Why do you use CPAP?

sleepstar · Post by **sleepstar** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:21 am

Hi everyone.
I'm really curious about the answer to this question, and I think this forum has a great group of people to ask this.

Why do you use CPAP?

Is it because you solely are concerned about the increased likelihood of medical problems, but don't feel a real symptomatic benefit from the machine? That is, you don't feel "less tired" or "more energetic". (or you weren't tired to begin with)

Is it because it stops your snoring (maybe makes your bed partner happy!) and makes you feel better?

Or is it because of both these reasons? That is, it makes you feel better, and you want to take preventative measures.

I ask this mainly because I find that with people I talk to the answers can be very different. For example, my dad has very severe complex sleep apnea, with a history of heart disease, but has more energy than most people I know. He doesn't find a symptomatic benefit from the machine (he was never tired to begin with) but he uses it to reduce the risk of ailments.

If this is too personal to answer I understand

Bobshouse · Post by **Bobshouse** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:29 am

To sleep.

BlackSpinner · Post by **BlackSpinner** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:47 am

All of the above.

For example, my dad has very severe complex sleep apnea, with a history of heart disease, but has more energy than most people I know. He doesn't find a benefit from the machine, but he uses it to prevent ailments.

Hmmm I would consider that a HUGE benefit. What you mean is that he doesn't perceive the usual benefit of feeling less tired - which is only one of the symptoms of OSA but usually the most obvious one. When I broke my foot I sure didn't think wearing a cast made walking easier but that didn't mean that it wasn't a benefit in the long run just because I couldn't sense he bone knitting up.

sleepstar · Post by **sleepstar** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:51 am

Sorry about that, I'll reword it. Symptomatic benefit.

We know CPAP reduces the risk of potential health problems. But not everyone feels tired, so they don't feel "better" on CPAP.

Unfortunately when you don't feel any different, you're less likely to continue with something.

I most definitely didn't mean it wasn't a benefit to his health

Jaywolf · Post by **Jaywolf** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:56 am

Because I am hoping to stay alive longer and feel better. I am hoping to have a better quality of life. Because it is saving my life in my opinion.

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:01 pm

I use CPAP because I love life. Life without effective sleep is miserable. Life with better sleep is better. I have the choice of (1) spending all day in a partial stupor stumbling my way dangerously through it in a way that is a danger to myself and others or (2) being alive and feeling alive.

I use CPAP because I love my wife. If I snore and gasp all night, her sleep and life are affected negatively. And if I don't sleep well, she has to live married to a grouchy, blue, distracted, confused semi-human. On CPAP, I rejoin the human race. Well, mostly, anyway. At least, I tend to treat people better and deal better with stress.

I use CPAP because it seems obvious to me that humans need air, water, food, and sleep to survive. Untreated OSA takes away two out of the four--air and sleep. So the choice is simple: half alive or fully alive. For me the choice is no choice at all. It is obvious.

YMMV.

sleepstar · Post by **sleepstar** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:03 pm

Great answers.

SleepyToo2 · Post by **SleepyToo2** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:03 pm

I agree with BlackSpinner - all of the above (including comments from posters after BlackSpinner. The one thing that motivated me to get used to using my machine was a desire to be around to see my son graduate, and maybe get married/have kids, but also to live to be 100 and be healthy doing it (which will probably take care of all of the above!). Both my wife and son are happy that I am no longer going to the bathroom in the middle of the night - before I was diagnosed/treated, I woke up on the bathroom floor in a pool of blood from a cut on my forehead that needed 20+ stitches. The machine has got my migraine headaches under control. Do I have more energy? Hard to tell because it varies and I have a stressful job, but on balance I have to say yes. I no longer need to have a nap when I get home from work (although I do need to make sure I get 8 hours every night). Sometimes I wake before the alarm goes off, and when I do wake, I really wake. No lazing in bed dozing for me any more!

Lukie · Post by **Lukie** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:12 pm

I use CPAP to stop those awful episodes of waking up feeling sick and short of breath, needing to get up and walk around to get my circulation and oxygen levels going again. I'm 72 and not ready to push up daisies. CPAP is giving me much better and longer periods of sleep and has brought my dreams back.

ems · Post by **ems** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:34 pm

I started using CPAP due to fatigue and migraine headaches. It hasn't helped the migraines even a little, but I think I'm less fatigued... some days. My oxygen level dropped to 85% during my sleep study. So, in answer to your question, I use my BiPAP machine (which was supposed to eliminate the migraines) to bring that level up to the high nineties. Personally, I still question the benefits because I've had no miracles, but the machine/mask and I have become friends, so I do use it every night. I always question what it's really doing for me tho.

Edit: I don't use the bathroom nearly as often at night... that's great!

sleepstar · Post by **sleepstar** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:36 pm

Have you had a sleep study on bilevel ems?

I note you're a long term user.

ems · Post by **ems** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:48 pm

sleepstar wrote:Have you had a sleep study on bilevel ems?

I note you're a long term user.

No, I haven't had a sleep study on bilevel. My pulmonary sleep specialist didn't think it was necessary.

I'm not exactly a long term user. I stopped using the machine for many months and made the decision sometime last July to use it again. It was sitting here staring me in the face and between my PC telling me that 85% wasn't good (which I really didn't think was thaaaat bad b/c I don't have other health issues) and this forum, I decided to try again.

Also, see last paragraph above.

sleepstar · Post by **sleepstar** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 1:03 pm

Well it looks like you're getting benefit from using it which is fantastic. It's unfortunate that you still have migraines, but that may or may not be due to OSA.

You're obviously sleeping better through the night too which is great

Dive Apnea · Post by **Dive Apnea** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 1:34 pm

I started using it, so my wife could sleep in our room, and not ESCAPE from my earth shattering snoring to the spare room... Now, I can't sleep without it, because I snore myself awake now, as before CPAP I wouldn't. Also, I feel a lot better too!

slepybear · Post by **slepybear** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 2:05 pm

No more snoring. Feeling generally better and preserving my health. This summer I experienced a power failure. A thunderstorm sent a lightning strike into the powergrid. Power failed at 4am and was not back before midday. I suddenly realized what the little machine do for me every night. I could not belive the sorry state I was in. I had problems in concentration, was bone tired and did not get anything sensible done.
After a new night; this time with the machine working, the world was smiling again.

This is why I use this machine every night.

Why do you use CPAP?