Sleep Apnea (Mom has it and she's driving me nuts.)?
I need some serious help dealing with my mom and her sleep apnea. I’ve searched for information online but so far I can’t find what I’m looking for. My mom is a hard-headed patient. She falls asleep all the time without her CPAP on. Sometimes I have to wake her up 5-10 times a nite to get her to put it on. She has congestive heart failure. I’m afraid I’m going to go in her room and find her dead. I was wondering if anyone knows if there are CPAP machines available with alarms? Also, I was wondering if it is okay for people with sleep apnea to take naps in chairs? I don’t think she should do it but she does all the time. I think if I had proof, she would stop doing it.
Does anyone know where I can get better information on Sleep Apnea and CPAP’s? I’m desperate to help my mom.
Tagged with: alarms • chairs • congestive heart failure • cpap machines • heart failure • mom • naps • proof • sleep • sleep apnea
Filed under: Sleep Apnea Machine Questions
Her Home Care company can be called and requested to do a session of patient education with her. Not using CPAP is one of the largest problems with OSA. Sometimes it takes a lot of education and reassuring conversations with a Respiratory Therapist (preferably) or a Registered Nurse to help the patient learn to use their equipment correctly and consistently. It isn’t your job to make your mom wear her CPAP. What I think you can do is try to help her by calling on her health care providers from the Home Care company.
Try this website, I don’t know how informative it will be but it should be a start.
http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/snoring/cpap.cfm
talk to your local medical supply store they can recommend what you need look at her existing cpap the company that provided her with it should be on it some where they can help also
It could be that the mask to her CPAP is not the right style. Have the respiratory therapist check this out. I used to use only the nose cover but now I use the mask that cover my nose and mouth. I like it much better. They have come out with some really great masks now.
I take naps in my recliner without my CPAP on, but I never lie down in bed without putting it on.
Encourage your mom to wear it. She could be in danger of having a serious stroke.
She she is blessed to have a great daughter like you. Hang in there sweetie and I hope your mom will give it a good try, too.