Soooo tired.... Just about ready to give up...HELP !!!

I have been on Bipap for about 3 months and before that was on Cpap , all along I haven't for the most part been able to wear my mask for more then 2 hours. I have tried several different masks and I just take them off in my sleep..at this point my dr has pretty much told me she don't know what else to do. I am so tired all the time , on most days I just think I'm not going to make it thru the day,anytime I am still for a few minutes I'm falling a sleep and I can't see living the rest of my life like this. But I really don't know what else to do. Please any suggestions would help. Thanks for any help.

Jules72 wrote:I have been on Bipap for about 3 months and before that was on Cpap , all along I haven't for the most part been able to wear my mask for more then 2 hours. I have tried several different masks and I just take them off in my sleep..at this point my dr has pretty much told me she don't know what else to do. I am so tired all the time , on most days I just think I'm not going to make it thru the day,anytime I am still for a few minutes I'm falling a sleep and I can't see living the rest of my life like this. But I really don't know what else to do. Please any suggestions would help. Thanks for any help.

first, what's the REF number on the back of the blower? the h5i is the humidifier, need the REF number from the other one.

it sounds like you need to keep your mask on, some people have used tape to make it harder to remove in their sleep.

Jules72 wrote:I have been on Bipap for about 3 months and before that was on Cpap , all along I haven't for the most part been able to wear my mask for more then 2 hours. I have tried several different masks and I just take them off in my sleep..at this point my dr has pretty much told me she don't know what else to do. I am so tired all the time , on most days I just think I'm not going to make it thru the day,anytime I am still for a few minutes I'm falling a sleep and I can't see living the rest of my life like this. But I really don't know what else to do. Please any suggestions would help. Thanks for any help.

If you've got some determination, maybe we can get you on the right track.
But, first, we need some more information on your machine and the particular settings (pressure, humidifier, etc.)
There are solutions for stopping taking the mask off during the night. Most of us have had it happen and we have conquered it.

Only you can help yourself. We'll try to offer suggestions, but it's up to you. We only succeed with this therapy once we've taken charge of it.

Welcome to the forum.

Den

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is your machine a "S9 VPAP S Bi-level" or one of the variants of this machine?
The name is in the upper left corner next to the round knob.

You selected the H5i humidifier and I think it only goes on the S9 series.

Is your mask really the total full face mask you picked on the equipment list? Here is a larger image of this mask.


Have you tried just sitting down with the mask on and the machine running to see if you can do it for more than 2 hours?
Sometimes it just takes some practice in wearing the mask to get past this first hurdle.

Could you tell us the pressures and EPR setting you have on the machine. Are you using the Ramp function and, if so, how long is it set for?

Jules72,

Do you have any nasal obstruction/congestion issues that could be causing you to unintentionally take off various masks? In my opinion, this gets overlooked as a culprit.

Assuming your machine is a resmed vpap, you might want to go to and download sleepyhead, which is a free software program that can enable you to see if your therapy is optimized or not. It could be that you are not getting enough air which is another possible reason you are feeling mask intolerance.

If you could post screen shots so that more experienced members could take a look at your data, that could help get you on the right track. It is totally understandable that you would be frustrated and it sounds like you have done everything you can to make the therapy work. Hopefully, with a few more tools and the help from this board, you can make some more improvements.

For instructions on posting them, JDS74, who responded in this thread, has a link in his signature block.

49er

Jules72... I understand your frustration, many of us have been where you are.

That aside, you said you have tried many masks. Specifically, have you tried masks like the Swift FX, Airfit P10 or the Sleepweaver? Many people have difficulty with full face masks and have a much easier time with nasal pillows.

Adding to the previous posts... have you tried taking a sleep med for a few weeks? I know that isn't ideal but it just may help you get through this time. You might want to mention this to your doctor.

My advise for everyone who is dealing with sleep apnea and CPAP is to never give up.Just keep trying to use your equipment the best you can. talk to your dme and your sleep doctor when ever you have issues and have regular followups when ever necessary. Ive been on my cpap for just a year now and I gotta say if you use it every night it does make a difference.

Hang in there!! We're all rootin for ya. You can do this! PS I like your ladybug.

First I would just like to say thanks to everyone who replied , and sorry for my slow response . Ok ....Pale rider-my ref # is 36006 and yes it is a ResMed Vpap. Den-I am determined, I stay so tired all the time. Everyone told when I first started using this ,that I would never stick with it. But I have tried really hard. I had got to where I couldn't even drive across town (which isn't that big) without falling asleep . I have fell asleep before sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee and fell out of the chair. And that is where I sit most of the time because I know if I sit on the couch I will be out. And yes JDS74-,my machine is a Resmed Vpap and I do wear the full face mask. And no I have never tried just sitting down with it on. I try to stay on the move most of the time because I know if I get still I will be a sleep. I have put it on and watched tv for a little bit. And my pressure is 6 to 16, and I'm not sure what EPR is but I'm looking at one of my papers and it says it's full time and the level is 3. And I do use ramp. I have set it different settings and even tried it without it. Currently I have it on 30 minutes. 49er- yes I do have some sinus trouble-not bad but I recently I told my dr that sometimes I thought that's what makes mew take the mask off. So she gave me Nasonex and I have also used the Breath Right strips. Neither seemed to help any. I will look into down loading sleepyhead . And yes I think that could be a lot of the reason as well. The reason my dr changed me to Vpap to start with is because I have COPD and she said I have the most trouble in REM sleep and that with the COPD , I was probably having trouble breathing out against the pressure of the CPAP. I will try to find my most recent report and post it. ems-I'm not sure if I have tried those mask or not. I would have to look them up. I have had a appt. to go exchange my mask that they sent me for the nasal pillows. Because someone else had also told me to try them. But both times I have had to cancel for one reason or the other. Sometimes I feel like going to dr's appt. and such should be my job, seems like I've always got to many appts. And yes I am currently on a mild antidepressant that is suppose to make me sleepy and also a medicine that they give for itching ...... But it can also be used for panic attacks and nerves. Which I don't really take it that often because it is just way to hard to get woke up in the morning. thohse- I still use mine every night, I haven't given up yet. Close, but not yet. Glad you have had success . Like I said going thru life sleepy and tired all the time is no way to live. And Jimmycrackhorn- thanks and I like your name .....lol. And thanks to everyone who has commented and tried to help me,you don't know how much I appreciate it. Sorry for the long post , but I am trying to answer everyone's questions. Thanks again

Jules72 wrote:First I would just like to say thanks to everyone who replied , and sorry for my slow response . Ok ....Pale rider-my ref # is 36006 and yes it is a ResMed Vpap.

that's the same one I have listed, just check the list, and find the one that matches my sig.

resmed vpaps don't have epr. (just fyi)

You know, there are a lot of people that have way more experience than me about the technical side of this, but I would say to maybe chill a little when it comes to the mask, do what I do, Meditate yourself to bed.

Some great stuff is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vgKzXd ... vgKzXdwtRE - A Playlist with a lot of mindfulness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJjc4XreJSQ - Honest guys 1 hour guided sleep meditation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMl_T7QIZdY - Suffering is Okay by Thich Nhat Hanh

There are a lot more. The idea is that Mindfulness will make Physical changes. Plus on those days when I am REALLY tired, I use this stuff to relax myself, fall asleep for a little bit and get a huge recharge. Over time, the more do this the more effective it will become. I remember days where I felt like complete panic, deprivation and so on, and this stuff really helps calm the mind and body and even alleviate some of the bad feelings both emotionally and physically.

Jimmy - thanks so much for posting these. I listened to the first one... so lovely! I'm going to bookmark this page.

ems wrote:Jimmy - thanks so much for posting these. I listened to the first one... so lovely! I'm going to bookmark this page.

hope you are doing well - let me know how things are working out with the meditation if you ever see this again. I still do this every night in one form or another.


What I REALLY hope is that Jules got some relief. She sounded how I felt over the summer...

I would try Swift FX nasal pillows ASAP or the Airfit nasal pillows. It did take me about a month or two to get used to them but they are infinitely better than a face mask. I use a halo chin strap with the pillows and I used to be a chronic mouth breather and now I am not. The pillows are so much better.

You could also try the next larger size of pillows if you feel like you are not getting enough air with them too. There is a device that you use to measure your nostril distance to determine correct size. Technically I measure for small nasal pillows but I have used large and medium pillows in the past when I felt like it was not enough air. Currently I am back to small pillows.

Also, make sure to watch any videos on proper placement and use of pillows or any mask since proper use is critical for mask comfort. For example, if the straps are too tight, usually the mask will not work correctly and you will be uncomfortable. The straps for the Swift Fx nasal pillows are supposed to be fairly lose so that the pillows are fully inflated.

I di have a Resmed Quattro FX full face mask as a backup for when I am extremely nasally congested but I rarely have needed it. You could try nasal saline rinses with the neti pot or Dr. NeilMed nasal saline rinse kits.