Practical guides
Patient resources
All of our guides in one place, sorted by topic, to help you with your treatment day to day.
Living with CPAP
Getting started with CPAP
The first nights and the first weeks: your mask, the pressure, the humidifier, and the 4-hour rule set by NIHDI (INAMI/RIZIV).
Read the guide →
Cleaning your CPAP
How to clean your mask, tubing and humidifier without damaging them, based on the ResMed and Philips manuals, and when to replace parts.
Read the guide →
Traveling with CPAP
Flights, carry-on rules, airport security, batteries, plug adapters and water: a practical checklist before you go.
Read the guide →
Side effects and fixes
A leaky mask, a dry mouth, swallowing air, feeling smothered: the most common problems and what helps.
Read the guide →
Understanding your treatment
Reading your CPAP report
AHI, leaks, pressure, hours of use: what the numbers on your machine measure.
Read the guide →
The NIHDI convention explained
Who qualifies, the approval from your health insurance fund, the 4-hour rule and what you pay: how reimbursement works.
Read the guide →
Sleep glossary
AHI, OAHI, auto-CPAP, titration, polysomnography: medical terms in plain language.
Read the guide →
Choosing a CPAP mask
Nasal pillows, nasal or full face: the pros, the limits, and a short quiz to point you in the right direction.
Read the guide →
Sleep and health
10 sleep hygiene rules
Regular hours, your bedroom, light, screens, caffeine, alcohol: the basics of sleeping better, and what the research says.
Read the guide →
Sleep apnea and high blood pressure
Why sleep apnea is so common in people with high blood pressure, and what CPAP really does for your blood pressure.
Read the guide →
Sleep apnea and diabetes
How sleep apnea disrupts blood sugar, and what difference CPAP really makes to your HbA1c.
Read the guide →
Insomnia and CBT-I
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: how it works and where to find it in Belgium.
Read the guide →
Another project by Andy Leleux
Compare masks on CPAP Ranker
CPAP Ranker is another site run by Andy Leleux. You can compare CPAP masks and read reviews from other users there, to find a mask that suits your face and the way you sleep.
Open CPAP Ranker →The author of this site runs VivaRespire, which helps fund this site. CPAP Ranker is funded the same way.
Community
Facebook groups for patients in Belgium
Thousands of CPAP users in Belgium swap notes there on masks, setbacks and progress. These are peer support groups: they don't replace advice from your doctor.
All groups and forums →Struggling with insomnia too?
Sleep apnea and insomnia often go hand in hand. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended first treatment, and it doesn't involve medication. tcci.be, another project by Andy Leleux, lists therapists in Belgium who have signed up to its directory.
Find a therapist on tcci.be →FRWas this page useful?
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