HELP!waking too soon, goin to sleep at work, & mask prob

I've only been using about a year, will be within a few weeks anyway. I have used 3 masks, first was a gel, which left awful sore marks on top of my nose. Then my all time favorite, I'm pretty sure was called Activa active cell, OR something like that, it adjusts as you move, etc.. Best feel of all 3 I've had, BUT I could NOT keep my mouth closed during sleep, not even with a chin strap! And yes I tried taping my mouth, but it was hard to get off,and somehow my mouth would get a little opened anyway, so didn't work. Anyway, I've used the ultra mirage ff mask since, but lately, at least last 7-8mo. (I think, seems forever!!) I've not slept long at night. I've really just been keeping up with time for about last 5-6 weeks, as I've gotten worse. I'd gone to dr back in sept i think, thinkin maybe I needed pressure changed, cuz I'd lost weight, and didnt feel as well as I'd felt earlier on cpap . He said from his weight record I'd only lost 16 lbs so pressure should still be ok. OK, back to now, I've not slept more than 5 hours but maybe 5 times in last 5-6 weeks. I know 2 nights I slept 7 hrs. 1 was 8 hrs, maybe 1-2 times that long or a bit longer.I work from 3:30 pm til 2 am, and have done so since before I was on cpap. I have to take short power naps at work many nights during my 15 min break, because I find myself blacking out/falling asleep! Of course, I'm pretty sure when I do this at the job, that I'm only out a second or a few seconds, but its very hard to work like this, as I am trying to put purchase orders in numerical order, etc. I've also done this once while driving that I am sure of anyway, during this time, but when I came back (so to speak) I was still on my side of the road, thats why I think I'm not out but a second, but still this is very scary. Now I open windows etc, to keep myself from doing this. I'd REALLY like to know if they have EVER come out with the activa ff mask. I'd heard last summer that they were supposed to come out with it. Please tell me anything any of you think might help me PLEASE! THANKS alot in advance!! PS, nurse told me maybe I need to go on meds for narcoplepsy. Our Dr. put her on them not from falling asleep, but because she still felt so tired, etc.. Has helped her alot she says. She's suggested I call and ask Dr about it maybe.

Hi Nanette,

Do you dream at present? The pressure may be too high. This can cause arousals and wake you up at night. Depression also makes it difficult to stay asleep.

There are meds you can take to stay asleep longer. Your physician can go over your options.

It is also possible that even with cpap therapy, you need a stimulate to keep you awake during the day. Residual daytime sleepiness is common amoung cpap treated patients.

I would try the stay asleep tact first. This is probably the reason why you are sleepy during the day.

Regards,

Ted the titrator