If you had just begun your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, CPAP adherence will be your biggest challenge despite the positive impact it brings to one, 1 in 5 CPAP users quit using a CPAP machine within 5 years and we hope you are not one of them. It takes time and persistence to adopt anything new to adjust to sleeping with a mask, tubing, and the constant air pressure on your face or nose. Consider trying out the following such as wearing the CPAP mask during the day, sleeping with the CPAP mask in stages, setting up the CPAP machine and equipment before bedtime, and give yourself ample time to get used to CPAP before giving up.
Firstly, to help you easier to fall asleep with a CPAP mask, try wearing the mask before bedtime and during the day to get used to it; hold the mask in front of the face without the headgear and tubing and breathe normally for 1 minute, next, connect the mask to the CPAP machine turn the air on and hold it in front of the face for 1-2 minutes without the headgear and focus on breathing normally, try again after a few minutes if the air pressure is uncomfortable. When you are ok with the air pressure, put the headgear on and practice breathing through the mask and air pressure for 2 minutes block time, and try building up to wear the mask for longer period of time when watching television or reading a book aiming to have it on for 30 minutes at a time.
Once you are comfortable wearing the mask before bed, try to use it during sleep, start by sleeping the CPAP machine during a daytime nap for just 30-60 minutes and adding 30 minutes more each time and track the progress using ResMed myAir app. Jot down the efforts and challenges to see how far you have come, to notice the issues faced and embrace the idea CPAP therapy is a process. Research shows that people are more likely to stay on treatment with support from their friends and family members so seek support from them.
Set up the CPAP machine and equipment way before bedtime or during the day to avoid extra step as a hassle to set it up when you are ready to go to sleep. Remember to clean the CPAP mask and humidifier in the morning so that it is clean dry and ready to use when its bedtime. Lastly, give yourself ample time to get used to the therapy, although you might not see the effects right away, with patience and perseverance by not giving up you will feel that the symptoms resolved in no time.
If you are at risk or have sleep apnea, it is important to consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis early and the underlying issue of the cause of sleep apnea. Depending on your financial situation and sleep apnea condition, the doctor will work through with you the type of sleep apnea test in the comfort of your home or an in-lab sleep test to determine the precise nature of your condition to avoid any long-term issues. Besides most insurance companies now pay for sleep testing and CPAP treatment, early intervention with a sleep apnea device can stop snoring or one can a sleep apnea CPAP trial from the equipment supplier or distributor that distributes a range of sleep apnea devices for a better quality of sleep and healthier overall well-being.
The Air Station
