My Friend Mr. CPAP

[ThatDudesMom 13]

I picked up my new friend, Mr. CPAP Machine, five days ago and have used it every night. My air pressure is set at 12. The mask is fitting pretty good (nasal cup, no mouth) and I have been falling asleep quickly. I've been able to deal with it the entire night except for one night. I have been waking up often but falling right back asleep after a turn or an un-needed adjustment of the mask. One night, I simply removed the mask at 1 a.m. because I was annoyed with waking up so often. (Turns out I had the humidity set on 3, a notch to high, and I was getting to moist under the mask.)

Last night I finally had a pretty solid sleep. I know this for several reasons....1. I don't remember waking up except for 2-3 times. 2. I woke up at 7 a.m. and was ready to get out of bed. 3. I woke up to my nine year old son laying next to me, and he has never been able to sneak in my bed without me waking up. 4. My mouth was a little dry, which means it was open a while without me waking up.

Now for the questions!

1. Will there come a time that I will sleep (with the CPAP) the entire night without waking up at all?

2. I have to take my Mr. CPAP on my BIG DAY. They say they will use it in recovery. Does recovery mean in the recovery while I am coming out of anesthesia before I am taken to my room, or recovery in my room. I'm hoping it is the former.

3. What is that sweet, perfume like order I smell when I first the mask off in the morning?

4. What pressure is your CPAP set to?

5. Has your pressure been changed as you loose weight. Have you been able discontinue your CPAP with weight loss?

Thanks for reading! And answering!

[Caliblonde 25]

I just started using my cpap two nights ago. I am very curious to hear the answers to your questions. I think I can answer #3...for me the sweet smell is fabric softener, but I'm not sure why it's so overwhelming right after I take the mask off.

[ThatDudesMom 13]

I just started using my cpap two nights ago. I am very curious to hear the answers to your questions. I think I can answer #3...for me the sweet smell is fabric softener, but I'm not sure why it's so overwhelming right after I take the mask off.

That's it! The smell of fabric softener...but I don't use fabric softener because of allergies. So now I am really curious.....

[TexasT 99]

I can answer a couple of your questions. Yes, there should be a time when you'll be able to sleep all night without waking up. That was one of the miracle things that happened with me when I was on a C-PAP a few years ago. Also, yes, you should be able to be weaned off the machine once you lose weight. I was able to get off the machine when I got to around 170/lbs. That was a joyous time, as the mask is not exactly conducive to smooching, etc. in bed with the hubby - ha! It kept me alive -yes - but it's not the sexiest thing to wear to bed. I much prefer Victoria's Secret...

Just go slow and steady with the weight loss, and with medical supervision someday you most likely can end your affair with Mr. CPAP. Good luck!

[Caliblonde 25]

Another thing you might want to try is changing masks. I got two masks, one is smaller and the other a little bigger. I was using the smaller one and woke up with the worst facial pain, and marks that wouldn't go away for hours. Last night I swapped it for the bigger mask and woke up this morning feeling so much better! Maybe something for you to look into. Let me know how it goes!

[becca2297 0]

Hello, I am new to this site. I will be having my surgery in March as soon as I get the financing (which will be no problem with the help of my mother). I am also a Registered sleep Technician....meaning that I do the actual sleep studies. I have done SO many sleep studies on patients trying to get approved for surgery. To answer some of your questions: when you lose weight more than likely you hit a certain weight you will not need the machine any more unless you have some structural abnormalities in your airway. Yes you will be using the machine in recovery (so I have heard time and time again). As for the perfume smell....the air is filtered so when you take the mask off...you immediately smell the smells in your house so your house must smell sweet. As for the change in pressure while you are losing weight.... you need to keep in close contact with your DME company (the ones who set you up with your machine) and in turn they will stay in close contact with your doctor because all changes in pressures are a prescription from your doctor only. Me personally, I am on an auto set....which automatically titrates me to the pressure i need. It is not as benificial as the regular CPAP or BiPAP because there are some respiratory events that it may miss, but it is a lot more comfortable and seems to make a lot of sense when you are losing a lot of weight quickly. I would suggest you ask your doctor about getting an auto-CPAP. I love mine and wear it all the time. Will not leave home without it. Then again, I know the risks that are involved when you do not use the machine and you really need to....mostly cardiovascular.....

[Redcobra 1]

Hello, I am new to this site. I will be having my surgery in March as soon as I get the financing (which will be no problem with the help of my mother). I am also a Registered sleep Technician....meaning that I do the actual sleep studies. I have done SO many sleep studies on patients trying to get approved for surgery. To answer some of your questions: when you lose weight more than likely you hit a certain weight you will not need the machine any more unless you have some structural abnormalities in your airway. Yes you will be using the machine in recovery (so I have heard time and time again). As for the perfume smell....the air is filtered so when you take the mask off...you immediately smell the smells in your house so your house must smell sweet. As for the change in pressure while you are losing weight.... you need to keep in close contact with your DME company (the ones who set you up with your machine) and in turn they will stay in close contact with your doctor because all changes in pressures are a prescription from your doctor only. Me personally, I am on an auto set....which automatically titrates me to the pressure i need. It is not as benificial as the regular CPAP or BiPAP because there are some respiratory events that it may miss, but it is a lot more comfortable and seems to make a lot of sense when you are losing a lot of weight quickly. I would suggest you ask your doctor about getting an auto-CPAP. I love mine and wear it all the time. Will not leave home without it. Then again, I know the risks that are involved when you do not use the machine and you really need to....mostly cardiovascular.....

+1 above.

I have used a bipap for 6 yrs. I sleep all through the night. I use a nasal pillow mask. (ResMed Swift FX) which to me is much better than a coverage mask. I just switched from bipap to auto titrate prior to surgery.

[becca2297 0]

+1 above.

I have used a bipap for 6 yrs. I sleep all through the night. I use a nasal pillow mask. (ResMed Swift FX) which to me is much better than a coverage mask. I just switched from bipap to auto titrate prior to surgery.

swift FX is a great mask. To say the least, I have used EVERY mask on the market since I have access to them all. The one that I am stuck on right now is the comfort fusion. I also use a chin strap so that my mouth will not open and defeat the whole purpose of the CPAP.

[Rootman 1,101]

Now for the questions!

1. Will there come a time that I will sleep (with the CPAP) the entire night without waking up at all?

I have been using a CPAP for almost 10 years now. I STILL often wake up and have to adjust the mask. I really look forward to being able to eliminate it. As I loose weight I've had to tighten the mask a few times, trouble is I can't think to do this during the night when it starts leaking, I just can't seem to figure it out in the stupor of awaking with the leak blowing air in my eyes and making noise. I figure it out in the morning but it costs me a good nights sleep.< /p>

2. I have to take my Mr. CPAP on my BIG DAY. They say they will use it in recovery. Does recovery mean in the recovery while I am coming out of anesthesia before I am taken to my room, or recovery in my room. I'm hoping it is the former.

I would say the recovery is the DAYS in the hospital following the surgery. A lot of people barf when coming out of anesthesia and you would run the risk of aspirating it if they put it on immediately after surgery. Just a guess though.

3. What is that sweet, perfume like order I smell when I first the mask off in the morning?

Not sure here, never experienced this.

4. What pressure is your CPAP set to?

Mine is set to 12 as well and always has been. I think 12 is perhaps the most popular setting.

5. Has your pressure been changed as you loose weight. Have you been able discontinue your CPAP with weight loss?

I would say it could be but each change would require another sleep study - which are VERY expensive. My brother had a RNY bypass and lost a lot of weight, when he contacted his doctor that prescribed it he would not do another study as the insurance would not pay for it. He suggested that he just try without it and have his wife observe him sleeping or if he awoke choking to go back to it. Not a very smart way to go in my opinion. He eventually DID stop using it and seemed to be fine.