Need Help Using CPAP Machine - Can't Fall Asleep (1 Viewer)

[belljr]

For mild sleep apnea get rid of the CPAP and look in a dental devices

My concern is how bad does your jaw get messed up.

So with mine. They give you a piece to "reset" your jaw/bite. So they molded me the device and a mold of my current bite

In the morning I put that in for like 10 minutes while I'm in the shower

Interesting. I just bought a cheap OTC adjustable version. I wonder if I did the same thing but adjust it myself. I havent tried it yet

Gotcha.....I went to a dentist that specializes in the mouth devices. They measured my sleep aid based on my settings and how much to adjust the jaw. Then she did the form on my regular bite

 

[b-snatchers]

For mild sleep apnea get rid of the CPAP and look in a dental devices

My concern is how bad does your jaw get messed up.

So with mine. They give you a piece to "reset" your jaw/bite. So they molded me the device and a mold of my current bite

In the morning I put that in for like 10 minutes while I'm in the shower

Interesting. I just bought a cheap OTC adjustable version. I wonder if I did the same thing but adjust it myself. I havent tried it yet

Gotcha.....I went to a dentist that specializes in the mouth devices. They measured my sleep aid based on my settings and how much to adjust the jaw. Then she did the form on my regular bite

Did you get one of those DNA appliances?

 

[belljr]

Yes the dentist built it based on how much air I needed. She then built a separate "mouthpiece" to bring my jaws "back"....was a little sore the first few times but after that a breeze. I actually haven't used it in a while because I've been sleeping much better

 

[b-snatchers]

Yes the dentist built it based on how much air I needed. She then built a separate "mouthpiece" to bring my jaws "back"....was a little sore the first few times but after that a breeze. I actually haven't used it in a while because I've been sleeping much better

Do you mind sharing the approximate price of the mouthpiece and if insurance paid for it? I know when my sleep doctor was going through the options of controlling my apnea, she mentioned that the mouthpieces can be very expensive. She definitely steered me in the direction of a CPAP machine

 

[B Maverick]

Yes the dentist built it based on how much air I needed. She then built a separate "mouthpiece" to bring my jaws "back"....was a little sore the first few times but after that a breeze. I actually haven't used it in a while because I've been sleeping much better

Do you mind sharing the approximate price of the mouthpiece and if insurance paid for it? I know when my sleep doctor was going through the options of controlling my apnea, she mentioned that the mouthpieces can be very expensive. She definitely steered me in the direction of a CPAP machine

Also, do you need to replace the mouthpiece every few months?
Seems most that I see advertised say you do.

 

[soothsayer]

Talk to me about mouth tape. I currently wear one of these to keep my mouth shut with nasal pillows. I don't love it.

Mouth tape doesn't have to be fancy or expensive or even called mouth tape. I recommend this: 3M Transpore Clear Plastic Tape, 1 X 10 Yards, 1 Roll (I buy it on Amazon for $6.50/roll but only use it on airplanes (trying to sleep when sitting up).

 

[jimjack]

Yes the dentist built it based on how much air I needed. She then built a separate "mouthpiece" to bring my jaws "back"....was a little sore the first few times but after that a breeze. I actually haven't used it in a while because I've been sleeping much better

Do you mind sharing the approximate price of the mouthpiece and if insurance paid for it? I know when my sleep doctor was going through the options of controlling my apnea, she mentioned that the mouthpieces can be very expensive. She definitely steered me in the direction of a CPAP machine

My device was $3000. Yes my insurance paid for it minus deductible. Of course you want to verify insurance will cover first but they should . I had bot CPAP machine and mouth guard device and Mouth Guard the way to go.

 

[b-snatchers]

For mild sleep apnea get rid of the CPAP and look in a dental devices

My concern is how bad does your jaw get messed up.

So with mine. They give you a piece to "reset" your jaw/bite. So they molded me the device and a mold of my current bite

In the morning I put that in for like 10 minutes while I'm in the shower

Interesting. I just bought a cheap OTC adjustable version. I wonder if I did the same thing but adjust it myself. I havent tried it yet

Wondering if you had any luck with the OTC one and which one did you buy? Also for those who went through a sleep dentist to get their mouthguards, did you try an OTC one first to see if you could sleep with it?

 

[skol asylum]

For mild sleep apnea get rid of the CPAP and look in a dental devices

My concern is how bad does your jaw get messed up.

So with mine. They give you a piece to "reset" your jaw/bite. So they molded me the device and a mold of my current bite

In the morning I put that in for like 10 minutes while I'm in the shower

Interesting. I just bought a cheap OTC adjustable version. I wonder if I did the same thing but adjust it myself. I havent tried it yet

Wondering if you had any luck with the OTC one and which one did you buy? Also for those who went through a sleep dentist to get their mouthguards, did you try an OTC one first to see if you could sleep with it?

I don't remember which one, I can find it if you want,.but it's an epic fail for me. I put it in my mouth and I immediately started generating tons of saliva. And you can't really swallow properly all that saliva with it in your mouth. IDK how anyone can do these mouth guards. Waste of money for me.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I think I've decided an early death might be preferrable over dealing with this sort of nonsense every night.

I heard someone else describe it as having a leaf blower attached to your face. That sounds accurate.

Accurate. I did a few weeks with it a few years ago and gave up. Just couldn't function with air being blown into my lungs. Feels so gross and unnatural. I should do something else and haven't. I sleep alot upright in a chair not sure if that helps or not. I recently bought a cheap mouth piece thing but haven't tried it yet. I know I need to lose alot of weight and that would help at least some.

Always hate to see people nonchalantly volunteer for an early demise, out of frustration with medical treatments and/or behavioral modification.

Just a friendly reminder: CPAP isn’t the only OSA treatment.

Although it usually doesn’t work in a vacuum, weight loss often helps mitigate sleep apnea. One of the new weight loss drugs, Zepbound, even has an indication for OSA.

There also are procedures to consider, especially if CPAP is intolerable. Oral devices called CARE appliances can help restructure the upper airway - they’re basically high tech retainers (probably what @belljr is using). Alternatively, Inspire implants are small electrical devices surgically inserted to stimulate your airway muscles during sleep.

If all that fails, surgery known as uvulopalatopharygoplasty (UPPP) +/- tonsillectomy is usually curative.

None of this is to say CPAP shouldn’t be tried in earnest, as it works well for those who tolerate it. Moreover, the machines and masks seem to be improving constantly, making them more user friendly.

 

[B Maverick]

I think I've decided an early death might be preferrable over dealing with this sort of nonsense every night.

I heard someone else describe it as having a leaf blower attached to your face. That sounds accurate.

Accurate. I did a few weeks with it a few years ago and gave up. Just couldn't function with air being blown into my lungs. Feels so gross and unnatural. I should do something else and haven't. I sleep alot upright in a chair not sure if that helps or not. I recently bought a cheap mouth piece thing but haven't tried it yet. I know I need to lose alot of weight and that would help at least some.

Always hate to see people nonchalantly volunteer for an early demise, out of frustration with medical treatments and/or behavioral modification.

Just a friendly reminder: CPAP isn’t the only OSA treatment.

Although it usually doesn’t work in a vacuum, weight loss often helps mitigate sleep apnea. One of the new weight loss drugs, Zepbound, even has an indication for OSA.

There also are procedures to consider, especially if CPAP is intolerable. Oral devices called CARE appliances can help restructure the upper airway - they’re basically high tech retainers (probably what @belljr is using). Alternatively, Inspire implants are small electrical devices surgically inserted to stimulate your airway muscles during sleep.

If all that fails, surgery known as uvulopalatopharygoplasty (UPPP) +/- tonsillectomy is usually curative.

None of this is to say CPAP shouldn’t be tried in earnest, as it works well for those who tolerate it. Moreover, the machines and masks seem to be improving constantly, making them more user friendly.

Thanks for this. Mine is tolerable but always looking for better options.

(Un)fortunately I do not qualify for some of these since I am a mild case, so some of the implant options or inspire would not be covered under any insurance plan.

Worth looking into though.

Definitely working on the weight loss side, hopefully that helps.

 

[Deepster]

I think I've decided an early death might be preferrable over dealing with this sort of nonsense every night.

I heard someone else describe it as having a leaf blower attached to your face. That sounds accurate.

I was making the same type of cracks as you. A huge snorer for years, I finally had a sleep study earlier this year and it confirmed I have really bad sleep apnea. Dr said I had no choice but CPAP until I lost some weight then we could re-evaluate things.

2 weeks in and it is really amazing. I got nasal pillows. I immediately had an easy time adjusting and falling asleep. The last 3-4 nights, I slept straight through the night. At 57? I was up at least 3-4 times for decades. My alarm woke me up today. It's not a leaf blower and worth trying.

 

[B Maverick]

I think I've decided an early death might be preferrable over dealing with this sort of nonsense every night.

I heard someone else describe it as having a leaf blower attached to your face. That sounds accurate.

I was making the same type of cracks as you. A huge snorer for years, I finally had a sleep study earlier this year and it confirmed I have really bad sleep apnea. Dr said I had no choice but CPAP until I lost some weight then we could re-evaluate things.

2 weeks in and it is really amazing. I got nasal pillows. I immediately had an easy time adjusting and falling asleep. The last 3-4 nights, I slept straight through the night. At 57? I was up at least 3-4 times for decades. My alarm woke me up today. It's not a leaf blower and worth trying.

Sounds like my Bro-in-Law. Aside from making cracks and not to overweight. ha.

He is sleeping better and so is my sister.