Starting CPAP - What are the worst things about it?

Hi all,

I've been looking in to CPAP and was wondering what the worst parts about it are and how you overcome it? I'm worried about the noise.

Thanks in advance!

Most newer machines are very quiet. They can be made even quieter by placing the machine on a thick computer mouse pad. This will prevent any vibration noise from being transferred to the hard surface of the bed side table. Some masks are quieter than others due to the way air exhausts from them. If you are bothered by the noise, a white noise machine will often prevent the noise from bothering you. Sometimes the noise from a ceiling fan will drown out the sound of the machine. A few people have resorted to sleeping with ear plugs in their ears. For most of us, the hardest part was getting used to having that alien thing on our face when trying to go to sleep.

faf-nf wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 12, 2019 8:50 pm

Hi all,

I've been looking in to CPAP and was wondering what the worst parts about it are and how you overcome it? I'm worried about the noise.

What noise?

Exactly!
What noise?
The only bad thing about it is if one is used by a mean, nasty person, then they are likely to live longer.
But there is a chance they might feel better and therefore act nicer. An outside chance . . .

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 12, 2019 11:12 pm

Exactly!
What noise?
The only bad thing about it is if one is used by a mean, nasty person, then they are likely to live longer.
But there is a chance they might feel better and therefore act nicer. An outside chance . . .

Nah it just gives me more energy to be mean and nasty.


Finding a mask, taming the leaks and learning to live with the alien on my face has been the biggest problem.

I would worry more about your heart and general health than about any noise.

faf-nf wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 12, 2019 8:50 pm

Hi all,

I've been looking in to CPAP and was wondering what the worst parts about it are and how you overcome it? I'm worried about the noise.

Thanks in advance!

Why do you want to look for or focus on the negatives?
If you do this therapy correctly, there are none.
Get your mindset reoriented to look for the positives. Sleeping better, better health, living longer, etc.

Noise? I never hear my machines. They're totally silent.

When I had my sleep study and found out what was wrong with me, I was overjoyed that the solution was going to be so easy.

Don't look at the glass as half empty........look at it as half full. It makes life easier.

You found this place. Now, do lots of reading and be thankful they diagnosed your problem and gave you the solution.


Den

.

Wulfman... wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 13, 2019 1:22 am

Noise? I never hear my machines. They're totally silent.

You might want to check the batteries in your hearing aids..

The newer machines, which are far quieter than yours, aren't silent, but they can be drowned out by a simple fan in the room.

palerider wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 13, 2019 1:38 am

Wulfman... wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 13, 2019 1:22 am

Noise? I never hear my machines. They're totally silent.

You might want to check the batteries in your hearing aids..

The newer machines, which are far quieter than yours, aren't silent, but they can be drowned out by a simple fan in the room.

We don't use hearing aids when in bed peace at last

Jas_williams wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 13, 2019 2:50 am

palerider wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 13, 2019 1:38 am

Wulfman... wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 13, 2019 1:22 am

Noise? I never hear my machines. They're totally silent.

You might want to check the batteries in your hearing aids..

The newer machines, which are far quieter than yours, aren't silent, but they can be drowned out by a simple fan in the room.

We don't use hearing aids when in bed peace at last

Well, that is one way to silence the fairly quiet machines.

For me, adjusting has been hard. My sinuses hated -- still hate -- my nasal mask. Full face mask dried my mouth out badly, and I can't wear them anyway because of my jaw. Even after a couple months of constant use I often take my mask off in my sleep. Still ironing out the kinks but the quality sleep has been worth it.

Finding a mask that worked well for me was a bit of a challenge. In the beginning I thought it was my responsibility to adjust to the mask I was given, not realizing I could try others to find one best suited for me. Also didn't know about data capable machines that could have let me know my treatment was subpar and I was mouth breathing when I was asleep. Once I found my way here and got some guidance my treatment turned the corner. Whatever you encounter, let us know so we can bombard you with our tips and personal experiences. Who knows, maybe you'll take to this like a duck to water.

faf-nf wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 12, 2019 8:50 pm

Hi all,

I've been looking in to CPAP and was wondering what the worst parts about it are and how you overcome it? I'm worried about the noise.

Thanks in advance!

The noise is not a problem. My husband is a light sleeper and it doesn't bother him at all.

Everyone has different issues as they adjust to the cpap. I'm on month 4 and feel like I could NOT sleep without it now. That's because of all the help I received here.

Just look at it as a new adventure and chance to learn. When you have questions ask here. The rewards are worth the effort.

Hoping to hear more from you soon!

faf-nf wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 12, 2019 8:50 pm

Hi all,

I've been looking in to CPAP and was wondering what the worst parts about it are and how you overcome it? I'm worried about the noise.

Thanks in advance!

I was real lucky and took right to it. You may have to search for the right mask for awhile. Other than that, your biggest obstacle to overcome is accepting it as necessary to feeling better.

Machine noise shouldn't be an issue unless there is something wrong with the machine.
While not totally silent (remember they do have motors and fans) you really pretty much have to lay your ear on the machine to hear the motor noise.

When I first started therapy my husband used to poke me in the middle of the night and tell me to put my mask on...cause he couldn't hear anything going in the bedroom. Nice of him to help but the mask and machine was on and he woke me up for nothing.....didn't make for a happy wife. I finally showed him how to feel over my face for the vented air streaming out if he was worried that I wasn't wearing my mask or the machine was off.
And that was back in 2009 and I was using the old M series machines which a lot of people complained about sounding like a jet engine.
And there's nothing wrong with hubby's hearing either. I owned 2 M Series machines back then. Neither one sounded like a jet engine.
Now I could hear a faint motor/fan noise if I tried real hard and had my ear about 6 inches from the machine. That was the extent of any noise I had back then and the newer machines now....even less machine motor/fan noise.

What people often blame on machine noise is actually breathing noises or venting noise. Whole different kind of noise with other ways to reduce the problem.

IMHO....the mask journey and learning to sleep with the alien stuck on your face and blowing air up the nose or in the mouth was the hardest part. Finding the right mask for your own personal needs and making it work...that to me was the hardest part and even it was not horribly difficult. Just took some time to find the right one and then some time for the brain to get used to the alien on the face.
The brain not waking me up in the middle of the night just to say "hey dude...did you know something weird is stuck on your face"...was the most disruptive thing for me. It just took some time for the brain to look at the mask as its new best friend and not some alien stuck somewhere it shouldn't be.
After about 3 to 4 months...I would wake up and not even think the mask or machine was on and would have to feel for it on my face to confirm it was still there doing its job. I didn't hear anything and I didn't feel anything.