CPAP Machines

Just found out about this cool combo option:  Apparently, you can get a Resmed S8 Compact CPAP Machine, one of the smallest CPAP machines out there, and a Resmed HumidAire 3i Heated Humidifier, and combine the two.  When brought together, the two devices combine into a Voltron-like hybrid device, bringing CPAP and humidifier in a way god never intended.

But seriously, this is a pretty useful combination of two devices that are useful in the same place.  My wife needs the humidifier to survive the winter months, and if I had a CPAP machine I could use this combo to fulfill both our needs.  The S8 runs $725 and the Humidaire $260, so for just shy of $1000 this system works for me.

As an aside, a guy at my old job did a sleep study Monday night and found out he has sleep apnea.  I consoled him, but was also able to use the knowledge I’ve recently acquired about CPAP and sleep apnea to reassure him that the doctors have lots of options for helping him.  That felt nice.

U.S. News talked with doctors about the added risk to sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea during surgery.  The same risks patients face during sleep can become even more risky during a medical procedure, for several reasons:

• The patient may have trouble with the anesthesia - especially in obstructive sleep apnea cases (as opposed to central sleep apnea), where the problem is physical and often caused by a problem with properly relaxing the airways, the anesthesia may exacerbate the problem and cause dangerous post-surgery issues.
• The morphine can also mess with proper airway relaxation, causing the sleep apnea to flare up and cause problems.
• Pain medications can, again, cause more problems, especially since sleep apnea sufferers are more sensitive to them.
• Sleep apnea is often underdiagnosed, giving doctors no opportunity to prepare for it and have the proper precautions.

Those with mild sleep apnea don’t have much to worry about, but those who rely on a CPAP machine may need to go on one right after the surgery, in order to avoid complications.  Make sure your doctor knows about your sleep apnea, and that he or she is properly prepared with a CPAP machine on hand, if necessary.

The American Sleep Apnea Association has a great article explaining how you can choose the right CPAP mask and headgear for your needs.  They emphasize:

• Comfort - if the CPAP mask isn’t comfortable, you may not wear it, and thus endanger your health.
• A proper seal, while not being too tight
• The right fit
• The right size
• The right style

Styles, which are mostly a matter of preference, include the more traditional triangular CPAP masks, like this Optilife CPAP mask, or a slightly larger full-face variation for mouth-breathers.  The headgear is important too, so remember to have a matching chin strap, and you can usually get it in the color of your choice.

There are many kinds of CPAP masks, and no one can agree which one is the best.  Your CPAP mask will be a matter of personal preference.  What brand/style do you prefer to use?  Does the color matter?

A new study about Obstructive Sleep Apnea shows that sleep apnea patients sleep no differently in a hospital than a hotel.  The study shows that there was no difference in sleep parameters between two groups of patients, one housed in a hotel, one in a hospital.

The study measured “sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, REM sleep latency, total amount of slow wave sleep, and total stage 1 sleep“.

There is a growing trend of hotel-based sleep laboratories, but this study proves that there is no benefit to the patient of being housed in a hotel for a sleep apnea study.  Patients with obstructed sleep apnea are so familiar with hospital settings, due to the chronic nature of the disease, that they do not feel any less comfortable sleeping in a hospital.

Of course, things are different for those of us with CPAP Machines.  A CPAP machine user needs his machine in order to sleep properly at night, and not having that trusty Resmed equipment with a CPAP mask on your face does make a big difference.  I don’t care how comfortable a hotel is, without a Respironics or other CPAP machine, I won’t be staying there!

MSNBC has an article talking about the social implications of CPAP machines.  The writer talked with many couples in which one partner uses a CPAP mask to treat a sleep disorder, and some couples found it a libido killer, while others said the CPAP machine improved the lives, and consequently, their sex lives.

It’s a tough call, obviously.  On the one hand, you’ve got this thing strapped to your face and a CPAP machine whirring all night (at one point, the article describes it like sleeping with Darth Vader).  On the other hand, without a proper CPAP machine, the sleep apnea sufferer could die, and certainly won’t get a good night’s sleep.  With your sleep disrupted, how good could your libido be anyways?

That’s what a lot of people in the article say, that regardless of the annoyance of the actual CPAP machine and the treatment, it has made their lives much better (and possibly saved their lives), and that’s the most important thing.

Most CPAP users say they’re as matter-of-fact about the device as anyone who needs crutches, prosthetics or other aid for a serious medical condition — and that they expect romantic partners to be the same.

“I’ve never been self-conscious about it,” said Vicki Thon, a 50-year-old single mom who has balanced CPAP use and an active social life for 11 years. “I say, ‘This is what I need to be healthy.’”

I see what happens to my wife when she doesn’t get a good night’s sleep, and it isn’t pretty.  She uses a humidifier to avoid terrible sinus infections, and the noise is a pleasure, because it means less days of her being sick.  Regardless of the bulk of a CPAP machine, the benefits of having one are too important to ignore.

Sleep Apnea Info has a quick, easy five question quiz that can help you determine if you have sleep apnea.  I took it, and it said:

Based on your answers to the Self-Assessment Quiz questions, you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or another sleep disorder.

Oy!  Perhaps I need a CPAP Machine!

But seriously, take the quiz and see if you may be suffering.  If you get similarly disheartening results to my own, consult your doctor.  If your doctor diagnoses you with sleep apnea, inquire about whether a CPAP machine is right for you.

Just because you have sleep problems, doesn’t mean you have to suffer.  CPAP can often be the answer, with a machine from a company like ProBasics or Resmed taking care of all your problems.  Check out CPAP Mart for more details.