New to cpap and I hate it.

I was diagnosed with very mild sleep apnea. I already struggle with insomnia and anxiety, so strapping something to my face hasn't been going well. I feel confined, which I hate immensely. It makes me feel claustrophobic and like I'm suffocating. As soon as I lay down and move around my mask starts leaking which is very uncomfortable. If it's too tight, then my whole head just aches, but if it's too loose then it leaks air which is loud and tickles my face. I've had it for 5 days and have only been able to tolerate it for a few hours. I know everybody says it takes time, but I feel like I was sleeping better without this thing suctioned to my face. I realize I'm not alone in this, so can somebody please help me out here? I have already decided that this is going to be a nightmare. Thank you in advance.

Slssong wrote:I was diagnosed with very mild sleep apnea. I already struggle with insomnia and anxiety, so strapping something to my face hasn't been going well. I feel confined, which I hate immensely. It makes me feel claustrophobic and like I'm suffocating. As soon as I lay down and move around my mask starts leaking which is very uncomfortable. If it's too tight, then my whole head just aches, but if it's too loose then it leaks air which is loud and tickles my face. I've had it for 5 days and have only been able to tolerate it for a few hours. I know everybody says it takes time, but I feel like I was sleeping better without this thing suctioned to my face. I realize I'm not alone in this, so can somebody please help me out here? I have already decided that this is going to be a nightmare. Thank you in advance.

Hi Slssong,

First step is to use the link in my signature to fill out your equipment profile so forum members can better tailor their responses to your situation.

Do you know what type of mask you have as folks can help you with fitting it correctly? And if you feel claustrophobic no matter, there may be better mask options that don't make you feel that way.

It may seem like it is going to be a nightmare as many newbies felt the same way as you did but once they got pointed in the right direction, they felt alot differently. Hang in there.

49er

It helps if you can work on each issue separately.

The feeling of claustrophobia can seem overwhelming and a severe barrier to getting the apnea therapy you need.
If you had a lab sleep study (BTW - get a copy of the full report, it will be very helpful), then ask the sleep doctor for a referral to a respiratory technician for counseling and help with the claustrophobia. Often this will be enough to get past this problem. If you are using a full face mask, then perhaps a nasal mask will feel better and minimize these feelings.

I had two issues to overcome when I first started. First, I couldn't breathe through my nose when lying down so a nasal mask couldn't work for me, and, second, I, too, have severe claustrophobia and so I couldn't keep a full face mask on at all. My solution was the Oracle oral mask which completely solved the claustrophobia issue for me. While this works for me, I would recommend trying the counseling to help with the claustrophobia and/or a nasal mask because being able to breathe through you nose at night is much better for you. If those don't work, please read my post (link in my signature block below) on the issues and solutions for making the Oracle mask work. If you decide to go with this mask, I will be here to help with any issues you have. This is the only mask I have been able to use and I had to make it work.

Next is the insomnia issue. For some, this is a matter of sleep hygiene. Setting a regular bed time and sticking to it will help. Only going to bed ( near the regular time ) when you are sleepy (which is different from being tired) will also help. Getting up in the night if you wake up and can't get back to sleep in less than 20 minutes and going to another room to rest quietly until you feel sleepy again before masking up and getting back to sleep will also help. Here are some links on the general subject that contain helpful information.

Links for information about Sleep Hygiene

Info on Sleep Hygiene
Sleep Hygiene Recommendations
Sleep Hygiene Tips

When I was first diagnosed, I was also seeing a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic where I had my sleep study done. He said repeatedly that "Untreated sleep apnea will kill you." You need to believe that and realize that overcoming these issues will help you to keep on living. When you accept this, the difficulties will seem less overwhelming.

Finally, you will be able to get better advice here if you use the User Control Panel in the upper left to list the equipment you have so folks who are using your same equipment will be able to speak directly to usage and problem solving. When you do so, please select TEXT mode as many machines use the same image so it is hard to tell the exact model.

You've come to the right place for help. Many of us have struggled with the same issues and have developed coping strategies to succeed.

Sounds like you're using a full face mask. If there isn't a good reason not to switch to nasal pillows, it would solve most of your problems. Worth a try, and the only down-side would be if you start to leak air pressure through the mouth.

I feel your pain, it kinda sucks. I'm almost 3 weeks in and it has only been for the last week that I am getting comfortable and can leave my mask on all night What helped me is the right nasal pillow mask, the first mask was too confining and made me claustrophobic and the second one was just too loud for me to sleep. I've always used a sound machine, so I turned that up. I felt like I was suffocating on exhale, learned about the flex stuff on exhale and that helped me tremendously. I also put the essential oils lavender and sweet orange behind my filter, so it draws in that lovely smell instead of the plastic/rubber tube smell. I ordered a tube holder and am hoping that will help when turning and getting mixed up in the tubing. As you can see, I'm not up on all the lingo yet, but just wanted to tell you what has helped me and let you know that it does take time and will get better. I am no longer waking up with headaches, circles under my eyes are going away, and I am dreaming again. I don't feel like I'm going to fall asleep all day long. I never went in to REM in my sleep studies and doubt I did much in general.
Good luck, stay with it!

Slssong wrote:I was diagnosed with very mild sleep apnea. I already struggle with insomnia and anxiety, so strapping something to my face hasn't been going well. I feel confined, which I hate immensely. It makes me feel claustrophobic and like I'm suffocating. As soon as I lay down and move around my mask starts leaking which is very uncomfortable. If it's too tight, then my whole head just aches, but if it's too loose then it leaks air which is loud and tickles my face. I've had it for 5 days and have only been able to tolerate it for a few hours. I know everybody says it takes time, but I feel like I was sleeping better without this thing suctioned to my face. I realize I'm not alone in this, so can somebody please help me out here? I have already decided that this is going to be a nightmare. Thank you in advance.

"Hate" is such an ugly word........
You need to embrace and accept this therapy because it will benefit your health.

You may need to investigate a different bed pillow. Many of us use some type other than the standard fiberfill pillows (which tend to push the mask out of alignment which then causes leakage).

Adjusting the headgear too tight can also cause some serious leakage.


Den

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I've been on my machine for 4 months and now on my 4th mask. It does take a lot of getting used to. I am now having days where my AHI is 0.00 which is perfect score. I'm a side-sleeper and using full-face mask because I mouth breathe when sinuses act up. Lots of leaks (which is why some many masks) but am now finding that I sleep thru most of them. Good luck to you and keep trying - it DOES get better.

Finding the right mask is absolutely critical to tolerating this! I know where you are coming from. I never thought I would tolerate it. I had so many issues when I first started. I couldn't breathe through my nose, so I was using a full face mask that was uncomfortable and made me claustrophobic. I felt like I was struggling to get enough air all the time, then struggling to breathe out against the air.

A series of changes helped. I went from the Simplus full face mask, to a hybrid mask to try and help with the claustrophobia. I still hated it, and still felt sore. Then I tried a nasal mask- the Tap Pap- with a chin strap. No go. I couldn't breathe through my nose well enough and felt like I was struggling. So then I addressed why I couldn't breathe through my nose. Congestion and nasal swelling! Two different nasal sprays used on a regular basis dramatically helped that. So then I tried the P10 nasal mask. This was finally the first thing I could tolerate for an extended period! And fall asleep with! And not wake up feeling panicked! It was an amazing feeling. So that was great. But it wasn't perfect. It would break the seal when I rolled over and the nasal pillows would become uncomfortable after awhile. I'm a fairly active sleeper. So on a somewhat regular basis I kept checking the new mask section of cpap.com, and eventually saw the Dreamwear Nasal. This has been just that...a dream. I can toss and turn all around and never notice the mask and I don't feel it on my face or see it in my feild of vision at all. The tubing being on my head may look funny, but it means I can lay whichever way I want and it's never in my way.

The other issue I had of air hunger with the mask and breathing against the pressure, this forum helped me with, encouraging me to up my minimum pressure, turn off ramp, and max out exhalation relief. That took care of those symptoms.

Finally, I didn't like the plastic smell and I didn't like the aesthetics of having the machine in my bedroom. Getting the aromatherapy kit helped with the smell. I've never been one for artificial scents, so I just use a touch of vanilla when I change out equipment to get rid of the plastic smell. It's all it takes. I also have a nightstand with a cabinet with a door on it, and I cleared out that cabinet and drilled a small hole in the back for the power cord. Now at night I just open the door, and during the day it's hidden away.

So I thought I would be "That Girl-" the one that gave up and never adjusted. But with the help of this forum, an actually helpful DME, and my allergist- I actually made it work. So now I truly believe anyone can.

Slssong wrote:If it's too tight, then my whole head just aches, but if it's too loose then it leaks air

Ever think about a middle ground?

Slssong wrote:As soon as I lay down and move around my mask starts leaking

To reduce unintentional mask leak -

- Make sure the mask is fitted properly. (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- Make sure the headgear is adjusted properly (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- Make sure to use good hose management - the hose should not pull on the mask. Notice how your hose is positioned between machine and mask. It should be positioned to minimize any pull on the mask. Hose management is an individual practice. How it is done depends on the mask, the position of the machine, your sleeping position and other factors specific to the individual.

- If you still have problems, learn from the forum what mask liners are available.

- If your mask still has excessive leak, try other masks. Many people report trying several masks before they find one that works well for them.

Note: Links to just about all of the mask manufacturers' instructional videos can be found on the forum host's website - https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php

Good luck!

Slssong wrote:like I'm suffocating

What are your pressure settings? Unnecessarily low settings can cause this feeling.

Check out some of the mask adjustment videos online.
They are free and mostly short.

You've already received some good pointers and things to try, so I'll only say that in modern times most of us are surrounded by an 'I want it now and I want fast' culture. Regarding medical issues, someone with reasonable health generally expects fast results: antibiotics, pain relievers, anti-depressants, the list goes on and on. I'm not saying these things are bad but only pointing out that sometimes issues get complicated, therefore folks have to dig in for the long haul. From my visiting CPAPtalk for three years, it seems to me the vast majority of patients generally do have initial tough problems (yes, there are a lucky few who don't). That said, there comes a time when we simply have to work with our doctors (or CPAPtalk) to sort it all out. In short, to all those newbies who've recently been saying 'this is hard, I hate it'... please hang in there and keep trying... these problems can be overcome.

[quote="Slssong"]. As soon as I lay down and move around my mask starts leaking which is very uncomfortable. If it's too tight, then my whole head just aches, but if it's too loose then it leaks air which is loud and tickles my face.

You need to lie down to put your mask on. Once lying down adjust your straps because your face changes some from sitting to laying down. I found this out by trial & error and it works even today and I've been doing it for 5 years...just my 2 cents.

Read: viewtopic/t61785/Especially-for-newly-d ... hange.html

Quit using it for now, and start in on an adjustment of your point of view. There are some inspiring videos on youtube if you do a search that may help. With your current attitude, you are going to fail. I had the same attitude as you, but had to wait some time to get all the testing done, and I gradually came around as I did some research.