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Thanks so much for your post Dr Blaivas. This series of posts on Sleep Apnea has been really informative for our members. This one inparticular I hope sheds light for many.
I can see there is a post from Jo Eells who is not having a successful time of it at all. For those who just cannot use this machine and need another alternative, check out our treatment for sleep apnea section.
As well, read our material on sleep apnea to lean more or just refersh your understanding.
All the best, sue (moderator)
I am interested in side effects, if any of long term CPAP use. I have a BiPAP machine and have indeed experienced the throat irritation, nose bleeds (not often), and nasal congestion. Heated humidity helps but the throat irritation seems to be chronic and I cough during the night.
That said,
Some nights seem "right on" and I get good rest. Other nights it's like I didn't get enough air all night and wake up groggy with a headache. My machine is new. The titration is fine and checked within the past year. I've been losing weight (40+ lbs so far) recently but wonder if I will ever not need a machine...or because of the long term use, I'm just dependent on it. How would I ever know that I don't need it any more?
I've been using CPAP for 8-9 years now. I find I can not sleep without it--either naps, dozing in the chair, as a car passenger (though a power inverter allows me to use the machine in the car now just fine). It gets ugly when the electric goes out during ice storms, high winds, etc. Am I now dependent on this machine to sleep forever?
Are there any long term effects like breathing changes (lung atrophy), damage to throat due to constant irritation, etc.?
I've been on BiPAP for about four months. Last week I took an overnight blood oxygen level test. The results show that for two 30 - 45 minute periods my blood O2 levels dropped into the low 80s and even the mid 70s for a few minutes. Is this dangerous? What are the potential health risks for low blood O2? Could this explain why I am still tired?
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Jo Eells, have you tried to contact the manufactorer of your masks for advice? They may be able to help you. My first two masks were too small and I didn't know it until I contacted my CPAP home health care provider. They were kind enough to send someone to my home and try different masks while I was laying down with the CPAP machine turned on. We finally found a mask that didn't leak. Good luck and keep trying.
Regards,
Curt
Try this...(I know you may not like the idea, but just try it. The key is to keep trying different things and try each change long enough, sometimes weeks, before deciding if there is progress.)
Try sleeping in a recliner. It restricts the amount of movement that you can have while you sleep, which, in turn can eliminate the leaks that are caused by changing sleeping positions- the leaks may but the thing causing you to wake up enough to remove the mask & throw it on the floor at night !
If the warm air seems suffocating, try this: start off by putting cold water in your tank & a few ice chips. Do that for a few nights then gradually decrease it to just cold water, and eventually you can use room temperature water. The adjustment may be gradual but monitor any PROGRESS because if there is progress there may gradually be more progress & eventually the ability to sleep all night with your mask on.
Have you tried all different kinds of masks? The mask is key...and if you have never tried a nasal mask, please do.
You may also need a more secure headgear set to make it more difficult to remove that mask when you are only partially awake.
These are things that I have learned over long periods, eliminating one obstacle at a time.
There is a reason that you are removing that mask in your sleep. Either it is leaking, it is rubbing your face making it uncomfortable, something ! Just keep working to eliminate each issue.
I had all of the issues. First I couldn't fall asleep with it on. Kept trying new masks until I could fall asleep in one. Then I kept taking it off at night. Got more secure headgear (a strap that went around the back of my head in addition to the one that went from my chin to the top of my head) and limited my movement by heading to the recliner. Then my mouth was falling open in my sleep. Got a chin strap and taped my lips shut until I learned to keep my mouth shut without the tape.
Do what works. If you are like me, I was functionally disabled from severe sleep deprivation. If I have to sleep in a recliner with a thing up each nostril, breathing cold water, with my mouth taped shut to get a decent night's sleep every night, than dammit that's what I'll do! LOL
Just try it!