Sleep without machine
Sleep without machine
Does anyone know please, is it safe for me to sleep for a night without the CPAP machine? - I've been using it every night for 2 years.
- SleepyCarey
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Re: Sleep without machine
No one will tell you it is safe, simply because as soon as someone says, "Sure! Go ahead, you'll be fine!" will be the night that something terrible happens.
Having said that, most of us have gone without our CPAP for one or more nights, due to a variety of reasons. Proceed at your own risk.
Having said that, most of us have gone without our CPAP for one or more nights, due to a variety of reasons. Proceed at your own risk.
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Re: Sleep without machine
ButeLiz wrote:Does anyone know please, is it safe for me to sleep for a night without the CPAP machine? - I've been using it every night for 2 years.
You haven't said why, but if you are going without your CPAP, try to sleep in a recliner or propped up.
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- Wulfman...
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Re: Sleep without machine
Could actually be deadly to try.ButeLiz wrote:Does anyone know please, is it safe for me to sleep for a night without the CPAP machine? - I've been using it every night for 2 years.
I personally knew someone who was a CPAP user and got a job call-out late one night. When he got home in the morning, he went to bed and didn't use his CPAP........he died in his sleep.
I would NEVER say it's "safe" to sleep without it.
Den
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- chunkyfrog
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Re: Sleep without machine
If I so much as NAP without mine, I get a horrible headache.
It's just not worth it.
It's just not worth it.
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Re: Sleep without machine
I'm a little surprised to see people say it's possibly unsafe. I always thought that most people with sleep apnea are potentially harming themselves over the long term, and had assumed that a few nights here and there without a CPAP wouldn't really cause any immediate damage, other than sleepiness.
Most live with apnea for years before getting tested and treated. But I'm new, and my apnea is relatively mild.
Most live with apnea for years before getting tested and treated. But I'm new, and my apnea is relatively mild.
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Re: Sleep without machine
Your chances of anything serious occurring in one night off the machine (when you've been on it for however long that's been, improving your health from what it was pre Cpap), are at least as good as they were pre cpap when you weren't treated at all for years. Of course anything could happen, you could get run over, die of an allergic reaction to something, be in the way of a drive by shooting, but chances of your not waking up after one night of no Cpap are pretty remote. Geez everyone, give the guy a break!
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Re: Sleep without machine
Ok, thanks everyone. My reason for asking is I'm going on a long-haul flight and the airline is being funny about me using my machine on the aircraft. So I will be propped up, not lying down, and it won't be a complete night's sleep. I guess I'll try to stay awake as long as possible. My apnea's quite severe, but I did survive pre-CPAP!
- chunkyfrog
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Re: Sleep without machine
If it is a long flight, make sure you get plenty of treated sleep beforehand.
The less you sleep untreated, the better you will feel after the flight.
Hopefully, you will be able to pap at your destination.
Edit: Do NOT check your cpap. Baggage handlers LIVE to destroy things.
Google "United Breaks Guitars", and hit video.
The less you sleep untreated, the better you will feel after the flight.
Hopefully, you will be able to pap at your destination.
Edit: Do NOT check your cpap. Baggage handlers LIVE to destroy things.
Google "United Breaks Guitars", and hit video.
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Last edited by chunkyfrog on Thu Oct 08, 2015 4:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Sir NoddinOff
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Re: Sleep without machine
My personal opinion is that you probably won't actually be 'sound' asleep on your long flight (I never am)... you'll probably just be dozing along in that twilight zone of hypnogogic sleep halfway between sleep and waking. I don't think you'll come to any harm at all. Besides if you really start to get in trouble you will wake up. The exception would be if you drug yourself out with alcohol, sedatives and/or whatever. BTW, I definitely don't recommend doing that. One of my relatives got into big legal trouble with the airlines for attempting that.
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Re: Sleep without machine
I wouldn't risk saying it will be dangerous or not - just not willing to take that responsibility! For me, I feel better with it (it makes my generally troubled breathing feel better even before I go to sleep). As I understand it, airlines do require advance notice and info on your machine, don't allow use of the humidifier, and may not have power available. Otherwise, I don't know if some airlines are just more of a problem about it.
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- Wulfman...
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Re: Sleep without machine
And, for me, I would NEVER say it was "safe", with the personal knowledge of someone who had died in their sleep by skipping ANY number of nights.
Den
.
Den
.
(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
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User since 05/14/05
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Re: Sleep without machine
Apparently also a book, maybe a movie by now. Loved the song and music video, though, thanks!chunkyfrog wrote: Edit: Do NOT check your cpap. Baggage handlers LIVE to destroy things.
Google "United Breaks Guitars", and hit video.
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Re: Sleep without machine
Thanks again for all the advice. I would never check the cpap, Chunkyfrog, I do know the airlines allow it to be carried as an extra piece of handluggage as I've done short flights. Won't be taking any alcohol or drugs, Sir NoddinOff, just hope I don't dusturb the other passengers by snoring!
Re: Sleep without machine
What we don't know is how severe your particular case is. Could make a difference in your degree of risk. The person who barely desats and whose events are of short duration is probably not in grave danger of anything but being tired the next day. The rest of us though are taking a risk. I'm with Den on never ever not even once and with no exception going to bed without treatment. I consider myself lucky to have not had a catastrophic event before I was diagnosed. Waking up with my heart stressed was scary stuff, and our family is high risk for strokes. Just not willing to risk it. I do however sleep upright without the machine, with some safeguards. If I ever wake up with my heart racing, it will be my last time to try to get by with it.
A few things to consider trying out before the trip. Look up online the airline pillows that you sit up and lean forward into. Mimic that position at home and see how you do with it. Leaning forward instead of back would keep your tongue out of your throat. Another possibility is that a cervical collar may help by keeping your neck aligned. I can sleep upright easier if my neck stays perfectly aligned, no backward tilt or chin-on the chest. Some have said a sports mouth guard helps their jaw to not slip backwards compromising the airway. Hopefully you've got a bit of time before the trip to figure out if some self-help measures can mitigate the snoring and the apneas a bit.
Enjoy your trip.
A few things to consider trying out before the trip. Look up online the airline pillows that you sit up and lean forward into. Mimic that position at home and see how you do with it. Leaning forward instead of back would keep your tongue out of your throat. Another possibility is that a cervical collar may help by keeping your neck aligned. I can sleep upright easier if my neck stays perfectly aligned, no backward tilt or chin-on the chest. Some have said a sports mouth guard helps their jaw to not slip backwards compromising the airway. Hopefully you've got a bit of time before the trip to figure out if some self-help measures can mitigate the snoring and the apneas a bit.
Enjoy your trip.
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