CPAP-Reviews

I’m a regular CPAP user and I definitely notice a difference when on CPAP therapy versus without it.  I’m definitely more tired if I don’t have a full night of sleep with the CPAP machine.

There have been times when I’ve been sick (either a cold or flu) and had a runny nose.  This does definitely impact how long I can keep my mask on.  In fact since I have a mild case of sleep apnea I actually don’t use the CPAP equpiment at all when I’m sick.  I find that it’s almost impossible to sleep while sniffling through my CPAP mask.  Even though I’m not as rested without using CPAP I find that I can actually fall asleep without it when I’m sick.  When I’ve recovered from my illness I’m definitely back on CPAP therapy.

Many people that are new to CPAP will do some online research to find out what side effects certain users experience.  Here are a few that I have personally experienced:

• Chronic nose bleeds / nose bleeding: This doesn’t sound as bad as it really was.  There wouldn’t be a lot of blood at all; just a tiny bit almost every day (noticed when blowing my nose).  However it was reoccurring and became a little annoying.  I thought that it would never end but after about 6 months of CPAPing it just magically went away.  My sleep lab technition recommended not heated humidifier because he said it may increase the risk of of infection (it may be more difficult to keep your equipment clean with the heated humidifier) so I just rode it out.
• Teeth grinding / jawing: I don’t believe that this is a direct side effect of CPAP but I have a theory about this.  You need to get used to CPAP therapy and it could take weeks or even months.  After the first few weeks of starting CPAP I noticed minor headaches as well as jaw and teeth soreness and I couldn’t figure out why it was happening.  This was only a temporary problem which I solved by purchasing a cheap mouth guard (one of the boil and bite types) which I used while sleeping for maybe 2 weeks.  I stopped grinding my teeth and have never had to use it since.  My theory is that I was stressed out because I normally have a difficult time getting to sleep and bringing CPAP into the equation wasn’t helping.  Just time and getting used to CPAP cured this problem.
• Dry mouth / throat dryness: I used to have a glass of water by my bed occasionally since I would get thirsty during the night sometimes.  Now with daily CPAP therapy I make sure I have water by my side every night because my mouth and throat get dry.  It’s not severe just taking a sip of water if i wake up helps to remedy this side effect of CPAP.

CPAP can be very strange for beginner users.  There are strange sounds introduced into your sleeping environment that previously didn’t exist.  You may be breathing differently if you’re used to breathing through your mouth.  There can be pressure on certain parts of your face and head to secure the equipment. Some people get used to this faster than others so be patient and hopefully your efforts will pay off.

The benefits of CPAP therapy greatly outweigh the potential side effects.  It took a while to get used to it, but now I’m getting a much better night’s sleep and I wake up feeling fully rested now!  I never thought I could feel so “awake” after waking up, but this is now typical because of CPAP.

I used to think my snoring was normal since I have been snoring for as long as I can remember. My girlfriend would complain often about her migraine headaches however I never put two and two together until these two events:

1. A massage therapist suggested that the root cause of her tension headaches were related to knots found in her neck and shoulders
2. She read in a magazine <source unknown> that women that sleep with men that snore are more prone to developing hearing loss and snoring [by their partner] could cause tension headaches!

I decided to get checked out for sleep apnea. I’m not overweight; I’m 5′6, 155 lbs and I go to the gym about 3 times a week. However I was diagnosed with minor sleep apnea after taking a home test from the Kaiser sleep lab.

The options were to go with a CPAP machine or to get surgery. I originally wanted to get surgery however the sleep lab technician quickly talked me out of it. Why? The procedure had a 50% success rate at best and there have been some strange side effects recorded (side effects could occur even if the surgery is not successful). I chose CPAP since it wasn’t permanent.

Like many people I found it extremely difficult to sleep with the CPAP mask and machine in the beginning. I’d say it took about 5 months to really get used to the whole setup, but the results are well worth it.

Now after about a year with CPAP I have noticed the following:

1. It seems like I’m getting more restful sleep in a shorter amount of time
2. I take less/shorter nap
3. [and the most important] My girlfriend no longer has tension headaches on a daily basis!

I would say #3 is the most important reason to try out CPAP if you are diagnosed with sleep apnea.  If not for yourself, do it for your partner. It’s not permanent like surgery, and if you have the proper insurance (durable medical equipment) you may only pay about 20% of the retail price.