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Tips for Newcomers to Sleep Apnea (Mile High Sleeper) (The Absolute Basics)
Tips for Newcomers to Sleep Apnea 1. You’re in the driver’s seat. Take as much control in the process as possible so that you can make informed choices. The interventions are all for your benefit. Because you are the one being sleep tested or using the xPAP (CPAP, AutoPAP, BiPAP) machine, you are the one who makes care and treatment successful. A well-meaning technician who doesn’t have sleep apnea may suggest a certain mask, but he or she is not the one who needs to wear it every night. Don’t just passively follow, but actively partner and collaborate with your doctor, sleep lab technician, people at the DME (Durable Medical Equipment/Home Care provider), and your insurance company. If your reasonable needs are not being met, be polite but assertive, persistent, and creative in pursuing what you need. 2. Whether in the sleep lab or at home with an xPAP machine, no one is used to sleeping as a masked hose-head with a vacuum cleaner blowing air up their nose. Managing resistance and fear is a big part of the process. Direct your power of control inward, to manage your thoughts and feelings as well as outward, to manage treatment. Be kind and gentle with yourself, disciplined and determined when necessary. Humor helps. Get support from others. 3. Take notes during and after visits with healthcare professionals. There is a lot of information to absorb, remember, and evaluate, with decisions to be made. Make a list of questions between visits to ask the next time you see your doctor or technician. 4. Control information flow to avoid being overwhelmed. Seek and absorb the information at your own pace so you can make informed choices. First step: find out about sleep apnea, its health implications, and the sleep lab process and results. Accepting your diagnosis takes some emotional energy and wisdom. Second step: find out about the various treatment options, based on the type and severity of your apnea. For Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), treatment may include dental appliances, pillar technique, xPAP and the various machines, and perhaps surgery if other treatments fail. Talk with a sleep doctor about options. Internet websites have easily readable descriptions of the treatments and their effectiveness. The most usual option is an xPAP machine. If you have OSA and your physician prescribes xPAP, explore the various types and brands of xPAP machines through your physician, sleep center, Internet, books, and DME. Partner with your physician to select a machine, heated humidifier, mask, and perhaps machine software. Third step: When you are ready, get more details. If you are getting a machine, find out about the various types of interfaces or masks – nasal masks, nasal pillows, and full face masks. Some users rotate between a nasal mask and nasal pillows, using a full face mask when they have a stuffy nose from a cold. Internet sites from manufacturers, sellers, and user groups have a lot of information and opinions on interfaces and related equipment. Be discerning when reading user opinions. Most people try several masks over time before they find the ones that work for them. 5. Failure is not an option. Determine to succeed. You have a choice of treating your sleep apnea or having a greater risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, car crashes due to falling asleep at the wheel, lack of mental clarity, lack of energy for relationships, and lack of zest for life. The initial obstacles to successful xPAP therapy are the user’s attitude and uncomfortable (occasionally unbearable) sleeping conditions due to unsuitable equipment. Gone is the illusion of a good night’s sleep. You may have temporary problems such as insomnia, bloating, and rainout (condensation in the hose). Don’t hastily give up on CPAP therapy, when instead you need to give up on a particular piece of equipment or solve a problem. For the first few weeks or months of therapy, the biggest event of each day may be the night. Train for it as you would for an athletic event. Manage your mindset. Manage caffeine, alcohol, drugs, diet, exercise. Get your nose working. Do your homework on equipment options and modifications. Through a combination of ongoing experimentation with better equipment and nightly practice, you can create acceptable (even comfortable) sleeping conditions and work your way toward good sleep again, truly good sleep. 6. Make friends with your mask. If you are so inclined, use common sense, mental imagery, visualization, or prayer to build a peaceful, harmonious, and beneficial relationship with your xPAP machine and accessories (masks, heated humidifier, hose or heated hose, bed pillow, machine software). The modern APAP machine with a heated humidifier and smart card is a marvelous invention. In contrast, for most people, masks are problematic, but there are many options to explore, and hopefully manufacturers will improve masks in the future. Can you become friendly with your equipment? If you can’t, maybe it’s not you; maybe you have unfriendly equipment. Refit and modify it; experiment. Or replace it with equipment that is better suited to your well being. 7. Gather feedback on your progress. Consider keeping a nightly sleep log. A problem may go away one night but come back the next. With a diary or log, you can see, as well as feel, that you really are making progress over time in spite of frequent equipment struggles. If you get a machine with software tracking information, the data is enormously helpful for motivation and problem solving, for both you and your doctor. You will be well aware of problems. Remember to celebrate small victories. 8. Persist in having a positive, problem-solving attitude. Get creative ideas from a CPAP community online, local support group, and other users. Make improvements in your equipment and regimen. Give each change you make some time to work before trying another option. Learn to play the waiting game – waiting for appointments, insurance approval, equipment delivery, adapting to new equipment. Be patient, remembering it’s not always easy when you are sleep deprived. Stay with your therapy, however you need to modify it to make it work. Success is in your hands – and head. Source: based on personal experience with obstructive sleep apnea. Want more? See blog peer coaching articles at http://smart-sleep-apnea.blogspot.com . Not written by healthcare professionals. The information and opinions offered are not intended or recommended as a substitute for professional medical advice. © Mile High Sleeper, May 2006. Permission to use for free educational purposes.
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Tips for Newcomers to Sleep Apnea (Mile High Sleeper) (The Absolute Basics)

Tips for Newcomers to Sleep Apnea

1. You’re in the driver’s seat. Take as much control in the process as possible so that you can make informed choices. The interventions are all for your benefit. Because you are the one being sleep tested or using the xPAP (CPAP, AutoPAP, BiPAP) machine, you are the one who makes care and treatment successful. A well-meaning technician who doesn’t have sleep apnea may suggest a certain mask, but he or she is not the one who needs to wear it every night. Don’t just passively follow, but actively partner and collaborate with your doctor, sleep lab technician, people at the DME (Durable Medical Equipment/Home Care provider), and your insurance company. If your reasonable needs are not being met, be polite but assertive, persistent, and creative in pursuing what you need.

2. Whether in the sleep lab or at home with an xPAP machine, no one is used to sleeping as a masked hose-head with a vacuum cleaner blowing air up their nose. Managing resistance and fear is a big part of the process. Direct your power of control inward, to manage your thoughts and feelings as well as outward, to manage treatment. Be kind and gentle with yourself, disciplined and determined when necessary. Humor helps. Get support from others.

3. Take notes during and after visits with healthcare professionals. There is a lot of information to absorb, remember, and evaluate, with decisions to be made. Make a list of questions between visits to ask the next time you see your doctor or technician.

4. Control information flow to avoid being overwhelmed. Seek and absorb the information at your own pace so you can make informed choices.

First step: find out about sleep apnea, its health implications, and the sleep lab process and results. Accepting your diagnosis takes some emotional energy and wisdom.

Second step: find out about the various treatment options, based on the type and severity of your apnea. For Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), treatment may include dental appliances, pillar technique, xPAP and the various machines, and perhaps surgery if other treatments fail. Talk with a sleep doctor about options. Internet websites have easily readable descriptions of the treatments and their effectiveness. The most usual option is an xPAP machine. If you have OSA and your physician prescribes xPAP, explore the various types and brands of xPAP machines through your physician, sleep center, Internet, books, and DME. Partner with your physician to select a machine, heated humidifier, mask, and perhaps machine software.

Third step: When you are ready, get more details. If you are getting a machine, find out about the various types of interfaces or masks – nasal masks, nasal pillows, and full face masks. Some users rotate between a nasal mask and nasal pillows, using a full face mask when they have a stuffy nose from a cold. Internet sites from manufacturers, sellers, and user groups have a lot of information and opinions on interfaces and related equipment. Be discerning when reading user opinions. Most people try several masks over time before they find the ones that work for them.

5. Failure is not an option. Determine to succeed. You have a choice of treating your sleep apnea or having a greater risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, car crashes due to falling asleep at the wheel, lack of mental clarity, lack of energy for relationships, and lack of zest for life. The initial obstacles to successful xPAP therapy are the user’s attitude and uncomfortable (occasionally unbearable) sleeping conditions due to unsuitable equipment. Gone is the illusion of a good night’s sleep. You may have temporary problems such as insomnia, bloating, and rainout (condensation in the hose). Don’t hastily give up on CPAP therapy, when instead you need to give up on a particular piece of equipment or solve a problem. For the first few weeks or months of therapy, the biggest event of each day may be the night. Train for it as you would for an athletic event. Manage your mindset. Manage caffeine, alcohol, drugs, diet, exercise. Get your nose working. Do your homework on equipment options and modifications. Through a combination of ongoing experimentation with better equipment and nightly practice, you can create acceptable (even comfortable) sleeping conditions and work your way toward good sleep again, truly good sleep.

6. Make friends with your mask. If you are so inclined, use common sense, mental imagery, visualization, or prayer to build a peaceful, harmonious, and beneficial relationship with your xPAP machine and accessories (masks, heated humidifier, hose or heated hose, bed pillow, machine software). The modern APAP machine with a heated humidifier and smart card is a marvelous invention. In contrast, for most people, masks are problematic, but there are many options to explore, and hopefully manufacturers will improve masks in the future. Can you become friendly with your equipment? If you can’t, maybe it’s not you; maybe you have unfriendly equipment. Refit and modify it; experiment. Or replace it with equipment that is better suited to your well being.

7. Gather feedback on your progress. Consider keeping a nightly sleep log. A problem may go away one night but come back the next. With a diary or log, you can see, as well as feel, that you really are making progress over time in spite of frequent equipment struggles. If you get a machine with software tracking information, the data is enormously helpful for motivation and problem solving, for both you and your doctor. You will be well aware of problems. Remember to celebrate small victories.

8. Persist in having a positive, problem-solving attitude. Get creative ideas from a CPAP community online, local support group, and other users. Make improvements in your equipment and regimen. Give each change you make some time to work before trying another option. Learn to play the waiting game – waiting for appointments, insurance approval, equipment delivery, adapting to new equipment. Be patient, remembering it’s not always easy when you are sleep deprived. Stay with your therapy, however you need to modify it to make it work. Success is in your hands – and head.

Source: based on personal experience with obstructive sleep apnea.

Want more? See blog peer coaching articles at http://smart-sleep-apnea.blogspot.com .

Not written by healthcare professionals. The information and opinions offered are not intended or recommended as a substitute for professional medical advice. © Mile High Sleeper, May 2006. Permission to use for free educational purposes.

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