CPAP machine taking some getting used to

Greenfinch

I am really sorry to hear that Primrose. It took me a while to get the hang of mine. He really needs to attend the hospital if possible so that they can check he is using it correctly.

Thank you Greenfinch they can tell from the little card thing in the machine how it is operating I believe. He said the last few nights it has really been puffing out so we assume this must be when he stops breathing.

I am really sorry to hear that Primrose. It took me a while to get the hang of mine. He really needs to attend the hospital if possible so that they can check he is using it correctly.

Husband has struggled on. I am going to get him to call dept at hospital on Tues morning who fitted it. Some nights better than others. We are sleeping in separate rooms.

He says he feels more tired and worn out than ever. The consultant said he should feel a lot better but he doesn’t.

Those of us with ResMed seem to be the happiest. Could you ask if your hospital has any available?

Airfit F30 mask is what he uses with a Sefam S box which is a full mask. Dreadful night last night.

Thanks Jeannii.

I have used a CPAP machine for many years and find the nasal mask far more Comfortable than the full mask over the mouth. Apparently I stopped breathing up to 80 times an hour, scary.
The machine is very quiet and the only noise is from the Oxygenator pushing Oxygen through the CPAP helping me in both ways.
It’s now my comforter & I miss it when it isn’t on.
I have not experienced any noisy machines, mine is a Resmed.
I hope you get a suitable answer soon.
Best wishes,
JJ
PS : Now a BIPAP machine is horrendously noisy and not a pleasant experience but if it’s needed then you put up with it.see photo.

Greenfinch

I can identify with falling asleep at the drop of a hat and even in mid conversation. I have missed my stops on buses and trains and could never travel for more than half an hour as a passenger without falling asleep. But the CPAP machine has put an end to all that. I can still fall asleep in front of the TV at about 9 pm but nothing like before. My main problem is having to sleep in one position all night and not being able to turn over.

That’s good to know Greenfinch. Thanks.

My husband can fall asleep in seconds when we start watching a film. He tells me not to let him sleep. I then pat his leg, harder and harder but he doesn’t wake up. When he does wake up, he has gone again in minutes. He can literally fall asleep 5 times in as many minutes.

I can identify with falling asleep at the drop of a hat and even in mid conversation. I have missed my stops on buses and trains and could never travel for more than half an hour as a passenger without falling asleep. But the CPAP machine has put an end to all that. I can still fall asleep in front of the TV at about 9 pm but nothing like before. My main problem is having to sleep in one position all night and not being able to turn over.

As KathrynP says above if your quality of sleep at night is not good you may nod off in the day. Hopefully not when you are driving.

My husband popped home one lunchtime and as it was a beautiful day opened the patio doors wide. He sat down to make some phonecalls whilst waiting for a timed delivery. Next thing he knew he was being shaken by a huge tattooed man of about 20 stones. 😱

Turned out he was the delivery driver who had been ringing both door bells to no avail then came round to the side garden and saw my husband slumped in the chair. He called to him, banged on the open glass doors and as he got no response came in as he thought he had died. He very nearly had a heart attack when he found this big bloke in our lounge shaking him!🤣🤣

He falls asleep on planes, trains, ferries, buses, cinemas, even on a rowing machine at a gym.

People are exhausted and sleep deprived when a new CPAP machine is being implemented, because they are no fun. I have heard that from many people and I used to work in a hospital.

I excuse you Primrose for using an ‼️ mark, I understand you are trying to help your husband on a Saturday night. An exclamation mark does not always mean annoyance. But it seems annoying when some people are too eager to take offense at the smallest of things. Let’s all get on with it.

As far as CPAP machines go, in my estimation and years of hearing about how they do and do not work…. they’re hard to get used to, but once all the adjustments are made and people relax a little more - they work!

Sweet dreams 😴
USA Gundy

My husband has had a CPAP machine for about 15 years after a car crash when fell asleep at the wheel as his quality of sleep was not good enough due to sleep apnoea. He’s never looked back and can never sleep without it. We have become quite adept at nurturing these machines and the clinical measurements dept at the local hospital will supply parts. We sometimes have very loud ‘air burps’ but find smearing a very small amount of Vaseline on the inside of the connecting tubes solves this. Quite quiet normally.
As an aside but relevant to sleep apnoea CPAP users if you apply for or renew your driving licence you have to tick a box to say you have sleep apnoea. My husband immediately had his driving licence taken away from him when he renewed at 76 years and it took 3 months to get it back. We had renewed when he was 70 & 73 with no problem. We had to get a letter from our original consultant. He checked the machine by plugging it in to his computer and declared my husband was his best patient as he had only missed 6 nights in 10 years. I know several people who have discarded their CPAP machine as they didn’t get on with it but I think they may have problems if renewing their licences or getting insurance as it has obviously become compulsory to declare it. It would be a nightmare for someone who relies on driving for work.

I do hope you get things sorted out quickly.
I had a partner who used one and can honestly say that it was extremely quiet. I wasn’t aware of it at all.
Oddly enough, I’m having investigations myself for this soon!

I do hope all goes well for your husband and that the noise of the CPAP machine is soon resolved Primrose53. My sister has sleep apnoea and has used one for a number of years. However, last year she had a new device, similar to a gum shield I believe, which she finds is better and less cumbersome when travelling.
(Incidentally, maybe a thread should be started on Pedants’ Corner about the use of the exclamation mark. 😉)

Here's my cpap experience - it may help you and others.
With mine you press the dial and the pressure lowers to a starting quieter level. So it goes from 4 to 12 over 40 minutes.
I've had a variety of different masks, until I got one the was comfortable.
I was extremely stressed when I first got the cpap as my job involved travelling between schools, and as I wasn't allowed to drive I had to catch somedays 6 different buses which I found stressful.
I found it impossible to use the machine as I felt I couldn't breathe and had panic attacks so found it impossible to get for the required 4 hours of use a night. By chance my sister mentioned my Dad had worn his during the day to get used to it, so I started wearing it when I went to bed, for an hour or so while I read and destressed and relaxed.

My husband has a machine that he’s had a few months now. It makes very little noise. I can hardly hear it. The hospital told us they have lots of different models so I recommend your husband goes back to them and explains the problem. It really shouldn’t be loud.

That’s good news Primrose. I notified the DVLA and then had to make a hospital appointment to confirm that all was well. I was allowed to drive in the meantime and so there was no problem.It did not take too long considering the DVLA’s track record.

Thank you to those who have offered suggestions. Never heard of nasal pillows rileydog, will have a google. Thanks.

By coincidence my husband received a letter this morning from the CPAP manufacturers saying they had been unable to reach him by phone so could he ring them.

He did so and they had a chat about it and the guy said the best way to put the mask on is when laying down. Sometimes it really, really puffs out very hard and this is when my husband stops breathing.

He also said that in a couple of weeks they will look at the info the SIM card sends them from the machine to see what’s going on. He was very helpful and said husband can ring any time and they will do their best to help.

We need to notify DVLA (according to hospital Consultant) to say he has SOSA but it is being controlled.

My dad has been using one for a few years and it has changed his life for the better. I visited last week (he lives 400 miles from me) and said his strap that hold the face mask in place was broken. I telephoned the Lung Function Department in his local hospital and they were very helpful.
I know you were stuck over the weekend but I hope you have managed to sort out the problem.

I’ve had a CPAP for about 8 years now. I had trouble at first with a full face mask. I tried a mouth and nose mask which again didn’t suit. I asked for nasal pillows which are simply inserted into the nose. These work perfectly for me. I hated using a CPAP at first but persevered and got used to it. Good luck.

Wow!!!! The nastiness on this site!! I will not use this again (I am not a grumpy old woman and have no wish to read your infantile rants!!! Grow up!!!

Primrose, I'm going to withdraw from this thread. rather than get into a spat with you. It has become petty and I am as much at fault as you.
Dogs with a bone leap to mind.
It may be your preferred style of posting, it's certainly not mine.
This nonsense is detracting from the important reason for the thread.

Your initial response to me came across as dismissive. I commented.
That's the down side of posting when we cannot hear tone of voice or see facial expression.
There were a number of posts after mine, before you responded and quoted me. They offered similar advice.

FYI, you were the one who lectured me and suggested I take a look at myself. How unpleasant.

BTW. If it's a competition, I think I may be able trump your husband on the high BP and number of meds. Uncontrolled, consistently high BP, a life threatening, serious heart condition, with no available treatment, two heart attacks, congestive lung and heart failure and a DNR notice are not easy to deal with, so I understand how difficult life can be for your husband, as can many on this forum.

Thank you for ruining what I hoped would be a pleasant and restful day.

I hope your husband finds a resolution soon, my daughter was at her wits end dealing with her husband's sleep apnoea.

Marydoll

Primrose, you singled me out. Why? That is why I was concerned about your response. You know nothing about me nor the fact that my health is extremely fragile and time is running out for me. I certainly can do without the digs.Those who know me here, know that I always try to be pleasant.
Absolutely nothing to do with punctuation, it was to do with the apparently snippy respone.
Perhaps better to think carefully before you respond.
Such a pity, since my post was intended to be supportive.
A lesson learned for me.

Firstly, I posted my query under “Health” but you managed to turn it away from that and into a complaint against me and my use of a single exclamation mark.

No way did I single you out. You were the first person to reply so I answered you. never in a million years did I imagine that an exclamation mark could cause you so much distress. How you thought that was a “dig” is also beyond me.

I actually thanked you for replying! (Whoops there’s another one) 😉

Please don’t lecture me on how to respond because had you not responded by jumping on the exclamation mark we would not be discussing this now.

I am sorry your health is not good but neither is my husband’s.

Mine is a ResMed too with a full mask.

Yes that’s true there are different types, the one we have is by ResMed and it’s a full mask that goes over his nose and mouth. A friend has one that just sticks up her nose but that does seem noisier and she says very uncomfortable.

There are several different types of machine so it seems to be the luck of the draw whether you get a quiet or noisy one.