CPAP machine waiting time

[Fanfab1]

hi

Any experience of how long the wait is to have a CPAP machine on NHS?

I only have mild apnea as only stop breathing 14 times a night but I would welcome anything that may avoid this / improve my sleep. I had overnight sleep test and day nap test.

It’s supposed to be for a trial basis - anyone who had on trial basis do they test you again or is it on patient reported improvement?

👍

[stratford_58]

hello Fanfab1

I am not sure if it depends on where you live and how big a department your sleep clinic is?

I am interested as to how you feel 14 episodes an hour is mild apnea. For me I think any episode is serious and thankfully the CPAP machines work to make sure episodes are reduced to little or none at all.

I live in London and unfortunately I had severe obstructive sleep apnea. I think it was about 50 episodes an hour. I had absolutely no idea this was happening in my sleep other than my sleep was awful and this seriously affected my ability to function in the afternoons especially.

I started with a BPAP machine but I just could not get on with it. I would regularly take it off in the night and then fall back to sleep without it on.

I was eventually referred to a respiratory and apnea clinic and put on a BiPAP machine. I also have asthma and COPD (I have never smoked). It has taken me a year but the machine is now my friend and I often sleep with only 1 episode an hour and very little snoring.

Don’t be afraid to ask your clinician what the plan is. Ask about the machine and when you can start treatment. I always say if you don’t ask you don’t get. The service here in London both at Guys and St. Thomas’s is brilliant.

Happy to keep in contact with you if you find this helpful and to give you support as it is not always an easy journey with the machines especially if like me you will have a full mask covering your nose and mouth.

Have a good day and good luck.

Geoffrey

[Fanfab1 in reply to stratford_58]

Thank you for your response, really good to hear it has helped but takes times!

I was quoting / paraphrasing the letter I got which says “at least mild sleep apnoea with abnormal breathing events happening 14 times an hour”. I guess I’m “clinging” to the word mild to help manage any anxiety over this while I wait for CPAP - says on trial basis.

I have asthma too which comes on as a cough especially when lie down and I have an untreatable heart condition that causes frequent angina. I’m sure a good nights sleep will help the heart too.

I experience similar to your past experience of bad sleep and lack of function in afternoons. I had put it all down to the heart issue tbh. Good to hear it can improve things.

Have rung hospital (Queen Elizabeth Brum) and left message but will keep trying till I get a human being!

Thank you for the offer of further support / advise. Much appreciated.

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