im about to get a cpap what should i expect

When I first began CPAP therapy in 2017, I had a lot of questions and few answers. I was struggling to accommodate to a new routine—using a strange and bulky mask, adjusting to animate highly pressurized air, and making it a full night without taking my mask off.

After several months of adjustment, I adapted to my new routine and started to reap the benefits of CPAP therapy. I had more energy, less snoring, and I felt actually proficient. I wanted to share some of my favorite tips that worked for me while I went through the starting time 90 days of CPAP therapy.

Tips for Surviving the Showtime ninety Days

Tip 1: Get used to wearing your mask, by wearing it even when yous're not trying to sleep.

Quite maybe, the hardest thing about CPAP therapy is the adjustment to the new mask. I found when I started, and I would rip the mask off every nighttime around 3 AM because I felt similar I was "choking on air" and information technology was no longer comfy.

In this situation, my therapy pressure increased, mostly because of my sleeping position causing my mask to leak. And then I would take information technology off. I was able to become past this by wearing my mask casually. I would vesture it around the house, and this helped to normalize the newness of the CPAP mask for me. Ultimately, you'll ease into therapy if y'all can find a style to make information technology seem like a normal part of your routine, and wearing the mask when y'all're awake is a practiced way to start.

One time yous break information technology in, you lot'll detect you're more comfortable wearing it at nighttime, and your therapy will be more likely to exist successful.

Tip 2: Make certain yous don't miss a night of therapy.

The only way this is going to piece of work is if yous keep up with your therapy every night. If you skip therapy sessions, it'southward going to prolong the adjustment period, and information technology will take even longer to get used to your new equipment. It may exist difficult in the first to visualize the benefits you lot'll get from your therapy, and y'all may exist frustrated. I've been in that location.

One style I kept myself going when things were tough in the beginning was by having written goals. I wrote down on a piece of newspaper why I was starting CPAP, and I taped it to my motorcar. So every time I would expect at it, I would remind myself that I was trying to lower my claret pressure, trying to have more than energy, and trying to keep myself healthy. You lot have to have a "why" when yous're starting CPAP therapy if you don't have a "why," yous won't have the motivation to push through when times get tough.

Tip 3: Make regular cleaning a part of your therapy.

If you don't clean, you're going to expose yourself to a bunch of nasty bacteria that will abound and fester in the ideal environment that is your CPAP equipment. Your mask, hose, and humidifier sleeping accommodation are warm and have plenty of moisture. For germs, information technology's an ideal environment.

That's why you should clean your CPAP equipment every mean solar day. Personally, I use the CleanSmart Spray at home to clean my mask and hose. CleanSmart Spray uses a chemic found in white blood cells to disinfect on contact and tin can make clean with minimal scrubbing. Information technology uses mostly natural ingredients, and it breaks down to simple saline (saltwater) after disinfecting. Information technology has the cleaning power of harsher chemicals while being rubber to use with your CPAP therapy.

Tip 4: Know your likes, dislikes, and must-haves earlier you choice out your equipment.

So you've been diagnosed with slumber apnea, and your next step is handling. Great! That'due south the hardest office of the process. Your next footstep is going to exist selecting the equipment y'all'll utilize. Earlier y'all investigate and buy a CPAP auto, you demand to know a few things most how you lot sleep.

First, are you easily bothered by noise? As an experiment, turn on your TV to a station that'south just white racket (or find a digital radio station on your phone that generates that sound). Turn the sound very depression, only non completely off, and embrace the TV with a blanket, then yous won't exist bothered by the light. That white noise sound is similar to the audio your CPAP equipment volition brand. Try to sleep in that environment, and in the morning, ask yourself if it was easy or hard. If it was difficult, yous'd need to brand sure you got a quiet CPAP machine.
You'll also need to know if you alter positions frequently in the night, as some machines are designed for more than active sleepers.
Do yous sleep on your side? Your back? A combination of the two? Your CPAP therapy will be more effective if you sleep on your side, and it's something I'm actively training my body to adjust to. If you lay on your dorsum, your motorcar will have to piece of work a lot harder, and your therapy won't exist equally effective. How you sleep can have a big impact on how you feel in the morning.

If you know the answers to these questions, you'll have a better take a chance of picking out equipment that volition work for you the showtime fourth dimension around instead of going through a more painful adjustment process.

CPAP Masks: Surviving the Beginning ninety Days

How to get used to CPAP: When choosing your offset mask, yous need to choose a mask that matches your sleeping manner. Do you sleep with your rima oris open or closed? Can y'all breathe through the nose? Would you consider using a chinstrap to strength you lot to breathe the nose? Before shopping for a mask, you should know the answers to these questions. Doing so will help you get used to your CPAP motorcar and make your therapy more than constructive.

Best CPAP Mask for Side Sleeper

Recommended Products: AirFit P10 Nasal Pillow, DreamWear Nasal , AirFit F20 Full Face

Who it's Best For: Both the P10 and the DreamWear Nasal are ideally suited for anyone who sleeps on the side, because of the minimal amount of majority these masks accept. You desire a mask that'south not going to button upwards against the pillow. I chose the AirFit F20 every bit the full face mask because I've used it personally and I sleep on my side. It'southward rugged plenty to handle the pressure from the pillow and still maintain a good seal.

Here'south the Kicker: If you can successfully slumber on your side, yous'll snore less, your AHI will be lower, and your CPAP machine won't have to work as hard. These are all good reasons why yous should exist trying to slumber on your side if you don't already.

How to utilize information technology: Each of these masks are piece of cake to use. Just put information technology on, secure it in place, and conform to the desired tightness.

Recommendation: I was using the AifFit F30 at outset, and information technology worked well. I actually liked the low contour and open field of vision. When I tried to start side sleeping actively, information technology just wasn't cutting it anymore. I started having nearly-constant mask leaks, and so I switched to the AirFit F20, which turned out to be rugged enough to go on up with my routine.

I can't speak to a personal experience with the P10 or DreamWear equally I can't breathe through my nose, but I've heard our customers actually like these masks. They're lightweight and a lot less bulky than most masks on the market place today, and if you can breathe through the olfactory organ, they're really the all-time option for side sleeping.

Buy it here:

AirFit P10
DreamWear Nasal
AirFit F20

Best CPAP Mask for a Tum Sleeper

What is the product: DreamWisp Nasal , DreamWear Gel Nasal Pillow , DreamWear Full Face up

Who it's Best For: If you slumber on your tum, yous are pretty much locked into using a nasal or nasal pillow mask, only you could become away with using a full face mask if y'all used the DreamWear Full Face (considering the hose connection is on the crown of the head). Because of how the tubes connect to CPAP masks, yous can't really have i that connects in the front. That's just non gonna work if y'all slumber on your stomach.

Here's the Kicker: Breadbasket sleeping is one of the most challenging positions for CPAP users. At that place's no way effectually information technology. But if that's how you sleep best, you'll need to suit it, and the best way to practice that is with a mask that minimizes bulk and connects to the hose anywhere but the front of the face.

How to use information technology: Y'all'd connect the hose to the acme of the caput, and then accommodate the cushions. You lot may want to make sure the straps are tight enough to withstand the pressure you'll be putting on the cushion, but make sure yous're comfy.

Recommendation: When researching the DreamWisp, the more I read, the more I liked it. While the cushion covers the bridge of the nose, it's even so less bulky and out-of-the-way. You lot tin practise and then much with the DreamWisp. It'south extremely versatile, and information technology's one of my favorite CPAP nasal masks. If I slept on my stomach, I would probably choose the DreamWear Total Face up or the DreamWear Gel Nasal Pillow. All the masks mentioned hither use a top-of-the-head hose connection, which is essential for a stomach sleeper. All of these masks are good options for anyone.

Buy information technology here:

DreamWisp Nasal
DreamWear Gel Nasal Pillow
DreamWear Total Face up

Best CPAP Mask for Women

What is the production: AirFit P10 for Her

Who it's Best For: The AirFit P10 for Her was designed with a woman's unique features in mind. It'due south available in smaller sizes, and the headgear is intended to exist less messy for a person'south hair. The AirFit P10 is 1 of the all-time masks available, and the for Her version is one you wouldn't desire to pass up!

Here's the Kicker: ResMed has a number of masks (and even makes a CPAP machine) intended for women exclusively. This attention to the needs of women is not common amidst its competitors, and it provides a expert opportunity for women to find headgear in the correct size and a frame that'southward designed for her.

How to employ it: The P10 for Her uses the aforementioned elementary headgear design every bit the regular P10. Slide the headgear over the head, and it creates enough tension to seal the mask in place—without needing velcro to do it.

Recommendation: With every CPAP buy, you demand to get a product that works for you lot. If you struggle to find a suitable mask in your size, trying the AirFit P10 for Her may be a expert selection (or consider shopping a for her version of other popular masks). If yous go something that works and works well, y'all'll exist in a great situation heading into your therapy.

Purchase it hither:

AirFit P10 for Her

Best CPAP Mask for Beards

What is the product: AirFit P30i , AirFit N30i

Who it'southward Best For: If y'all have facial hair, at that place are certain masks that just won't piece of work. Total face masks fall into that category. Full confront masks occupy the same area that beards or goatees use and it can be nearly impossible to get a adept seal. For guys that have facial hair, you lot'll really need to use a nasal pillow or nasal mask, and these two masks are good for that purpose.

Both of these masks employ the aforementioned frame and feature a hose connectedness on the crown of the head. This keeps the bulk away from your beard and tin can let you to sleep comfortably in about whatever position.

Here'south the Kicker: Facial hair presents a lot of challenges to most people when it comes to CPAP therapy. In nearly cases, yous may not accept to shave your beard, if y'all're able to make some adjustments (like using a chinstrap if yous're a oral cavity breather).

How to employ it: For facial hair, you may desire to trim the mustache surface area down a little, as this will help you become a better seal with your nasal or nasal pillow mask. This is a good exercise with whatsoever nasal pillow or nasal mask, regardless of brand or manufacturer. With your mustache trimmed you can position the pillows or nasal absorber in place and strap on the headgear.

Recommendation: At ane point in time, I had a goatee, before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. It was something I had for years, and it was really part of my identity. Then I could totally see how a person wouldn't want to shave for CPAP therapy. These masks should do the flim-flam and go far possible to accept a really full beard and non have to give it up.

Buy information technology here:

AirFit P30i
AirFit N30i

Find out how we ranked the top CPAP masks of 2020

CPAP Machines: Surviving the Beginning 90 Days

How to use a CPAP automobile: If you're wondering how to use a CPAP machine , it's actually pretty easy. You'd simply need to fill the humidifier with distilled water, prepare the automobile most the bedside, and plow it on.

If y'all have an auto-adjusting machine, the machine will study your animate and adjust the pressure throughout the night. If you have a standard single-force per unit area machine, it will be set at your prescribed pressure level when yous receive it, and you tin have it from there. That'south actually all in that location is to using a CPAP machine.

All-time CPAP Machine for Easing into Treatment

For easing into treatment, there's one machine I'd recommend. It'southward the machine I personally utilise, and it'due south ane I know a lot of sleep labs prefer. It's called the DreamStation Auto. You could also try using the AirSense 10, that's another machine I'd recommend if yous're merely starting out with CPAP therapy.

What is the product: DreamStation Automobile with Heated Humidifier , ResMed AirSense x

Who it's Best For: Both these machines are among our all-time sellers, and I like them because they're piece of cake to use. For the DreamStation Auto, all you'll really demand to do is printing the start push, and it goes. It has smart applied science that allows it to turn on with just your breathing, and it makes adjustments throughout the nighttime. It's a great starter motorcar, and it's also very quiet, only registering at 25.eight decibels!

The AirSense x is serenity too, and also a good starter motorcar. It includes a built-in heated humidifier, which is nice because you won't accept to buy annihilation else to get the most out of your therapy. The AirSense x is one of the best machines on the market, and it's easy to see why. Like the DreamStation Auto, the AirSense10 uses motorcar-adjusting engineering science to make pressure adjustments throughout the night.

Who information technology's For: For new users, starting CPAP therapy is tough enough! You lot don't demand your equipment getting in the way of what could be successful therapy. These machines are bully starter machines that are powerful, effective, and like shooting fish in a barrel to operate—perfect for beginners.

How to use it: These machines are piece of cake enough to operate. The DreamStation can starting time therapy with the cadence of your animate. The AirSense 10 uses a start button. From there, therapy will begin. I flagged these machines as being helpful for beginners because they're easy to utilise, and they both have automated force per unit area adjustments. They're besides both very repose. The DreamStation is 25.8 decibels, and the AirSense ten is 26. These are considered whisper-quiet.

Recommendation: As a 2-year user of the DreamStation Car, I can say I really like this device, and I'm glad I accept information technology. Information technology's been a practiced sidekick every bit I've gone through my battle with sleep apnea.

That being said, I'd really like to try the AirSense x. It has a lot of really nice features, and the built-in humidifier is a dainty touch. Many people take tried the AirSense 10 and observe it works well for them, and it comes from a respected brand. In terms of condolement and features, both machines are roughly equivalent.

Buy it here:

DreamStation Auto with Heated Humidifier
ResMed AirSense 10

Best CPAP Machine for High-Force per unit area Settings

If you lot have loftier-pressure level settings, and you're routinely pushing 17, 18, or even xix, you may want to ask your doctor if he or she thinks a BiPAP may exist correct for y'all. Different CPAP machines, a BiPAP machine tin can accomplish pressure settings as high equally 25. If you lot're shut to maxing out your CPAP pressure settings, you may need to go higher after on in life. A pressure setting above 20 would hateful y'all'd demand a BiPAP machine.

What is the production: BiPAP / BiLevel Machine

Who it'south For: BiPAP Machines (BiLevel Machines) are for anyone who needs pressure level settings above 20, or for people that suffer from Fundamental Sleep Apnea or Circuitous Sleep Apnea, every bit BiPAP machines tin prompt breathing in situations where someone has stopped animate. BiPAPs aren't just a "better APAP," they're prescribed devices that care for specific conditions.

Here's the Kicker: You can't have a CPAP prescription and purchase a BiPAP machine. In gild to get one, you'd need to get the doctor to sign off on it. Your starting point for this device is going to exist a visit to your physician and a sleep study.

How to utilize it: BiPAP Machines outwardly work the same way as a CPAP auto does. The only difference between the two is that instead of delivering ane pressure level or choosing a force per unit area from a range of pressures; a BiPAP uses two pressures, one for inhale, and 1 for exhale. Starting your therapy is no different than a CPAP machine, yous put on the mask, printing the commencement button, and the automobile takes it from there.

Recommendation: If my md would exist on-board, I'd love to try a BiPAP automobile. I tend to utilize higher pressures equally part of my therapy, so for me, it would be absurd to run into if I ever used a pressure setting college than twenty. Just then far, my doc thinks the APAP automobile I use is expert plenty, so I'thousand sticking with it.

Purchase it here:

Best BiPAP / BiLevel Machines

Observe out how we ranked the summit CPAP machines of 2020

Terminal Thoughts

I retrieve you'll discover that as you get into CPAP therapy, it will brand a huge divergence in how you feel. Go back to your goals. Retrieve the "why." Your "why" is going to be the affair that motivates y'all through the difficult initial period later yous first go your machine. Yous tin do it, provided y'all stick with it and never give up!

David Repasky has been using CPAP handling since 2017 and has first-hand experience with what it's like to alive with Sleep Apnea. He brings the patient'due south perspective to the CPAP.com blog and has received formal training in CPAP machines, masks, and equipment.

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Source: https://www.cpap.com/blog/beginners-guide-using-cpap-surviving-first-90-days/