Dad having trouble sleeping with CPAP machine?

Question

My dad has recently been diagnosed with Sleep apnea and is using a CPAP machine at night. He's been having a hard time sleeping with it and so I wanted to get him something to help make it easier for him sleep. Does anyone have any suggestions on what may make it easier for him? I was thinking of getting a noise machine to help him relax and take his mind off of the mask on his face; would that help at all?

Answer 1

I just started CPAP a week ago and have adjusted quickly and have no problems guess I was lucky.  I think this deal is different for everyone but I have two suggestions maybe to try.  First with the mask on the easiest position is sleeping on your back.  Of course if he's not used to this or can't get comfortable sleeping on his back this is no help.  The other suggestion is have him talk to his doctor about other mask options.  I tried on about 5 different styles from the full face to just the nasal "pillow" kind.  Obviously the specifics of the case plays a big part in deciding the appropriate mask, but generally the smaller / less invasive the easier it is to adapt.  I was lucky enough to just use the nasal plugs which are very small.  Tell him to stick with it and try some things - if he can tolerate the CPAP it will eliminate apnea / snoring almost 100% of the time.  A favorable outcome from surgery seems to be much less certain (although again this depends greatly on the specifics of the case).  Sorry but I don't think a noise machine will help - the CPAP already makes a sort of "white noise" sound.  The trick is getting a mask that he can live with.  And of course you have to get over feeling / looking like you're on advanced life support every time you go to bed...!  Good Luck hope this helps a little.

Answer 2

Tell him to try wearing it while he is awake and just relaxing in his easy chair, this will help him to get used to the mask and to breathing with the machine.  If this does not help and he can not get used to it he needs to go back to the Home Health Provider where he got the CPAP machine and ask them to help find a different mask or nasal fittings for the machine.  Sleep Apnea is a very serious health problem that can lead to even more serious and life threatening issues if not corrected, please try to convince him to take it seriously and not to ignore it just because the mask is uncomfortable.

Answer 3

CPAP is not, in my opinion, the best treatment for sleep apnea.  there is often a cause that can be treated instead of just masked (pun intended).  if he is overweight then losing the weight may make the problem go away or perhaps he should get surgery on his jaw or tongue

Answer 4

CPAPs make a fair amount of noise anyways. It's really just a case of getting used to them. I know people who even when they have got "used" to them pulled the mask off in their sleep.  

Answer 5

No. It takes time. It took me about 90 days to get to the point where I cant sleep without it.

Tell your dad to be patient. He will get to the point where he will love it!

Answer 6

I too had difficultly sleeping at first.  It wasn't the noise (mine is very quiet); besides what little noise there is is essentially the same type of thing a noise machine makes.

My problem was, I was used to sleeping on my stomach.  With the mask, I had to sleep on my back, which I was not used to.  Eventually, I got used to sleeping on my back.  Now, unfortunately, I have gotten so used to the mask and can sleep on my stomach with it on.

It will take time.  Perhaps if he is used to sleeping on his side or stomach, one of these long "body pillow"s might help?

The do make different kinds of masks.  If it really is the mask on his face that is bothering him, go back to the place you bought it and see what other options you have for masks.

Yes, loosing weight can help.  However, the problem is loose flesh in the throat.  Surgery on one's jaw does nothing for Apnea.