, as well as negating the benefits of the CPAP machine), there are accessories for that too. A chin strap can help keep your mouth shut during sleep.
As a former stomach-sleeper, I had a hard time adjusting to sleeping on my back with the machine. But then I learned about the PAP pillow, which is designed to allow you to sleep on your stomach, even if you have a mask on your face. I use this from time to time when I have trouble getting comfortable on my back.
Why Use It?
I know that many people who have sleep apnea choose to live with the condition rather than use the machine. I agree that the machine is a great inconvenience, so I somewhat understand their feelings. But I would no sooner give it up than a person with kidney failure would give up the inconvenience of having to depend on a dialysis machine. For me, it wasn’t a choice. I knew that having untreated sleep apnea would put me at great risk for high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. Not to mention the fact that I felt noticeably more awake and alert when I used the machine. If you have sleep apnea, and are able to get a CPAP machine for free or low cost through your insurance, I implore you to take advantage of it and try your best to get used to it.
