First night without CPAP in 3 1/2 years

[Janknitz]

We had a huge windstorm last night! When the lights started flickering at dinner I knew we'd lose electricity, and the lights were out before we finished our meal. I called my eldest and told her to spend the night on campus because driving conditions were bad,and the rest of us hunkered down in my bed to stay warm and read on kindles and iPads. I had our youngest sleep in our bed because we have a beautiful old tree that scares me in storms (yes, we have it checked regularly by an arborist). The tree is right outside the windows of both kids. The electricity didn't come on again until 6:30 am, although it tried to come on a few times during the night which woke us.

So it was a night without CPAP. I had a hard time sleeping because I felt like I was not getting enough air--so used to that comforting pressure and airflow. My sinuses stuffed up, but the beam from my flashlight showed so much stuff in the air because everything was blowing. The filter on my CPAP really helps my allergies.

I also had asthma symptoms that woke me several times--this never happens any more. I don't know if it was the dusty air or some silent reflux without the CPAP. Overall it was a fitful night, but I did sleep pretty well during the second half. I kept reaching for the mask each time I woke, then realizing it wouldn't work.

The most interesting thing is that I don't think I snored. It would be interesting to do another sleep test, since I'm now 70 lbs lighter than I was when the original was done. I don't want to give up CPAP, so it's more of a curiosity. I'll be very happy to mask up tonight.

[DEXSUZ]

jan:

I've often wondered how an un-CPAP night will be when our power goes out. I do know that when I awake early in the morning (5 a.m. or so) and make a trip to the bathroom and decide to go the last bit of the night sans mask I feel as if I'm breathing through the pillow.

What I have also experienced is an occasional abortive nap that never comes to fruition because I start gasping and am jarred awake.

Time will tell.

[ThisIsMyUserName]

I saw a study that said a single night without CPAP can lead to feeling terrible the next day, and on the ocassions where I've removed my mask for large parts of the night (unconsciously), I've felt awful the next day. If you slept without CPAP and felt ok, especially if you're much lighter, I'd go get another sleep test (obviously I wouldn't give up the CPAP until that was done).

[icipher]

I cannot believe that the manufactures don't include some sort of battery back/emergency option for power outages. It borderline enrages me. I am not looking forward to my first night without power. It happens all the time here in the spring or whenever it gets really hot and it ALWAYS seems to happen right around 8 or 9 PM.

[Sheriff Buford]

Thanks for this post... I have often pondered this myself. I know my day will come (a night without the mask). The other day, I dosed off on the couch and my beautiful wife was sitting next to me. When I awoke, she said I sounded real bad.. the snoring and and gasping! I told her, "That's why I wear my "gas mask" every night." She calls my cpap mask, my "gas mask".

Sheriff

[nanwilson]

I don't worry about it.... if the power goes out I just get up and hook up to my battery set up, climb back into bed and sleep fitfully for the rest of the night. All this without taking off my mask .

[Lazer1234]

I am about to do 2 or 3 nights without cpap, feels terrible. I'll let my son try my apap 2-3 nights to see how his sleep is, I suspect that he also has a sleep disorder.
But I will sacrifice a few days of misery, if it can help my son to sleep better.
But it feels terrible to have to be without my dear friends several nights.

[squid13]

This is why you need to get a backup system of some sorts.

[Sleeprider]

I recently had the power go out in the middle of the night. It didn't take long to awaken to the resistance of both apnea and the non-functional machine. I was able to sleep on and off better than expected, but was aware of when the power returned, and I could use the pressurized air again. I miss the freedom of years past when I could sleep through the night or go camping without this blower up my nose. Power loss is not something I fear for one night, but it would sure be bad if it continued several days.

[JohnO]

Thanks for the detailed story! I've wondered myself about how I'd do without my CPAP machine. To date, I haven't had to find out.

Have you considered a backup power source? I've got a pretty simple UPS that could keep my machine running for pretty much a full night. The power here is pretty stable, but we've had some 2-3 minute outages during storms. This allows me to sleep right through them. I have 4-5 UPS units sprinkled throughout my house.

For camping I purchased an awesome lithium battery pack that can easily keep my machine running for 3+ nights.

John

[Janknitz]

I'm pretty sure I did have some apneas even though I did not snore. I was pretty tired as it was my second night in a row of very little sleep. And I had to run through the whole "asthma action plan" this morning, but seem to have gotten on too of things there.

I have considered battery back up, but I really don't think it's worth the investment and maintenance efforts to buy a backup for one night out of more than 1000. I do worry some about when "the big one hits" (earthquake) because I know we could be without electricity for a week or so in that case. But even then, I might be uncomfortable but probably wouldn't die during a short hiatus from CPAP. I would never skip CPAP voluntarily, but I figure during a major catastrophe I'll probably have bigger concerns, in any case. I feel somewhat relieved to have learned that from this experience.