BiPap usage as dementia progresses

tdpettit · January 8

My husband just got diagnosed with Alzheimer's and around the same time he finished a sleep study and found that he has central sleep apnea caused by his congestive heart failure. He has been using a BiPap since November and is doing well.

My question is… what should I expect as this disease progressess. Will he most likely start to be irriated by the machine and refuse to use it?

I hope not because it has been a God send!! He is more rested now and on most days does not even nap because he is rested.

H1235 · January 8

I think the sooner he has started using it the better. The longer he has that routine of using it maybe the longer the habit will stick with him. At some point he will probably forget about the sleep study and not understand why he needs it. Some with dementia tend to be dazed and a bit confused, but comply with most requests. My mil was like this. Others get argumentative and refuse to do things because they believe they still know what’s best for themselves. This is my mom. Everyone is a bit different.

Quilting brings calm · January 9

At some point, he may not want to use it. That could be quite far down the road. Even if he eventually starts removing it during the night, any use is better than none.

My mom went on oxygen in April 2024. She didn’t like to use it ( thought it made her look old)- but the staff at the AL made sure she did. She was between stage 4/5 at the time.

housefinch · January 9

I would anticipate eventually he will resist using it and you will probably not want to fight that battle. I’m saying this with compassion—-when his brain no longer understands why he needs it, it might be kinder to allow his heart failure to progress as an exit ramp. Then he might avoid the misery of late stage dementia. My opinion only.

harshedbuzz · January 9

@tdpettit

It's great that's he's adapted to the use of bi-pap as well as he has. It sounds like it's been very helpful for him. That's very positive.

As PWD progress, many do seem to "time travel" back in time, so it might come to a point where's he's mentally and emotionally in a place where he can't be convinced he should be using it. My dad had a C-Pap, which many find harder to adapt to, but he had it so long that using it had become muscle memory. Plus, mom uses a Bi-Pap so it was a part of their combined bedtime routine.

That said, a few folks have reported that their LO fought them on use at some point. In the context of a terminal condition, most elected not to fight it.

HB

PS So long as he's consistent in using it, I would make sure you grab it for any trips to the ER/planned hospitalizations. It's best to have your own gear especially if there's a delay in getting sent to a room and your LO is overnight in the ER.

tdpettit · January 9

Thank you so much!!!

tdpettit · January 9

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/233436#Comment_233436

I appreciate that honesty and agree 100%

BiPap usage as dementia progresses

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