Long term use of CPAP - any negatives

Don't know if it's related to long term use or not, but have been on CPAP for like four years now and about six months ago I started experiencing swallowing a lot of air overnight, sometimes to the point I wake up feeling like I need to throw up. It makes me feel like I had a bad meal, lots of gas cramps, nausea, and the occasional run to worship the porcelain goddess. Never actually throw up, though. Just feel like I'm about to. I have never had my pressure changed since I started therapy. Just one night I awoke with this problem.....and then another night, and another...

I have been using a Cpap for over 20 years and like many others cannot fall asleep without it. There have been no side effects to speak of other than waking up not tired most days which to me was a miracle. Without a Cpap I surly would be dead by now or incapacitated and a Burdon to my family. For those who are experiencing problems keep working with your doctor to get them corrected so that you can better enjoy the benefits of therapy. It isn’t natural for the air to affect the inside of your eyes or create a major gas problem. These problems can be corrected and should be addressed. My pressure is at 17 and I use the Opus 360 nasal pillows with no problems and no longer have any marks on my face. The pressure doesn’t feel that strong anymore but I figure that the ERP has something to do with that, and I recommend is usage for the long term. Not every day is perfect, but even people who do not use a Cpap have bad nights occasionally.

Sleepy Taz wrote:For those who are experiencing problems keep working with your doctor to get them corrected so that you can better enjoy the benefits of therapy. It isn’t natural for the air to affect the inside of your eyes or create a major gas problem. These problems can be corrected and should be addressed.

Thanks for saying this! I am lucky in that I have a PA in the sleep doctor's office who genuinely believes what you say here: That the problems that I'm having adjusting are real and need to be addressed in order for CPAP to really make a difference to my health. So I keep persevering with the help of my PA [and the folks here at cpaptalk ]. And someday (soon?) I really do hope to be able to sleep through (most) nights without waking up during the night and sleep through (most) nights and wake up in the morning without my eyes feeling dried out or my stomach full of air. I am convinced that if/when I can make this work that CPAP will have a long term benefit for my health. But I'm afraid it's only going to happen once these side affect problems are solved.

robysue wrote:

Sleepy Taz wrote:For those who are experiencing problems keep working with your doctor to get them corrected so that you can better enjoy the benefits of therapy. It isn’t natural for the air to affect the inside of your eyes or create a major gas problem. These problems can be corrected and should be addressed.

Thanks for saying this! I am lucky in that I have a PA in the sleep doctor's office who genuinely believes what you say here: That the problems that I'm having adjusting are real and need to be addressed in order for CPAP to really make a difference to my health. So I keep persevering with the help of my PA [and the folks here at cpaptalk ]. And someday (soon?) I really do hope to be able to sleep through (most) nights without waking up during the night and sleep through (most) nights and wake up in the morning without my eyes feeling dried out or my stomach full of air. I am convinced that if/when I can make this work that CPAP will have a long term benefit for my health. But I'm afraid it's only going to happen once these side affect problems are solved.

Robysue,

I know how difficult adjusting to Cpap therapy is and at times it seems it would be easier to just give up. Believe me when I say that you are in an enviable situation with the support from your PA and the resources that are at your fingertips. 20 years ago the RT would come by with the machine and mask and from there you were on your own. There was no scheduled mask replacement or support on how to make it work. Either you did it or you gave up. I encourage you to continue your pursuit of a good nights sleep, and when it happens you will get a feeling of great satisfaction and joy. Just remember that this is a journey and each step that you take brings you closer to what you desire.

Taz

Things have changed with me also--more wrinkles--more loss of hair--my teeth go to bed before i do--don't remember the last time i went to the bathroom--grab car keys and head for town, shop, then i realize I didn't bring my bilfold--my lady friend would show up and i'd ask "who are you ?"--all that changed for the better when I went on cpap---now i have a skip to my step and life is good--:o) --FA

15 + YEARS OF XPAP use and negatives,

Not being able to nap/sleep anywhere.

all the gear I have to carry around when going to the hospital and on overnights/vacation can be annoying but it isn't any worse then packing for my 3 kids used to be when they were little. lol.
In fact its less!!

The Need to keep spares can be annoying also. Mask/machine breaking in the middle of the night or the ferret chewing your hose up I guess can be negatives.

One negative is see others mentioned that I do not have now that I am on a Bi-pap was the air in the stomach part. Don't get that anymore thankfully that was a true negative sometimes.

I still WANT battery backup for power outs. but haven't been able to afford it. Every time i get the $$ saved something more important comes up. we didn't have power for a week one winter. THAT was a negative.

But honestly most of these are pretty minor compared to the positives!!

snoozysue wrote:I am curious about long term use of CPAP and wonder if anyone who has been using it for several years or more has noticed any negative results?
I am sure the positive will always outweigh the negative but I was just wondering??

Search: "Will I look like Miss Piggy from using nasal pillows?" It was a fun thread.

CPAP causes me to have chronic dry eyes due to the air blowing through my tear ducts into my eyes.

Catnapper - Joanie

Shellie_p wrote:15 + YEARS OF XPAP use and negatives, ...

A good list, Shellie_P. I would mostly say "Ditto!", but for me it's about

20 years of use!

And I don't regret it at all. I would have certainly killed myself being to tired to safely drive, had I not started to use CPAP 20 years ago.

Due to a neurological issue, I've switched from CPAP to BiPAP to ASV over the years. And I recently found an article that SPECIFICALLY notes that my central apnea is probably linked to my neurological disorder. (My disorder is rare enough very little is written about it.) Of course, my take on that is "DUH!". They should have asked me. I could have provided my own experience to provide a proof point for that hypothesis.

But most people don't have that type of change over time. In fact, many folks find that with more energy they are better able to drop weight and greatly improve their health and ability to face life.

Shellie_P is right on target:

Shellie_p wrote:But honestly most of these are pretty minor compared to the positives!!