Better Sleep Coach; Your Help to Better Health through Better Sleep
  • Home
  • Who we are
  • Tips for Better Sleep
  • Tips for Students of Any Age
  • Tips for Making CPAP your Friend
  • Tips for Techs
  • Sleep Quiz
  • Coaching
  • Night shift coaching
  • Products to Help You Sleep Better

Claustrophobia and CPAP 

1/6/2013

1 Comment

 
One of the first issues I hear when a person comes into a sleep lab to be introduced to a CPAP is that they have claustrophobia; that you cannot stand to have anything on your face.  There is always an excuse for not tolerating therapy.  Most of the reason has to do with feeling out of control.  There are so many ways that can create a successful experience.

Let’s start with the mask.  It is probably the most important piece of equipment you will use and the easiest to change.  If you are unable to use the mask during the night of your study tell your tech, however, what usually happens is that they use the mask for 1-3 days at home and find that it is not the best mask for them.  It may move too much causing leaks, it might cause your skin to mark or breakdown, it might make your eyes dry; all these issues can be handles with a change of mask.  It is also common for people who are claustrophobic to be much more successful with a full face mask due to the ability to breathe through both the nose and mouth which will make anyone more comfortable.  Your insurance will pay for replacement mask during the first thirty days of the therapy.   After the first thirty days a new mask must be ordered.  At many centers they will allow you to trial or borrow masks to find one that will work for you.

Knowing how to perform relaxation techniques will allow you to be successful when you are trying to fall asleep the first few days.  It can also help on days where your stress level is high.  The two techniques I have found that help are progressive relaxation.  This is easy to learn and allows you to focus on relaxing as well as helping you to focus your thinking.

1.       Start at your feet and tighten  them as tight as you can, hold for the count of ten and then allow them to relax and go limp

2.       Progressively move up the body focusing on one muscle group at a time. 

3.       To reach the top of your head should be having spent about 10 minutes on deep breathing and your muscles may be relaxed.  This centered concentration helps increase oxygen levels and allows the mind to camp down preparing it for bed.

Diaphragmatic breathing is another exercise that will allow you to relax and breathe deeply with a technique that takes focus.  Lie flat on your back with your hand on your stomach just below your ribs.  As you take a slow deep breath in push your hand out; when you exhale draw in your abdominal muscles so you are pulling your hand in.  I usually like to hold the breath 3-5 second between peak inhalation and exhalation.  Having to concentrate allows the mind to calm and it increases the oxygen level from doing nice slow inhalations.

If relaxation techniques do not work for you medication or working with a councilor that practices Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  Your physical can help you to find assistance that will work for you.  It is not unusual for someone to need a little extra support, this is long term therapy and sometimes it takes a little time to become compliant with it.

Some accessories can help you with some of the small issues.  Chin Up strips can help a mouth breather minimize the leak.  A Gecko will help with sores on the nose and leaks into the eyes.  A heated hose might help with mouth drying. 

Overall working with a patient technologist or physician is the best way to be successful when using PAP.  The more you communicate about your issues the sooner a solution to help you be successful on your machine, and sleeping a healthy sleep.

1 Comment

CPAP Solutions for the Winter

12/9/2010

4 Comments

 
If you wear a CPAP you might notice that this time of year you have more side effects.  The cold dry weather and the increased time indoors can cause many side effects such a drying of the mouth and nose, congestion, sinus infections, and illness.  It is important that if you are using your CPAP that you are comfortable all year  so you have to consider the time of the year and make the changes you need.

The first problem is the dry air that occurs during the winter.  This is true even if you have a humidifier in the house.  Your humidifier is the best defense for this.  Most humidifiers on CPAP machines have settings of 1 to 5 and are usually set to 1 or 2.  The reason for the low setting is due to water accumulating in the tubing and mask.  This problem can be reduced by making a sleeve for your tube.  A nice piece of flannel and some seam glue is all you need.  You want to turn it up high enough to make your airway comfortable.

One of the side effects of an overly dried airway is congestion.  This is one of the easiest ways to tell if you need to increase the humidifier setting.  If you are experiencing congestion you might also want to use a nasal saline spray before going to bed and then again when you wake up to help rehydrate your airway. 

The other issue that really causes problems during the winter is colds and flu.  Illnesses makes wearing your CPAP challenging.  This is where owning two masks can come in handy.  It helps to have a full face mask if you usually wear a nasal mask or nasal pillows.  It is essential that you keep your mask, tubing and humidifier clean.  Warm damp places are a great place for viruses and bacteria to grow.  The best way to keep your equipment clean is to wash it with soap and water and then you can disinfect it with one part white vinegar and 3 parts water.  Just soak them for 20 minutes then rinse very well so your equipment does not smell like salad dressing then allow your equipment to air dry. 

If you try some of these ideas and they do not help you then go back to your doctor, sleep lab or DME company and ask for some help.  Everyone wants you to succeed with your CPAP and they will be happy to help.

4 Comments

    Archives

    May 2020
    December 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    January 2018
    January 2017
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    August 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    January 2010

    RSS Feed

    Blog Roll
    Stop Snoring
    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Categories

    All
    Aasm
    Aast
    Add
    Allergies
    Amy Korn Reavis
    Amy Korn-Reavis
    Anxiety
    Apap
    Auto Titrating Cpap
    Balance
    Bedding
    Bipap
    Boards
    Bodymedia Fit
    Books
    Breathing
    Brpt
    Career
    Children
    Cpap
    Cpap Accessories
    Cpap Mask
    Cpap Masks
    Cpap Problems
    Cpap Solutions
    Cpap Therapy
    Daylight Savings Time
    Dental Appliances
    Diabetes
    Dr Steven Park
    Education
    Enurisis
    Exercise
    Fatigue
    Fibromyalgia
    Florida Association Of Sleep Technicians
    Gerd
    Growth
    Habits
    Health
    High Blood Pressure
    Holidays
    Hot Weather
    Insomnia
    Insurance
    Job
    Licensure
    Management
    Monitoring
    Morning Headaches
    Napping
    Nbrc
    New Cpap
    Obesity
    Obstructive Sleep Apnea
    Oral Appliances
    Osa
    Pain
    Pap Nap
    Physicial
    Planning
    Publicity
    Relax
    Relaxation
    Resolutions
    Respiratory Credentials
    Respiratory Therapy
    Shaq
    Sheets
    Short Sleep
    Sleep
    Sleep Apnea
    Sleep Deprivation
    Sleep Disorders
    Sleep Education
    Sleep Hygeine
    Sleep Hygiene
    Sleep Lab
    Sleep Routine
    Sleep Societies
    Sleep Stages
    Sleep Study
    Sleep Technician
    Sleep Test
    Sleep Testing
    Sleep Therapy
    Snoring
    Stress
    Studying
    Summer
    Support
    Support Groups
    Surgery
    Teens
    Tired
    Travel
    Treatment
    Vitamin D
    Weight Loss
    Winter Health
    Women
    Writing

    Amy Korn-Reavis, EzineArticles.com Basic PLUS Author
    Follow this blog
Photo used under Creative Commons from momentcaptured1
  • Home
  • Who we are
  • Tips for Better Sleep
  • Tips for Students of Any Age
  • Tips for Making CPAP your Friend
  • Tips for Techs
  • Sleep Quiz
  • Coaching
  • Night shift coaching
  • Products to Help You Sleep Better