Trouble, Trouble, Trouble

I have been on CPAP therapy for a week and am I waiting to feel benefits from it. Some nights I can handle sleeping with it, some nights, I am in tears because I can't get comfortable and I feel like I get no sleep. I have severe apnea (I had 62 apneas in an hour's span in my sleep study) and according to my CPAP stats, now I have only a few apnea incidents a night, but sometimes I think that's because I haven't slept all night! I wake up with indentations on my face from the straps that last for 8 hours and HUGE bags under my eyes that never completely go away. And I mean HUGE bags! My stats show that I have 100% mask fit. I am 60 and I look like I am 160 and I also look permanently cranky! I wake up groggy and foggy and remain feeling exhausted all day (worse than I felt before therapy). I also have gained 3 lbs since I started therapy with no change in my eating habits! I am on Weight Watchers and have been trying very hard to lose weight (I am down 18 pounds) and my doctor was enthusiastic about me starting CPAP therapy because she told me it would greatly help with weight loss--so weight GAIN is really, really frustrating!!

The only benefits I have noticed so far is that I only have to get up to go to the bathroom once during the night, whereas I used to go about ever 2 hours. TMI? LOL!

I have a doctor's appointment on Monday(8/28/17) to discuss all of this with my doctor and another mask fitting appointment on Wednesday, but if anyone could relate any Hints/help/encouragement I could be SO grateful! I am committed to treatment, but things have GOT to get better? Right? Right?

CPAP: Philips Respironics DreamStation Auto CPAP
Mask: Amara View Full Face CPAP Mask

The mask strap problem is easy...go to padacheek.com they have strap covers and liners for most masks.

I have been on CPAP for almost 3 months. From my experience it is 3 steps forward and 2 steps back for awhile. At one week you are just getting your feet wet. I had the Amara View mask for about 2 weeks and gave up on it because of leaking. I would wake each morning with a map of the Grand Canyon etched into my face and significant eye baggage thanks to that mask. I switched to the AirFit F20 full face mask (the model without the memory foam). Added some strap pads that I got with my first mask (Dreamwear) but Pad-a-Cheek has great ones too. The AirFit F20 took some getting used to as it's bulkier than the Amara View, but I don't need to tighten the straps so much to keep it from leaking so don't get nearly the face lines or eye bags with it. The strap covers help.

It will take awhile before you are sleeping soundly with any mask. I think anyone here will tell you that, so hang in there. And keep trying masks until you find one that works for you.

Which specific model of which machine are you using? And what mask? What are your pressure settings (not the ramp setting - diff. thing entirely)?

xxyzx wrote: as to weight
there is only one diet that works
eat LESS
and excercise a little more so your metabolism does not slow down

Actually, that conventional myth has been proven wrong and the facts of your statements are quite the opposite. Human metabolism actually slows down when slightly decreasing caloric intake and/or increasing energy expenditure (as it does for almost all vertebrates within the Animal Kingdom -- as a survival mechanism against extinction). To lose weight effectively and keep it off for the long term requires periodic fasting the way our ancestral hominids evolved on the North African plains.

Dr. Jason Fung does a good job of explaining the metabolic theory and facts.

Just saying.

You mentioned horrible bags or discoloration around the eyes and mask marks that last most of the day...

What kind of mask are you using? If your using a Full Face Mask - you may have it on way too tight. If it's too loose it will leak - if it's too tight it usually will leak. But sometimes if you clamp it down on your face like crazy you'll get a good seal but you'll suffer for it the next day. If you have it on too tight you could be causing swelling and fluid retention around your face were the mask is pressing. I get this problem my self now and then if I tighten my mask too much. I wake up the next day and I look like someone punched me in the face.


If you notice that you have to put your mask on really tight... Try keeping it as loose as you can with out having leaks. Make sure your laying down in bed like you would when your going to sleep when you refit your mask. Try gently pressing your face to the pillow like you would if you roll from side to side. Check for leaks around the eyes and chin area. Though different masks leak in different places.


As for the weight gain... I'd give it at least a month before you worry about a trend caused by the PAP therapy. If the therapy is working and the sleep you are getting is more restful "even if it doesn't feel like it" your body may be undergoing all kinds of metabolic changes. There certain functions that only properly kick in when we're getting deep restful sleep.


Wish you the best of luck. Keep at it and let us know how it's working for you.

Take care!

Hi, I'm only a little ahead of you at therapy, having started just a month ago. I will tell you that my first week was by far the worst. I don't feel much better now than before cpap, but at least I think things are now headed in the right direction. That first week was definitely worse than before cpap. The way I see it is I NEVER, EVER have to do that first week again!! Now, I am least more comfortable with the mask and the whole process and my AHI has been getting better. So, hang in there. I very much believe you'll find your second week to be a definite improvement over your first week!

Y'all are so awesome for taking the time to read my novel of a post and to respond! It is most appreciated!

I have posted my mask and machine type for those who asked and missed it in my initial post:

Dreamstation Auto CPAP
Amara View Full Face CPAP Mask

As I said in my initial post, I am committed to doing the therapy, but I wish I could see more positive gains, but, I have always been impatient.

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The Amara View is a difficult mask to get to seal properly. I would recommend padacheek mask strap pads. I use them with both of my masks (Amara View and Resmed F20). I wear both masks rather snug, but not real tight. If I don't keep them snug, I get massive leaks once I fall asleep and my face muscles start to relax.

Try making a mask liner out of an old Tshirt and see if that helps with the marks. You can also maybe rig up some sort of strap padding. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. Just something fleece like wrapped around the straps touching your skin and maybe secured with some tape.
But it does sound like you may have the Amara View too snug. Masks shouldn't cause discoloration or swelling that lasts for hours and hours.
Be sure to review the videos for fitting of the mask and also check to make sure that the cushion is the correct size.

There is a sizing guide that you can print off and check to see if your cushion is the right size for your face.
https://5faacd0c97cf0d23c6dc-064f3cd61b ... -guide.pdf

Is there a special reason that you are using the full face mask? Do you have a lot of chronic nasal congestion issues which force you to mouth breathe a lot? If you could use a nasal mask similar to what I use (see my profile equipment links) the straps are a lot less likely to cause the problems you are having.

Padacheek items like mask liners and strap covers...but you can try DIY projects before investing money in store bought....and you might not end with the View your primary mask anyway.
http://www.padacheek.com/

The Amara View does take some adjusting, and it may simply not be the mask for you for any number of reasons, but I like it quite a bit. Your description does indicate that it is fitted way too tight. It's designed to fit lightly and seal based on the air expanding the cushion. You should be able to easily run a finger beneath each strap. What really helped me was watching fitting video, especially noting the finger spacing between the straps and face.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp02l4r6Je8

A couple of thoughts I posted in another forum that may be helpful (edited a bit):

It took a bit of fiddling to get it adjusted properly and I also had it crushing the tip of my nose, compressing the sides of my mouth, blowing in both eyes, you name it. Now, it fits well and feels good.

The top strap pulls the cushion up towards your nose and can push it up tight against or up towards the bridge, which can cause nose pain and pulls the rest of the cushion away. Nose tip should just be lightly against the edge of the cushion with air slots below the nose.

The bottom of mine fits just between the top of the chin/jaw bone and against the lower part of my teeth, should feel a natural indentation in most cases.

Upper-side straps tighten against the side of the nose. Too tight and the air blows up into my eyes.

Lower-side straps tighten against the corners of the mouth.

They each needed to be adjusted properly all together to work right and not cause pressure or blowing somewhere else.

The sizing templates I tried were all useless, said I needed a small to medium cushion when the large was the most comfortable and effective. Everything else I use is medium. It could be the cushion size isn't right.

Best of luck finding the right fit or mask. It can take awhile.

ct

When I used a nasal mask that didn't fit well it pressed on the sides of my nose at the cheek and cut of the flow in my sinsuses. It was a miserable feeling and caused under eye swelling. Just mentioning that in case it happens to be an issue with you. I use nasal pillows masks now so it's not an issue, since I have no need for any more coverage.

+1 for Pad A Cheek