I have sleep apnea and I treat it with the help of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.
It’s brilliant, really. The machine forces air into your nose to keep the airway open during sleep. Your doctor actually “prescribes” the amount of pressure for you, based on the data gathered from your sleep study.
Of course, one uses a mask to do this. Which could be uncomfortable at best.
My own mask does not cover my mouth. I’ve been using it for a little over five years. The masks come in different sizes; even the petite one I buy is a touch too large for my face. This causes gaps during the night.
Noisy. I can snore. Or whine, like wind through a small tunnel. Or gurgle.
Drives my husband crazy.
I’m due for a visit to the doctor, to review my CPAP’s prescription. But I’m also going to check out what’s new out there for me in terms of masks. Perhaps if my mouth were also covered, I wouldn’t drive my husband quite so crazy.
Plus the whole contraption may work more efficiently in helping me to get my precious sleep.
Photo Credit: ~Twon~
Fri, Jun 12, 2009
Sleep Apnea, Sleep Physiology, Snoring