Sleep without machine

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
ButeLiz

Sleep without machine

Post by ButeLiz » Thu Oct 08, 2015 8:59 am

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.

User avatar
SleepyCarey
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2015 10:34 am
Location: North Carolina, USA

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by SleepyCarey » Thu Oct 08, 2015 9:06 am

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.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Comments? Is this where I put my thoughts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Go figure - I can walk while chewing gum but apparently I can't quite grasp breathing while sleeping.

User avatar
LSAT
Posts: 13229
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:11 am
Location: SE Wisconsin

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by LSAT » Thu Oct 08, 2015 9:45 am

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.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Fisher & Paykel Vitera Full Face Mask with Headgear (S, M, or L Cushion)
Additional Comments: Back up is S9 Autoset...... Buckwheat hull pillow

User avatar
Wulfman...
Posts: 6688
Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:41 pm
Location: Nearest fishing spot

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by Wulfman... » Thu Oct 08, 2015 1:05 pm

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.
Could actually be deadly to try.
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

.
(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
"Passover" Humidification - ResMed Ultra Mirage FF - Encore Pro w/Card Reader & MyEncore software - Chiroflow pillow
User since 05/14/05

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by chunkyfrog » Thu Oct 08, 2015 1:15 pm

If I so much as NAP without mine, I get a horrible headache.
It's just not worth it.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

User avatar
Chilehead
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2015 8:14 pm
Location: Rochester, NY

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by Chilehead » Thu Oct 08, 2015 1:28 pm

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.

User avatar
Julie
Posts: 19898
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by Julie » Thu Oct 08, 2015 2:01 pm

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!

ButeLiz

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by ButeLiz » Thu Oct 08, 2015 2:08 pm

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!

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by chunkyfrog » Thu Oct 08, 2015 3:55 pm

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.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her
Last edited by chunkyfrog on Thu Oct 08, 2015 4:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Sir NoddinOff
Posts: 4190
Joined: Mon May 14, 2012 5:30 pm
Location: California

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by Sir NoddinOff » Thu Oct 08, 2015 4:00 pm

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.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ F10 Full Face Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead software v.0.9.8.1 Open GL and Encore Pro v2.2.
I like my ResMed AirFit F10 FFM - reasonably low leaks for my ASV therapy. I'm currently using a PR S1 AutoSV 960P Advanced. I also keep a ResMed S9 Adapt as backup. I use a heated Hibernite hose. Still rockin' with Win 7 by using GWX to stop Win 10.

User avatar
curems
Posts: 179
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2015 9:06 am
Location: New Jersey

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by curems » Thu Oct 08, 2015 4:51 pm

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.

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: PR S1 60 Series Auto CPAP, using SleepyHead software

User avatar
Wulfman...
Posts: 6688
Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:41 pm
Location: Nearest fishing spot

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by Wulfman... » Thu Oct 08, 2015 5:11 pm

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

.
(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
"Passover" Humidification - ResMed Ultra Mirage FF - Encore Pro w/Card Reader & MyEncore software - Chiroflow pillow
User since 05/14/05

User avatar
RogerSC
Posts: 1891
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2012 1:11 pm

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by RogerSC » Thu Oct 08, 2015 6:11 pm

chunkyfrog wrote: Edit: Do NOT check your cpap. Baggage handlers LIVE to destroy things.
Google "United Breaks Guitars", and hit video.
Apparently also a book, maybe a movie by now. Loved the song and music video, though, thanks!

ButeLiz

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by ButeLiz » Fri Oct 09, 2015 2:39 am

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!

User avatar
kteague
Posts: 7768
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 8:30 pm
Location: West and Midwest

Re: Sleep without machine

Post by kteague » Fri Oct 09, 2015 4:10 am

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.

_________________
Mask: TAP PAP Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Improved Stability Mouthpiece
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Bleep/DreamPort for full nights, Tap Pap for shorter sessions