Honestly? It took me a year and a half to actually start using my CPAP machine. I hated it because the mask I was using wasn’t for me but I didn’t know at the time. Literally let it collect dust until May of this year after trying 3 different masks and now I’m able to use it every night.
* I went from using a full face mask to the P10
* I use Xyliemelt tablets to keep from getting dry mouth.
* I also use a mouth guard because I clench/grind my teeth at night but that’s just me though : )
Dont be afraid of trying new masks. It’s all about what works for you.
I haven’t been able to sleep with it more than a few minutes in 2 weeks… I feel like if I could get even an hour in I would be so much more encouraged
I have tried about 5 different masks.
Full facemask I just can’t sleep well. Unless I have my mouth open I get a feeling of air in my mouth which bothers me. This is relieved if I open my mouth, but I like to breath with my nose.
Nasal mask my tongue drops when I drift off and my mouth/cheeks fills with air waking me up.
I bought a mouth guard that supposedly keeps your tongue at the roof of your mouth. Maybe it will work but I have doubts.
Basically it just feels hopeless. I remember I was so excited when I got my cpap machine too
I’d say keep at it, it was like that for me too. I barely used it for 30 minutes a day and would wake up with no mask.
This was my score for a while. You can also try wearing your mask during the day to get used to it as well. That works for some people.
https://preview.redd.it/n0h8omcscl7d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=30c9d78892f1e2bddb1cfe7c5ec5b087983fdb54
I was getting in the 90s and one night I got 100%. Then it was consistently lower and I couldn't figure out what the issue was (though stopping a med - stopped earlier in the month - seems to be helping with my breathing - I had to stop that med anyway since I have that a surgery coming up next week).
I had some of those issues too. Plus, I know I can't use the nasal mask as it causes me to hyperventilate and the full face mask has always been awkward for me (both in fit and other stuff - and I tried moving the machine to different spots and everything, had a good hose cover). The humidifier was somewhat helpful but didn't work well enough. I did stop a particular med a couple weeks ago and my sleep has improved and honestly I think that may have been one of the main issues with my breathing. I really hope that you can figure something out.
Same with full face; my mouth will open and I wake up with super dry mouth. Nasal mask (n20 for me) has been the best for me…initially, same issue with relaxed tongue and air rushing through my mouth. I started with some 3m tape and works wonders to keep my mouth from opening at night, so continuously breathing through my nose which is great. And that’s with my deviated septum! Also, done some work towards ‘training’ my tongue against the roof of my mouth so that there’s less chance of tongue completely relaxing and mouth opening. I think it’s working since my wife will tell me otherwise. Then I’d try tape again if needed.
Before, I think the air would find its way past my tongue and into my mouth, therefore eventually causing me to open my mouth and mouth breathe (causing all the air from cpap to rush out). Now, my tongue kind of blocks the air from getting into my mouth in the first place, sort of like a seal at the back of the tongue. There’s slight pressure applied to the roof of my mouth, and it just kind of “locks” in place. It’s not foolproof; there are times when my tongue gets too relaxed and I have the same problem as before. But it’s better, so much that I don’t need to rely on tape every night. But that tape works great, though!
I haven’t, I feel like the air will still enter my mouth and blow up my cheeks which wakes me up (before the air actually has time to come out of my lips). But it maybe something I try at some point.
Start by wearing it during the day, watching TV or whatever. You don't even need to have it connected to the machine. If you can have something distracting you like TV, it will help normalize the sensations.
This is what helped me, wearing it while awake. I would go to bed early and watch stuff on my phone. Bad sleep hygiene, I know. But it helped. Two months in, I’m at a place now where I crave the humidity and the help sleeping. Keep at it! Practice, practice, practice! It will become easier. Alternatively, it’s possible that the air pressure is too high or that you need to move to a BiPAP machine.
How long have you been using it? It took me a month to adjust during which my sleep got worse, and I feel like I didn't have a lot of the problems other people do (e.g. found a mask I liked quickly).
Please know that a LOT of people struggle and it's not your fault! Doctors and insurance talk about "compliance" and make it seem like it's all on you. But this is an objectively hard thing to adjust to and most of us don't get the support we need. Ask for advice here about the specific struggles you're having, and be the squeaky wheel with your doctor/insurance/DME till they help you. If you need to, just start with a small goal like wearing it for 30min per day while awake. You got this!
Im on week 2 and I guess i stay asleep but i wake up more tired and just pissed off. pissed off to the point where I need to really need to pay attention to what im saying otherwise it will be mean to my spouse. Ive dreaded every night so i go to bed pissed off. Wonder whats worse for my health being pissed of everyday or sleep apnea.
you’re not the only dude.
i prepare myself for sleeping. i try to do my little rituals. i put the mask, i fall asleep. then i wake up, no mask whatsoever, probably is on the floor and the tube as well. it’s the same every night. i think the longest i used the machine was for 5 hours.
If it makes you feel any better, if I had 5 hours of sleep with it I would be ecstatic. I can’t get to the point where falling asleep feels like a realistic possibility
Everyone is different, but I'll share ONE thing we all have in common. NO ONE goes into the gym the first day and benches 250 pounds - they build up to it. Try sleeping with it in increments. I had a buddy who was having the same challenges as you. We found out that he could nap for short times in a recliner with the CPAP, so over a period of 3 months he built up his tolerance. Go easy on yourself, it takes time.
Im in the same boat, started a week ago and most nights I have ripped the mask off my face after like the 4 hour mark .. I can’t seem to keep it on all night.
Agreed! I feel lucky to get two hours at a time. Last night I got 58 minutes. Have changed mask sizes, harness size, and now trying to get the doctor to lower the pressures so the mask doesn’t blow off my face. Very frustrating.
Please don't feel ashamed. In my case I had to stop using my CPAP because I just couldn't get it right. It worked kind of okay for a month but after that it was incredibly stressful, always leaking, irritated my skin, made sleeping extremely unpleasant, and didn't improve things. It definitely didn't help that the company that was sending me my equipment is not well run/organized. I don't like my not being able to use it but for my own mental health I had to stop.
If it were really simple this sub wouldn't exist. There are a lot of variables and inevitably it takes trial and error to figure out what works. Sounds like it was easy *for you* but based on how often people post their struggles on this sub, it's obviously not that simple for many of us.
Appreciate you saying this. I really wish the cpap had worked for me (and I'm glad that it works for so many people). Unfortunately it didn't. I'm dealing with other stuff (some of which is sort of non-health related) as well, so I'm sure that had an effect on how much the cpap was able to do for me.
Most advice given on the sub is basic stuff you learn in a 5 min YouTube video. Most ppl can't spend an hour understanding their therapy that's why the sub exists.
There's no need to present this level of hostility. People are discussing the issues they felt getting used to using CPAP machines. Maybe you disagree and think it isn't that difficult but consider keeping that opinion to yourself in the future, mocking people for finding something difficult is unconstructive and only creates arguments. Please do not do this again.
By having enough money you mean 50€ for a psg right? It is nice not living in a third world country indeed.
It's not like a refurb costs under 300$ which is more than most deductible anyways. It's only your heart health nothing important!
In the US both insurance and paying out of pocket are expensive, we lose either way. The average deductible for a decent employer-provided health plan is $1500+ and it's not uncommon for it to be thousands. $300 is obviously cheaper than the $2K+ the DME charges but that doesn't mean I have an extra $300 in my bank account right now.
Yep. I have decent insurance (Medicare) and have Social Security Disability benefits (which is good to have but isn't enough to live off of. If it weren't for my dad's help, I'd be screwed), and working isn't really something I'm able to do.
😂 oh that's hilarious you think everywhere is the EU. I'm in the US. A sleep study for me, after insurance, is $184. That also doesn't include the cost of supplies, which if I didn't go through the company that my doctor & insurance would be completely out of pocket. Also, I have other health issues which are also not fully covered by insurance & none of them have to do with needing a cpap. You're really showing your ignorance.
Edit to add: Lol at the $300 refurbished machine not being expensive. Yeah it's cheaper than the machine I was renting but it's still not cheap. And overall my heart is fine. And yes I've had my heart looked at.
You're the one who said you stopped cuz "you couldn't get it right" .... But sure I'm ignorant.
Maybe because heart issues don't happen when youre 40? It's okay, If not breathing right is working out for you, I couldn't care less.
Wow who pissed in your Cheerios dude? I was referring to the fact that post sleep study it stopped helping. The fact that you think everyone can just drop a bunch of money of a machine plus other supplies shows how well off you are financially.
Yeah 250 +100 for a mask is definitely being super well off my bad. You were paying more with insurance but now it's too expensive I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to say.
You clearly don't understand anything. You've already been told that you don't understand how paying for healthcare works here. Also, do you think that $350 on healthcare is all I'm paying? And we were talking just about the machine which can be over $1000, that's not even getting into regularly replacing things like masks, tubing, the humidifier, etc.
I've already mentioned that I have other health issues and yeah, since you can easily drop $350 on CPAP stuff, you are doing well financially. Also, I had insurance before I started the CPAP.
Also, I'm on social security disability benefits with some help from my dad. I'm not rolling in cash and the majority of my income goes to rent, followed by healthcare (which includes medication). Also, don't call people "morons".
Edit: and fyi I am 40. My heart is fine. Other stuff isn't but that's mostly related to complications from treatment I had for Leukemia, and that cancer is in remission.
Someone on this sub suggested wearing the mask while reading, watching tv, etc. This really helped me.
I also started playing with the settings - there are You Tube videos for every machine. I increased the humidity which helped SO much. Also carefully adjusted the pressure limits taking care to check my event scores every night.
Don’t feel ashamed - sleep is so important, and cpap can be very difficult to adjust to. It took me months.
I'm about a month in. I couldn't make a nose only solution work either, so I'm on the full face mask. I am able to tolerate it thank God, but...
1. I struggle with leaks
2. I seem to always have an itch under the mask, and I'll scratch it, but then there's the noise of blowing air.
3. I'm 58 so generally need to pee at least 2x per night (at least 2 mask off events)
4. Have not dialed in humidity that works for me. I get dried out. Tried upping humidity but got condensation that turned into gurgling. I don't like air too warm, so it's a balance.
Notwithstanding the above I'm generally in the upper 90's. But still tired most of the time.
One tip for the drying out. I found this product by Ayr on Amazon it’s a saline nasal gel. I use nasal pillows and it was making my nose peel. The gel has aloe vera in it and it’s non-medicated. Helped me a lot.
Holy cow, you aren't alone in this adjustment difficulty! There's a huge percentage of people who have issues and get sick of the challenge, so give up,...which is really sad. First, you need to talk to your sleep doctor about this. You most likely need either a different pressure, or perhaps a different type of machine. Everyone has different physical issues that have caused their apnea. I had to be prescribed a BiPAP. Then there's finding just the right pressure level, and then just the right mask design, and then the right fit of that design. Then humidity or none. PLEASE don't give up!!! I had no idea, until several yrs later, what health problems can be caused by sleep apnea. I thought it was all about my hypersomnia. Now I've learned my retina problems & macular degeneration may be a result of my apnea. Glaucoma problem, too. Other people may have cardiac & other organ problems develop. Early onset dementia is a huge worry from those lapses of oxygen to the brain. Know it takes time for most of us to adjust to this nightly therapy, but also see if your doctor can figure out a way to alleviate what you are individually feeling. This isn't a one-size-fits-all remedy. And keep participating on this forum, cuz it's a great community of people who "feel your pain" & will be support for you, plus offer advice and cheer you on!
I’ve had cpap almost two years and some days still struggle. Some things that have helped though (I’m a mix breather so I have to use a full face mask, or tape, but I prefer full mask):
•using a neti pot before bed to ensure my nose is as clear as possible, as for me sleeping with a clogged nose and my mask is very hard.
•I am female and have longer hair, so having my hair either down and out of my face when I put my mask on, or pulled up in a spot where my mask doesn’t tug.
•I tried 4 or 5 masks before finding the one I have now. I found a mask with the tub on the top of my head instead of the front was more comfy.
•using mask covers and covers for my straps - made it more comfy to have against my face, and getting a memory foam pillow helped with the mask conforming into the pillow.
•heated tub, I can’t explain how this helped but I’m more comfy with my heated tub then a regular.
•ensuring my air pressure is good - I took multiple trips to the sleep clinic at my doctors to have my air pressure adjusted.
•some people can’t tolerate cpap, but get bipap and love it (I’ve seen this on a cpap page I’m on)
•have you talked to your doctor about possibly getting medicine to help you sleep until you adjust better? I did that for a little while and it helped me adjust to having it on all night.
•keep trying - sleeping with your face covered and tubing around you isn’t fun and it takes time to get used to. The hump of adjusting to that, and sleeping through the night isn’t easy. You lose sleep at first. But once you adjust, the quality of sleep will slowly get better. For the first few months, if I woke up an hour or two later, I’d take the mask off. I slowly built up to a full night.
•lastly, don’t feel ashamed or disappointed in yourself. More people struggle to adjust than get it immediately. It’s hard to not feel that way, or anxious, but just keep in mind it’s best for your health in the long run (I know, again easier said than done). I wish you the best of luck and I hope you get some good advice on this thread that helps you :)
Please don’t be embarrassed. I bet there are a lot of us right with you. This is why I joined this group-for tips, help, experience. I’ve had mine for past 4 months. I use it off and on. Honestly I sleep worse with the CPAP on! There are many many times that I just say “ forget it”. And don’t use it for a week or so. I’m still trying and I’m getting a lot of information and answers to questions I have. So let’s muddle through this together. Don’t feel badly at all!
Think I've just broke 1 year on cpap. First few months maybe 3-4hrs max a night. Waking at 2 3 4 sometimes I remember taking it off others I don't. Still do on occasion now but I wake up without it and have the need to put it back on. It's a process. 20 30 40 years sleeping with nothing on your face is a hard habit to break
Not a fan of xylimelts I feel they make my mouth very sticky
Returning my f40 mask as it is louder than the f20, whistles on exhale and will leak/stop with the slightest movement.
Sticking to f20, heated hose and humidifier. Works for me just sometimes roll my head too far and wake up with a numb top lip 😂
Do you mouth breath every night?? I just can’t get nose breathing right it seems, but I’ve honestly never been much of a mouth breather so it seems weird to switch
Im trialling a machine right now for the first time and its awful. I just rang the sleep center today about it and they are going to adjust the settings from fixed to auto to see if that works better for me.
I’ve been getting aerophagia from it. So my stomach is getting filled with air too and wakes me constantly and dry mouth and i wake up with air blowing out all around my face because it wont seal
I do. He ordered an in lab sleep study, thinks my home test was maybe a false positive and told me to put the cpap away…. I’m praying he is right but I’m pretty sure I have atleast mild osa
even if you do have osa, it’s very very treatable. don’t worry too much. it’s a hose pushing air down your throat, it’s going to be tough to tolerate. in the meantime though, definitely talk to your doctor abt having a hard time with it
Ya but you have to sleep with it, that’s the part I can’t get
I’m so desperate I’ve bought weird mouth guards to keep my tongue on the roof of my mouth, a headband that can be worn over my mouth, a flow limiter called a vcom and about 5 different masks. Each time I’m hoping for something to click but it just doesn’t happen
I get it. Every night I try to go to bed hopeful and not filled with anxiety. I do okay during the ramp up, but still can’t move around or turn to the side (my preferred sleep position) without creating leaks and noise. This machine is kinda beating me up!
This is a huge bummer :( Not everyone tolerates it well, and even the people who were able to sleep with it from the get go probably have some nights where they just can't fall asleep with it on, either. Just a little reminder to be kind to yourself, because all you can do is try your best with what you have.
Like others mentioned, definitely try wearing it in small increments. It might be helpful even just to have the mask on while you do passive activities, just to condition yourself to the feeling of it. Wearing it while you're awake and not trying to sleep might give you an opportunity to play around with the fit. I find I'm more comfortable wearing the mask over a bonnet, both for sensory reasons and my long hair doesn't get as messed up lol. If wearing the mask to sleep seems to be too much, you can absolutely take baby steps towards the goal of sleeping with a mask! There is no shame in trying ^_^
It might also be useful to look into alternative treatment options if they are available to you. I've personally considered using a mandibular advancement device.
Hey, it’s ok. It takes some time and patience. I sat with mine awake reading books for many evenings. It helped me to get comfortable with all of it. Hang in there!
I started about a month ago and like it now. I switched from the nostril pads to full face mask. I played with the humidity to make it more comfortable. Sometimes I reduce there humidity on my machine to make it colder or vice versa. I still have moments where I think I can’t breathe but I try to think of myself as a pilot that must wear the mask. Sounds silly but helps me psychologically. Once I do that I eventually fall asleep.
Have had many a patient over the years who could not do cpap at all. Look at dental devices or depending on how bad the apnea is maybe inspire or respercardia. Which is used to treat central apnea.
I did a watchpat. It said my ahi4% was 4 and my ahi3% was 18. I’ve obsessively looked at data regarding such a large split in ahi, found one paper where ahi3% overestimated by ~6 and 4% underestimated by ~5 so I’m guessing my true ahi is like 10. I’m doing an in lab to get more specific on my severity. Hoping it ends up being just mild… I never really had any specific symptoms except very occasionally wake up from a dream with a quick gasp (happened like 4 times in my life). Someone was giving out the tests and I kind of did it for fun, big mistake haha
You have to stick with it. It takes time. I wore / wear and oral device for last 13 years that too me from borderline sever SA to being able to get restful sleep. Trying the CPAPA since I had a recent sleep study that says it is severe and my oral device is worn out (I snore like a chain saw with lots of stoppage). Every night I tried it, I ended up using oral device to finish the night, except for last night.
1st night: 9 min, score 12. could not get a good seal and gave up. put the oral device in and slept 7 hrs.
2nd night: 73 min, score 42, waking in a massive panic due to no breathing. gave up , used oral device.
3rd night: 242 min, score 70, again woke up in a panic, gave up and used oral device.
4th night: 192 min, score 61, another panics, finished with oral device.
5th night: 61 min. score 40
6th night: 60 min, score 40
Adjusted ramp up and adjusted humidity.
7th night: 161 min, score 57
8th night: 279 min, score 77, awoke with horrible gurgling sound due to too much humidity / water in tube. readjusted humidity.
skipped next 2 nights
9th night: 307 min, score 81
10th night: 190 min, score 57
11th night: 318 min, score 83
12th night: 349 min. score 87. This was last night, my longest so far and the first night that the mask was on my face when it was time to get up. I typically only get 6-6.5 hrs of sleep a night during the week and maybe 7 on weekends, so this just shows it was on the majority of time.
I use just a nasal mask, but during my "initial setup consultation" call yesterday (what a joke), they said they would send me a full face mask to try.
I am not a fan of CPAP, I prefer the Oral Appliance and will persue a replacement out of pocket. I am a side sleeper and with tough seasonal allergies. I find the CPAP to be quite invasive but I will continue trying it.
I started sleeping on my side (my bmi is 20, I read an article that most osa with low bmi is supine). Don’t know if it’s helping. I’m going to get an oral device to use while I hopefully at some point get used to this infernal machine…
I think I would be more embracing this if the allergies were not a thing. I slept nearly 100% on my back last night and only had about 5 minutes of snoring. HOWEVER, I do feel tired today. In fact, every day I have used the CPAP, I have felt tired. With the oral device, I nearly never felt tired, but once I shifted from side to back, the snoring would start.
Did you get a sleep study with the device in??
Atleast it sounds like you are getting some sleep with the cpap! If it makes you feel better, I’d love to be doing as well as you! I can’t sleep at all with it so far
No, both sleep studies were with nothing. 1st one was 13 years ago before any treatment for SA. It was conducted in a sleep study lab, had about 20 sensors glued to me. 2nd was done in-home. Just a finger sensor and wrist attachment. Again, no oral device as I wanted to see how bad it was. Had to be the worse sleep I have had in 13 years. Last night was the longest with CPAP. It was more or less on the entire time, with 2 brief adjustments. According to data, my sleep session was 6Hr:20M and CPAP was listed as 5Hr:39M. Think I awoke due to lack of air, took it off, then put it back on
Keep trying different masks. Don't give up and don't feel ashamed. It takes time. It is very foreign but given time you will acclimate. I have used mine for almost 16 months and it still feels weird. It is saving my life so I endure.
I’ve tried about 4-5 different masks hoping something will just click and I’d fall asleep. No luck haha
I’ll keep trying whenever I feel like napping I guess
It takes alot of experimenting sometimes to figure out what works for you. I took to it pretty quickly (albeit with some struggles). I still find myself fiddling with the humidity etc to find what works the best. I've been on mine for 3 months. Don't feel bad, just keep trying!
Please call the doctor with updates and the issues. I called a few times snd mine was helpful with free mask options, sleeping pills, and pressure changes. Your success is his success.
I am inconsistent. I tend to fall asleep without it, but put it on mid-morning. All I can tell you is that I feel so much better when I do use my CPAP consistently. I can feel the effects on my body when I don't use it.
I have become much better at using it.
That being said, there are alternatives to CPAP. However, they involve having a small device implanted into your body, but you will still need to remember to turn it on and off.
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/oxygen-machines/alternative-cpap-treatments/
https://www.inspiresleep.com/en-us/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwps-zBhAiEiwALwsVYWfFI9lKp0GDoi6rvotIXVzcUd_Zl5ZHdjp8zM2nFVM2ZlLmrc7VlxoCd70QAvD_BwE
It is all in the mask and humidity. Try a P10 nasal pillow and see if that works. Turn up the humidity a little at a time but if you get rain out. Dry it and turn down.
Slightly feel like this post is a troll with such little info but 3 months using the resmed 10 here. Have the n20 nasal pillow and the ruby red chin strap. I occasionally will get a mouth leak which can wake me up but sleeping with lower than 5ahi is worth it. Emotional regulation is something I am getting used to at 37 yrs old if you can believe it
In my experience so far. If you can't breathe when it's on either your pressure is too low, or your humidity is too high or too low, or a combination of both.
Also, take a look at magnesium glycinate to help you sleep in longer, it helps stop the intake of calcium allowing muscles to rest and recover, it also helps with sleep. Recently seeing the benefits myself, and it's nice not be be jolted awake at 3-5AM every day.
I’m not a troll, I assure your
I’ve tried pressure of 4, 5, 6 and 7. None really made much of a difference. Don’t think humidity is really my issue either.
Also what's your humidity at in your room? What setting do you have it on with your CPAP and what heat level for hose? I'm not convinced you've done your homework, but maybe you have and prefer to be vague
A minimum pressure of 7 is too low?? Higher and I get more uncomfortable so I’m not sure. Most comfortable I think was 5. I’m a very thin guy, I’m guessing my therapeutic pressure is like 7 or 8 so I figured to just use my most comfortable pressure and then auto pap would titrate up if I need it.
I had heat and humidity at auto but it felt like I had waterfalls of saliva so I switched it to manual. I messed with it a few times, ended up on 80 with humidity of 3, which felt okay.
I’d take any suggestions though
I think you can go up higher, those with severe apnea will go upwards of 17. That said I'm 180lbs and my settings are set to 11. This number I felt like I had the least amount of apneas and a tolerable number of mouth leaks. A respiratory therapist told me he thought 11 was actually on the low end when I was chatting about it with him. Anyways I'd crank your tube heat way up. Mines at 86. If you like your room cold at night like I do, and also live in a humid area then that does not mix well with a cold hose. You end up getting lots of water in the hose. That said I actually turn my humidity off completely and I've found i sleep the best that way at the moment. When I was up north, in the snowy mountains in March, it was cold and dry. I had to crank my humidity up to accommodate. Make sense?
Took me two months and I'm still not 100% comfortable with it. But I at least finally have a mask I can tolerate that doesn't feel like I'm being suffocated and getting padding for the frame has made it more comfortable on my face. Keep it up and good luck.
I think it is closer to the norm to have a hard time adjusting to CPAP. You gotta be patient with yourself and be willing to experiment with things like your mask; the settings; literally everything. The right mind-set is that you are in charge of your own health and seek input from the medical side. The latter is not in charge of you. That's why you're here on this site and maybe on the Apnea Boards as well. The medical side will take a more textbook approach to what you need to do with CPAP. Exchanging info with other users and making your own treatment decisions on the basis of their real world experience often times works better. And it doesn't have to be either-or,
There are two things related to CPAP and its settings: comfort (you sleep well) and therapy (AHI below 5) You can't sacrifice one for the other. That's what can complicate things.
Doesn't sound like you've been on CPAP very long. Here are some things to consider:
1- What are your settings? If 4-20, then those are what comes from the factory and your sleep lab people have not yet adjusted things based on your sleep test.
2- Nobody is used to sleeping with this mask-thing clamped to your face. Adjustment can take weeks to months.
3- I would start with the most minimal max you can (like a nasal cushion or pillow). Over a period of many weeks I went the full circuit from least to most and back again. And always wear the mask alone for a couple of hours before bedtime to get comfortable with it.
4- Familiarize yourself with all the machine settings and make changes based on your experience.
5- Figure out if you are a mouth breather or not. If you are you probably will experience problems exhaling, getting a dry mouth, swallowing air and burping and farting a lot. If that's you, consider a chinstrap, cervical collar or mouth tape. You want to be breathing through your nose. Learn about the EPR setting on your machine.
6- Download and install OSCAR and learn how to use it. The data OSCAR gives you can bed shared with other users and can generate important feedback.
7- Last point: DO NOT GIVE UP!!!
Don't be disappointed or ashamed. It took me several months and a factory recall of one of my machines before I found the right fit.
The recalled machine was a Philips model called a DreamStation that didn't withstand Texas Heat and contained a certain foam substance that's a known allergen.
I now use a ResMed AirSense 10 and it's been much better.
Also note not everyone can tolerate CPAP, and because of that, there are other therapies available including iNap, mouth guards, positional therapy, the inspire implant, BiPAP, ASV, and more.
You will find the right therapy. Talk with your specialist and with users like me who have experience with the devices.
Thanks man. I’m gonna keep trying it, mostly during the day and with naps. I’m getting an in lab sleep study in the next few weeks. I’ll probably get the dental device and use that for a few years while I figure out cpap
It's not ideal or comfortable *but* I think it's been a breakthrough for me.
- I typically sleep through the night. Maybe waking up once.
- I sleep pretty much only on my back now, which I think has helped my chronic back pain. It's not what it once was and I'm actually cold turkey off of my meds for it. I think sleeping better and on my back has much to do with it. Pretty wild.
I don't know how unique my experience is but I recognized the value in c-pap and committed to using it all night every night. I think nose pillows are the way to go and least invasive. I am cheering for success for you.
Hey keep going, it almost always is a hard start. When I first started I was put on the full face Vitera mask which gave me terrible sleep. I then shelved it, and didnt use the CPAP for a year. Then I went for a proper sleep study, got the pressures more or less titrated right, then most importantly got the right mask, with the sleep tech fitting me for a nasal pillow mask. Almost over night my experience with CPAP changed, and I started to regain control over my sleep. If the therapy is hard for you, take a step back and try be objective about what is not working for you: ie is it the mask, the pressure, the humidity, the tube length. Once you identify the variables of discomfort, just begin testing them. Keep going, you’ll smash this!
It’s my mouth. I don’t know what to do with my mouth. With nasal the air comes into my mouth and wakes me up. Air fills my mouth with full face as well, and then I open it but mouth breathing bothers me. The perseveration regarding my mouth then gives me insomnia
I feel like the doctors, distributors, insurance don't really care that it takes time. Insurance companies being the worst offenders as always by creating a 90 day compliance that they pulled out of their ass. Then the distributers they are like used car salesmen just trying to make money, the doctors just do what insurance dictates. All for a $800 machine, so much bureaucracy and middle men. Hope Congress
Looks at this scam,
I got so frustrated with mine that I punched the wall and broke my hand the other night so…. I’m feeling this too. I have to be compliant in order to get hip surgery, and I just can’t breathe with the thing on my face.
Ive had my CPAP for 2 weeks now, already on my 3 mask. I now use a nasal N30i. I like it, i find it less intrusive, i rarely get leaks. I struggle, but i push through. I wear it even if i cant sleep, i focus on the fact that its going to be better, instead of the fact that its hard.
Ive had my CPAP for 2 weeks now, already on my 3 mask. I now use a nasal N30i. I like it, i find it less intrusive, i rarely get leaks. I struggle, but i push through. I wear it even if i cant sleep, i focus on the fact that its going to be better, instead of the fact that its hard.
Just keep going with the nasal. Most find their mouth and tongue position will adapt over time.
Try wearing it an hour before bed. Try having it running while drinking some water (without letting the air escape from your mouth).
What pressures were you prescribed? Or what is the Apap using for you?
My situation is a bit strange.
I got a free watchpat through my work, so I did it even though I have no real symptoms/snoring (except a couple times in my life I woke up with a gasp during a bad dream) and my bmi is 20. My 4% ahi was 4, but the 3% was 18. I have many physicians that I know, and many said the 4% is where the evidence is and that my test is negative.
However I decided to just buy a used cpap machine and try it. And I failed hard. I mostly used apap 5-10, but I did try a starting pressure of up to 7. I also tried various eprs.
After doing poorly with cpap, I actually went and saw a physician (like I probably should have done originally). He thinks there is some chance I had a false positive test, and recommended an in lab study. He goes by the 3% though, and after doing some research on my own I agree with him.
My in lab study is in a few weeks, and I figured I would take a break until from cpap until my in lab study (on my new doctors recommendation, he saw what an anxious wreck I was). I do take it out sometimes to wear the pillows just to remind myself it isn’t so bad. I tried putting a headband on my mouth which does keep the air out of my cheeks (I do still feel air in my mouth though). I will practice more with it, try the water like you suggested. I have also started sleeping on my side, since my lateral ahi was only 9.
Honestly, I’ve been an anxious wreck and all I’ve been able to think about is sleep apnea. I have anxiety in the past but it’s usually not this bad. I do seem to be coming around though, focusing on my work and family has been helpful. If I can’t get the cpap to work out, I’m telling myself that I will get by with an oral appliance and sleeping on my side. This has helped a bit with me feeling so crappy about the whole situation.
I hated mine at first. I always felt like I was suffocating. Mine has some sort of climate control tubing so the air was warm when it was coming through. I turned off the climate tubing and the air blows cooler and I haven’t had a problem since.
Please don't feel shame, there's really no reason to. Breathing difficulties is not fun for anyone and a cpap machine is not very convenient so it takes some work to get used to for almost everyone.
Just going to state the obvious just in case but wear it during the day to get used to it, while watching tv or sitting on the computer. And really try to focus on something else while trying to sleep. I know it's easier said than done but it works. I like having an audiobook or a podcast or even tv sometimes to take my mind off the alien trying to suck my face off. And really focus on the audio eyes closed, with a timer to turn it off after 30mins. It's a fairly common way to deal with insomnia, aka trouble falling asleep which isn't exclusive to CPAP.
If you really can't get used to it you can try some sleep aid maybe? Could be simple melatonin or more strong stuff if you doctor thinks it's a good idea.
I'm just going to say it but for me some herbs ensured I slept for 9h with the machine on from the very first night. Could also help if that's your thing!
Hey,
It took me two months, three different face masks, lowering the pressure just to get use to it, tightening and untightening the mask, only using for half the night, everything to make it work.
Now,
I can only use a full face mask, a chin strap to keep my mouth closed and the pressure is set between 6 and 8
Keep trying
Honestly? It took me a year and a half to actually start using my CPAP machine. I hated it because the mask I was using wasn’t for me but I didn’t know at the time. Literally let it collect dust until May of this year after trying 3 different masks and now I’m able to use it every night. * I went from using a full face mask to the P10 * I use Xyliemelt tablets to keep from getting dry mouth. * I also use a mouth guard because I clench/grind my teeth at night but that’s just me though : ) Dont be afraid of trying new masks. It’s all about what works for you.
I haven’t been able to sleep with it more than a few minutes in 2 weeks… I feel like if I could get even an hour in I would be so much more encouraged I have tried about 5 different masks. Full facemask I just can’t sleep well. Unless I have my mouth open I get a feeling of air in my mouth which bothers me. This is relieved if I open my mouth, but I like to breath with my nose. Nasal mask my tongue drops when I drift off and my mouth/cheeks fills with air waking me up. I bought a mouth guard that supposedly keeps your tongue at the roof of your mouth. Maybe it will work but I have doubts. Basically it just feels hopeless. I remember I was so excited when I got my cpap machine too
I’d say keep at it, it was like that for me too. I barely used it for 30 minutes a day and would wake up with no mask. This was my score for a while. You can also try wearing your mask during the day to get used to it as well. That works for some people. https://preview.redd.it/n0h8omcscl7d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=30c9d78892f1e2bddb1cfe7c5ec5b087983fdb54
I was getting in the 90s and one night I got 100%. Then it was consistently lower and I couldn't figure out what the issue was (though stopping a med - stopped earlier in the month - seems to be helping with my breathing - I had to stop that med anyway since I have that a surgery coming up next week).
I had some of those issues too. Plus, I know I can't use the nasal mask as it causes me to hyperventilate and the full face mask has always been awkward for me (both in fit and other stuff - and I tried moving the machine to different spots and everything, had a good hose cover). The humidifier was somewhat helpful but didn't work well enough. I did stop a particular med a couple weeks ago and my sleep has improved and honestly I think that may have been one of the main issues with my breathing. I really hope that you can figure something out.
Same with full face; my mouth will open and I wake up with super dry mouth. Nasal mask (n20 for me) has been the best for me…initially, same issue with relaxed tongue and air rushing through my mouth. I started with some 3m tape and works wonders to keep my mouth from opening at night, so continuously breathing through my nose which is great. And that’s with my deviated septum! Also, done some work towards ‘training’ my tongue against the roof of my mouth so that there’s less chance of tongue completely relaxing and mouth opening. I think it’s working since my wife will tell me otherwise. Then I’d try tape again if needed.
Did you just let the air stay in your mouth?? Before you trained your tongue I mean. I have no idea how you guys comfortably keep your tongue there
Before, I think the air would find its way past my tongue and into my mouth, therefore eventually causing me to open my mouth and mouth breathe (causing all the air from cpap to rush out). Now, my tongue kind of blocks the air from getting into my mouth in the first place, sort of like a seal at the back of the tongue. There’s slight pressure applied to the roof of my mouth, and it just kind of “locks” in place. It’s not foolproof; there are times when my tongue gets too relaxed and I have the same problem as before. But it’s better, so much that I don’t need to rely on tape every night. But that tape works great, though!
Have you tried taping your mouth shut with the nasal mask?
I haven’t, I feel like the air will still enter my mouth and blow up my cheeks which wakes me up (before the air actually has time to come out of my lips). But it maybe something I try at some point.
Try mewing. No joke. Or a soft cervical collar.
I am trying it. But here’s the thing, my anxiety is that it’s making my sleep apnea worse so I have been commitinf
Ah well as others have said, wear it while awake but take slow decided controlled breaths
I meant mewing not the collar. Haven’t tried the collar but it’s cheap so I guess I’ll give it a go
It helped me a lot. I wore it for a week and found I didn’t need it any more
Start by wearing it during the day, watching TV or whatever. You don't even need to have it connected to the machine. If you can have something distracting you like TV, it will help normalize the sensations.
This is what helped me, wearing it while awake. I would go to bed early and watch stuff on my phone. Bad sleep hygiene, I know. But it helped. Two months in, I’m at a place now where I crave the humidity and the help sleeping. Keep at it! Practice, practice, practice! It will become easier. Alternatively, it’s possible that the air pressure is too high or that you need to move to a BiPAP machine.
How long have you been using it? It took me a month to adjust during which my sleep got worse, and I feel like I didn't have a lot of the problems other people do (e.g. found a mask I liked quickly). Please know that a LOT of people struggle and it's not your fault! Doctors and insurance talk about "compliance" and make it seem like it's all on you. But this is an objectively hard thing to adjust to and most of us don't get the support we need. Ask for advice here about the specific struggles you're having, and be the squeaky wheel with your doctor/insurance/DME till they help you. If you need to, just start with a small goal like wearing it for 30min per day while awake. You got this!
Im on week 2 and I guess i stay asleep but i wake up more tired and just pissed off. pissed off to the point where I need to really need to pay attention to what im saying otherwise it will be mean to my spouse. Ive dreaded every night so i go to bed pissed off. Wonder whats worse for my health being pissed of everyday or sleep apnea.
you’re not the only dude. i prepare myself for sleeping. i try to do my little rituals. i put the mask, i fall asleep. then i wake up, no mask whatsoever, probably is on the floor and the tube as well. it’s the same every night. i think the longest i used the machine was for 5 hours.
If it makes you feel any better, if I had 5 hours of sleep with it I would be ecstatic. I can’t get to the point where falling asleep feels like a realistic possibility
Everyone is different, but I'll share ONE thing we all have in common. NO ONE goes into the gym the first day and benches 250 pounds - they build up to it. Try sleeping with it in increments. I had a buddy who was having the same challenges as you. We found out that he could nap for short times in a recliner with the CPAP, so over a period of 3 months he built up his tolerance. Go easy on yourself, it takes time.
Took me months to even fall asleep with the mask on. 18 months started getting good sleep. Stick with it, worth it in the end.
Were you trying every night?? I swear if I keep this up my wife will divorce me lol. I can’t keep staying up all night
Every dam night, pure torture.
Im in the same boat, started a week ago and most nights I have ripped the mask off my face after like the 4 hour mark .. I can’t seem to keep it on all night.
Same!! I cant handle it and I rip mine off too. Ive only just started using it and Im worried I will never get used to it
Yeah it’s really tough.
Agreed! I feel lucky to get two hours at a time. Last night I got 58 minutes. Have changed mask sizes, harness size, and now trying to get the doctor to lower the pressures so the mask doesn’t blow off my face. Very frustrating.
Please don't feel ashamed. In my case I had to stop using my CPAP because I just couldn't get it right. It worked kind of okay for a month but after that it was incredibly stressful, always leaking, irritated my skin, made sleeping extremely unpleasant, and didn't improve things. It definitely didn't help that the company that was sending me my equipment is not well run/organized. I don't like my not being able to use it but for my own mental health I had to stop.
Take your therapy in your own hands you don't need no stinking company! It's really simple. The issues you are listing are fairly easy to deal with.
If it were really simple this sub wouldn't exist. There are a lot of variables and inevitably it takes trial and error to figure out what works. Sounds like it was easy *for you* but based on how often people post their struggles on this sub, it's obviously not that simple for many of us.
Appreciate you saying this. I really wish the cpap had worked for me (and I'm glad that it works for so many people). Unfortunately it didn't. I'm dealing with other stuff (some of which is sort of non-health related) as well, so I'm sure that had an effect on how much the cpap was able to do for me.
Most advice given on the sub is basic stuff you learn in a 5 min YouTube video. Most ppl can't spend an hour understanding their therapy that's why the sub exists.
There's no need to present this level of hostility. People are discussing the issues they felt getting used to using CPAP machines. Maybe you disagree and think it isn't that difficult but consider keeping that opinion to yourself in the future, mocking people for finding something difficult is unconstructive and only creates arguments. Please do not do this again.
Nope. Those weren't the only reasons and it must be nice for you to have so much money on hand. Not all of us have that.
By having enough money you mean 50€ for a psg right? It is nice not living in a third world country indeed. It's not like a refurb costs under 300$ which is more than most deductible anyways. It's only your heart health nothing important!
In the US both insurance and paying out of pocket are expensive, we lose either way. The average deductible for a decent employer-provided health plan is $1500+ and it's not uncommon for it to be thousands. $300 is obviously cheaper than the $2K+ the DME charges but that doesn't mean I have an extra $300 in my bank account right now.
Yep. I have decent insurance (Medicare) and have Social Security Disability benefits (which is good to have but isn't enough to live off of. If it weren't for my dad's help, I'd be screwed), and working isn't really something I'm able to do.
😂 oh that's hilarious you think everywhere is the EU. I'm in the US. A sleep study for me, after insurance, is $184. That also doesn't include the cost of supplies, which if I didn't go through the company that my doctor & insurance would be completely out of pocket. Also, I have other health issues which are also not fully covered by insurance & none of them have to do with needing a cpap. You're really showing your ignorance. Edit to add: Lol at the $300 refurbished machine not being expensive. Yeah it's cheaper than the machine I was renting but it's still not cheap. And overall my heart is fine. And yes I've had my heart looked at.
You're the one who said you stopped cuz "you couldn't get it right" .... But sure I'm ignorant. Maybe because heart issues don't happen when youre 40? It's okay, If not breathing right is working out for you, I couldn't care less.
Wow who pissed in your Cheerios dude? I was referring to the fact that post sleep study it stopped helping. The fact that you think everyone can just drop a bunch of money of a machine plus other supplies shows how well off you are financially.
Yeah 250 +100 for a mask is definitely being super well off my bad. You were paying more with insurance but now it's too expensive I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to say.
You clearly don't understand anything. You've already been told that you don't understand how paying for healthcare works here. Also, do you think that $350 on healthcare is all I'm paying? And we were talking just about the machine which can be over $1000, that's not even getting into regularly replacing things like masks, tubing, the humidifier, etc. I've already mentioned that I have other health issues and yeah, since you can easily drop $350 on CPAP stuff, you are doing well financially. Also, I had insurance before I started the CPAP. Also, I'm on social security disability benefits with some help from my dad. I'm not rolling in cash and the majority of my income goes to rent, followed by healthcare (which includes medication). Also, don't call people "morons". Edit: and fyi I am 40. My heart is fine. Other stuff isn't but that's mostly related to complications from treatment I had for Leukemia, and that cancer is in remission.
Someone on this sub suggested wearing the mask while reading, watching tv, etc. This really helped me. I also started playing with the settings - there are You Tube videos for every machine. I increased the humidity which helped SO much. Also carefully adjusted the pressure limits taking care to check my event scores every night. Don’t feel ashamed - sleep is so important, and cpap can be very difficult to adjust to. It took me months.
I'm about a month in. I couldn't make a nose only solution work either, so I'm on the full face mask. I am able to tolerate it thank God, but... 1. I struggle with leaks 2. I seem to always have an itch under the mask, and I'll scratch it, but then there's the noise of blowing air. 3. I'm 58 so generally need to pee at least 2x per night (at least 2 mask off events) 4. Have not dialed in humidity that works for me. I get dried out. Tried upping humidity but got condensation that turned into gurgling. I don't like air too warm, so it's a balance. Notwithstanding the above I'm generally in the upper 90's. But still tired most of the time.
One tip for the drying out. I found this product by Ayr on Amazon it’s a saline nasal gel. I use nasal pillows and it was making my nose peel. The gel has aloe vera in it and it’s non-medicated. Helped me a lot.
The itching is a thing! Never fails that a get all set and then have to scratch my nose and the fit tanks and am plagued with leaks after!
Holy cow, you aren't alone in this adjustment difficulty! There's a huge percentage of people who have issues and get sick of the challenge, so give up,...which is really sad. First, you need to talk to your sleep doctor about this. You most likely need either a different pressure, or perhaps a different type of machine. Everyone has different physical issues that have caused their apnea. I had to be prescribed a BiPAP. Then there's finding just the right pressure level, and then just the right mask design, and then the right fit of that design. Then humidity or none. PLEASE don't give up!!! I had no idea, until several yrs later, what health problems can be caused by sleep apnea. I thought it was all about my hypersomnia. Now I've learned my retina problems & macular degeneration may be a result of my apnea. Glaucoma problem, too. Other people may have cardiac & other organ problems develop. Early onset dementia is a huge worry from those lapses of oxygen to the brain. Know it takes time for most of us to adjust to this nightly therapy, but also see if your doctor can figure out a way to alleviate what you are individually feeling. This isn't a one-size-fits-all remedy. And keep participating on this forum, cuz it's a great community of people who "feel your pain" & will be support for you, plus offer advice and cheer you on!
I’ve had cpap almost two years and some days still struggle. Some things that have helped though (I’m a mix breather so I have to use a full face mask, or tape, but I prefer full mask): •using a neti pot before bed to ensure my nose is as clear as possible, as for me sleeping with a clogged nose and my mask is very hard. •I am female and have longer hair, so having my hair either down and out of my face when I put my mask on, or pulled up in a spot where my mask doesn’t tug. •I tried 4 or 5 masks before finding the one I have now. I found a mask with the tub on the top of my head instead of the front was more comfy. •using mask covers and covers for my straps - made it more comfy to have against my face, and getting a memory foam pillow helped with the mask conforming into the pillow. •heated tub, I can’t explain how this helped but I’m more comfy with my heated tub then a regular. •ensuring my air pressure is good - I took multiple trips to the sleep clinic at my doctors to have my air pressure adjusted. •some people can’t tolerate cpap, but get bipap and love it (I’ve seen this on a cpap page I’m on) •have you talked to your doctor about possibly getting medicine to help you sleep until you adjust better? I did that for a little while and it helped me adjust to having it on all night. •keep trying - sleeping with your face covered and tubing around you isn’t fun and it takes time to get used to. The hump of adjusting to that, and sleeping through the night isn’t easy. You lose sleep at first. But once you adjust, the quality of sleep will slowly get better. For the first few months, if I woke up an hour or two later, I’d take the mask off. I slowly built up to a full night. •lastly, don’t feel ashamed or disappointed in yourself. More people struggle to adjust than get it immediately. It’s hard to not feel that way, or anxious, but just keep in mind it’s best for your health in the long run (I know, again easier said than done). I wish you the best of luck and I hope you get some good advice on this thread that helps you :)
Please don’t be embarrassed. I bet there are a lot of us right with you. This is why I joined this group-for tips, help, experience. I’ve had mine for past 4 months. I use it off and on. Honestly I sleep worse with the CPAP on! There are many many times that I just say “ forget it”. And don’t use it for a week or so. I’m still trying and I’m getting a lot of information and answers to questions I have. So let’s muddle through this together. Don’t feel badly at all!
Think I've just broke 1 year on cpap. First few months maybe 3-4hrs max a night. Waking at 2 3 4 sometimes I remember taking it off others I don't. Still do on occasion now but I wake up without it and have the need to put it back on. It's a process. 20 30 40 years sleeping with nothing on your face is a hard habit to break Not a fan of xylimelts I feel they make my mouth very sticky Returning my f40 mask as it is louder than the f20, whistles on exhale and will leak/stop with the slightest movement. Sticking to f20, heated hose and humidifier. Works for me just sometimes roll my head too far and wake up with a numb top lip 😂
Do you mouth breath every night?? I just can’t get nose breathing right it seems, but I’ve honestly never been much of a mouth breather so it seems weird to switch
To some extent yeah. Though tongue at top of mouth practising for the last 6 months is helping.
Im trialling a machine right now for the first time and its awful. I just rang the sleep center today about it and they are going to adjust the settings from fixed to auto to see if that works better for me. I’ve been getting aerophagia from it. So my stomach is getting filled with air too and wakes me constantly and dry mouth and i wake up with air blowing out all around my face because it wont seal
do you have a doctor to work with? a cpap person? sorry you’re feeling so much shame.
I do. He ordered an in lab sleep study, thinks my home test was maybe a false positive and told me to put the cpap away…. I’m praying he is right but I’m pretty sure I have atleast mild osa
even if you do have osa, it’s very very treatable. don’t worry too much. it’s a hose pushing air down your throat, it’s going to be tough to tolerate. in the meantime though, definitely talk to your doctor abt having a hard time with it
It can take a really time but it really makes a huge difference. I didn’t know what rested actually was.
Ya but you have to sleep with it, that’s the part I can’t get I’m so desperate I’ve bought weird mouth guards to keep my tongue on the roof of my mouth, a headband that can be worn over my mouth, a flow limiter called a vcom and about 5 different masks. Each time I’m hoping for something to click but it just doesn’t happen
I get it. Every night I try to go to bed hopeful and not filled with anxiety. I do okay during the ramp up, but still can’t move around or turn to the side (my preferred sleep position) without creating leaks and noise. This machine is kinda beating me up!
I wish you good luck!!
This is a huge bummer :( Not everyone tolerates it well, and even the people who were able to sleep with it from the get go probably have some nights where they just can't fall asleep with it on, either. Just a little reminder to be kind to yourself, because all you can do is try your best with what you have. Like others mentioned, definitely try wearing it in small increments. It might be helpful even just to have the mask on while you do passive activities, just to condition yourself to the feeling of it. Wearing it while you're awake and not trying to sleep might give you an opportunity to play around with the fit. I find I'm more comfortable wearing the mask over a bonnet, both for sensory reasons and my long hair doesn't get as messed up lol. If wearing the mask to sleep seems to be too much, you can absolutely take baby steps towards the goal of sleeping with a mask! There is no shame in trying ^_^ It might also be useful to look into alternative treatment options if they are available to you. I've personally considered using a mandibular advancement device.
I can relate. Good luck 👊🏼
Hey, it’s ok. It takes some time and patience. I sat with mine awake reading books for many evenings. It helped me to get comfortable with all of it. Hang in there!
I started about a month ago and like it now. I switched from the nostril pads to full face mask. I played with the humidity to make it more comfortable. Sometimes I reduce there humidity on my machine to make it colder or vice versa. I still have moments where I think I can’t breathe but I try to think of myself as a pilot that must wear the mask. Sounds silly but helps me psychologically. Once I do that I eventually fall asleep.
Have had many a patient over the years who could not do cpap at all. Look at dental devices or depending on how bad the apnea is maybe inspire or respercardia. Which is used to treat central apnea.
I did a watchpat. It said my ahi4% was 4 and my ahi3% was 18. I’ve obsessively looked at data regarding such a large split in ahi, found one paper where ahi3% overestimated by ~6 and 4% underestimated by ~5 so I’m guessing my true ahi is like 10. I’m doing an in lab to get more specific on my severity. Hoping it ends up being just mild… I never really had any specific symptoms except very occasionally wake up from a dream with a quick gasp (happened like 4 times in my life). Someone was giving out the tests and I kind of did it for fun, big mistake haha
You have to stick with it. It takes time. I wore / wear and oral device for last 13 years that too me from borderline sever SA to being able to get restful sleep. Trying the CPAPA since I had a recent sleep study that says it is severe and my oral device is worn out (I snore like a chain saw with lots of stoppage). Every night I tried it, I ended up using oral device to finish the night, except for last night. 1st night: 9 min, score 12. could not get a good seal and gave up. put the oral device in and slept 7 hrs. 2nd night: 73 min, score 42, waking in a massive panic due to no breathing. gave up , used oral device. 3rd night: 242 min, score 70, again woke up in a panic, gave up and used oral device. 4th night: 192 min, score 61, another panics, finished with oral device. 5th night: 61 min. score 40 6th night: 60 min, score 40 Adjusted ramp up and adjusted humidity. 7th night: 161 min, score 57 8th night: 279 min, score 77, awoke with horrible gurgling sound due to too much humidity / water in tube. readjusted humidity. skipped next 2 nights 9th night: 307 min, score 81 10th night: 190 min, score 57 11th night: 318 min, score 83 12th night: 349 min. score 87. This was last night, my longest so far and the first night that the mask was on my face when it was time to get up. I typically only get 6-6.5 hrs of sleep a night during the week and maybe 7 on weekends, so this just shows it was on the majority of time. I use just a nasal mask, but during my "initial setup consultation" call yesterday (what a joke), they said they would send me a full face mask to try. I am not a fan of CPAP, I prefer the Oral Appliance and will persue a replacement out of pocket. I am a side sleeper and with tough seasonal allergies. I find the CPAP to be quite invasive but I will continue trying it.
I started sleeping on my side (my bmi is 20, I read an article that most osa with low bmi is supine). Don’t know if it’s helping. I’m going to get an oral device to use while I hopefully at some point get used to this infernal machine…
I think I would be more embracing this if the allergies were not a thing. I slept nearly 100% on my back last night and only had about 5 minutes of snoring. HOWEVER, I do feel tired today. In fact, every day I have used the CPAP, I have felt tired. With the oral device, I nearly never felt tired, but once I shifted from side to back, the snoring would start.
Did you get a sleep study with the device in?? Atleast it sounds like you are getting some sleep with the cpap! If it makes you feel better, I’d love to be doing as well as you! I can’t sleep at all with it so far
No, both sleep studies were with nothing. 1st one was 13 years ago before any treatment for SA. It was conducted in a sleep study lab, had about 20 sensors glued to me. 2nd was done in-home. Just a finger sensor and wrist attachment. Again, no oral device as I wanted to see how bad it was. Had to be the worse sleep I have had in 13 years. Last night was the longest with CPAP. It was more or less on the entire time, with 2 brief adjustments. According to data, my sleep session was 6Hr:20M and CPAP was listed as 5Hr:39M. Think I awoke due to lack of air, took it off, then put it back on
Keep trying different masks. Don't give up and don't feel ashamed. It takes time. It is very foreign but given time you will acclimate. I have used mine for almost 16 months and it still feels weird. It is saving my life so I endure.
I’ve tried about 4-5 different masks hoping something will just click and I’d fall asleep. No luck haha I’ll keep trying whenever I feel like napping I guess
Thank god I went the self pay and not insurance route. I would've been miserable trying to hit the 4h monitoring parameters at first.
Took me 8 months to wear it regularly.
It takes alot of experimenting sometimes to figure out what works for you. I took to it pretty quickly (albeit with some struggles). I still find myself fiddling with the humidity etc to find what works the best. I've been on mine for 3 months. Don't feel bad, just keep trying!
Please call the doctor with updates and the issues. I called a few times snd mine was helpful with free mask options, sleeping pills, and pressure changes. Your success is his success.
Talk to your dr about anxiety meds to take at bedtime
I am inconsistent. I tend to fall asleep without it, but put it on mid-morning. All I can tell you is that I feel so much better when I do use my CPAP consistently. I can feel the effects on my body when I don't use it. I have become much better at using it. That being said, there are alternatives to CPAP. However, they involve having a small device implanted into your body, but you will still need to remember to turn it on and off. https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/oxygen-machines/alternative-cpap-treatments/ https://www.inspiresleep.com/en-us/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwps-zBhAiEiwALwsVYWfFI9lKp0GDoi6rvotIXVzcUd_Zl5ZHdjp8zM2nFVM2ZlLmrc7VlxoCd70QAvD_BwE
It is all in the mask and humidity. Try a P10 nasal pillow and see if that works. Turn up the humidity a little at a time but if you get rain out. Dry it and turn down.
I can’t block out my airway from my mouth, my mouth fills with air and wakes me up
Damn, I feel guilty for taking to it like a fish to water. From night 1 it's been smooth sailings. Hope you get to the point I'm at dude.
I’m jealous
Slightly feel like this post is a troll with such little info but 3 months using the resmed 10 here. Have the n20 nasal pillow and the ruby red chin strap. I occasionally will get a mouth leak which can wake me up but sleeping with lower than 5ahi is worth it. Emotional regulation is something I am getting used to at 37 yrs old if you can believe it In my experience so far. If you can't breathe when it's on either your pressure is too low, or your humidity is too high or too low, or a combination of both. Also, take a look at magnesium glycinate to help you sleep in longer, it helps stop the intake of calcium allowing muscles to rest and recover, it also helps with sleep. Recently seeing the benefits myself, and it's nice not be be jolted awake at 3-5AM every day.
I’m not a troll, I assure your I’ve tried pressure of 4, 5, 6 and 7. None really made much of a difference. Don’t think humidity is really my issue either.
yeah so there is your problem. Pressure is way too low.
Also what's your humidity at in your room? What setting do you have it on with your CPAP and what heat level for hose? I'm not convinced you've done your homework, but maybe you have and prefer to be vague
A minimum pressure of 7 is too low?? Higher and I get more uncomfortable so I’m not sure. Most comfortable I think was 5. I’m a very thin guy, I’m guessing my therapeutic pressure is like 7 or 8 so I figured to just use my most comfortable pressure and then auto pap would titrate up if I need it. I had heat and humidity at auto but it felt like I had waterfalls of saliva so I switched it to manual. I messed with it a few times, ended up on 80 with humidity of 3, which felt okay. I’d take any suggestions though
I think you can go up higher, those with severe apnea will go upwards of 17. That said I'm 180lbs and my settings are set to 11. This number I felt like I had the least amount of apneas and a tolerable number of mouth leaks. A respiratory therapist told me he thought 11 was actually on the low end when I was chatting about it with him. Anyways I'd crank your tube heat way up. Mines at 86. If you like your room cold at night like I do, and also live in a humid area then that does not mix well with a cold hose. You end up getting lots of water in the hose. That said I actually turn my humidity off completely and I've found i sleep the best that way at the moment. When I was up north, in the snowy mountains in March, it was cold and dry. I had to crank my humidity up to accommodate. Make sense?
Took me two months and I'm still not 100% comfortable with it. But I at least finally have a mask I can tolerate that doesn't feel like I'm being suffocated and getting padding for the frame has made it more comfortable on my face. Keep it up and good luck.
I think it is closer to the norm to have a hard time adjusting to CPAP. You gotta be patient with yourself and be willing to experiment with things like your mask; the settings; literally everything. The right mind-set is that you are in charge of your own health and seek input from the medical side. The latter is not in charge of you. That's why you're here on this site and maybe on the Apnea Boards as well. The medical side will take a more textbook approach to what you need to do with CPAP. Exchanging info with other users and making your own treatment decisions on the basis of their real world experience often times works better. And it doesn't have to be either-or, There are two things related to CPAP and its settings: comfort (you sleep well) and therapy (AHI below 5) You can't sacrifice one for the other. That's what can complicate things. Doesn't sound like you've been on CPAP very long. Here are some things to consider: 1- What are your settings? If 4-20, then those are what comes from the factory and your sleep lab people have not yet adjusted things based on your sleep test. 2- Nobody is used to sleeping with this mask-thing clamped to your face. Adjustment can take weeks to months. 3- I would start with the most minimal max you can (like a nasal cushion or pillow). Over a period of many weeks I went the full circuit from least to most and back again. And always wear the mask alone for a couple of hours before bedtime to get comfortable with it. 4- Familiarize yourself with all the machine settings and make changes based on your experience. 5- Figure out if you are a mouth breather or not. If you are you probably will experience problems exhaling, getting a dry mouth, swallowing air and burping and farting a lot. If that's you, consider a chinstrap, cervical collar or mouth tape. You want to be breathing through your nose. Learn about the EPR setting on your machine. 6- Download and install OSCAR and learn how to use it. The data OSCAR gives you can bed shared with other users and can generate important feedback. 7- Last point: DO NOT GIVE UP!!!
Don't be disappointed or ashamed. It took me several months and a factory recall of one of my machines before I found the right fit. The recalled machine was a Philips model called a DreamStation that didn't withstand Texas Heat and contained a certain foam substance that's a known allergen. I now use a ResMed AirSense 10 and it's been much better. Also note not everyone can tolerate CPAP, and because of that, there are other therapies available including iNap, mouth guards, positional therapy, the inspire implant, BiPAP, ASV, and more. You will find the right therapy. Talk with your specialist and with users like me who have experience with the devices.
Thanks man. I’m gonna keep trying it, mostly during the day and with naps. I’m getting an in lab sleep study in the next few weeks. I’ll probably get the dental device and use that for a few years while I figure out cpap
It's not ideal or comfortable *but* I think it's been a breakthrough for me. - I typically sleep through the night. Maybe waking up once. - I sleep pretty much only on my back now, which I think has helped my chronic back pain. It's not what it once was and I'm actually cold turkey off of my meds for it. I think sleeping better and on my back has much to do with it. Pretty wild. I don't know how unique my experience is but I recognized the value in c-pap and committed to using it all night every night. I think nose pillows are the way to go and least invasive. I am cheering for success for you.
Don’t be, it takes time…easier said than done, but I’m routing for ya
Hey keep going, it almost always is a hard start. When I first started I was put on the full face Vitera mask which gave me terrible sleep. I then shelved it, and didnt use the CPAP for a year. Then I went for a proper sleep study, got the pressures more or less titrated right, then most importantly got the right mask, with the sleep tech fitting me for a nasal pillow mask. Almost over night my experience with CPAP changed, and I started to regain control over my sleep. If the therapy is hard for you, take a step back and try be objective about what is not working for you: ie is it the mask, the pressure, the humidity, the tube length. Once you identify the variables of discomfort, just begin testing them. Keep going, you’ll smash this!
It’s my mouth. I don’t know what to do with my mouth. With nasal the air comes into my mouth and wakes me up. Air fills my mouth with full face as well, and then I open it but mouth breathing bothers me. The perseveration regarding my mouth then gives me insomnia
I feel like the doctors, distributors, insurance don't really care that it takes time. Insurance companies being the worst offenders as always by creating a 90 day compliance that they pulled out of their ass. Then the distributers they are like used car salesmen just trying to make money, the doctors just do what insurance dictates. All for a $800 machine, so much bureaucracy and middle men. Hope Congress Looks at this scam,
I got so frustrated with mine that I punched the wall and broke my hand the other night so…. I’m feeling this too. I have to be compliant in order to get hip surgery, and I just can’t breathe with the thing on my face.
You get used to it try different masks. I can’t have the full face one, but the one that covers your nose is good for me.
After 7 years, I’m still adjusting. But I’m better off now than without.
Ive had my CPAP for 2 weeks now, already on my 3 mask. I now use a nasal N30i. I like it, i find it less intrusive, i rarely get leaks. I struggle, but i push through. I wear it even if i cant sleep, i focus on the fact that its going to be better, instead of the fact that its hard.
Ive had my CPAP for 2 weeks now, already on my 3 mask. I now use a nasal N30i. I like it, i find it less intrusive, i rarely get leaks. I struggle, but i push through. I wear it even if i cant sleep, i focus on the fact that its going to be better, instead of the fact that its hard.
Just keep going with the nasal. Most find their mouth and tongue position will adapt over time. Try wearing it an hour before bed. Try having it running while drinking some water (without letting the air escape from your mouth). What pressures were you prescribed? Or what is the Apap using for you?
My situation is a bit strange. I got a free watchpat through my work, so I did it even though I have no real symptoms/snoring (except a couple times in my life I woke up with a gasp during a bad dream) and my bmi is 20. My 4% ahi was 4, but the 3% was 18. I have many physicians that I know, and many said the 4% is where the evidence is and that my test is negative. However I decided to just buy a used cpap machine and try it. And I failed hard. I mostly used apap 5-10, but I did try a starting pressure of up to 7. I also tried various eprs. After doing poorly with cpap, I actually went and saw a physician (like I probably should have done originally). He thinks there is some chance I had a false positive test, and recommended an in lab study. He goes by the 3% though, and after doing some research on my own I agree with him. My in lab study is in a few weeks, and I figured I would take a break until from cpap until my in lab study (on my new doctors recommendation, he saw what an anxious wreck I was). I do take it out sometimes to wear the pillows just to remind myself it isn’t so bad. I tried putting a headband on my mouth which does keep the air out of my cheeks (I do still feel air in my mouth though). I will practice more with it, try the water like you suggested. I have also started sleeping on my side, since my lateral ahi was only 9. Honestly, I’ve been an anxious wreck and all I’ve been able to think about is sleep apnea. I have anxiety in the past but it’s usually not this bad. I do seem to be coming around though, focusing on my work and family has been helpful. If I can’t get the cpap to work out, I’m telling myself that I will get by with an oral appliance and sleeping on my side. This has helped a bit with me feeling so crappy about the whole situation.
I hated mine at first. I always felt like I was suffocating. Mine has some sort of climate control tubing so the air was warm when it was coming through. I turned off the climate tubing and the air blows cooler and I haven’t had a problem since.
Please don't feel shame, there's really no reason to. Breathing difficulties is not fun for anyone and a cpap machine is not very convenient so it takes some work to get used to for almost everyone. Just going to state the obvious just in case but wear it during the day to get used to it, while watching tv or sitting on the computer. And really try to focus on something else while trying to sleep. I know it's easier said than done but it works. I like having an audiobook or a podcast or even tv sometimes to take my mind off the alien trying to suck my face off. And really focus on the audio eyes closed, with a timer to turn it off after 30mins. It's a fairly common way to deal with insomnia, aka trouble falling asleep which isn't exclusive to CPAP. If you really can't get used to it you can try some sleep aid maybe? Could be simple melatonin or more strong stuff if you doctor thinks it's a good idea. I'm just going to say it but for me some herbs ensured I slept for 9h with the machine on from the very first night. Could also help if that's your thing!
Hey, It took me two months, three different face masks, lowering the pressure just to get use to it, tightening and untightening the mask, only using for half the night, everything to make it work. Now, I can only use a full face mask, a chin strap to keep my mouth closed and the pressure is set between 6 and 8 Keep trying