Sleep apnea therapy takes a little getting used to, but the benefits are well worth it.
Here are some helpful tips to help make therapy work for you:
Feeling comfortable using positive airway pressure therapy takes a little time and practice. Some individuals adapt to therapy very easily, but don't worry if it takes you longer – everybody's different.
Like anything new or overwhelming, you've got to give it a chance. Learning to use your therapy equipment is simply about having good habits, staying positive and practicing. It also helps to have some support from your doctor, your family and myAir.
Some common answers and suggestions are listed below to help you make the most of your therapy – helping you to sleep and breathe easy.
You may sleep well on therapy from the start – many people do. Others take a bit longer. You can always start off with a few hours and work up from there. If you've had a bad night, don't give up, try again and gradually build up your time on therapy. Practicing really helps.
If the air pressure feels too high when you first start therapy, it will help to have AutoRamp™ selected. This allows you to choose a lower starting pressure for comfort. Once it detects you're asleep, AutoRamp will then comfortably increase the pressure to your prescribed level.
At first you might be very aware of the feeling of flowing air. It's okay, this is something you'll get used to. Just try to relax and breathe as you normally would.
A great way to start getting used to it, is to wear your mask and use your machine during the daytime or when you're relaxed; it will soon start to feel more natural with time.
Our devices are made to operate smoothly and quietly. If your equipment is making loud noises, some of the parts might not be connected properly, causing air to escape or leak out.
To fix this, listen to where the noise is coming from (the machine, humidifier, tube or mask). Then check that everything is connected securely, and see if there are any changes in noise. If unsure, check your mask or device user guide for fitting instructions and troubleshooting.
It's normal for your mask to leak a little when you move, but if you feel a lot of air escaping, make sure it's fitted correctly. Mask leak can also occur if your mask is not the right size. Check your mask user guide or read up on ResMed's mask fitting guidelines.
If you have a nasal or nasal pillows mask, opening your mouth will cause air to leak out. If you're breathing through your mouth because your nose is congested, blocked or dry, try adjusting your humidifier to a more comfortable level. Read up on adjusting your humidifier settings in your Library. If you're still having problems after adjusting your humidifier, consider using a chin strap to keep your mouth closed, or alternatively, switching to a full face mask.
Gurgling sounds when you are breathing are often caused by a build-up of water in your mask or tube. You can resolve this problem by adjusting the humidifier, warming up the air in your room or by using a ClimateLine™ Air heated tube.
If you have a good mask seal and have been using your therapy equipment consistently, you should be feeling the benefits. By starting and sticking with therapy for your sleep apnea, you could be on the way to better sleep and better relationships. You may also find you feel more energized, which can help with motivation to start exercising. Losing weight can help improve your sleep apnea too.1
Other benefits of sleep apnea therapy can include reducing morning headaches, forgetfulness, poor concentration and tiredness.2,3
1 Romero-Corral A et al. Interactions between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea: implications for treatment. Chest 2010;Mar;137(3):711–9.
2 Wolk R et al. Sleep-disordered breathing and cardiovascular disease. Circulation 2003;108:9–12.
3 Palnitkar G et al. Sleep apnoea in adults: identifying risk factors and tailoring therapy. Medicine Today 2012;13(8):14–23.