Dangers of using the CPAP?

kirkegrd wrote:I'm a new CPAPer - and I guess in the back of my mind I do wonder if somehow the body becomes 'accustomed' to the breathing aid and therefore without the machine, the apnea would get even worse. Ie - no specific downside to using it but perhaps can a greater dependence develop? Has any research been done on this to anyone's knowledge?

I only have moderate apnea and can certainly sleep fine without it. But, my doc says I should use it, so I've been trying to.

You would not fail to treat high blood pressure or Diabetes for fear of becoming dependent on the medication! This makes no more sense!

Also, my sleep doctor says that by reducing the inflammation in your throat, you're actually improving the underlying condition!

kirkegrd wrote:I'm a new CPAPer - and I guess in the back of my mind I do wonder if somehow the body becomes 'accustomed' to the breathing aid and therefore without the machine, the apnea would get even worse. Ie - no specific downside to using it but perhaps can a greater dependence develop? Has any research been done on this to anyone's knowledge?

I only have moderate apnea and can certainly sleep fine without it. But, my doc says I should use it, so I've been trying to.

Don't think of it as a breathing aid, it's not. You're perfectly able to breathe all day long on your own, think of it as a splint that holds your airway open so that you can carry on doing what you do so well during the day. You just need a little help sometimes when you're laying down.

kirkegrd wrote:I'm a new CPAPer - and I guess in the back of my mind I do wonder if somehow the body becomes 'accustomed' to the breathing aid and therefore without the machine, the apnea would get even worse. Ie - no specific downside to using it but perhaps can a greater dependence develop? Has any research been done on this to anyone's knowledge?

I only have moderate apnea and can certainly sleep fine without it. But, my doc says I should use it, so I've been trying to

Common misconception about cpap/apap....the machine breathing for you like a ventilator you see in the movies.

These machines do NOT breathe for you (unless you are using one of the high end specialty machines that works like a ventilator and that's for a totally different problem than obstructive sleep apnea)...you are still breathing on your own just like you do during the day.
The only difference is the pressure provided by the machine helps hold the airway open so that when YOU BREATHE the air will move in and out of your lungs like it should without hitting the roadblock of a bunch of floppy tissues blocking the airway.
You are doing the breathing...your muscles still work just like they do during the day and they won't get weak or anything like that. Your apnea won't get worse from using cpap.
The only dependency that might develop is that you might get "dependent" on getting good sleep for a change.

Pugsy wrote:The only dependency that might develop is that you might get "dependent" on getting good sleep for a change.

+1 That's what I was trying to figure out how to say.

Cpap helps me breathe while asleep--that is all.
If I fall asleep without cpap, I will sleep, but will also snore and wake with a headache--I hate that.
Glasses did not make my vision worse--they help me SEE--my vision was always poor.
My hearing aid does not make my hearing worse--age gets all the credit for that.
Using assistive devices do not disable us--they ENABLE us.

D.H. wrote:

Tahera1979 wrote:Thank you for the comments! I am much more relieved and I will try my best to have my DH sign up on this website. I am not hopeful though but let's see.

I think it needs some getting used to but I hope that it will be fruitful. I sincerely hope that we will get the mask issues and his snoring under control so we can focus on the benefits of the machine. Fingers crossed!

It's really great to see that we are not alone.

It's more important that he adheres to therapy than that he sign up for the forum.

BTW, you stated anxieties about the therapy in your original post, but you did not state what you were afraid might happen.

The one thing that wasn't mentioned is that if he takes medication for blood pressure or blood sugar, they can go too low with CPAP. If that happens, a doctor will need to adjust the medication, not the CPAP therapy.

BTW: D.H. acts as out Bull %hit Detector here a high %age if his ideas are straight off the Bull %shit Pile. Beware! Jim

kirkegrd wrote:I'm a new CPAPer - and I guess in the back of my mind I do wonder if somehow the body becomes 'accustomed' to the breathing aid and therefore without the machine, the apnea would get even worse. Ie - no specific downside to using it but perhaps can a greater dependence develop? Has any research been done on this to anyone's knowledge?

I only have moderate apnea and can certainly sleep fine without it. But, my doc says I should use it, so I've been trying to.

where do these ideas come from?

think of cpap like glasses, if you take 'em off, you can't see anymore. if you take the cpap off, you can't breath anymore.

and, like your vision, it tends to get worse with age.

Thank you so much everyone! I am glad I found this site and I will be signing up for it. I have had some server issues and it didn't work yesterday. I will try again.

It has been a great relief to be able to speak to you all about our CPAP journey as people who don't use it or don't live with someone who uses it would have a hard time understanding the challenges, especially in the beginning of the therapy.

I am glad to read that using the machine with no underlying conditions may not be dangerous. My mother is diabetic and has low blood sugar but the doctor has sent her in for a sleep study so it's good to know that she would have to be cautious before or when using a CPAP.

Someone had asked me before about my worry and it is merely the fact that there seems to not be much research on the dangers of using the CPAP but the more I speak to CPAP users the more I get to know more about the therapy. In our case we didn't get a great consultation unfortunately so it was important for me to understand the procedure to put my mind at ease.

Tahera1979 wrote:Thank you so much everyone! I am glad I found this site and I will be signing up for it. I have had some server issues and it didn't work yesterday. I will try again.

It has been a great relief to be able to speak to you all about our CPAP journey as people who don't use it or don't live with someone who uses it would have a hard time understanding the challenges, especially in the beginning of the therapy.

I am glad to read that using the machine with no underlying conditions may not be dangerous. My mother is diabetic and has low blood sugar but the doctor has sent her in for a sleep study so it's good to know that she would have to be cautious before or when using a CPAP.

Someone had asked me before about my worry and it is merely the fact that there seems to not be much research on the dangers of using the CPAP but the more I speak to CPAP users the more I get to know more about the therapy. In our case we didn't get a great consultation unfortunately so it was important for me to understand the procedure to put my mind at ease.

I was talking to a progressive sleep doctor a while back, who was experimenting with various cpap models and modes of operation, trying to figure out *IF* there was actually any way a person could harm themselves using one.

the only thing we were able to come up with was hyperventilating oneself if one set a bilevel machine up for really crazy pressures... it'd be like taking huge deep breaths all night long, which would cause too much Co2 to be blown off, and temporarily mess with your blood chemistry. you could pretty easily induce cheyne-stokes respiration with that. but your body would be working to compensate, you'd have to have an even more specialized machine to override that... not sure what a night of alkalosis would do to a person. weakness, cramps, etc.

but as far as accidentially causing some harm with all but one model of cpap? nah, not happening. it's probably one of the least 'side effecty' medical treatments around.

Some of us have noticed a little soreness in our chest muscles at first, but it soon passes as we become used to breathing better than we once did. Not really a "problem", per se, but some have been temporarily concerned.

The risks of using CPAP are much less than the risk of most medications that people don't think twice about. Also, the risk of interactions is also less. Actually, the biggest interaction risk is that some medications might start working too well (especially blood pressure and diabetes medicine) and your dosage would need to be reduced.

That's great to know! I am happy that the machine offers more pros than cons which is great!
It has improved my husbands snoring and well being so much already and I really can't wait for the day that all other issues are fixed and we can get back to normal.

How long did it take you all to adjust to it fully?

Tahera1979 wrote: How long did it take you all to adjust to it fully?

Took me about 2 weeks, gradually wearing the mask longer and longer. After about 2 months I switched off the ramp feature (a bit like taking the stabilisers off a kiddies bicycle), I didn't need that reassurance anymore. After a year I was convinced the machine was broken as I just didn't feel the air anymore. Some adjust to their masks just sitting awake watching TV or reading which sounds like a good idea.

Thank you very much for sharing your experience. I am glad you got used to the mask. Did you manage to get the machine fixed? I hope you have.

They told us that the machine lasts for 10 years approximately but I suppose that differs from machine to machine.

Tahera1979 wrote:Thank you very much for sharing your experience. I am glad you got used to the mask. Did you manage to get the machine fixed? I hope you have.

They told us that the machine lasts for 10 years approximately but I suppose that differs from machine to machine.

It wasn't broken at all! To clarify, I was trying to point out that I had got so used to the therapy that I didn't notice the pressure anymore, I still don't. All good