USING CPAP WITH NO HUMIDIFIER NOW

[DeeCPAP]

In another thread I mentioned having problems with the humidifier (and the DME!) so I'll now have to go without one for a day or so, and hopefully, no longer -- or at least until they say my S9 machine IS covered by a warranty. My humidifier has been turning itself off and I wake up because of cold nostrils. Ouch!

If I go without connecting the humidifier, will the same thing happen? The range of weather outside has been around 70-80 and I keep my windows slightly ajar.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Julie]

A lot of us never use a humidifer, so maybe close your windows for a night or two if it's cold... but I don't understand why you started a new thread re this (or why all the caps).

[Sheriff Buford]

Though some folks need an humidifier, I often suggest that everyone see if they really do. I only use mine when I feel stuffy.... only once and at the most, twice a year. Less fuss and mess!
Sheriff

[Dubbayoo]

I find I use less water in the winter when my Windows are closed. I could probably not use one. I live in Atlanta so winter is a relative term.

[DeeCPAP]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to play devil's advocate in this message (i.e. these are the arguments I have with myself).

I decided not to use the CPAP at all for now. The gear has always been problematic AND I didn't feel too much difference in the way I felt after starting the CPAP. I'm in the population who's BLOOD OXYGEN levels remain within normal limits when I took the sleep study.

If there IS a difference, I'll wait until until I can get a different mask that works for me. If the dangers of going without a mask was that serious for ALL cpap users, masks would be fitted immediately until they worked for the patient, not every six months. Doctors right now don't wait to give antibiotics for infections because they KNOW the dangers.

Sleep apnea researchers lumps all sleep apnea the same regardless of blood oxygen levels. That's a research error. More refined measures are needed. Medical research HAS been wrong in the past. Example, a couple of decades ago older women were URGED to take hormones as preventive measures against heart disease and other horrible illnesses, then they retracted it after realizing it causes more health problems than it helps. The same happened with people with back pain and xrays where abnormalities were found in the spine, but later, people with no pain were also found to have similar abnormalities of the spine.

Life these days is anxiety provoking enough without having to worry about sleeping, at least for me. If I become more symptomatic then I'll go back on it sooner. It's my own research on myself -- the proof is in the pudding.

[Julie]

You could not possibly make any less sense. The mask is something we all have to find for ourselves, no DME can auto. know just what will work for your face overnight in which position lying down, but at least you get the benefit of SOME Cpap even with a lousy mask. Just not using the machine at all (and what the heck did the humidifier have to do with it in the end if it's about the mask?) is cutting off YOUR nose to spite your face and your completely erroneous 'research'. Good luck.

[chunkyfrog]

Not everyone is "lucky" enough to have strong symptoms like mine (nightmares/headaches),
that encourage consistent use; but the same damage is still happening!
Your brain/body is still suffering from the rush of stress hormones
that come each time you CHOKE in your sleep. (have an apnea)
Sleeping without the humidity (or with a crappy mask) is better than possibly not waking up--ever.
Please don't give up.

[palerider]

...I decided not to use the CPAP at all for now. ...masks would be fitted immediately ...Doctors right now don't wait to give antibiotics for infections ...Sleep apnea researchers lumps all sleep apnea the same regardless of blood oxygen levels. That's a research error.... older women were URGED to take hormones ... It's my own research on myself -- the proof is in the pudding.

nothing to do here, move along folks.

[chunkyfrog]

nothing to do here, move along folks.

You are probably right. The OP would probably rather DIE than try.

[Goofproof]

...I decided not to use the CPAP at all for now. ...masks would be fitted immediately ...Doctors right now don't wait to give antibiotics for infections ...Sleep apnea researchers lumps all sleep apnea the same regardless of blood oxygen levels. That's a research error.... older women were URGED to take hormones ... It's my own research on myself -- the proof is in the pudding.

nothing to do here, move along folks.

Dead man sleeping, until they get the hole dug! Or not Sleeping. I like that one about cutting your nose off, dispite your face, definitely not a candidate for a nasal mask. Jim

Getting a mask that works is a personal thing, many times it's the patients own brain that's their worst enemy, DME'S can't transplant them. If they could maybe they would start in house.

[DeeCPAP]

I can see from the responses there are a lot of emotionally mature people here from the wording of some of the responses I received... like from Chunky and Goofy.

A word to the wise: My own sleep doc who's risen in the ranks of sleep researchers told me that when he was in college he had sleep apnea but didn't have symptoms because he slept on his side. The reason it's called OBSTRUCTIVE sleep apnea is because the tongue slides to the back of the throat when sleeping on your back, but for MANY people, the tongue CAN'T obstruct the airway when sleeping on one's side. Why don't the naysayers lie on your beds right now and check it out for yourselves.

[palerider]

The reason it's called OBSTRUCTIVE sleep apnea is because the tongue slides to the back of the throat when sleeping on your back, but for MANY people, the tongue CAN'T obstruct the airway when sleeping on one's side. Why don't the naysayers lie on your beds right now and check it out for yourselves.

gee, if only it were that simple... then *nobody* would ever need cpap.

no, dear, the reason it's called OBSTRUCTIVE sleep apnea is that something in your airway (which COULD be the tongue) OBSTRUCTS your breathing.

if you learn more, you'll find that some people have OSA in ALL positions, prone, supine, or on their sides, it is typically worse when on one's back... that is true, but sleeping on one's side, or front is NOT a cure, unless you're just lucky.

and if it were a cure, and you were doing that, then why'd you ever go have a sleep test, and why did it show that you had any significant apnea?

[nanwilson]

I can see from the responses there are a lot of emotionally mature people here from the wording of some of the responses I received... like from Chunky and Goofy.

A word to the wise: My own sleep doc who's risen in the ranks of sleep researchers told me that when he was in college he had sleep apnea but didn't have symptoms because he slept on his side. The reason it's called OBSTRUCTIVE sleep apnea is because the tongue slides to the back of the throat when sleeping on your back, but for MANY people, the tongue CAN'T obstruct the airway when sleeping on one's side. Why don't the naysayers lie on your beds right now and check it out for yourselves.

Excuse me!!!! I have never slept on my back, I sleep on my side or stomach and STILL have sleep apnea. The only thing that keeps my sleep apnea at bay is the machine... used daily for almost 6 years. Your tongue can still slide back and you throat will close off when sleeping on your side, mine did it all the time until I got my machine.
You are looking for any excuse to stop.... don't do it!

[DeeCPAP]

The reason it's called OBSTRUCTIVE sleep apnea is because the tongue slides to the back of the throat when sleeping on your back, but for MANY people, the tongue CAN'T obstruct the airway when sleeping on one's side. Why don't the naysayers lie on your beds right now and check it out for yourselves.

gee, if only it were that simple... then *nobody* would ever need cpap.

no, dear, the reason it's called OBSTRUCTIVE sleep apnea is that something in your airway (which COULD be the tongue) OBSTRUCTS your breathing.

if you learn more, you'll find that some people have OSA in ALL positions, prone, supine, or on their sides, it is typically worse when on one's back... that is true, but sleeping on one's side, or front is NOT a cure, unless you're just lucky.

and if it were a cure, and you were doing that, then why'd you ever go have a sleep test, and why did it show that you had any significant apnea?

You're putting words in my mouth. Re-read what I wrote -- and aim for comprehension this time. I simply relayed the story that my sleep research doc told me. When he slept on his side he didn't have SYMPTOMS of sleep apnea. I didn't say it CURED him, but rather alleviated the symptoms of HIS sleep apnea -- he had stopped sleeping on his back and his throat stopped obstructing his breathing.

[Julie]

So he may have had what's called 'positional' apnea. So what? It doesn't mean that's what you have or what I have or anything else... but you're in such denial about everything and so sure you know all the answers, I wonder if there's any point at all here in going further. If you want help with something specific, humidity or masks or understanding software or anything else, be specific and we'll do our best, but it won't last long if you come right back with some ignorant argument (based on your one known sleep doc's words) that makes our advice a waste of time.

The people who've responded to your notes are long time, very experienced and very knowledgable, but you don't want to listen, just vent. How sad.