Do naps count toward compliance?

[pinetree]

Asking for the spouse, who asked me and I had no clue

About 6 days in
Mask: Amara View - fit 99%, virtually no leaks, her AHI has come way down
CPAP: Dreamstation Autopap

Just started CPAP a week ago, doing pretty well. Avg. about 3-4 a night, trying to get it up to 5-7 per night. Out of 7 nights so far, only 2 have been under 4 hours. Her allergies make it tough. The other two nights: 1 hour and 3.3 hours

On sunday afternoon at 2pm, if she takes a nap for 2 hours, but then can only wear it 2-3 hours during the same night for some reason, would that still count as 5 hours for compliance purposes? (4-5 hours over two sessions?)

[MitchS]

Welcome to the forum, pinetree.

Any time spend using the cpap machine counts toward compliance. Naps, watching tv, reading...you get the idea. They can all help the patient stay compliant until they get their therapy dialed in and they get comfortable with their machine.

[Beej]

Basically, the insurance company wants to know if you are using it as it is somewhat pricey equipment.
She should talk with them.

And as far as the short sleep periods, that might be something with which the doc could help.

[pinetree]

This board is full of great information. Appreciate it!

The thing that has been a pleasant surprise is how quiet the machine is. I was kinda thinking there might be more of a respiratory 'breath in" or "breath out" sound but really unless the machine occasionally changes pressures to help her breathing or there's an occasional faint squeak or blowing sound from a smalll leak (is that what I am hearing?), the mask and the machine are virtually silent 98% of the time. I've read where venting from the masks can make some noise, but the Amara View simply doesn't doesn't make any that I can tell.

She says she's quickly getting used to it and doesn't really mind wearing it, and I'm sleeping so much better because she's not snoring and I don't have to worry about her breathing at night--the machine is doing a nice job of that.

One other question: when traveling, for the humidifier...do most big hotels in major cities have distilled water on hand? Or can one use tap water for a few days?

[Sleeprider]

I have never had problems with tap and bottled water. Never used distilled in the past 10 years, so I bet you will get by just fine.

[MitchS]

While I use distilled water at home, I use bottled water when traveling or camping. Bottled water is much easier to to transport than an open jug of distilled water.

[sheepless]

depends on the water source. my well water does not test as particularly hard but is full of iron sediment. I installed a small spin down sediment filter and the house came with a water softener. these help remove the bad taste and reduce (but don't completely inhibit) rust stains on fixtures. oddly, 'hard water' build up is a constant issue. between iron, calcium, lime and whatever, including water softener salt, I avoid using my tap (well) water in the humidifier except in a pinch.

[Sleeprider]

depends on the water source.  my well water does not test as particularly hard but is full of iron sediment.  I installed a small spin down sediment filter and the house came with a water softener. these help remove the bad taste and reduce (but don't completely inhibit) rust stains on fixtures.  oddly, 'hard water' build up is a constant issue.  between iron, calcium, lime and whatever, including water softener salt, I avoid using my tap (well) water in the humidifier except in a pinch.

Get a Zero Water pitcher. Makes the water taste great and it works in the humidifier without leaving a deposit.

[sheepless]

there's a thought. we used to have a water pitcher with filter, britta maybe? forgotten all about it. still around somewhere I'll bet. will that do? might pencil out if desirable for other reasons but I wonder if filters are more expensive than distilled water at grocery store.

[SarcasticDave94]

Welcome to Apnea Board.

Any CPAP use counts towards the compliance. When new to CPAP therapy, lots use theirs while reading, watching a TV show, etc. so they can adjust the mask or to get used to the machine. And of course while actually sleeping.

As for the water, unless yours has particularly high mineral content, you'll be OK with plain water. I use distilled because my water has high limestone (I think). Higher mineral content in the water you use only means you'll probably need to clean the humidifier tank a bit more often, to get rid of deposits.