Have not been able to adjust to CPAP

[Joe4majors]

Hi all,

I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea a little over 5 years ago. I believe during the study I had 5.4 events per hour, which was not severe enough so that insurance would pay for any corrective surgeries (fix deviated septum, remove tonsils and part of soft palate). You would think that during the sleep study I would have a hard time falling asleep but even with all the sensors and the new mask, I made it through the night with little problems. However, once I got home...I've been fighting the machine ever since. I can't breathe through my nose well even on a good day so the nose-only masks seemed like a lost-cause from the get-go. I've since switched to a nose and mouth mask, which had made things a little better...but I still feel like I'm fighting the machine all night (often pull it off during the night). After 2 or 3 nights of this I end up feeling I need a night without the mask so that I can get some peaceful sleep (which is pretty bad when a normal night is considered peaceful). I have an appointment set up to see the doctor again, but not until the end of January so was hoping for some advice for things I can try between now and then. I do have a 40-minute ramp set up on the machine and the humidity level is somewhere between 3 and 4 out of 5. I know I need to change some air filters on the device. I know it varies from person to person but could someone also share how long it took until they starting feeling a positive difference?

Thanks,

Joe

[Sheriff Buford]

Some people have subtle changes and some people experience immediate changes, so there is not real answer to your question. I experienced my "ah-ha morning" around the 18-20 day mark, but it probably took me several months to find a mask (I went thru 6 masks before I found mine), control the leaks, and to quit taking the mask off at night. Keep going!! Your body is fighting you and you will win!

Please post your equipment in your profile, so we can help you thru your journey.

Sheriff

[kteague]

Are you having trouble during that 40 minute ramp period? If so, it may be that your ramp pressure is too low. I had that problem. I couldn't relax enough to sleep while feeling like I was suffocating. Shortening my ramp time and increasing my ramp pressure resolved it. Still had other issues, but that one change made a huge difference.

[letsride]

The first cpap I had the same issues. I bought an Apap off craigslist. I set the pap to my low prescribe settings then the max to 15. I found my pressure requirements was more then the prescribe number. no longer Starving for air.

I had my septum fixed yay! I can breath through my nose for the first time ever. I was able to get it fixed under insurance but not because of my Apnea.

My tonsil was removed last year for bad breath, I was hoping it would help with my apnea but no such luck.

The higher pressure cause me to have alot of central events, now I have an ASV which has cured my apnea!

It took over 5 years to get to success. Now that I'm finally there I never want to sleep without my Vpap.

Success is in your reach!