DanM

Hi DWalsh. I have used all 3 masks--nasal mask, nasal pillows, and full face--with no problems related to my mouth popping open. For many people who use a full face mask, the mouth only opens slightly and does not cause a problem. Some patients use a full face mask with a chin strap to help support the jaw. Wiredgeorge gives good advice about adjusting the mask appropriately. It should be snug but no too tight. Please keep us posted on your progress, and best wishes!

Hi all. There are wipes made especially for CPAP masks and equipment. They are usually available through your equipment provider but might be less expensive online. A quick search for CPAP mask wipes on the internet should turn up several results. Good luck!

You should be safe with any brand of machine from the major and reputable manufacturers. The most important thing will be to understand what kind of treatment (CPAP, APAP, BiPAP, etc.) her physician recommends and to have the machine set appropriately. Some medical equipment companies offer machines at less cost to people without insurance, and some offer refurbished machines at greater discounts. Best wishes, and I hope you are able to help your mother get her sleep apnea treated.

Hi McMike. I haven't seen any data that says the body can be trained. I think it is more that people who wear the various devices or use the tennis balls simply find it uncomfortable when the roll in their sleep and simply turn back to a lateral position.

Hi Gym. Wiredgeorge had a good suggestion about using something to hold the tubing up. If you search the internet for CPAP tubing holder, you will find commercial products that are made for this purpose. Some have had success with heated tubing or CPAP tubing insulators. Best wishes!

Hi hg. I use an APAP machine, which is basically an automatically adjusting CPAP machine. I started on CPAP many years ago, but I have no idea what percentage of people with sleep apnea actually use their machines.

Hi ConscientiousRedCurlew3163. Your report does appear to be consistent with moderate sleep apnea. Your sleep physician should work with you to decide the best type of treatment (CPAP, APAP, oral appliance, etc.). Stage N3 is actually your deepest stage of sleep, also sometimes called slow wave sleep, and it does appear that your sleep apnea is worse when you are sleeping on your back. That tends to be true for a lot of us. Best wishes, and please keep us posted on your progress!

Hi Athena. It sounds like a dental device might be a good place to start. If you really don't want to try CPAP, then wait and see how you do with the dental appliance. Many patients with sleep apnea that is not severe do very well with the dental appliance. If that does not work for you, then maybe you can consider trying CPAP. As for the insurance companies, they only get information related to whether you are wearing the device for a necessary amount of time to treat your condition. From their perspective, they do not want to pay for expensive equipment that is not being used. One reason that adjusting the machines is not recommended is that some of the machines have many settings. An incorrect setting, even made accidentally, can actually cause breathing problems to worsen without the patient using the machine realizing what is happening during sleep. That is not to say that CPAP users are not capable, but as things stand now the machines and settings are prescription items. There are many users who do adjust their settings and do just fine, but caution is recommended. I hope you start feeling better soon, and good luck!

Hi PracticalTanMandrill9358. Your username is randomly assigned, but you can change it by going to the icon next to the search button at the top of the screen. Choose settings and type your new name in the Forum name field. As for your sleep problems, it sounds like you have had a rough time finding help. Since CPAP settings are specific to each user and require a prescription, it is hard to say whether it will help you. If you do not have sleep apnea, then I wonder if the machine is going to do any good. Also, too much air pressure can cause other breathing problems during sleep, so please be careful. CPAP treatment can be an amazingly helpful therapy for those who have sleep apnea and need treatment. I think you should persist with trying to get answers from your physician. There are many things besides sleep apnea that can cause the symptoms you describe. Best wishes!

Hi AffableTanDog4581. I had some minor surgery about a year ago, and my hospital did screen me for sleep apnea and requested that I bring my CPAP machine with me on the day of surgery. I have heard from others that this is becoming more common, which is great news.