How to Get Independence from Your CPAP Machine?
Sleep apnea is a very common condition that can drastically affect the quality of sleep that you are able to achieve regularly as your breathing becomes interrupted consistently while sleeping, preventing the body from getting sufficient amounts of oxygen. Leaving sleep apnea untreated can have several negative long-term effects on the body, so treatment is vital in living a long healthy life. The most common method of sleep apnea treatment is through the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine that is worn by the patient during sleep. Did you know that the Oral appliance is an alternative? Contact Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders for more information or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations across the U.S. in Bloomington IL, Peoria/Dunlap IL, Mishawaka IN, Kansas City MO, El Paso TX, and Wausau WI.


Table of Contents:
Can you eventually get off CPAP?
What is the biggest challenge with CPAP?
How do I know if I no longer need CPAP?
Is there an alternative to a CPAP machine?
Currently, there is no actual cure for sleep apnea without the use of treatments such as the CPAP machine, other oral appliance options, or surgical options. However, there are some lifestyle factors that can allow for the symptoms of sleep apnea to be lessened, such as losing weight (for those who are overweight), avoiding the consumption of alcohol within several hours of sleeping, stopping the use of sleeping pills, controlling allergies if they are causing congestion while you sleep, and changes to sleeping position. Using a CPAP machine will be able to completely eradicate the symptoms of sleep apnea as long as it continues to be used, which makes it difficult for those who require the treatment in order to sleep but are not able to bring it with them on a trip or won’t have it with them during the night for whatever reason.
One of the most common challenges that patients using a CPAP machine face is just becoming comfortable wearing the machine as it can take some time to get to the point where patients are able to fall asleep with it on. Some common complaints regarding the comfort of wearing the CPAP machine include not liking the air pressure both coming in and as they exhale, they feel claustrophobic or “trapped” while wearing the mask, they experience anxiety at the beginning since it is unfamiliar, or they accidentally remove the mask while they are asleep. It can also take some trial and error to find a size of mask that fits properly and is comfortable to wear the entire night, or they may need to try a different style of mask to see what works best for them. All of these feelings of discomfort can contribute to the patient struggling to fall asleep and stay asleep until they are completely used to wearing the mask, so this process can take some time before any benefits of wearing the CPAP machine can be realized.
Most patients who are prescribed a CPAP machine for their sleep apnea will likely need to continue using the machine in order to continue breathing properly while sleeping for an indefinite amount of time, perhaps permanently. You will know that the CPAP machine is working when you are able to get uninterrupted sleep, you don’t find yourself to be gasping for air in the middle of the night, you feel more awake and rested throughout the day, and have increased mental clarity. Having these results means that the CPAP machine is working, but they may reverse and worsen if the patients choose to no longer continue with any treatment for their sleep apnea. If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and have reversed some of the potential causes of the condition such as losing weight, stopping use of alcohol before bed, or discontinuing reliance on sleeping pills, it is possible that your sleep apnea has lessened to the point where the CPAP machine pressure could be lowered to a more comfortable setting, or you could stop using it completely and switch to an oral sleep appliance.
One of the best alternatives to a CPAP machine is an oral appliance as it works just as effectively for many patients but does not require the use of a large mask or hose that is connected to a machine that requires electricity to function. These oral appliances will often resemble a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer and can be custom designed and fitted to be comfortable for use. These work by preventing potential obstruction to the airflow by keeping the tongue, lower jaw, and tissues located in the back if the throat out of the way all night. Please call us at the Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders today to see if an Oral Appliance would work for you!

Additional Services You May Need
▸ KoalaKIDZzz®
▸ Sleep Apnea
▸ Snoring
▸ TMJ Disorder
▸ Fatigue
▸ Sleep Disorders
▸ Weight Loss
▸ CPAP Alternative
▸ Oral Appliances