husband getting CPAP tomorrow - Sleep Disorders Message Board

Ol'Line Rebel · 01-14-2008, 10:16 AM

Just a note my husband is picking up a CPAP tomorrow for his apnea, which includes HORRIBLE SNORING (it's a real issue for me, who gets no continuous sleep since we married - and I'm due a baby by March!).

He's the kind that if he "doesn't like" something, he just drops it; it's kind of like he's spoiled. I'm so afraid he will "not like" the CPAP (yes, he's tested with it) and will just quit very soon, and then we're out of options.

Except me sleeping totally separately (which I often still need to wear ear plugs). I don't like that concept; not generally and not for our child.

Sorry, just sort of venting!

If anyone has advice on how to adjust to CPAPs, I'd appreciate it! Also, I hear about the noise it makes - but figure it can't be as bad as his horrid inconsistent loud snores of various kinds!

sztoomuch · 01-14-2008, 12:58 PM

When my dad was first diagnosed with apnea, he wouldn't believe it. He was sure that the doctor was pulling his leg and just wanted to make more money.

After going through a lot of cajoling and many attempts at reasoning, the doctor finally showed him the video of his sleep test. My dad saw himself sleep, heard himself snore, saw himself stop breathing.

That worked like a charm. My dad wouldn't be without his CPAP now.

It takes a while to adjust to the CPAP and to adjust the CPAP to you. I will be getting my first one this week...and my doctor told me that mine will easily fit in carry-on luggage. It is small enough and quiet enough that it can be used in an airplane. The new ones are not loud.

mkgbrook · 01-14-2008, 05:49 PM

Also if he is stubborn and refuses to continue with treatment. Discuss the surgical options instead. A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy as an adult is worse than an emergency C-section with an ineffective epidural.

Then top it off with a side of UPPP. These are not pleasant.. but in the end it normally helps most snoring tonsil obstructed apneas.

It help drop me to mild from severe sleep apnea. My snoring went away as well. My ENT told me most snoring is a result of enlarged tonsils.

Just a thought. I am hoping that he settles in with his CPAP. Also look into sleep apnea monitors for your crib. Sleep apnea tends to run in families and your child may have it. Mine did. He was stopping breathing over 30 times a minute. How scary is that? Much scarier than my own 60x. Why? It was my baby. Well at the age of 4 he was officially diagnosed and got his own CPAP. He is 5 and 2 months now. He sleeps 12 hours a day on his CPAP. You might let your husband know there is a five year old out there that uses his CPAP with out fail. Only the rotavirus caused him to spend a night or two with out it.

MG

nora01 · 01-15-2008, 10:43 AM

My suggestion would be to tell him the damage done to his heart for all of the times he stops breathing during his sleep. That ususally works.

My suggestion for you to get used to the noise of the CPAP is a small table fan. I use this so the noise from my husband's cpap does not bother me too much. Sometimes if the mask move / comes off when he's sleeping becuase moves around a lot.

Ol'Line Rebel · 01-15-2008, 11:53 AM

News my husband sent me:

His CPAP has a humidifier; is this something beyond a normal CPAP?

He says the machine is quiet; I'm not too worried about it because it seems they are rather subdued. And it's white noise (I guess).

He also finally got some data. We were never told any before. He said he's mild at about 7 episodes per hour. Sounds weeny compared to some here. But believe me, he is a horrid snorer, nonetheless!

(He also has some other possible signals - highish blood pressure avg. 140, overweight pushing 300 now, gets sleepy easily - yawns alot even by late afternoons, etc.)