HELP CPAP question (and sleep apnea question)

Dear Angela, I have used a CPAP machine for three years now. My setting is a 9. At first I had a medium Respironics triangular soft mask. It kept leaking air, so I got one in small. This fits much better. Try a smaller mask. I never needed a chin strap until AFTER my lap RNY, when my mouth started falling open at night. So now I do use the chin strap to avoid the horrible dried-out mouth! I also sleep on my side, and I am so used to it now that I automatically adjust the thing when I turn over. You will get used to that also with a little time. In addition, there is an air outlet spot on the mask that I always make sure points to the top of my head. This means putting the tubing on or over the top of your head, then bending it so the exhaust outlet is pointing up. This keeps me from being disturbed by the exhaust air. I know it is hard at the beginning to get things just right, but when you do, you will sleep much, much better! HUGS, Pat

Angela- I also use lots of pillows. At first I would set on my bed with the machine on and the mask on my face to get use to it. It's hard at first trying to get use to the darn thing, because it turned itself on as soon as I breathed in it, and it would take my breath away. Sometimes I would wake with the a terrible dry mouth, because I opened my mouth when I was sleeping. I have the mask the goes over the nose size (p) and cushy blue jell pillows. My number is 13 but I start at 6 and it goes up gradually to 13. Tracie Sugery in 2 days I will be taking my CPAP to the Hospital also.

Dear Angela I too have quite severe sleep apnea. While I only stopped sleeping 104 times during the study and was under 70, my pressure is 12 on my machine. I use the miracleswift pollow? it is like made of the hose material and has 2 little holes thet fit into your nostrils. Air comes out of it above the pillow as you know- that is the carbon dioxide. I do not open my mouth when I wear this- it creates a wind tunnel and sucks in air. I sleep on my sides and all over the place..and In my sleep, push the pillow under my nose so it fits in. I also have a humidifier so my mouth does not dry up and 12 pressure is not that bad- sometimes I wonder if it is enough. I do not feel that much of a "seal" I have to ask about that- because air comes out of the top I hope it is not coming out of the holes also cause they are big holes that cup your nostrils With this mask I can watch TV or put on my glasses and I have it on when I wake up in the morning. The one they gave me in the sleep lab I felt like Mister potato head. It was huge. Make sure you get somewhat comfy and wear the mask. My dr requires you wear it 3 weeks before the surgery and yes you can die if you are not waering it. A lot of people who just "die in their sleep" are dying from sleep apnea and don't ever know it. BTW I only have this less than a week....but first night was awful and rest of days were not so bad. Assuming I am using this correctly- it is not as bad as I thought it would be. I guess you need to sleep with your mouth closed or it really does not work, Keep trying- it is not that bad once a mask works for you. I actually sort of look forward to wearing it ...not sure why...LOL maybe it is the soft air sound it makes Good luck and don't worry - you will get it straight Edyth

Hi Angela Welcome to sleep apnea land. I thought I was going to go crazy with the mask! You are not alone. I am claustrophobic and went through 4 masks before I found one that I liked. My insurance bought 3 of the masks and my sleep clinic gave me one. The one that I found that worked best for me was a Mirage Swift nasal pillow mask. You can sleep on your sides and your face is not covered. I do have a humidifer with my machine. My dr. told me that I could get used to the machine in 2 hr. increments. Wear it for 2 hrs. The next night or so add another hr. etc. He also said that as long as I had 5 hours of the mask at night I was ok. Well long story short after a few weeks of 5 hrs. I started sleeping past that removal time too and now wear it full time. The only time I "rebel" is when I am sick and my nose is stuffed up so bad I cant breathe. Even then, a few drops of Vicks vaporizer in the water tank helps clear up the sinuses. Good luck and hang in there, it DOES get better. Nancy

Thank you all so much for your replies....I really appreciate it...I definitely feel better...I was feeling really whiny about the whole thing... Angela

 

I've used a CPAP for almost 5 years.  I got the nasal pillows and do well with that.  It took a bit to get used to, but I LOVE how well I sleep with it.  My setting is at 8.  I always fall asleep on my side. 

Janet

 

I am a side sleeper, but I had to slept on my back for a week or so to get used to the mask. I also used a chin strap for a short time. After several years I use a very small mask in a size small even when I weighed 344. www.cpapman.com/respiron.html#anchor25066 shows a picture of it. It just fits over your nose. As a side sleeper, use a flat pillow, not a fluffy one. Place the machine on the side of the bed you face. Extend the hose over the top of the pillow and back again to your face. It is doubled along the top of your pillow. E-mail me if you have questions. Once you get used to your mask, you will love your CPAP! Loris

Angela- I understand completely what you are going through. It took me a little while to get used to my CPAP. None of the masks I used seemed right. I have sensitive skin and I got rashes or I would take it off during the night. Then one day my husband handed me one of his old masks. I do not know why it worked but I went right to sleep and stayed asleep all night. It was the wrong size, and the wrong type. I can only imagine that somehow because it was his-- I was comfortable with it. I used that mask for a long time. Recently my pressure was increased to 15-19 (I use a varible pressure CPAP) so I now have to use a high pressure mask, if I didn't it would literally blow off my face! You might want to look at the position of the machine and the position of the hoses. I know for me that is as important to my comfort as the mask. I have my hose come down from behind my pillow, not underneath, just over the top. That keeps it out of my way because I sleep on my side too. My best advice is to just keep trying. Eventually, you will find a mask and a position that will work for you. Red