First Night...can't sleep.

I'm using CPAP for the first time. I'm in bed , typing this on my tablet with the brightness turned down.
My main concern, apart from not being able to sleep, is that my nose will permanently look like a pig's snout by morning , since I have "pillows" stuffed in my nostrils. I'm also a bit worried about lines on my face from the straps. I have to be at work at 8:30.

The machine is called a Resmed. I put distilled water in it. I keep having coughing fits. Not optimistic that I will ever get to sleep.

I use nasal pillows with a chin strap. I started out with a full face mask and found the pillows the easiest to use. As for marks on your face in the morning, mine are always gone by time I am out of the shower.

winnie, your nose will not permanently look like a pig's snout in the morning. We sometimes use the phrase "piggy nose" to refer to what we look like when we overtighten a nasal pillow mask, but that's when we have it ON -- the mask will not get your nose literally 'bent out of shape.'

Strap marks -- maybe, but there are things you can do to deal with that -- you may have your mask on too tight (common newbie thing). You can also order mask straps which help lessen/avoid the strap marks. Also, some masks are more likely to leave strap marks than other masks.

I suspect the coughing might be sensitivity to the new sensations you're experiencing.

Just do the best you can for tonight and come back in the morning for more help with adjusting. Let us know which nasal pillow mask and which ResMed machine you have. On the S9 machines the name is right by the Start/Stop button (e.g. Escape, Autoset, VPAP...) On the AirSense 10 machines I believe the name is on the right side near the bottom of the unit. Also let us know your pressure setting(s) if you have that info.

I ended up giving it up my first night, and called up my sleep doctor for a prescription for Ambien the next day *smile*. Took Ambien for a week to help getting used to sleeping with all the gear and the machine going and all. And after I stopped using the sleep aid, everything worked fine.

Worked for me, anyways. But I'm a light sleeper, and really needed to get some help getting used to it. Even so, I use earplugs, so about all I hear is the sound of my own breathing. Now that I'm retired, I can set my own hours, and make sure that I go to sleep when I'm good and tired.

Another thing that you can do is to use the machine when you're just relaxing (not sleeping) to get used to having it on. Like when you're reading or watching TV or something of that sort. Then when night time comes around, it's a lot less stressful to use it. Maybe start getting ready for bed a little early, so you're not stressing out about not getting enough sleep might help as well.

Just some thoughts...we all go through the initial thing, and get past it. You will, too. Just take it easy and don't get too stressed about it, that's really counter-productive (as you know), you'll get there.

You concern over piggy nose sent me to the bathroom mirror. After 10 years of nasal pillows mask use I had sooooo hoped my slotted nares would get a bit of a rounder shape. Maybe the slots are not quite as skinny as 10 years ago, but they still are narrow slots, and my nose is not one bit upturned. I would love to be able to flare my nose. Isn't that silly? Guess I read too many books about tempestuous women whose flared noses expressed great emotion, or cute girls with upturned noses. lol Anyhow, you don't need to worry about that. If red marks from the straps become a problem, there are pads available for almost any mask strap. About the cough, maybe it's related to your humidity. If so, it may take some trial and error to find out what humidity level is best for you. If I turn mine above 2.5 it will be a night of congestion and wet coughing. Everyone's needs are different. As a side note, if that cough also happens with the mask off, I'd wonder if perhaps you are on Lisinopril for blood pressure. It's notorious for causing a cough. Good luck with everything.

The pillows shouldn't be "stuffed up my nose" - they should rest lightly against the outside of the nostrils with only the smallest part of the tip actually in the nose. I suspect you're doing it right, but someone said that once and after suggesting a bunch of things, we found out that he really was stuffing the pillows up his nose.

I'm sorry you had a rough first night. Most of us also had rough first nights, first weeks, and sometimes first months. It does take determination, but if you keep trying - it will almost certainly get better.

Did you rinse out all of your plastic items? Wash off the nasal plugs? Does it still smell like Plastic? The air blowing in is not supposed to smell like plastic. For ME, coughing might mean that my initial pressure is too low, and I am sump pumping stomach acid fumes up from my -well, my stomach. There are several possible scenarios to how to fix that. First being wait for the Ramp to get the pressure up. Another being, if you got a machine that is not well titrated to your needs, and they set the machine Wide Open, Meaning a very low pressure to a very high pressure, then the pressure might be starting too low for you. Might be you are just angry about having to do the Sleep Apnea thing. A hit of Malox might help, altho the best over the counter stomach covering is the most expensive, Gaviscon.

Welcome! You've come to the right place. It only gets better from here. As much as we all wish we could just push the switch on the machine and have all of our sleep problems solved, it's a process with many variables. Expect there to be an adjustment period, but hang in there!

Please add your equipment information to your profile so people can see what you are using as described here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=103638&p=975085&hil ... le#p975085. Hopefully, you have a machine with a memory card and can install the wonderful, free SleepyHead software that will allow you to look at how your breathing went throughout the night. It can be great encouragement to see things improving as we get used to the therapy.

There are some masks that don't have straps at all, like the Breeze nasal that I use, but what works for one person often doesn't work for another. You may need to try multiple types and styles before you find what works best for you.

winnie wrote:I'm using CPAP for the first time. I'm in bed , typing this on my tablet with the brightness turned down.
My main concern, apart from not being able to sleep, is that my nose will permanently look like a pig's snout by morning , since I have "pillows" stuffed in my nostrils. I'm also a bit worried about lines on my face from the straps. I have to be at work at 8:30.

The machine is called a Resmed. I put distilled water in it. I keep having coughing fits. Not optimistic that I will ever get to sleep.

The pillows DO NOT GO IN YOUR NOSTRILS. That may be your problem.

I realize our anatomies are all different but speaking as a nasal pillow user, I've used them for more than 8 weeks now and have never seen any changes in how my nose looks. Not even any redness.

Thank you for all your replies. I'm on my 4th night now. Still having trouble sleeping. However I have the humidity turned up tonight since for the last two nights my nose and throat were terribly dry.

I think I'm wearing the pillow mask correctly. It is just sort of resting on my nose, but my nose is a bit squished up by it. I caught a glimpse of myself
reflected in the dark tablet screen and it looked quite piggy. However my nose goes back to normal when I take it off, as you all assured me it would.

I am puzzled by how the whole thing works. If I put my hand near the mask I can feel air blowing out when inhale . How does that work?

winnie wrote:If I put my hand near the mask I can feel air blowing out when inhale . How does that work?

That's normal -- there's actually a constant flow of air from the vent holes in the mask (it does feel a little stronger when you inhale). The air coming out is referred to as "intentional" or "expected" leak and every mask is designed with an intentional leak rate. Exhaled air is released through those vent holes.

winnie wrote: I think I'm wearing the pillow mask correctly. It is just sort of resting on my nose, but my nose is a bit squished up by it.

That sounds right...

I'm not sure which nasal pillows you are using. If having the mask as loose as possible with little to no leaks is your preference, then consider using the Swift FX. I prefer the Airfit P10, but it does put a little more pressure on my nose than the Swift FX (the Swift FX headgear is a LOT more adjustable than the P10 headgear).