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Therapy Tips :
Are you new to CPAP and struggling to adjust to it? Don't give up! You are not alone. There are many people who have trouble getting used to the pressure and sleeping with a mask on their face. Each person is different in how their body responds to treatment. The important thing is to try everything possible to make it work before you and your doctor decide to call it quits.
I realize that trying everything possible to make it work also requires the help of a qualified professional who understands and cares about what you are going through. And, unfortunately that kind of help is in short supply.
Our usual suggestion for "desensitizing" yourself to CPAP therapy is the following: Use the mask and CPAP for 10 minutes at a time 2 to 3 times a day. Focus on relaxing and telling yourself that you can breathe. You will not suffocate, no matter how uncomfortable it feels! Once you start to feel more comfortable with 10 minute sessions, try increasing the amount of time to 15 or 20 minutes. Another suggestion is to wear the mask while doing something else like watching TV or reading. Often you will forget you are even using it. When you are ready, try using the CPAP at bedtime. If you are unable to fall asleep with it on within 30 minutes, take it off and go to sleep.
There can be a multitude of things happening that prevent you from falling asleep with the CPAP on. One common cause is not having a high enough pressure setting. Unfortunately, the sleep study is only one night with a very limited amount of time available to determine your ideal pressure setting. As a result, the physician makes the best choice for you based on your test results; but in reality, your experience with therapy tells more about what you need. Many physicians do not have enough experience with CPAP therapy to work with you on finding the right setting. I recommend that you look for a physician who can help before you give up completely.
There are so many other causes of a poor sleep therapy experience! And so many times we hear from people " At first I hated CPAP, but now that I have gotten used to it, I can't sleep without it!"
Please feel free to call us with any questions or specific issues you have. Our experienced staff enjoys troubleshooting problems and helping people find the solution that makes CPAP therapy a good experience.
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 Are you interested in connecting with others with sleep apnea? Visit www.sleepguide.com, a forum of patients and sleep professionals. SleepGuide.com is a safe place to learn from others' experiences with PAP therapy and share your experiences too! The staff members of EZ CPAP are regular contributors to the forum as patients and professionals.
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Articles of Interest OSA Makes Diabetes WorseMany of us have heard that untreated obstructive sleep apnea can lead to diabetes. However, in an article published by WebMD it is stated that untreated sleep apnea may adversely affect glucose control in patients who already have type 2 diabetes. For the complete article, click here.Liver Disease Linked to Sleep Apnea Many people associate liver disease with drug and/or alcohol abuse. Yet, according to an article posted on InventorSpot.com 40% of people who suffer from liver disease have a non-alcoholic liver disease. A study with mice showed that hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, may be a link leading to a fatty liver and to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The hypoxia caused by obstructive sleep apnea may contribute to this fatty liver disease. For more information, click here
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