Anyone "take breaks" from their CPAP?

[bette]

I have been on CPAP for less than 1 yr. and did not use it last night(I have the stomach flu and didn't want to risk not getting my mask off in time to make it to the toilet) and I am paying for it today. No way would I go on vacation without taking my machine.

[RipVanWinkleWannabe]

Well, when I started this thread, I'd only been on my CPAP for a couple of weeks (after letting it sit idle for almost 3 years) and wasn't completely convinced it was benefitting me enough to worry about dragging it on a plane/cruise ship/etc. After receiving my card reader and software, I discovered I was getting numerous large leaks throughout the night that were compromising my therapy. Got those corrected and have slept LL-free the past four nights. The difference is amazing, and I'm sure I haven't even realized the full effects yet. All this it to say that I'll not be traveling without, or taking breaks from, my CPAP unless absolutely necessary. Funny how something I hated so bad so long has now become a dear friend.

[roster]

Well, when I started this thread, I'd only been on my CPAP for a couple of weeks (after letting it sit idle for almost 3 years) and wasn't completely convinced it was benefitting me enough to worry about dragging it on a plane/cruise ship/etc. After receiving my card reader and software, I discovered I was getting numerous large leaks throughout the night that were compromising my therapy. Got those corrected and have slept LL-free the past four nights. The difference is amazing, and I'm sure I haven't even realized the full effects yet. All this it to say that I'll not be traveling without, or taking breaks from, my CPAP unless absolutely necessary. Funny how something I hated so bad so long has now become a dear friend.

Rip,

Excellent!

You have a great story to tell to those who do not have software/card reader. I hope you will repeat it here often.

I hope you will also tell your doctors and other medical professionals.

Best regards,

[dowen]

Dowen,

Sorry to say it again, but you have no software/card reader and therefore cannot tell whether your CPAP therapy is effective. The pressure could be wrong and you could be having undetected mask leaks. This could be why you feel the same on days when you don't use CPAP - you could be having just as many apneas with CPAP as without (I know from my own horrible experience).

Rooster

No need to be sorry. My machine allows me to view efficacy results on the clinician's menu of its LCD display. I check it every morning after using the machine and record the pressure, leak rate, AHI, AI, and HI in a spiral notebook. My numbers are consistently good.

Pressure is auto adjusting from 6 to 20 and rarely exceeds 8.

Leak rate is below 0.10 most nights. Many a night it is below 0.05.

AHI is below 3 most nights.

AI is below 0.5 most nights.

I've also sent my card to the DME and had them send me a detailed software report as a pdf. I've gone over the report with my doc. I do have data about how effective my therapy is.

regards
dowen

[roster]

Dowen,

Glad to hear you are getting such good results!

[nate fry]

No, I want to live.

[nate fry]

Leave your humidifier at home , I never use mine. If you do you machine may be set to high.

[loulou]

If I want to be tired, miserable and up all night peeing and not sleeping, sure, I can take a break.
I just have to endure the next day tired and unable to concentrate and focus.

I had a friend whose husband used a CPAP for 10 years and they had the brilliant idea of going on vacation without the CPAP.
The vacation was a disaster. I will never forget that so I did not need to test that for myself. I have a spare CPAP in my car all the time.
I love my days after a good nights sleep !
Yahoo for CPAPS, after 40 years of being tried ALL the time, I finally am rested the last 6 years!

[Mebake]

Only if I did not want to sleep and risk my life. My answer is no.

[wandererrob]

I did a few weeks ago. Forgive me if this is a bit gross, but to explain the reasoning... I had a zit under my nose right where the nasal mask sits and it wouldn't heal. I took a few days off to let it heal.

Now, I've been feeling like this thing isn't really working all that well (been on the CPAP since April of this year, so I'm still new). And I was feeling fine the first 3 mornings, but the 4th... whoa! Zombie!

Needless to say, never again. I still have not gotten that "new man" feeling I've heard so much about, but I certainly felt noticably worse after a few days off CPAP.

[BlackSpinner]

I spent Sunday night holding the hair of my puking daughter every hour on the hour. (I know TMI) I got maybe 3 hours of choppy sleep - and felt like pre cpap self - tired, cranky, unable to focus. Not the way I would want to feel on my vacation.

[roster]

......
Needless to say, never again. I still have not gotten that "new man" feeling I've heard so much about, but I certainly felt noticably worse after a few days off CPAP.

Do you have the tools to monitor apneas, hypopneas, snores, and mask leak?

There is a good chance you are not feeling well because your therapy is ineffective.

[Bearded_One]

I spent Sunday night holding the hair of my puking daughter every hour on the hour. (I know TMI)...

I think that somebody make things called Scrunchies to hold hair back like that.

[BlackSpinner]

I think that somebody make things called Scrunchies to hold hair back like that.

She couldn't stand them in bed and when an attack hit they were nowhere to be found in the run for the bathroom. It is amazing how an independent 20 yr old turns into a 6 year old when sick!