Call your doctor!!!

Hi. What mask are you using and what setting is your machine on? I am having major issues with the mask that I have so I have to decide what kind to try next. My machine is on 8. I am not sleeping with most of the time because the mask won't stay on my head. The DME says I can't get another mas****il April because of insurance. I certainly can't afford to buy one. My surgery is March 20th so by the time I can get another mask I probably or hopefully won't need one for much longer. The few times I have gotten to sleep with it and for the short time it would stay put it did help me feel more rested. I would love to know what a full 8 or 9 hours with it on would be like. Jenifer

Just had consultation with dr. today telling me results of sleep study last week. I do have moderate apnea so am on a CPAP starting tonight. I hope it goes well, as I have to be on the machine for 30 days before I can have surgery. I am not scheduled yet, but I meet my surgeon a week from today, March 6. I have done pretty much everything else I needed to, so anxious to get this CPAP thing down, too. I am a very restless sleeper even though I am on Trazodone at night, among other anti-anxiety and Bipolar meds. I am hoping to get some sound sleep. It has been so long!!!!!! I am hoping all goes well; if not, I am sure I will find plenty of support here! Well, here's to a good night's rest for us all!!!!!! How long did it take everyone else to get used to the machine? I have the one that goes over my nose, a mask thing. I am hoping my mouth stays shut so I don't wake up non-stop!

Hi everyone, Thanks for your all kind words, suggestions and ideas. It's nice to know I am not alone in this. Last night, I decided to try something different. I do have a C Flex machine so it starts at 6 and within 45 minutes it goes up to 14. Well since the air pressure starts to come out thru the sides of the mask and above the eye sockets when it hits 14, it wakes me up as it makes this horrible loud whistling sound. So last night, I automatically put it to 14 instead of 6 and sat up in the bed and adjusted the straps on the mask to be more snug as within a minute it started to sing again. Then after 5 minutes, I lay down with the mask on snuggly. Right now, I use 2-3 pillows and sleep propped up but due to my weight as I lie on my sides, my rib cage, stomach, etc start to hurt and feel crushed so I have to change sides frequently. I try to take one pillow away but as soon as I lay flat, I feel like I am suffocating. I did sleep a little bit better last night but for the past few weeks, I am only getting about 4 hours of sleep a night. By the end of the week, I am totally exhausted. The good news is that I do much better on the weekends as I am off work and therefore am more relaxed and can take a nap if needed. I see the respirologist on Monday finally after waiting 6 weeks. Here in Canada we have free universal health care but the catch is that there is wait to see specialists. Our goverment does not believe in private health care so we don't have other options. Thanks again everyone. Sim from Vancouver, BC Canada

Hi. I too panicked when I woke up and my pressure was at its highest point (off of the ramp). What helped me was to request a machine with CFlex option, which lowers the pressure when you are exhaling so that you are not breathing against the pressure. I am still new at this too but that helped me more than anything else. If your machine doesn't have that, check into it. FYI I had to argue with my DME company to get this machine so be prepared to say & stick by what you think you need. I also have found a lot of info on cpaptalk.com You can post questions there or read old questions. Good luck. Jenifer