CPAP What to expect, what is normal, what is not

Conference Notes: These are notes that I took. There will be several posts.

Now that I have sleep Apnea.

Talking to family and children about it. (I missed part of it.)

Adjusting:

Take your time (Gradually increase the time using CPAP)
Practice
Be Patient
Introduce CPAP into your bedtime routine
If it is difficult:
- Don’t give up
- Get help

What is normal

Takes about 3-6 months to adapt to CPAP and start to feel benefits.
2 weeks of compliance to recharge your batteries

What is normal when you start on CPAP

- To have a hard time falling asleep with the mask on

- To have a hard time with the mask

- To wake up in the middle of the night without the mask on

- To have gastric and/or intestinal gas (Swallowing air is a reflex reaction)

- To feel even more tired than before the treatment.


What is wrong (needs to be addressed/seek help)

- Mouth dryness
- Nasal congestion
- Pain or wound because of mask
- You are snoring or snorting with the mask on

Resources
- Health care team
- Equipment suppliers
- Support Group
- Lung Associations
- Canadian Sleep Society
- National Sleep Foundation (USA)