Need purchase advice for snorer

[hagar]

My wife also had problems with my snoring. Didn't bother me, but sure bothered her.

I had the sleep study done 12 years ago.....on Valentine's night. It was my Valentine's gift to her. Haven't missed more than 3 nights since then without the mask and CPAP.

When we went shopping for a trailer, having an outlet and shelf next to the bed was a must. We found just about all the new ones have a shelf and plug on both sides, and they tell us many buyers of TT's our age have the same need.

And, the sleep test and CPAP machine will be cheaper than buying a trailer long enough to get enough demilitarized zone between the two of you.

[OldCoot]

See a sleep specialist and have a sleep apnea test performed. You will probably end up with a CPAP machine specifically set for you.

[Herk7769]

Great source for all things CPAP.

Send them your script once and you can buy supplies and they carry several types of masks.

CPAP.com - CPAP Masks

[kerrlakelover]

So, if you don't want to go the CPAP route and you still want something small, light weight and easy to carry that will work with a small TT, you could always pick up one of these mountain climber beds and rig it on the back bumper. (CAUTION, most of the back bumpers have weight limits...I'm just sayin.) Campers nearby may not appreciate it, but at least your wife will sleep like a baby. Sorry had to throw some humor in here. I have felt your wife's pain and have actually moved outside and slept under our awning in a zero gravity chair one night because of my bride's snoring...before she got the CPAP.

[SKnight]

Originally Posted by B47

I agree about that "stupid mask" - it was awfully uncomfortable the first time I had it on,but I did sleep with it on the first night. When I got my CPAP machine,I complained about it. I now have what Res-Med calls their "Nasal Pillows" face mask. It's just two flexible pieces that fit into your nossills (sp) that blow the air air - works much better for me.

Allow me to expand on the stupid mask. I hated the thought of the thing and once on my face I nearly walked out. No friggin way was I going to put up with this. My readings scared the Dr. badly enough that he personally called me back for the second study the following night but I quickly didn't care.

But I'll try anything, so I stuck it out. And I'm glad I did.

I took Ambien for two nights while I got used to it and haven't needed it since, now I put the nose mask on and fall asleep normally, quickly even.

So it was a stupid mask for only a short while. Now it's an essential part of my life. I considered the surgery on my throat but frankly this works well and is far less invasive.

Oh, and here's what got my attention during my visit with the Dr.

Reggie White's Death Linked to Obstructive Sleep Apnea

[B47]

Originally Posted by SKnight

Allow me to expand on the stupid mask. I hated the thought of the thing and once on my face I nearly walked out. No friggin way was I going to put up with this. My readings scared the Dr. badly enough that he personally called me back for the second study the following night but I quickly didn't care.

But I'll try anything, so I stuck it out. And I'm glad I did.

I took Ambien for two nights while I got used to it and haven't needed it since, now I put the nose mask on and fall asleep normally, quickly even.

So it was a stupid mask for only a short while. Now it's an essential part of my life. I considered the surgery on my throat but frankly this works well and is far less invasive.

Oh, and here's what got my attention during my visit with the Dr.

Reggie White's Death Linked to Obstructive Sleep Apnea

That was pretty much my experience with the exception of taking Ambiem and having my Doctor call me back - he didn't have to..

I tried a half full mask ( my description ) after the full face one and settled on the Nasal Pillows style and have been very satisfied with it.

For those of you who might be getting a CPAP machine in the future, be aware there is some maintenance required. My Res Med requires dis-infecting the water chamber once a week using vinegar and warm tap water. The air hose from the water heater to the mask requires the same.

There's also a filter that requires replacing when necessary. And my machine requires distilled water.

This is all well worth the benefit I get from it IMO.

[RJHuser]

I've been on cpap therapy for over ten years now. My first sleep study - 110 to 120 episodes per hour. That's extreme sleep apnea. The sleep study to setup the cpap the therapist woke me after 10 hours of sleep and said I didn't move a muscle all night. I couldn't believe how good I felt that morning.

(By the way, I used to travel a lot back then. I would get on a plane and fall asleep almost immediately. I'd wake up after takeoff and everyone around me would be staring at me. I thought it was because I could sleep through takeoff. Said something to a coworker traveling with me once about it, and he said no, that my snoring was louder than the jet engine!)

It's gotten to the point that I can't sleep without my Cpap machine now. We had a power outage a couple years ago that lasted a few days. I got very little sleep during that time, and woke up more exhausted then when I went to bed. Once power was restored, I slept 9 hours straight (thankfully it was a weekend night) and woke up feeling great.

I have such a high prescription pressure - 14 to 15 - that I talked my sleep doctor into an auto-pap machine (this machine senses the onset of an apnea episode and automatically adjust the pressure to prevent it). The best thing I ever did, my average pressure is down to 13 to 13.5, it's easier to fall asleep because the initial pressure is lower and if you awake during the night, the pressure drops until you fall back asleep and an apnea event is sensed. Also, the number of apnea events during the night has dropped dramatically.

Sorry for the long post, but I was like the other posters here. I didn't believe others that I had a problem, or how bad it was. If I hadn't had the sleep study and started Cpap therapy, I might not be here now, or have had a massive heart attack or neurological event. It literally saved my life.

In short - Have the sleep study, hope it isn't sleep apnea, but if it is, start Cpap therapy, and keep with it. It might take a bit to find the right machine and mask to suit you, but the result is well worth it!

Rick

[B47]

RJ - my initial pressure settings were 16-18. After about a month of using it,I found the settings to be too high. I took the chip back and after it was read,my settings are now 13-15. Not sure on yours,but the only person that can change the settings is a qualified person employed by, in my case, Sleep Healers.

[B and B]

13 here on nasel pillows, full mask is not good for me with a beard. Been on it for 8 years, sleep 6 good hours and I am ready to go. 8 hrs look out super productive! lol

[B47]

Originally Posted by B and B

13 here on nasel pillows, full mask is not good for me with a beard. Been on it for 8 years, sleep 6 good hours and I am ready to go. 8 hrs look out super productive! lol

Yeah - never thought about the beard. Reminds me of a FAA Inspector being denied the jump seat because he had a beard. The airline said anyone with a beard couldn't occupy the jump seat because they thought the beard would prevent a good seal for the emergency oxygen face mask if it needed to be used.

The inspector filed a violation against the airline but I don't remember how that turned out.

[Daisies]

Wow! Thanks for all the sharing of information! Having a sleep study in a few weeks for sleep apnea. I'm surprised to read such positive encouraging things about CPAP, thanks! This is my first post here, just spent 3 nights in our brand spankin' new 2016 Nitro XLR 24fqsl by the way, that is perfect for us.

[Lost Vermonters]

For those of you using a CPAP, have you had problem when boondocking. I have not tried it yet. Have spent one night at the Walmart campground and just not used the machine. But I can tell the next day. Not a great idea when driving.

How do the batteries handle it?

[SKnight]

Originally Posted by Daisies

Wow! Thanks for all the sharing of information! Having a sleep study in a few weeks for sleep apnea. I'm surprised to read such positive encouraging things about CPAP, thanks! This is my first post here, just spent 3 nights in our brand spankin' new 2016 Nitro XLR 24fqsl by the way, that is perfect for us.

It's the worst thing you can think of, until you try it. Then you get over that pretty quickly.

Originally Posted by jcullenvt

For those of you using a CPAP, have you had problem when boondocking. I have not tried it yet. Have spent one night at the Walmart campground and just not used the machine. But I can tell the next day. Not a great idea when driving.

How do the batteries handle it?

Depends on your batteries, I've got four six volt batteries in a split parallel arrangement. I went all night with mine running on an inverter and the furnace running some and only saw power drop to 12.45V. If yours has a straight 12V power option unlike mine, you should do even better than that.

Best idea is to try it at home. Go spend the night in the driveway and see what happens. A single battery may be ok for just the cpap.

[bend302]

I went to Wal Mart and bought a battery booster ($100 I think). It has a built in inverter and will handle 400 watts.

Tested it at home without the humidifier and it used about 20% of its cap. Last week we were in NJ and couldn't find a convenient campground so we overnighted at a service plaza. No issues with CPAP.

Bill

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by jcullenvt

For those of you using a CPAP, have you had problem when boondocking. I have not tried it yet. Have spent one night at the Walmart campground and just not used the machine. But I can tell the next day. Not a great idea when driving.

How do the batteries handle it?

Like Bill/bend302 - I've done it with a crappy inverter. As long as you turn off your humdifier, even the cheapest of batteries will do the trick (I've used car batteries while tent camping).

If you boondock a lot, there are 12v cords that you can use to skip the inverter.

Going without isn't an option for me- I end up groggy/hungover and cannot drive the next day.

[Brother Les]

My wife's parents have not slept in a bed for many years, they use Lazy-Boy Recliners with a head rest at home and in their unit for, upper body up/support, head up and back support (no more back problems) , better breathing/less snoring, no more gerd, butt down and legs up for circulation. they swear by this sleeping arrangement and say it is the best sleep that they have ever had.

[hawki8624]

Originally Posted by glorybound

Snoring is dangerous. Take a sleep study. You may need a c-pap machine . It will stop the snoring.

I agree Mine drastically changed the way I sleep and I no longer snore

[drifterdon]

There are a lot of other reasons to get the sleep study besides just for snoring.
My eye doctor referred me to a eye surgeon to look at my optical nerves and she in turn diagnosed Glaucoma then recommended a sleep study because of a link between the two.
Needless to say I have only missed 2 nights of cpap in the last two years and that was due to eye surgeries.
Git r done

[Stinkielee]

I use one of these: http://hdmusa.com/products/z1-auto/
My insurance would not cover it, but for me it was worthwhile. There is a battery option, which I did not buy, so we have problems if boondocking. I need to figure out a 12v modification for it.

[Iwritecode]

Now I'm curious if the OP took everyone's advice. One and done poster.