Subconciously addicted to my CPAP machine

Hi All,

First time post on here but long time user of CPAP machine.

I have recently shed a lot of weight due and every so often I fall asleep without my mask and my wife says that I no longer make any kind of snore/noise at all. I would hope that the weight loss has caused this and as a result I feel I should try to stop using the CPAP machine, at least as a trial. The problem I have is that trying to fall asleep it feels so odd and unnatural, I have to put more effort in to drawing breath and it almost becomes a concious thing to remember to take a breath. I think subconciously the feeling I get from having the machine on is of comfort and safety and without it I feel exposed and as at risk.

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on ways to ween myself off using the machine?

Thanks

Hi - do not stop using your machine because your wife no longer is aware of snoring! Losing weight can make a difference in your need for Cpap, but without a new sleep study, or at least using software like SleepyHead for a few weeks to see what's what, you can't tell if you still need the machine or not. Deal with the 'addiction' after you have made sure you no longer need a machine - or find out you do need it, but maybe at a lower pressure.

Thanks Julie,

That sounds like good advice. I guess I figured that as I was no longer showing outward signs of the sleep apnea it was 100% gone.

Thanks for the advice

Please let us know how it goes...

Hey Eddie, the sensation that you described "it almost becomes a concious thing to remember to take a breath" is classic apnea. It may or may not be obstructive, gut a cessation of breathing of 10 seconds is still apnea. Most likely this is a sleep onset issue and your condition may well be greatly improved.

I'm curious what equipment you are using. Many who have been at this a while fail to upgrade, and the information available from a current data-producing machine can help you make decisions like this. I think it might be worth a home sleep evaluation before quitting. Your doctor should be able to arrange that. If I was in your shoes, I'd probably give it a try. At least you'd know, and can pat yourself on the back if you've kicked apnea, or upgrade the equipment and optimize treatment if not.

Your wife may have lost some hearing acuity, due to lying next to a chainsaw for . . .
-----How many years have you been married?

Tell us what CPAP machine you have. If it's a good one, it can give you some clues to whether you need CPAP and how badly.

Look at the link in my signature line about how to enter your equipment in your profile.

If you can't figure out what machine you have, tell us EVERYTHING it says near the display.

Thanks all for your kind and considered replies.

Interestingly I think I have indeed fallen behind as I have not upgraded my machine in over 7 years. Its a F+P 604....It has the built in humidifier and heated hose.

I have been with my wife for 10 years now and she would always worry about me as I slept as I would go such long times without drawing breath. She is a very light sleeper (my fault perhaps ) and so is very aware of my patterns and "normal" sleeping.

After considering all your comments I think I will visit my Dr and see if I can get another studay and whether this area has finacial support for sleep apnea....My last region did not cover it and so I had to buy the machine myself - which I would struggle to do nowadays.

How would a data recording machine show you did NOT need a CPAP machine?

If it's on and it's working to reduce your apneas, so how do you measure your score. Without a machine? Not following the logic here.

I share the addiction thing - but I know that's because it feels good when I use it and the morning after.

englandsf wrote:How would a data recording machine show you did NOT need a CPAP machine?

If it's on and it's working to reduce your apneas, so how do you measure your score. Without a machine? Not following the logic here.

I share the addiction thing - but I know that's because it feels good when I use it and the morning after.

With a data capable machine, turn the pressure down. If you start showing apneas, you probably need it and will need to start turning it up. If it's an auto machine, see what pressure it thinks you need.

If you turn the pressure all the way down with no apneas developing, you might still need CPAP, but the odds you don't need it are better.

They all have a lower limit and if you have zero AHI at - say - 4 then you still don't know what would happen at zero.

You can narrow it down - kinda - but I'd only trust a real sleep lab test before stopping using a CPAP.

Although I rarely post on here anymore, I feel compelled to respond to this post.
I have been on cpap for probably about 5.5 years now (APAP actually).
Long history of snoring, as does my dad and his dad before him... Some years back a visit to an ENT for an ear infection wound me up in a sleep lab
where I was told I had Sleep Apena. Choices of course were surgery from hell or a machine that blows air up my nose. after the research, I opted for the hose like so many others.
I can honestly say after 5.5 years I still do not feel any different, and over the years have questioned why I still use the hose. Then I think about the long term affects of OSA and that is what keeps me committed.
After 5 years my I got a call from my DME (American Home) saying I am eligible for a new machine and all they need is a new script from my ENT (that I have not seen in 5 years). Fair enough. saw him, he wanted a new sleep study.. I said fine, but I want a home one. less intrusive and more comfortable. That night without the hose seemed like the worse night of my life. I swear I did not sleep at all, and it was hell. I actually could not wait for the next night to put the nasal pillows on again and resume normal sleep!
Whats funny is I had to do a follow up with the ENT and he said I only had mild OSA now and I no longer needed a machine, and could use a bite plate now if I wanted... I said that's ok, I already have the new machine (S9 autoset) and would stay on it... Since starting on a machine that is the only night I have ever missed and I cringe at the thought of not using one. It may be a cruch and I am sure after a few nights I could get used to being off it, but at least for now, I could not imagine life without it.
For what its worth, I am sure I slept like crap in the sleep lab as well... that was taking a sleeping pill and connected to more wires then I knew what to do with... I had a fear of being electrocuted while I tried to sleep. Did not think I slept those nights either.

drubin007 wrote:I can honestly say after 5.5 years I still do not feel any different, and over the years have questioned why I still use the hose. ..... That night without the hose seemed like the worse night of my life. I swear I did not sleep at all, and it was hell. I actually could not wait for the next night to put the nasal pillows on again and resume normal sleep!

That is an excellent testimonial. Thanks for posting it.

drubin007 wrote:Whats funny is I had to do a follow up with the ENT and he said I only had mild OSA now and I no longer needed a machine, and could use a bite plate now if I wanted

You made a good choice.

englandsf wrote:They all have a lower limit and if you have zero AHI at - say - 4 then you still don't know what would happen at zero.

You can narrow it down - kinda - but I'd only trust a real sleep lab test before stopping using a CPAP.

If he lowered his effective pressure by one cm each night and checked the results in the morning, I have an expectation that he would start seeing apneas before he ever got to four cm. Despite claims to the contrary, not very many people cure sleep apnea by losing weight.

Eddie,
I am in the same boat! I used the C-PAP machine everyday for one year. With the forced air it made it very easy to breath, I did not even have to breath, it was forced. I went on an overnight vacation with the wife for us to have some alone time. I forgot the C-PAP machine for the first time I was on my own. I could not sleep at all, I paced the floor all night and begged for sun light to finally arrive. This scared me so I decided to get off the system. It took over a month to retrain my body to survive without the machine. I forgot how to breath, no not related to Apnea, just the body forgot how. I work up every 20 minutes for a month, I just was not breathing deep enough to pull oxygen. Slowly, very Slowly I adapted and the breathing went back to normal. I am off the machine, I snore and I wake up about 4 times a night, but I woke up 4 times a night even on the C-PAP machine. The machine scares me, it seems if I am on the machine long enough the human body may not be able to survive if removed.