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How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:37 pm
by paultool
Hi,
I am new on this forum and have a burning question to ask. A company rep when I first bought my machine told me that wearing it for 4 hours a night was enough time to gain good benefits from CPAP treatment. I wake up early every morning about 4 or 5 am and at that point I can't get back to sleep without taking off the mask. I told this to my sleep doctor recently and she said this was a big mistake- that the REM sleep occurs just before waking up, and I should keep it on all night at all costs, and if I can't keep it on then I should get up and stay up. Said I was risking heart attack this way. I also have a deviated septum and allergies and when my nose stuffs up now and then, I cannot wear the mask more than a short time.

I was feeling the benefits of CPAP my old way, wearing it probably 5 or so hours a night- refreshed in the morning, never needing naps, etc. and would have a very hard time keeping it on till 7 or 8 am. What have others heard? I plan to get opinions from other doctors on this and read the literature... I know the compliance rate for CPAP is generally low as it is, and with her recommendation to have to wear it for 8 hours or risk bad consequences, even more would be quitting most likely. Any insight from other forum members is much appreciated.

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:43 pm
by sleeplessinaz
Hi Newby----we all went through exactly what you are experiencing right now. It is tough at first--keep it on all night 7 to 8 hours to get the full benefits of CPAP. You could still suffer heart attacks and things by only using it 4 hours a night. I struggled and stuggled and tried 5 to 6 types of masks! Once you find the correct mask, and the correct pillow --then you will be more comfortable and will be able to leave it on longer. Just keep saying to yourself--this is for me, this is for my health--talk yourself INTO it and not out of it----hope this helps,
Carrie

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:57 pm
by Jersey Girl
Hello -

I too am relatively new to the world of CPAP - but I did do some research on this subject. You MUST try to wear your mask the entire time you are sleeping. 4-5 hours just won't do it and many of us have more apnea episodes during REM sleep - dream sleep than at other times throughout the night, and we do indeed dream just before we wake up, so try to find a mask that works for you - comfort is imporant. I also purchased a Contour CPAP pillow that is memory foam and actually has dips in it for the mask on both sides so that when you turn, the mask isn't leaking.

You can do this! It just takes time...

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:00 pm
by Wulfman
paultool wrote:Hi,
I am new on this forum and have a burning question to ask. A company rep when I first bought my machine told me that wearing it for 4 hours a night was enough time to gain good benefits from CPAP treatment. I wake up early every morning about 4 or 5 am and at that point I can't get back to sleep without taking off the mask. I told this to my sleep doctor recently and she said this was a big mistake- that the REM sleep occurs just before waking up, and I should keep it on all night at all costs, and if I can't keep it on then I should get up and stay up. Said I was risking heart attack this way. I also have a deviated septum and allergies and when my nose stuffs up now and then, I cannot wear the mask more than a short time.

I was feeling the benefits of CPAP my old way, wearing it probably 5 or so hours a night- refreshed in the morning, never needing naps, etc. and would have a very hard time keeping it on till 7 or 8 am. What have others heard? I plan to get opinions from other doctors on this and read the literature... I know the compliance rate for CPAP is generally low as it is, and with her recommendation to have to wear it for 8 hours or risk bad consequences, even more would be quitting most likely. Any insight from other forum members is much appreciated.
Actually, the four hours per night is enough to satisfy the insurance requirements for reimbursement.

THE REALITY IS.....you need to wear it any time you're sleeping (or about to go to sleep).

You didn't say how long you've been on this therapy, but if you're just starting......this is "baby steps".
You need to stick with it and you'll gradually get to a point where you can't sleep without it.


Den

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:23 pm
by BlackSpinner
The issue is not how long you wear it but the fact that when you sleep with out it your oxygen level drops to un acceptable levels.
Wearing it 4 hours means you are getting 4 good hours of sleep offset by 4 hours of oxygen deprivation. It is probably worse then that because you body looses the ability to fight for oxygen when you are getting good sleep too.

In some ways it is like taking half your medication and expecting it to work like a full dose.

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:40 pm
by 98clru
paultool wrote:Hi,
I am new on this forum ....
... I also have a deviated septum and allergies and when my nose stuffs up now and then, I cannot wear the mask more than a short time.
Of course antihistamines and allergy treatment would help and that would help compliance. I underwent allergy shots for about 3 years, didn't know what breathing through a clear nose was like, a year into the treatment my allergists asked if I was benefiting from treatment and that's what I told him. Of course your mileage may vary...

One of the things my allergist recommended was nasal lavage. It's cheap, non invasive but effective. Neilmed makes a simple inexpensive system available in most pharmacies and on the web. You make a saline solution and rinse the allergens out of your nose. Then if you have a good filter on your pap you shouldn't have an issue with allergies during use. I'd recommend doing it about a half hour before bed because it takes time for the benefits to be felt. If you wake up with the stuffy nose try a saline spray such as ocean and blow your nose a few times. Makes a world of difference but again full benefits aren't realized immediately, but it's cheap and something that I don't thing would possibly cause an otherwise healthy adult harm.

I hate nasal lavage and 'paping but wouldn't give them up for anything.

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:43 pm
by Catnap
It's not like you can save up 4 hours of credit and then use them for the next 4 hours. Sleeping with CPAP is an all or nothing proposition: Either it's on and you're getting the benefits, or it's off and you're not. Some use is better than none, I suppose, but it sure won't provide optimal health benefits. CPAP is an ongoing treatment for OSA-related cardiovascular and sleep-deprivation issues, not just a sleep aid.

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:46 pm
by Fred D
Wulfman wrote:A company rep when I first bought my machine told me that wearing it for 4 hours a night was enough time to gain good benefits from CPAP treatment.
Please don't believe what this person is saying. Apparently this person thinks he/she knows more than what the specialist knows.
Hang in there and try to adjust to where you can use your machine all night. You'll find a wealth of knowledge and encouragement
from this forum.
Good luck,

Fred D

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:56 pm
by Sergey45
I am sleeping with CPAP machine for more than 4 years now. Remember that CPAP equipment needs to be adjusted to it.
It took couple of months for me to get comfortable with CPAP mask and the rest of the settings. I am also periodically trying different masks, looking even for better comfort.

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:08 pm
by Wulfman
Fred D wrote:
Wulfman wrote:A company rep when I first bought my machine told me that wearing it for 4 hours a night was enough time to gain good benefits from CPAP treatment.
Please don't believe what this person is saying. Apparently this person thinks he/she knows more than what the specialist knows.
Hang in there and try to adjust to where you can use your machine all night. You'll find a wealth of knowledge and encouragement
from this forum.
Good luck,

Fred D
Fred,

You have that quoting all wrong. I did NOT say that. It was within the original poster's quote.....not my reply to him.


Den

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:11 pm
by SaltLakeJan
Hello Paultool,

Well you asked for opinions . . & you got them, they were unamimous. I'm sure your Doctor will agree too, that It is vital for your health and future years of life, that you wear your mask while you are sleeping. But as the Wolfman says, you can do it in baby steps. When I began on Cpap, I thought it was a great effort to use it for 4 hours, the amount required for insurance compliance. But I tried consistently. After my third week, I surprised my self by sleeping until it was time to get up.

I didn't think I ever would get used to CPAP, if I had not found this forum and the encouragement from the veterans here, I would have quit when I thought it was too hard. After a year, night time has changed from me whining "oh I hate to put that darn vaccumn cleaner on my head," to being grateful that I have something as easy as CPAP to save me from a heart attack, stroke, or early death.

Just give yourself a chance - it will work for you.

Jan

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:00 pm
by Autopapdude
Just to add: Xpap should be worn whenever possible, and that means 99.99999999999% of the time when sleeping, or attempting to sleep. Yes, there is a period of adjustment that all of us went through. 4 hours is better than zero hours--then, it will become 6 hours is better than 4 hours, then 8 is better than 6. Look at it as a logical progression, and important to get used to sleeping with the 'pap. No one of us chose to have sleep apnea, or given the givens, all of us would prefer not to need a machine and a mask. However, it is a lifesaver, and should be considered as such. If one needs a pacemaker to be alive, I don't think that the person would be satisfied with 4 or 6 hours of pacemaker use. Likewise, why short-change yourself of the necessary full night therapy? There is a learning curve, and an adjustment period, but take it seriously, and make every effort humanly possible to be 100% compliant for your health's sake.

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:24 am
by torontoCPAPguy
Sorry. You can't do this in baby steps. You need to do the following and really quickly:
1. Get educated in CPAP/APAP machines and all things CPAP/APAP. There's plenty online.
2. Get the best CPAP/APAP machine you can afford along with a really good humidifier and accessories like a hose cover, hose support, etc.
3. Get that machine set up to the pressure settings that you need (my doc started me at 4 and then said "ooops I meant 9" so I set my APAP to 7 to 13 cm. And I like it. It adjust automatically to my needs.
4. Get a mask that FITS and that is COMFY. I highly recommend the Mirage Activa LT... as far as fit is concerned I have a large face and am using a size not widely advertised. LARGE WIDE... it makes a great seal as it sits widely on my face and the wider the mask the more stable it will be. If it will make a good seal (and the machine that I use will tell me at the start of use and alarm if the seal breaks). For goodness sake do NOT put up with a poorly fitting mask for what they cost.
5. MOST IMPORTANTLY!

YOU NEED TO BE USING THAT MACHINE AS INTENDED EVERY SINGLE MINUTE THAT YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO FALL ASLEEP. PERIOD.

FORGET STARTING SLOWLY AND SUCH.

IF YOU NEED THE MACHINE AND ARE NOT USING IT YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE WILL RISE TO THE POINT WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO SPLIT YOUR AORTA, POP AN ANEURISM, HAVE A STROKE OR A HEART ATTACK. 'He/She died PEACEFULLY in their sleep, poor thing'.


I cannot overemphasize sufficiently... if you have sleep apnea or any other obstructive issues or lack of air intake issues you need to have that machine running and the mask on at all times that you may fall asleep or you are begging to have an 'event'.... that just might kill you.

I don't think it can be any more clear. Read the articles and white papers if you don't trust my opinion but I assure you that I have nothing to gain by suggesting this to you.

A good machine, good mask, you will get used to it in a jiffy and if you don't that's a shame... you still need to be wearing the thing. Your life just may depend on it.

Good luck.

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:14 am
by LinkC
1. A salesman told you 4 hrs was enough.
2. Your own doctor told you it wasn't.
3. 100% of the responses from seasoned users here agree with the doctor.

I would no more sleep without CPAP than I would eat my dinner without a fork...well, unless I was at Burger king!

Any more questions?

Re: How many hours should CPAP be worn per night?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:01 am
by Muffy
paultool wrote:I plan to get opinions from other doctors on this and read the literature... I know the compliance rate for CPAP is generally low as it is, and with her recommendation to have to wear it for 8 hours or risk bad consequences, even more would be quitting most likely.
What was your AHI on diagnostic?
paultool wrote:Said I was risking heart attack this way.
I don't believe that is correct.

You would be more apt to have a stroke.

Muffy