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LOTS OF QUESTIONS
I am new to the CPAP world, having received my diagnosis and machine in November.2008 I had had a sleep study about three years ago but was told my apnea was not bad enough for a CPAP. Then in August I had shoulder surgery and the doctor told me I needed to look into the situation because I stopped breathing about 15 times during the surgery. So from what I have read, that makes me a less than moderate sufferer.
Question is about chin straps. My sleep doctor advised me to sleep apart from my husband because I was full of anxiety about the noise the machine makes. We are going out of town in a couple of weeks and I am wondering if you all thought a chin strap to keep my mouth closed would prevent me from snoring during that weekend. I did already order one. I don't want to have to drag the machine with me for just two nights.
Also, how do I know if the noise the machine is making is normal? Now that I'm used to using it, I am thinking I can probably move back in with my husband and just let him have to get used to it.
Any thoughts on that from spouses? Thanks for all your help.
Question is about chin straps. My sleep doctor advised me to sleep apart from my husband because I was full of anxiety about the noise the machine makes. We are going out of town in a couple of weeks and I am wondering if you all thought a chin strap to keep my mouth closed would prevent me from snoring during that weekend. I did already order one. I don't want to have to drag the machine with me for just two nights.
Also, how do I know if the noise the machine is making is normal? Now that I'm used to using it, I am thinking I can probably move back in with my husband and just let him have to get used to it.
Any thoughts on that from spouses? Thanks for all your help.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Judy on -
If your CPAP noise bothers your husband he is either an EXTREMELY light sleeper - OR - there is something wrong w/your CPAP if it is really that noisy.
And if your husband really cares about you he will NOT let you go somewhere and sleep two nights w/o your CPAP even if you had MILD sleep apnea.
YOU should be responsible enough to KNOW that you should NEVER sleep w/o your CPAP, not even for a short nap in the afternoon.
How many times you stopped breathing DURING surgery under anesthesia is absolutely no indication of the mildness, moderation OR severity of your sleep apnea. ONLY your sleep evaluation PSG results can tell you or your doctor that.
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Permalink Reply by Phyllis Hearst on
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In defense of my husband, he has never complained. It's my hang-up, not his. I use the CPAP about 99% of the time. Admittedly, there are nights that I just don't want that on my face but I am better now than I was at the beginning.
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Permalink Reply by Dan Lyons on -
Phyllis, it's not like your parking an idling diesel tractor in the bedroom. The machine is very quiet.
My machine was so quiet that my wife complained the house was too quiet now and she couldn't sleep. Even my dogs seemed concerned by the quiet. The neighbors even called and wondered what happen to the freight train that passed by each night.
I can’t understand why people stress themselves out of un-spilled milk. Life is too short to worry about every little thing.
If your spouse loves you, he/she would embrace your usage of the machine and support your every effort to prolong your life together. If you don’t use the machine every night, your spouse won’t have you around for long to worry about it.
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Permalink Reply by j n k on -
I worried about the noise bothering my wife at first, too. But she told me she likes hearing the soft whoosh of the blower because it reminds her that I'm breathing. She finds the noise comforting. And, after all, it makes me sleep much quieter than I did, so all in all, the bedroom is quieter with me using the machine. Besides, some people pay good money to get little white-noise machines to mask unwanted noises at night, so I consider the soft sound of my PAP machine to be a bonus we get for free as a side benefit!
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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And I wasn't implying your poor hubby didn't care about you or was the one to suggest you vamoose from the bedroom w/that "thing"! I apologize if you misunderstood me or I phrased it badly.
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Permalink Reply by Rock Hinkle on -
Phyllis you and my wife would get along great. I tell her all the time quit worrying about me and the kids. She constanly puts the rest of us first. I told her today that she had to perform a selfish act before the end of the week. The truth of the matter Phyllis you should not take a nap without your machine let alone go 2 nights without it.
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Permalink Reply by Duane McDade on -
A chin strap will not stop the snoring. If one snores they do it with there mouth closed as well. You are snoring because the machine is not providing enough pressure to remove the obstructions from your airway. The chin stap has to be used with the machine. the reason the machine is making too much noise is ....when your mouth is opened all the air comes out of your mouth making the machine blow twice as hard as it has too. that's why the machine is loud. maybe a full face mask would help you ...if the chin strap doesn't do the trick.
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Permalink Reply by Phyllis Hearst on
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Thank you. You explained it very well. I had never heard that before about the machine working harder than necessary.
Duane McDade said:A chin strap will not stop the snoring. If one snores they do it with there mouth closed as well. You are snoring because the machine is not providing enough pressure to remove the obstructions from your airway. The chin stap has to be used with the machine. the reason the machine is making too much noise is ....when your mouth is opened all the air comes out of your mouth making the machine blow twice as hard as it has too. that's why the machine is loud. maybe a full face mask would help you ...if the chin strap doesn't do the trick.
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Permalink Reply by Duane McDade on
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oh yes , run your machine with just a hose on it...........then put your hand over the hose and run it..........there will be a major difference.
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Permalink Reply by Phyllis Hearst on
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You're right - the chin strap didn't work! Don bailed on me about two hours after we got to bed. And then I tried your trick with the hose and it was amazing! I now have my solution. Thanks
Duane McDade said:oh yes , run your machine with just a hose on it...........then put your hand over the hose and run it..........there will be a major difference.
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