Advice please!

Mary A. · Post by **Mary A.** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:22 pm

I've been reading all of your postings and feel a little better about this whole CPAP thing. I feel like a freak. I've been using it for 2 weeks and can't seem to get used to it. The face mask always ends up on the floor some time during the night. My MD reluctantly prescribed Ambien to allow me to get used to using the CPAP but even that hasn't helped.
Can you ever get used to it? Can you ever get rid of sleep APNEA? All advice will be gratefully received.
Thanks,
Mary A.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:35 pm

Mary A. wrote:I've been reading all of your postings and feel a little better about this whole CPAP thing. I feel like a freak. I've been using it for 2 weeks and can't seem to get used to it. The face mask always ends up on the floor some time during the night. My MD reluctantly prescribed Ambien to allow me

Yes, in fact, I doubt I can sleep without mine. Just keep trying it. Make sure you are using the ramp feature to start your night.

capt · Post by **capt** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:58 pm

It is funny how people can put on makeup, like a face mask preparation, to keep their skin looking as young as possible. We use tons of chemicals, rollers, dryers and curling irons to get their hair to look just right or take the grey out. I hope that you can look at all the funny things we do and put using your cpap equipment into that kind of perspective. I truly hope that you can find a mask that will feel more comfortable for you, as the one you have may not be the best for you. Anymore I cannot sleep without my equipment. My cute phase when wearing my mask to lighten things up around my wife, children or grandchildren is "pilot to co-pilot"!

Mary A. · Post by **Mary A.** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 1:24 pm

Thanks Capt.,and guest for the encouragement. I'll try to check on different masks.

Terry Flower51 · Post by **Terry Flower51** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 4:00 pm

Dear Mary, I actually look forward to slipping into bed and putting on my autopap...its comforting somehow and soothing to fall asleep to the hushed "whoosh" of air. Now that I've been using my autopap for awhile (since the end of June) I LOVE sleeping and feel great when I get up! Do some tweaking of your mental and emotional approach to cpaping like capt said...some humor thrown in will help (check out our old threads where we did some limericks, etc...) and investigating masks for sure. Do you have a heated humidifier? Do you know how to ramp? Terry

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 7:39 pm

Dear Terry,
Thanks for the reassurance. I guess I will persevere and investigate masks. I do have a heated humidifier which I haven't yet used because the weather has been too warm. I think I know how to ramp. My machine has a 20 minute timer.
It isn't the initial falling asleep that seems to be the problem, it's what happens afterward...and of course, I have no recollection of ripping the mask off in the middle of the night.
Thanks again,
Mary A.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 7:51 pm

It's never too warm for a H/H! I live in Texas where it's so humid and hot at night it's like a sauna, but I need to H/H to keep my nose happy.
The air it puts out is cool anyway. I actually like the air blowing. Two weeks is not enough time to adjust. Give it time and try to keep it on. Even if you have to tiew your arms down or have your bed partner wake you when it's off. Good luck! Soon you will be a regular here giving advise

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 9:13 pm

Hi, Mary. Welcome to the site.

What mask are you using? There are so many to choose from, maybe subconsciously while you're sleeping, it's uncomfortable and you take it off because of that.

You will get used to it. What you write is not uncommon. Many a post has had the same content about people not realizing but taking off their masks at night in the beginning. Crazy glue is always an option ...keep your sense of humour. It helps, believe me.

elliejose · Post by **elliejose** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:40 am

Mary A.

It was at least 2 months before I slept a full night with my mask on. But it was worth keeping on keeping on. I think I had every problem imaginable, but most of them are getting better.

I've used 4 different machines, tried 2 different masks, 3 humidifiers, ets. It just takes time for some of us. Don't get discouraged. Talk to Rested Gal. She has a lot of good advice. So do many others. Just keep asking questions, trying different combinations and eventually you will sleep better.

I can't say I have that great feeling that some people have achieved but I am determined to keep trying. Eventually we WILL feel MUCH better. Believe it!

And stick with the folks on this site. Someone always has very good advice and is very willing to share it.

Good Luck!

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:54 am

Sleepless on LI wrote:What mask are you using? There are so many to choose from, maybe subconsciously while you're sleeping, it's uncomfortable and you take it off because of that.

Darn it Lori, you beat me to that suggestion! I guess I should have logged in yesterday instead of taking the day off.

You will get used to it. What you write is not uncommon. Many a post has had the same content about people not realizing but taking off their masks at night in the beginning. Crazy glue is always an option ...keep your sense of humour. It helps, believe me.

Or maybe try strapping your arms to your sides with duct tape. (Just joking; kids, don't try this at home!)

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:55 am

Bill,

I will repeat, at the risk of being redundant, great minds think alike.

stanley shotz · Post by **stanley shotz** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:56 pm

Well Mary..i have been messing with my cpap for 5 months and still haven't resolved it all. But I have never slept one nite without it. Take one thing at a time that is not right with you and resolve it by itself. You can't get it all perfect at one attempt . I am still working on the dry mouth and throat. Give a look at the swift nasal cushion instead of the full mask types. I am able to tolerate that with ease. Must be something different for each person on earth..so keep trying different ways to live with a cpap. my user name is Barnaby but it wont work on this puter.

Advice please!

Advice please!

Re: Advice please!

advice please