CPAP and ear issue

[SleepingUgly]

I meant what are you doing with CPAP? If you can't sleep with it right now, I don't understand the point of this. You've spent your whole life sleeping without CPAP; what's another few more days?

[loopylooloo]

I meant what are you doing with CPAP? If you can't sleep with it right now, I don't understand the point of this. You've spent your whole life sleeping without CPAP; what's another few more days?

Oooh...you mean just wait to find out what is going on before I try it again. I think I get you now. I guess I just hate the brain fog I have..though it's worse since I've been diagnosed, honestly. During the day I feel like I'm only half there sometimes and I figure it is because I need more real sleep. But yes, what's a few more days I guess...

[SleepingUgly]

I meant what are you doing with CPAP? If you can't sleep with it right now, I don't understand the point of this. You've spent your whole life sleeping without CPAP; what's another few more days?

Oooh...you mean just wait to find out what is going on before I try it again. I think I get you now. I guess I just hate the brain fog I have..though it's worse since I've been diagnosed, honestly. During the day I feel like I'm only half there sometimes and I figure it is because I need more real sleep. But yes, what's a few more days I guess...

I was trying to get a sense of how much you are able to use CPAP and how much it is helping vs. hurting you right now during your cold. If you said you can only keep it on 3 hours a night, during which you wake up countless times, I would guess it's doing more harm than good. During a cold is a real lousy time to try to acclimate to CPAP. (Also, have your ENT consider whether you actually have a cold vs. congestion caused by the CPAP/humidification settings.)

I know there's a lot of scary stuff written about sleeping without CPAP, but you've been doing this your whole life. Assuming the CPAP didn't cause the congestion, it's a temporary thing, and personally I can't imagine it makes much difference whether you start now or start in a week. If they'd delayed giving your CPAP by a week, you wouldn't be starting.

Now if you say your oxygen drops to nothing without CPAP, I might say don't go a minute without it, but frankly, if you aren't able to sleep with it, what good is it doing? Hence my poorly worded question...are you even able to sleep with it? If not, it's not helping you right now.

[loopylooloo]

Oh, yes, I got what you meant after I read it again.

And according to my ENT, it may be hurting me more right now. He does seem to think it is a cold causing the issue. He suggested I might have to wait another week to really try it again. He is also the first one who talked to me about my sleep study results. He said my results show I have mild to moderate sleep apnea and my results are not as severe as many.

He said he's absolutely seen much worse and that he thinks once my inflammation settles down CPAP is really going to help me. Once the APAP auto tritates me we will look at the pressure it suggests and if I have any ear issues then we will possibly lower the pressure enough where it is still benefiting me but not causing the ear issues. He said CPAP can definitely cause ear and sinus issues for some patients and that saying it doesn't (which I've read on another sites) is irresponsible.

He didn't give me false hope but he said with my numbers he wouldn't be surprised that if I continue to lose weight (I've already lost 35 lbs since December and started before I even knew I had sleep apnea) I might not need the CPAP someday. That is a MAYBE, of course. No guarantees.

All in all an encouraging meeting.

I meant what are you doing with CPAP? If you can't sleep with it right now, I don't understand the point of this. You've spent your whole life sleeping without CPAP; what's another few more days?

Oooh...you mean just wait to find out what is going on before I try it again. I think I get you now. I guess I just hate the brain fog I have..though it's worse since I've been diagnosed, honestly. During the day I feel like I'm only half there sometimes and I figure it is because I need more real sleep. But yes, what's a few more days I guess...

I was trying to get a sense of how much you are able to use CPAP and how much it is helping vs. hurting you right now during your cold. If you said you can only keep it on 3 hours a night, during which you wake up countless times, I would guess it's doing more harm than good. During a cold is a real lousy time to try to acclimate to CPAP. (Also, have your ENT consider whether you actually have a cold vs. congestion caused by the CPAP/humidification settings.)

I know there's a lot of scary stuff written about sleeping without CPAP, but you've been doing this your whole life. Assuming the CPAP didn't cause the congestion, it's a temporary thing, and personally I can't imagine it makes much difference whether you start now or start in a week. If they'd delayed giving your CPAP by a week, you wouldn't be starting.

Now if you say your oxygen drops to nothing without CPAP, I might say don't go a minute without it, but frankly, if you aren't able to sleep with it, what good is it doing? Hence my poorly worded question...are you even able to sleep with it? If not, it's not helping you right now.