Driving with CPAP

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 7:38 am

This might be a rather stupid question, but I was wondering if anyone uses their CPAP while driving? If so, does it seem to help keep you more alert? I still get a bit sleepy if I have been driving and "running around" a lot toward late afternoon.

Since I have some trips of about 3 hours driving time coming up I was thinking about getting one of the AC/DC cigarette lighter adapters to use it while driving.

Hugh Jass · Post by **Hugh Jass** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:39 am

I wouldn't recommend it.

If you begin to associate your CPAP with keeping yourself awake, you're going to open up the door for a host of insomnia problems.

Personally, putting on my mask helps make me sleepy. Not something I want behind the wheel.

Also, I wonder if you would be opening up yourself to a lawsuit should you be involved in an accident. Not sure if it's legal to drive with such a device.

Regards.

SleepyGuy · Post by **SleepyGuy** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 1:37 am

I don't see how this would help.

If you have sleep apnea, when you sleep, your throat has a tendency to close up so you can't breathe. To breathe again, you must go to a lower level of sleep or even wake up. The CPAP machine keeps your air passages open so you can breathe and this does not happen.

When you are awake, this is not a problem. The increased CPAP pressure itself does not do anything to help if your air passages are already open, so I don't see how the CPAP will help you if you use it when you are awake.

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 6:55 am

My thinking was that it would increase airflow to the lungs and raise the oxygen level to the brain, thus making you more alert.

I don't like using the Provigil because, while it does make me alert, it gives me an extreme case of dry mouth, which isn't even listed as one of the side-effects.

bozmon · Post by **bozmon** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:19 pm

...sort of gives new meaning to AUTO pap (apap), doesn't it?

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:30 pm

bozmon,

I thought that IS what it meant. You mean I don't have to sleep in my car every night?