How to tell if a CPAP is working?
Written by admin on February 2, 2009 – 7:36 am -I was diagnosed the first of December 08 with severe sleep apnea. I use a nasal CPAP. Aside from having another sleep study done, is there a way to tell if it's working? I still have mouth dryness & am wondering if I am opening my mouth in my sleep. Since mine very severe (doctor's words), I want to make sure I am using it right & that it's working. My pressure is set at 12.
Thank you for the replies. I do feel "not as dead tired" as I used. Also, the morning headaches are gone. I will check in with my pulmonogist.
12 is kinda high. The summary said I stopped breathing 56 times in an hour. WTH. No wonder I have been feeling so crappy. I never really got any quality sleep. My brain was too busy trying to keep me alive.
I do use the humidifer. But not every night. I need to start doing that. I went to that website. Very good info. I also went to the company site where my mask is from "ResMed" & it had a chin strap I might buy. Just in case my mouth is opening up.
Yes, I have started dreaming again. Some are nightmares. Very vivid.
Thanks again to all who responded.
Are you feeling better, more rested since starting on CPAP? If not than it's not working. You might need a full mask to cover your mouth too . Or if it's severe enough you might need BIPAP.That's a way of giving you the benefits of CPAP and help you take deeper breaths.
12 cmH20 is kinda high. You should check back with the pulmonologist who ordered it.
God bless and help you through this.
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By nursekuba on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Generally, you will feel better rested in the morning after having used it. That's the best way to know if it's working.
References :
By casdave2001 on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Are you feeling better, more rested since starting on CPAP? If not than it's not working. You might need a full mask to cover your mouth too . Or if it's severe enough you might need BIPAP.That's a way of giving you the benefits of CPAP and help you take deeper breaths.
12 cmH20 is kinda high. You should check back with the pulmonologist who ordered it.
God bless and help you through this.
References :
By LoneStar on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
More than likely, you do sleep with an opened mouth. There are chin straps available to help with that. Also, you should have a humidifier on your tabletop CPAP. If so, use it. Bottled water is acceptable.
12 cmH20 is fine. I've seen it as high as 20 cmH20. The patients have severe sleep apnea, coupled with obesity.
If you find you are not falling asleep during inappropriate times, able to focus, not as irritable, not taking trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night….then more-than-likely CPAP has begun to work its magic.
In the months to come, you will experience substantial benefits with continued CPAP and follow up visits with your physician.
References :
RRT, AE-C…….years of work experience in acute, sub-acute, critical care settings.
By Mary on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
The pressure of 12 on a cpap has nothing to do how severe the OSA.. Everyone's airway is different. The pressure is what is required to splint the airway open.
It can take a while to feel better with the CPAP. They say that you need to pay the sleep debt back. I have never seen that research but I know it took some time for me. Also, the dryness can require humidity. Do you have a humidify if so have you tried turning it up. I can tell you after 8 years of pap therapy I still am dry with the humidify hooked up. It is just the dryness in the house with the furnace on.
Have you started dreaming again? Sometimes the nightmares are horrible after have not dreaming in a long time.
12 is an average cpap pressure.. I use 20.
They do not need to do another sleep study at a lab. They can use an auto pap at home and see what you need. The sleep lab is not a normal place– all of the wires and such. It is not how you sleep at home. You may need an autopap every night.
Try sleepnet.com message board.
Best wishes
References :
RRT, OSA pt