Definitely see a doctor first. While a CPAP machine can do wonders, it really only works for those who stop breathing. If you don’t stop breathing, it can actually do more harm to your sleep.
Especially if you know nothing about CPAP machines and your physician / pulmonologist select one for you and you get a Phillips one that turns out to rot from the inside and potentially send deadly material straight into your respiratory system.
I fully support CPAP use as recommended after a sleep study, but that was a poor investment by my insurance company.
edit: Though I guess if you get one without seeing your doctor first they won’t be selecting one for you.
Yeahhhhh my wife was on the fence about getting a CPAP for years. Finally got one and it dramatically helped! Until suddenly she got sick. And stayed sick until she stopped using it. Turns out it was the model you described and little shitty foam bits are not good for your lungs. Needless to say, she has not used any CPAP since. It sucks because even she said it helped, but she’s too scared of getting sick again to try a different kind.
After that happened, I purchased (out of pocket) one from Lofta and haven’t had any trouble since. CPAPs themselves are a very helpful treatment and I genuinely recommend a good one (again, assuming a sleep study supports the need).
Lofta also offers an at home study. Not sponsored or anything (I wish!), just have benefited from their product.
They aren’t that bad, if you have any insurance. Even medicare. The 20 percent we owe isn’t that horrible, and after the…2 year rental period we’ll just own it.
Do gotta use it like every night so medicare continues to pay its 80 percent though.
CPAP, removed, get it!
but first see a doctor, maybe your sleep quality is bad due to different factors
Stress, poverty, poor health, overwork, poor mental health…
Cpap doesn’t work for everyone, either. So don’t feel like a failure when it actually makes your sleep quality worse.
Definitely see a doctor first. While a CPAP machine can do wonders, it really only works for those who stop breathing. If you don’t stop breathing, it can actually do more harm to your sleep.
Especially if you know nothing about CPAP machines and your physician / pulmonologist select one for you and you get a Phillips one that turns out to rot from the inside and potentially send deadly material straight into your respiratory system.
I fully support CPAP use as recommended after a sleep study, but that was a poor investment by my insurance company.
edit: Though I guess if you get one without seeing your doctor first they won’t be selecting one for you.
Yeahhhhh my wife was on the fence about getting a CPAP for years. Finally got one and it dramatically helped! Until suddenly she got sick. And stayed sick until she stopped using it. Turns out it was the model you described and little shitty foam bits are not good for your lungs. Needless to say, she has not used any CPAP since. It sucks because even she said it helped, but she’s too scared of getting sick again to try a different kind.
Thanks medical capitalism!
After that happened, I purchased (out of pocket) one from Lofta and haven’t had any trouble since. CPAPs themselves are a very helpful treatment and I genuinely recommend a good one (again, assuming a sleep study supports the need).
Lofta also offers an at home study. Not sponsored or anything (I wish!), just have benefited from their product.
Narcolepsy here. CPAP is not helpful.
This mfer thinks we can afford a CPAP
My condolences, you must be American.
Hey, I’m am an American with a CPAP machine. I did get it when I was using that socialized medical world of the military though. 🤔
It did do wonders for my sleep too. I woke up much more refreshed.
They aren’t that bad, if you have any insurance. Even medicare. The 20 percent we owe isn’t that horrible, and after the…2 year rental period we’ll just own it.
Do gotta use it like every night so medicare continues to pay its 80 percent though.
I have an older model in the back of a closet somewhere if it would help someone. It works. I upgraded to a newer model.
I’m one of the unlucky ones that the cpap doesn’t magically fix everything. 😢
Samesies. Though I’ve been rather inconsistent with my usage. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Do not accept medical advice from a sentient piece of sci-fi machinery. Talk to your ship’s doctor instead.
I agree about different factors. Here are some things I’ve learned along that way that may helps folks here.
GERD might be a reasonable first diagnostic step: it can absolutely trash your sleep quality without mitigations. It’s common and relatively easy to combat.
Good sleep hygiene is another set of practical things anyone can do.
Re: CPAP - Obstructive sleep apnea is no joke. Fuck around and find out. And by “find out” I mean “wake up having a heart attack or stroke.”