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Posted by Brian on March 06, 1998 at 18:11:15:In Reply to: Re: Getting Used to CPAP--A Few Questions posted by Charlie Smith on March 05, 1998 at 19:21:17:
Hi Charlie (and John),
The biggest problems I've seen with CPAP seem to be associated with patient compliance/noncompliance due to discomfort with the nasal appliance. My impression is, that the most successful CPAP users are rotating between two or more different masks (ie nasal, nasal pillows) in order to vary the site of pressure against the skin. New CPAP users, now better rested, sometimes are disturbed in their sleep by the CPAP, having been tired enough to tolerate it with little difficulty during the CPAP trial. Adjusting to CPAP can take time, patience, and money, but it is worth it indeed.
Patients using DPAP complain that it is too noisy, that spouses are now driven out of bed not by the snoring, but by the DPAP.
The demand concept is good however, and is based on the observation that persons with OSA have varying pressure requirements during the night, and that compliance can be enhanced by not requiring them to breathe continuously CPAP set to the maximum pressure required during the CPAP trial, but by providing pressure on an "as needed" basis. Respironics does a good job with their AutoCPAP, which anticipates demand, changes pressures with subtlety, and is quiet.
Stay with it, it does get easier.
Hope this helps,
Brian
- Re: Getting Used to CPAP--A Few Questions Tom Griffith 3/15/98 (0)
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