CPAP - anyone have any experience?

[meltedmarsbars]

We're off to try it out in hosp next week, but I thought I'd ask you knowledgeable people if any of you have any experience of CPAP - its for a 7 year-old.

How easy is it? Does it just mean another alarm to wake me up in the night? Does it make much difference to oxygen levels/ chest health etc?

The Sleep Apnoea Trust are really helpful on CPAP. DH has a CPAP, and has been on it for 3 years now with huge effect to him. Theres no alarm on them, but the different models do vary hugely in the amount of noise they make, their portability, and in their comfort (don't get fobbed off with no humidifier).

Thanks CMOTdibbler, I'll have a look although its not for sleep apnoea in our case.

I should have said that they support anyone on CPAP, including those with nocturnal hypoventilation. DH has a friend with central sleep apnoea (ie, his body just forgets to breathe) that he met through SATA

Hi melted.
No home experience but ds2 has spent several weeks on CPAP in hospital.
It is definatly a step up from O2 & more effective.
The alarm would i am guessing just be instead of the O2 alarm??
I would think it would be more for your dd to tolerate as I think it feels very different to the O2.

DS2 has used CPAP on the way to & from full ventilation IYKWIM.

Thanks for that Anon.

Its a proposal as a progression from hypoventilation and bronchectisis (sp?).