Is it ok to skip a few days a week?

[britinjapan]

I`m a two week or so user of CPAP, and whilst I have adjusted quickly I believe (mainly due to the psychological benefit of seeing the advantages and hearing about the details through a good friend), I feel that when I have a few drinks (twice or so a week), I feel more comfortable without my clap and sleeping on my stomach. I like the variety too.

Any cautions on my approach?

Thanks

[Julie]

Just a few... like don't necessarily count on being the life of the party the next day... actually don't count on being a life - it's incompatible with apnea (as is alcohol). Been sleeping on my stomach for years with a FF mask though, PM me if you would like to know how I do it (it's a little unconventional). If you want a drink early in the evening (a drink, not the bottle), then have one, but just remember that each one is a depressant to some extent, so it will impact your apnea (to some extent .

Skipping days, skipping naps... you're not on cpap for your mother's sake, or your boss's... it's for YOU, so you keep breathing and having a life!

You don't need our permission, we don't even know you and have our own lives to worry about if it comes to that.

Sheesh.

[pats]

I`m a two week or so user of CPAP, and whilst I have adjusted quickly I believe (mainly due to the psychological benefit of seeing the advantages and hearing about the details through a good friend), I feel that when I have a few drinks (twice or so a week), I feel more comfortable without my clap and sleeping on my stomach. I like the variety too.

Any cautions on my approach?

Thanks

The nights on which you have had a few drinks are probably the worst possible nights on which to skip using your CPAP. See http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/caus ... -Apnea.htm.

[carbonman]

Sheesh.

Well said.

Is it ok to loose a few brain cells a week??

You may want to do a little more reading and
get yourself up to speed on what OSA really
does to your body/brain.

[kaiasgram]

I`m a two week or so user of CPAP, and whilst I have adjusted quickly I believe (mainly due to the psychological benefit of seeing the advantages and hearing about the details through a good friend), I feel that when I have a few drinks (twice or so a week), I feel more comfortable without my clap and sleeping on my stomach. I like the variety too.
Any cautions on my approach?
Thanks

britinjapan, your idea will likely meet with more disapproval than suggestions. I have to acknowledge that twice a week is an awful lot of time off of therapy, but I do have one suggestion that I hope will be helpful: Get an oximeter and wear it when you sleep without your machine so you'll at least know what's happening to your blood oxygen level. The results may help you decide how often, if at all, you want to forego the machine. I think this'll be especially important if you've had a few drinks as alcohol does depress the nervous system and as a result, respiration.

[purple]

The posters question may be a bit more complicated than it at first appears.

I had doctor describe to me why single men, and men who were traveling salesman died so often of heart attacks.

He said that typically they would check into a motel/hotel at the end of a day. Since they did not have a lot to do, and their job was stressful, they would have a drink or three, eat a restaurant dinner, which is typical American overlarge portion. Still accompanied by by alcohol. To be finished off with a complimentary creme de menthe, which opens the valve at the top of the stomach. (A large percentage of xPAPers' have that same valve already damaged by GERD to be open.)

Our single man then goes to sleep. Sometime during the night all that food mixing with all that alcohol does what it does. He starts to vomit. As he is still in some level of drunk, he does not quite wake up. The stuff that comes up partially, to be swallowed into his lungs, to block his breathing. A bed partner would at that do something. As he is alone, he can not get air, and the death is recorded as a heart attack.

Throwing up into a mask, and not waking up seems like a similar thing.

Insofar as ever taking time off from using the equipment while sleeping: That seems to me like a really bad idea. If one needs xPAP treatment, one needs it every time one sleeps.

Folks on the forums sometimes report one what is like to miss a night or just a few hours of therapy because of a power outage, or some other kind of reason. Mostly they are looking for a battery, some way to make sure it never happens again.

Usually the positive benefits of therapy accure over a time period of longer than two weeks. If you went six weeks using the machine, and did one night, no alcohol, without it, then you might choose not to drink very much.

Perhaps your question would be more responsibly answered by the RT at your DME, or the Sleep Doctor (call and ask his nurse to relay your question.

Sorry there is no happy answer to this. I know how much I miss a lot of things I used to do. I hope you find an answer that allows you to do what really feels best for you and does not have much disappointment.

[BlackSpinner]

That is sort of like me asking " can I skip my blood pressure meds that make me pee when I want to take the bus?"

If drinking makes it hard for you to use the cpap machine then I suggest you stop drinking.

[Suddenly Worn Out]

I`m a two week or so user of CPAP, and whilst I have adjusted quickly I believe (mainly due to the psychological benefit of seeing the advantages and hearing about the details through a good friend), I feel that when I have a few drinks (twice or so a week), I feel more comfortable without my clap and sleeping on my stomach. I like the variety too.

Any cautions on my approach?

Thanks

No it is not OK. CPAP is not something you do "just sometimes." You should aim for 100% compliance. Besides, what are you doing having a few drinks that late in the day? CPAP users are not supposed to drink much past 6 pm.

7 days a week, 365 days a year CPAP user.

Eric

[Bookbear]

Bluntly.... no. Like it or not, this isn't an optional thing (unless you view breathing or living as 'optional'). Yes, it can be VERY daunting in the beginning. We've all faced that, and more than a few of us have had times when we've desperately wanted to be 'normal' again, to just lay down and go to sleep like everyone else. I have. Then I remember the people in my life that I would miss terribly, the things I love doing, the hobbies that take some skill and concentration, the joys of reading or listening to music; all of which will be gone forever when I die. I am in no hurry for that to happen, so I wear the mask EVERY time I lay down... to nap, or to sleep. I know that undiagnosed apnea killed my dad, and has shortened my life. I've no intention of letting it steal any more of my life.

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

Sleep Apnea doesn't go away just because we don't like it or because it is inconvenient. Correct treatment for Sleep Apnea is using it every time you go to sleep. Using your treatment occasionally (or occasionally skipping it) is still causing damage from Sleep Apnea by it being untreated and it is a serious gamble that eventually you will lose!

A couple of things to continue your journey on the right foot:

wiki/index.php/Obstructive_Sleep_Apnea# ... leep_Apnea

wiki/index.php/Are_You_Sleeping_with_th ... e_Enemy.3F

http://www.sleepapneaosa.com/dangers.htm

[wm_hess]

Think how many people you've heard say they're going to stop smoking. They stop for a day or two, then say well just one won't hurt me. After that it's always another and another, until they're right back being a full time smoker.

If you start skipping one or two days a week because it's comfortable you may very well decide to stop three or four times a week only because it is more comfortable. They you'll decide why bother in the first place, and you'll wear it maybe once or twice a week until it is put in the closet never again to see the light of day.

If you feel you've adapted quite well, stay the course, and stay away from the slippery slope of comfort and convenience to non compliance.

-Bill

[Guest]

I`m a two week or so user of CPAP, and whilst I have adjusted quickly I believe (mainly due to the psychological benefit of seeing the advantages and hearing about the details through a good friend), I feel that when I have a few drinks (twice or so a week), I feel more comfortable without my clap and sleeping on my stomach. I like the variety too.

Any cautions on my approach?

Thanks

Maybe you like playing Russian Roulette, too........

Here's a true story. Five years ago last Wednesday (Sep. 19, 2007), a fellow we knew out in the Seattle, WA area got called out to his job during the night (he managed a hotel). When he got home in the wee hours of the morning, he went back to bed and opted not to use his CPAP machine. He didn't wake up.

Anyway, if you want to compete for the Darwin Awards, go right ahead. It's your life.

.

[kteague]

Just this week a friend of a friend, maybe fifty-ish, was found dead in bed - it was apparently one of those times he opted to not mask up. Haven't heard autopsy results yet on cause of death. May be unrelated, but the family felt it was worthy of mention.

[britinjapan]

Many many thanks ! Yes, I have to admit, I guess its a bit like a smoker who is asking if he can smoke once a week.

I think I`ll try a few drinks early on in the evening, and quit drinking 3-4 hours before I hit the sack...as a way to quitting finally soon.

Your honest opinions were appreciated.

[BlackSpinner]

Many many thanks ! Yes, I have to admit, I guess its a bit like a smoker who is asking if he can smoke once a week.

I think I`ll try a few drinks early on in the evening, and quit drinking 3-4 hours before I hit the sack...as a way to quitting finally soon.

Your honest opinions were appreciated.

You are very welcome and thank you for taking all the comments so rationally.

We really hate losing members due to poor compliance. They are like friends we never met whose hand we couldn't hold onto on the edge of that cliff.