Any suggestions/thoughts welcome..

I've been using the Airfit P10 for around six weeks. Other than getting used to it in the beginning, I've been doing well and my data is okay. AHI hovers around 2 with a few leaks that Pugsy and sleep doc have said no need to be concerned about.

The last couple of nights the mask has been making me crazy - and that's the problem... why? My head felt like it was in a vice last nite - headgear extremely tight and I started to get a headache and my nose was getting really sore. This has happened before with other masks so I tried changing masks. Same scenario - fine for awhile and then out of nowhere the mask starts to bother me. I also took a 5mg Ambien... could have just as well taken a sugar pill for all the good it did. Last night after doing what I thought were all the right things... went downstairs for awhile, had a very light snack and then tried the mask again. No go - and around 3:30 a.m. I pulled the mask off and went right to sleep.

I'm having some problems at the moment and admit to feeling extremely stressed out. Stressful situations seem to coincide with having problems using the mask. I've never heard this particular problem mentioned on the forum. Does this happen to anyone else? What has helped? I'm getting very depressed about this and have run out of things to try. Any suggestions/thoughts would be welcomed.

I am new to CPAP, only been using it for 1 week so I have not experienced this...yet. However, I do suffer from anxiety so I am wondering if the stress you mention could be causing this. When my anxiety kicks in things really bug me when they normally don't. Like clothes feeling constricting when they really aren't. If it were me, I would consider talking to my doctor about how to address the stress/anxiety in the hopes that will resolve the mask/headgear issues you are experiencing.

I usually have a hard time falling asleep. Most nights I can feel the mask on my face quite a bit and it bothers me; then I start focusing on it...

I usually take some form of sleep aid. I do have and used generic ambien; but haven't used that very much. Currently taking ibuprofen PM a couple hours before I go to bed. That seems to take enough of the edge off that I can fall asleep before I start noticing the mask.

Thinking back on when I would periodically be agitated by a mask that hadn't bothered me just a night before. For me it was usually when my jumpy legs were acting up and EVERYTHING irritated me. Whatever was touching me at the time I became agitated simply had to stop touching me there. I've been known to take my shirt off even if just for a few seconds then put it back on. Needless to say those times made using my mask and headgear maddening. I think stress heightens my sensitivity to touch. Only thing that seems to help is to disconnect and reset, so to speak. Persisting in whatever I was trying to tolerate wasn't very successful. I feel for you. Hopefully your stressors will soon be reduced and the problems resolved.

Thanks so much for your responses!

Kteague... I kept nodding my head in agreement when I read your post - because that's just how I feel when I can't keep the mask on. Last night was better... I slept 7.5 hours with the mask ON! I think I just have to not over think it... especially on the nights when I'm feeling exceptionally stressed.

kteague wrote:Thinking back on when I would periodically be agitated by a mask that hadn't bothered me just a night before. For me it was usually when my jumpy legs were acting up and EVERYTHING irritated me.

I agree with that, tho my legs are fine. Sometimes, not too often, any old thing sets me on edge... the mask leaks, the machine makes too much noise. Whatever, it's can all be an irritant. I've slowly starting eliminating nitrates, MSG, refined sugar etc etc. I've also upped my magnesium, D3, Potassium and other useful nutrients. Daily exercise seems to help. Some progress seems to kicking in but it can a be a long slow slog. It'd be cool if there was a switch on the side of heads that just let us turn off our brains sometimes. Drugs can do that, however they often come with frightening side-effects.

Sir NoddinOff wrote:It'd be cool if there was a switch on the side of heads that just let us turn off our brains sometimes. Drugs can do that, however they often come with frightening side-effects.

+1 x 1 zillion!

I've only taken Xanax or Ambien with no frightening side effects, thank goodness. I think it's a fine line... turning our brains off when trying to get to sleep would be marvelous - but turning our brains off enough to experience frightening side effects is another story. That scares me... which is why I'm very careful about what I take and/or mix. I do want to wake up in the morning.

ems,

My hubby has the problem you describe. He was on the sleeping pill tmezepam & because of DOT changes had to suddenly stop taking it - cold turkey. He currently cannot take anything for sleep & some nights he cannot 'turn his mind off' for sleep. He practices good sleep hygiene but he has nights he says 'the mask is choking him'. He then switches masks which sometimes helps, but not always. I don't have a real answer, but you are not alone. You might want to try switching to another mask when the symptoms start.

Good luck,
Jen