CPAP: Use It And Live

Wow! You just gave me an education of the benefits of CPAP. I have had so many patients that had it ordered and never used it. It is bulky and difficult. Maybe if they had some patient teaching like yours they would think twice. I know that I will certainly try to make the case for this therapy the next time I have a patient that is noncompliant. Thanks for the mini course.

It is a difficult modification to a life style(as you already know). My husband has sleep apnea, and it took me threatening to LEAVE him if he did not do a sleep study...You have no idea how many time I would stay awake at night and "WAIT" for him to take his next breath....and then "accidentally" poke at him to get him to breath again...ugghhh......the doctor finally told him to "COWBOY UP" he said, "do you want to see your son grow up...or do you want to die?" Sometimes it takes a little "Shock" teaching....to let patients know how serious a condition can become...well, now, after months of adjustment, my hubby CAN'T sleep without his CPAP and I am now able to get some sleep too!

I have a CPAP and I use it every night. When I have patients and they are non-compliant, and do the "you don't know what it's like" I tell them I do, I have one, and I use it. I had one guy ask me how often I used it. I said, "Every time I go to sleep and plan on waking up."

Quote from nerdtonurse?i had one guy ask me how often i used it. i said, "every time i go to sleep and plan on waking up."

Just like the American Express card ad: Don't leave home without it, my CPAP travels where ever I go, including AN headquarters. The machine is the size of a large tissue box, found Profile lite gel masks work best and saved my life past 16 years . Only time not worn is during power outage--- then I'm praying for the electric company's quick fix.

Quote from nrskarenrnjust like the american express card ad: don't leave home without it, my cpap travels where ever i go, including an headquarters. the machine is the size of a large tissue box, found profile lite gel masks work best and saved my life past 16 years . only time not worn is during power outage--- then i'm praying for the electric company's quick fix.

I have question for nurses that use them. Did it force you to move of your bedroom because it is noisy and keep your spouse awake?

the noise made by the cpap is not even audible over the sounds of the fan i keep on for white noise. but the sounds of gasping/snorting/struggling for breath drove us to sleep in separate bedrooms until we each had our own cpap.

I want you to know that because of your post and only because of your post, I am going to go unpack my darn cpap machine that has been living in the bag in which I moved it two weeks ago and set it up - and tonight when I go to bed I will strap the thing on. Only because of you.Thx

Quote from scstxrni want you to know that because of your post and only because of your post, i am going to go unpack my darn cpap machine that has been living in the bag in which i moved it two weeks ago and set it up - and tonight when i go to bed i will strap the thing on. only because of you.thx

I have been on my CPAP for 8 years now, every since my sleep study showed I stopped breathing an average of 88 times an hour. That is correct, 88 times an hour. I never realized that when you woke up from sleeping at night that you were suppose to feel refreshed, not crabby, nauseated and weak. I put that puppy on and haven't looked back. I love my CPAP and haven't gone a night without it since the first night it was delivered. I took to it like a duck to water. As for the noise? My darling hubby tells me it is a lot quieter than my snoring was!

After just being diagnosed with moderate positional sleep apnea (25 apneic/hypopnic episodes per hour) and saturation levels dropping to 74% two weeks ago, I faithfully use my CPAP every night. Although the first few nights were difficult (the nasal pillows were too large), I actually look forward to sleeping with it now. It isn't as uncomfortable as one thinks, as long as there are no leaks, the straps are adjusted correctly and the machine is functioning properly. With adequate weight loss, I'm sure this machine will go away with pounds lost.If you have patients under your care who are resistant to this using device, please have a respiratory therapist or consultant visit them for proper fitting and education about their disease; it may be the difference between life or death.