Reviewer: Gina Stewart

According to my daughter I was snoring and made loud funny noises in my sleep, so much so she could hear me from her room down the hall.

I mentioned this to my physician and he ordered a two night sleep study to be performed at the local hospital to check to see if I was suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is when the airways are constructed during sleep causing a person to snore or make other noises to otherwise "catch their breath". A person with sleep apnea actually stops breathing for a period of one to three or more seconds which interrupts their sleep causing a whole host of both physical and psychological problems.

The sleep study showed that I was suffering from sleep apnea and waking up approximately 128 times within one hour's time. I was told this was the low range for some people wake up upwards of 200 to 400 times per hour. When a person wakes up this many times they do not realize it and fall right back to sleep, however their sleep is so interrupted they cannot possibly receive a good night's sleep and wake up feeling exhausted the next day.

The second night of the sleep study was to use a CPAP machine in order to set the correct readings on the machine so I could sleep all night.

CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure, and the CPAP machine uses a continuous method of respiratory ventilation which forces air through the nasal passages to keep the throat muscles from closing and allowing a person to get a good night's sleep

I was given the Escape II CPAP machine from Resmed, a very quiet machine that took some time to get used to.

The Escape II CPAP machine from Resmed comes with an extra 6 foot long hose which allows a patient more mobility then a smaller hose which keeps the patient tethered to their machine without much room to move about the bed.

This particular CPAP machine comes with an improved EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief) mode which boasts a quieter system and easier breathing technology.

The Escape II CPAP machine from Resmed is fully customizable with reminders for accessory replacements like machine filters or your mask. It also contains remote downloading capabilities with a data scan card which provides usage information and insurance compliance monitoring.

The machines itself is nice and compact, only weigh approximately 7 pounds and it comes with a nice carrying case for travel. It's the different styles of masks one needs to get used to in order for the machine do its job properly.

Numerous people, myself included, find that the over the face mask is a bit claustrophobic. This mask covers your nose and mouth and the air is very forceful, making it difficult to catch your breath and get into a natural pattern or rhythm of breathing.

The nose mask is similar to what a hospital uses to administer oxygen to their patients however the mask is a bit more like in the nose nose plugs in order to keep out all air from entering the nostrils.

It is very important to set the ramping on your CPAP machine for longer than you believe it will take you to fall asleep. The ramping allows the forced air going into your nose to be at a more gentle setting until you fall asleep at which time it ramps up to a higher volume, the one set by the sleep study or doctor, allowing your airways to remain open and you to receive a good night's sleep.

A few things to beware of with the CPAP machine: in the first few weeks you might experience daytime drowsiness because your body is getting used to receiving the sleep it had been lacking before. If the daytime drowsiness does not dissipate, seek medical attention from your physician.

It may take anywhere from one month to a year to receive the full benefits from a CPAP machine because your body is not use to receiving a full night's sleep. Many people fight the machine because it is uncomfortable sleep with a breathing mask and it's very unnatural to breathe the forced air.

I am still in the 'getting used to' it phase of my CPAP machine; however I do know I am sleeping somewhat better than I ever have before. I am experiencing an overwhelming amount of daytime drowsiness that the doctor has prescribed different medications for without much success so far.

The Escape II CPAP machine from Resmed is one of the top-of-the-line CPAP machines and depending on what type of insurance coverage an individual carries, the price varies.

CPAP Sleep Apnea Breathing Machine Reviews

Important Note: You should consult your doctor if you have concerns over your health,
and the information on this site is not medical advice, and is for information purposes only.