CPAP Machine!

CPAP Machine! (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid

Message

popeye1250 -> CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 10:04:47 PM)
After two sleep studies ordered by my Nurse Practitioner at the V.A. I picked up my machine at the VAMC in Charleston the other day along with a group of other veterans. We gathered in a small auditorium and the machnes had our names on them as each one is adjusted to the individual. I was surprised to see two younger veterans getting them too. The Respiratory Therapist told us sleep apnea affects all ages even ums. The machines work by keeping a constant positive airway pressure while you sleep. You have to wear a breathing mask but you get used to it and you do sleep much better and wake up feeling refreshed like you should. For the last few years I'd wake up exausted and need a nap in the afternoon. Big differance! They say that I should really notice the differance after two weeks or so. Does anyone else in here use a CPAP machine and how has it helped you and how long have you had it?

rexrgisformidoni -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 10:12:55 PM)
I used one for a while. I couldn't stand to wear it, I roll around in my sleep alot, and normally sleep on my side, so I got rid of it. Some mornings it felt like there had been a difference, but most of the time, I woke up feeling like a jackass for having worn an elephant trunk all night.

Kalista07 -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 10:14:59 PM)
Popeye, i've had my current CPAP machine for about the last 4 to 5 months. i love it!!!! i wake up ready to get up rather than more tired than when i went to sleep.... The two things that i like better about this machine versus the one i had originally are: the mask covers my whole mouth {The first one i had only covered my nose and when i opened my mouth i felt like i was drowning} and the airflow is set so that when i exhale the pressure automatically reduces. It's nice.... Happy Sleeping to You.. oh yeah and if Your CPAP has a humidifier with it i'd recommend using it. But, remember only distilled water. Kali

rexrgisformidoni -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 10:21:12 PM)
Kalista, mine was like that too, and I hated the damn thing! I always felt like I was drowning, even after it had been adjusted a zillion times. Plus, I didn't/don't see a difference in my sleep patterns/energy levels. That's just my experiences though, so good luck PopEye!

Kalista07 -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 10:25:35 PM)
rexr, i understand that. My first one (in addition to the drowning sensation) also had a very short hose. Apparently when i did try and use it i would wear it for a couple of hours, take it off, turn off the machine and nicely place the mask on top of the machine...The scary part? i did all that in my sleep. Kali

popeye1250 -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 10:27:40 PM)
Kalista, yes, they mentioned that to us in the instruction period about using distilled water. They said you can use tap water but you then need to clean out the tank daily. So, I'll go down to the supermarket tommorow and pick up a few gallons of distilled water. And yes it's nice to have the humidifier in it too. It really dries out your sinises and mouth if you don't use the humidifier.

slaveboyforyou -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 10:36:17 PM)
As a lifelong insomniac, it sounds interesting. I'm afraid I couldn't deal with wearing a mask. I'm really picky about sleeping arrangements. I have to have a fan running, and I can't sleep if I'm hot. I have froze women out of my bed by opening the windows or turning the air conditioner on high. I also don't like to sleep in total darkness. Yeah, yeah, yeah....I like a nightlight. I don't like waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to see what's in the room.

phoenixrising43 -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 10:41:42 PM)
I think it helps my partner. But he just has a chin strap and he will still open his mouth. It sure has cut down on the snoring though, so I am much happier too! I can't get him to get the full face mask yet. But maybe he will in time. He is only 43 and had no idea he had sleep apnea until his doctor sent him in for a sleep study. Can happen to anyone at any age.

MissLaura1973 -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 10:43:19 PM)
I've had mine for a year and three months and now cannot figure-out how I managed to function without it - I have more energy, my mind is a thousand times faster, my health is better, I wake and fall asleep easier - really, I cannot, now, even take a quick nap without it. It does take some getting used to - and I did, one night, manage to wrap the hose around my neck - and my face breaks out whenever I get a new mask, but those are all piddly things. I think it took me about two months to get to the point where I'd leave the mask on all night (kept ripping it off), but even after just the first few nights I felt better - and by three months I was a new woman. Congratulations on undergoing the sleep exams and all that - they're not the most fun experience (though the sleep tech who ran my test turned out to be a sub - we met later at a BDSM gathering), but well worth the stress and time.

phoenixrising43 -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 10:49:56 PM)
Have to chuckle a bit, because he wakes up every morning with marks from the mask on his face. I think they fade away by the time he gets to downtown Houston for work though. But when he is home on the weekends or on his Friday off, I get to smile at him in the morning. [:)]

popeye1250 -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 11:03:23 PM)
Yes, they said in the literature that sleep apnea can cause depression, memory loss and,...weight gain! I had and have a mild background depression for the last few years for which my Nurse Practitioner prescribed me trazadone so hopefully this will be taken care of by the machine and good sleep.

Vendaval -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/7/2009 11:23:01 PM)
This CRAP machine almost sounds like a gimp outfit! [:D]

OneMoreWaste -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/8/2009 8:11:42 AM)
Yeah, I've seen CPAPs come up on Craigslist from time to time, and thought about getting one to see if I could hook it up to a surplus gask mask with the eyes taped over. Add a sleepsack and I think it would be about as perfect a sleep experience as I could find! (since I slept 8-1/2 hours last night, and I've still been sitting here like a zombie for the past 90 minutes waiting for my brain cell to come on-line)

popeye1250 -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/8/2009 9:39:39 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MissLaura1973 I've had mine for a year and three months and now cannot figure-out how I managed to function without it - I have more energy, my mind is a thousand times faster, my health is better, I wake and fall asleep easier - really, I cannot, now, even take a quick nap without it. It does take some getting used to - and I did, one night, manage to wrap the hose around my neck - and my face breaks out whenever I get a new mask, but those are all piddly things. I think it took me about two months to get to the point where I'd leave the mask on all night (kept ripping it off), but even after just the first few nights I felt better - and by three months I was a new woman. Congratulations on undergoing the sleep exams and all that - they're not the most fun experience (though the sleep tech who ran my test turned out to be a sub - we met later at a BDSM gathering), but well worth the stress and time. Yeah, that's what I figured, a few months to notice the differance. The sleep studies were nothing, just a bunch of wires attached to me. I feel a little better already.

Vendaval -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/8/2009 3:49:22 PM)
How much do these CRAP machines cost second-hand?

camille65 -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/8/2009 4:23:57 PM)
Hey popeye congrats on figuring out that you need a CPAP, it has made a huge difference for the people that I know who use one. I had a dom that used one and it almost eliminated his snoring as well as giving him the sleep he needed. My father uses one, is having a bit of trouble adjusting and apparently it drives my mother nuts (something about air blowing at her and the noise) but hopefully that will pass and they will adjust. Sleep apnea is not something to mess around with.

Vendaval -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/8/2009 4:26:00 PM)
camille, I just saw the first line of your post go scrolling by, was that joke intentional? ROFLMAO! [sm=rofl.gif]

camille65 -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/8/2009 4:28:47 PM)
I don't think so.. but I didn't see the scroll bit. (pssst, what was my unintentional but if it was really funny I will claim it as intentional joke?)

MissLaura1973 -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/8/2009 4:35:38 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: popeye1250 quote: ORIGINAL: MissLaura1973 I've had mine for a year and three months and now cannot figure-out how I managed to function without it - I have more energy, my mind is a thousand times faster, my health is better, I wake and fall asleep easier - really, I cannot, now, even take a quick nap without it. It does take some getting used to - and I did, one night, manage to wrap the hose around my neck - and my face breaks out whenever I get a new mask, but those are all piddly things. I think it took me about two months to get to the point where I'd leave the mask on all night (kept ripping it off), but even after just the first few nights I felt better - and by three months I was a new woman. Congratulations on undergoing the sleep exams and all that - they're not the most fun experience (though the sleep tech who ran my test turned out to be a sub - we met later at a BDSM gathering), but well worth the stress and time. Yeah, that's what I figured, a few months to notice the differance. The sleep studies were nothing, just a bunch of wires attached to me. I feel a little better already. I hated the sleep studies - can't stand feeling any sort of restraints / something constraining my movements much less when I'm in a "vulnerable" situation (such as when I'm sleeping) - first one I went in for I didn't fall alseep the whole darn night. Second one I kept myself up for two days before and cut out all caffeine, just so I'd sleep - still took over five hours for me to drop off, though. But once they'd made the measurements and put the trial mask on my face, I was down for the count. Even though I only had about two hours of sleep with the mask that night, I woke feeling more alert and aware than I can ever recall.

Vendaval -> RE: CPAP Machine! (3/8/2009 5:15:41 PM)
When scrolling by quickly it looks like "seeing you need a CRAP" [:D]

Page: [1] 2 next > >>

Collarchat.com © 2025

Terms of Service

0.03125