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Re: My first day of CPAP...

Posted by Captin Cannuck on December 20, 2007 at 21:00:20:

In Reply to: My first day of CPAP... posted by TG on December 20, 2007 at 18:52:53:

Richard,

I went through the same experience that you are going through. It takes a while to adjust to CPAP. You brain has to relearn how to breathe with CPAP. There is more air pressure, and there is also a foreign object on you body. Some thoughts/ideas for you:

1. YOUR BRAIN IS SWITCHED ON DURING SLEEP
The first thing you have to realize is tha your brain is switched on. It is an interesting thing that surprises us. Our brains are at work all the time, even during sleep. At first blush we might think it is switched off when you sleep, and is unable to react or learn during sleep, but that is not so. Many examples speak to this. If we hear something unusual, even a very quiet sound, why do we wake up? Because the brain is on and alerts us. If you live near a subway track or airport and a loud train/jet plane passes close to your house and wakes you, with time you will adjust. Why? Because your brain hears the noise but tells you "oh, that is no big deal, just the usual 5:15 am train. After a while, you can sleep like a baby. You don't even notice the loud train. People who live near trains do not even notice the sound. Why is this? The reason is that your brain, even though it is asleep, is still working and can interpret/respond to a new circumstance. That same principle holds true of adjusting to CPAP.

CLASSICAL CONDITIONING/BEHAVIOURISM
There is a kind of behavioral conditioning (think Pavlov/Skinner). Feedback is constantly at work. When you open your mouth, you wake up with a dry mouth. It is an unpleasant stimulus. Your brain learns from that. In time, it will likely reduce (and hopefully eliminate) opening your mouth. It will do this subconsciously.

MY OWN ADJUSTMENT EXPERIENCE:
I remember how I reacted when I first received my CPAP machine. My body could not adjust to the pressurization of the air. At first, I swallowed the air. This caused bloating and intestinal discomfort. That lasted for about one month or more. At this time, I also woke up frequently with a dry mouth. I knew that this was caused by me not keeping my mouth closed. At first, my brain did not realize that it was necessary to do that. The good news is that in due course, I adapted. After some months, I rarely work up with a dry mouth (e.g. only about once per month). I stopped swallowing air. I never had bloating/intestinal gas after the second month or so.

ADVICE
I predict that after a while, you will keep your mouth closed when you sleep. You will also forget about the foreign object on your body. For some people, the adjustment period is faster than others. I suggest to you to stick with it. Don't give up. Things will get better. You just have to get through the adjustment period. Be patient. It will take some time, but it will pay dividends.

If need be, try a chin strap to keep your mouth closed. You can purchase chin straps from a CPAP supplier or online.

Best of luck,

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