Join CPAP Matt as he navigates a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and shares his experiences with treatment set by step. When first diagnosed with OSA in the fall of 2020 and prescribed CPAP therapy, Matt went online to learn more but found very few resources that weren’t from sleep medicine doctors, product manufacturers, or retailers hawking products. This site is dedicated to learning about, living with, and adapting to sleep apnea and CPAP treatment with the hope of helping others.
Lessons Learned and Shared
Recently diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, I will chronicle my experiences as I learn about this potentially dangerous sleep disorder and the treatment that was prescribed for me. Follow me on my journey so that you, too, can learn from a patient’s perspective about what works for me and what doesn’t. Keeping in mind, however, I am not providing medical advice, but information and resources you can use to ease your transition into CPAP treatment and healthier sleep.
From my blog
I have what?!
I am a 48-year-old, caucasian man from South Carolina and have been significantly overweight for most of my adult life — including several attempts at lifestyle changes and weight loss that never seemed to stick. For decades, I’ve snored, woke tired, and suffered low energy levels. More recently, and to me a bigger concern, however,…
CPAP on a Budget
My diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea came in October 2020, after our family’s FSA account was maxed out following my wife’s foot surgery and our oldest boy’s wisdom teeth extraction. Even with those major medical expenses, we were nowhere close to meeting our insurance deductible. To say the least, I was not in a financial…
Setting up a CPAP machine for the first time
Once programmed by your physician, preparing your CPAP for operation is pretty simple. Read the instructions fully before setting up your CPAP for its maiden voyage, but here are some suggestions to get you started. Find a location next to your bed that is about head height or slightly below with access to a power…
Selecting a mask
While the CPAP machine provides the life-saving pressure used to treat obstructive sleep apnea, the fit, feel, and reliability of your mask will likely determine if you stick with your CPAP therapy. An uncomfortable mask, or one that doesn’t provide a good seal because of ill fit or style, will turn a person off. Full-face,…
CPAP equipment maintenance
Maintaining your CPAP equipment is a must to ensure the longevity of your very expensive investment and reducing the potential for bacterial buildup and, ultimately, illness. Clean all of the parts that contact your face daily. This can be accomplished quickly and easily added to your morning routine. Fill a clean sink with warm (not…
At last, a night without leaks – ResMed P30i Nasal Pillow Mask
Last night was the first time since late October that I slept through the night without an air leak. It was glorious! I’m not saying it was a perfect night — thoughts of Thanksgiving to-dos swirled around for quite some time before I could doze off — but six hours of uninterrupted sleep felt like…
Matt's CPAP Journey 