CPAP Compliance

[Kayla0716 0]

Hi all!

I am hoping to get some information/tips/tricks. I have to wear a CPAP machine with 80% compliance or 4 hours a night.

First, does any one know why it has to be worn? I got little to no information from my surgeon’s office.

Second, any tips/tricks on wearing it. I have made it 4-6 hours but wake up with it not on.

Third, did anyone not meet compliance? What happened? No surgery ever? Or try for 30 days again?

i searched for cpap compliance and didn’t get what I needed so I would appreciate any and all help. Thanks!!

[mswillis5 127]

If you are new with your CPAP I would speak with your sleep doctor. If you take this mask off at night, I would recommend trying a different one as there are many and some didn't work for me or my wife when we first started. I did find it difficult at first because it does force air into face and that can be a difficult feeling.

[GingersnapMI 29]

10 hours ago, Kayla0716 said:

Hi all!

I am hoping to get some information/tips/tricks. I have to wear a CPAP machine with 80% compliance or 4 hours a night.

First, does any one know why it has to be worn? I got little to no information from my surgeon’s office.

Second, any tips/tricks on wearing it. I have made it 4-6 hours but wake up with it not on.

Third, did anyone not meet compliance? What happened? No surgery ever? Or try for 30 days again?

i searched for cpap compliance and didn’t get what I needed so I would appreciate any and all help. Thanks!!

This is not a requirement for me because I had a BMI over 40 at the start of my bariatric journey. However, as a respiratory therapist that has worked in the CPAP business, I can offer some info.

For bariatric patients with a BMI of 35-40, most insurances require that the person have other weight-related issues prior to approving surgery, and sleep apnea (you periodically stop breathing when you sleep) is often at least partially weight-related. Most people who lose significant weight can have their CPAP pressure reduced and some even no longer need CPAP. (These things would be determined by your sleep specialist after your weight loss.)

Even for people who are NOT contemplating bariatric surgery, insurances require proof of "compliance" within the first three months in order for them to keep paying the rental fee. (As of 2017, I know that insurances would pay a monthly rental fee for 13 months, and then the unit was considered "paid off" and owned by the patient.) "Compliance" is generally considered to be a minimum of 4 hours of use per night for a minimum of 75% of the nights during a 30-day period within the first 90 days of having the unit. Therefore, many doctors tell a patient to shoot for 80% usage, just to be on the safe side.

In general, for bariatric patients, most insurances want to see some sort of progress in the months leading up to surgery, prior to approving payment for that surgery. There should be some weight loss, as well as compliance with medical guidance on other weight-related issues (ie: sleep apnea), in order for them to consider the patient a good "risk" for spending the money on bariatric surgery.

All that said, if you have sleep apnea, DO do your best to use your CPAP! Without it, your body's sleep habits are actually unsafe. Without it, your body is under stress EVERY NIGHT, which has negative effects on your heart. Though rare, some people HAVE died from sleep apnea and non-CPAP use. With regular use, you should feel more awake and more energetic during the day, whether or not you lose weight.

There are many styles and brands of masks on the market, browse them on the internet. If your current one is very uncomfortable, call your CPAP provider for another. Try to use it for two weeks before moving on to a different type. The company I used to work for would provide free mask refits as often as necessary within the first three months (after that, it could only be done every six months due to the insurance schedule for payment on new supplies).

It's quite an adjustment but keep trying! 🙂

Edited March 22, 2021 by GingersnapMI

[DoodlesMom 98]

GingersnapMI that was some great info!

Kayla0716, I know how tough it can be to adjust to headgear and masks. It takes time and trial and error to find the right mask and get comfortable with this new way of sleeping. In the beginning, my chest hurt because I wasn't used to the pressure. I also had to adjust the humidity on my machine so that I didn't wake up with a dry mouth. I tried two different nasal masks before settling on a full face mask that was very softly cushioned around the nose and mouth. Cushioned headgear helps with comfort. If yours isn't cushioned, small wraps can be bought to wrap around headgear. This can prevent marks or irritation on your face from too-tight headgear. Along with the wraps, I bought a squishy pillow that allows my mask to sink into the pillow when side-sleeping instead of pushing it up against my face. There are CPAP contoured pillows available too.

I had to identify what it was about the other masks I didn't like. Mine pinched, felt tight around my ears, claustrophobic at times, and one had leaks that would wake me up no matter how much I adjusted it.

My first set of supplies were purchased through a sleep center and they allowed me to try on lots of different masks, just as GingersnapMI mentioned. While there is an adjustment period, there is no need to suffer in a mask you can't stand. Try your best to find one you can make it through the night in. Once you find one you like, compliance won't be hard, you'll want to wear it.

Before I wore my CPAP I was so exhausted, had headaches, a terrible memory, and brain fog. Those issues have improved and I feel rested like never before. Best of Luck!

Edited March 25, 2021 by DoodlesMom