In Search of the Holy Grail

I, like everyone else, am in search of the Holy Grail of this whole therapy............a good nights sleep. I have finally gotten used to the (what I consider) excessive noise of a CPAP machine. I'm even getting used to having fresh air forced into my lungs at night. I've worked up from a pressure of 10 to 13.5 on my journey to get back to the original RX of 15. But the mask.........well, that's the big deal for me. I finally started using a mouth guard, and even a chin strap. But the chin strap makes my mask leak even more than it did before................and that had gotten to the point of being ridiculous. I have to make the mask so tight it completely collapses the inner harder part. So when I went to bed last night, I "parked" the full face mask and went back to the Nasal Aire II.........using the chin strap and the mouth guard. I only lasted from 11pm to 4am, but never had my mouth pop open. My nares hurt like the devil, but I think I can get used to that if I'll just persevere. I'm a side-sleeper, and the Nasal Aire II has a hose arrangement on the side that makes it rather uncomfortable to sleep in that position. Maybe if I redesign their attachment system........................Hmmmmm!

Does anyone ever get it all together and make this therapy both tolerable and effective? Maybe I'm being too impatient. I only have 250 hours "under the mask" at this point. But it seems as if I'm more tired now than when I started. So much work.............so many irritating interruptions to my sleep.

Now that I've gotten all that off my chest, I think I feel better. Maybe I'll go back to bed and see if I can sleep some more.

I was one of the lucky ones that took to cpap right away. I never had any real trouble with it at all. I did have sore nares from nasal pillows. Try some ayr gel, chapstick, ky jelly, Lansinoh, or aquaphor. They all help tremendously and you probably won't need to use anything once the nares toughen up.
The most important thing is don't give up! As long as you stick-to-it you will eventually find the right combo for you. Keep posting and let us know how your doing.

Brenda

With a PSG/ SAO2 of 79%, plus a history of heart problems, I have no choice but to make it work. Furthermore, I have done a very good job, for the last nine months.

Just keep working. You can make it work.

Hiya Sleepy-eyes.

Can you imagine your local electronics store salesman trying to sell cpap?
"Hey, we have got this thing like a vacuum cleaner, only it works in reverse and you stick it in your face at night. Fun for all the family!"

Being sick and tired is no fun, but the alternative is being really sick and tired. I found that out the hard way. I don't believe there is an instant holy grail for most. I think we have to try and find the bits and pieces to build our own; and time is part of the process. The good news is that you are not alone, and forums like this exist to share helpful advice.

offlineon wrote:Hiya Sleepy-eyes.

Can you imagine your local electronics store salesman trying to sell cpap?
"Hey, we have got this thing like a vacuum cleaner, only it works in reverse and you stick it in your face at night. Fun for all the family!"

Being sick and tired is no fun, but the alternative is being really sick and tired. I found that out the hard way. I don't believe there is an instant holy grail for most. I think we have to try and find the bits and pieces to build our own; and time is part of the process. The good news is that you are not alone, and forums like this exist to share helpful advice.

Very well said, and I have to say I love the part in your profile that says "Anti-Zombification ToolKit: "

I think the most frustrating thing for me is that my girlfriend also has sleep apnea................in fact I was the one who got her to go get tested................and now uses a machine. She put the mask on and slept fine the first night.....and the second......and third, etc., etc., etc. When we figured out I also suffered from this ailment and went to be tested, I wasn't worried at all. After all, she hadn't had any problems, right? For me it's been like trying to pull a snowplow uphill with a rope!!!!! Tain't been any fun at all!

I went back to bed at about 6 this morning and stayed there until around 8. But it was a major fight. All of a sudden I was having problems with the dreaded open-mouth desease! Curses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sleepy-eyes,

With persistence things will get better.

One thing you might want to try for the noise is earplugs. They take some getting used to as well, but now I can't sleep witout them.

Thanks, FLJim0121, but I've finally gotten used to the noise. I sleep on an elevated bed and the frame is a full 12 inches off the floor. I just stick my CPAP under there. The mask, the mask...........that's my problem. I really like the Nasal Aire II, but I can't keep my mouth closed, even with a mouth guard and chin strap.........and I wear a full beard, so taping doesn't work very well. When I find a tape that'll hold 'er shut, it rips the skin off my lips. And, consequently, when I use one that won't pull the skin off, it won't hold 'em shut. I'm beginning to wish my Mom had been sucessful at installing a zipper on my mouth when I was a kid.

Is there such a thing as the holy grail of sleeping? Would anyone know a "real" good night sleep?

I have been so sleep deprived that a better night would be a good night. Hopefully I can achieve good nights of sleep.

sleepy-eyes,

First of all I would like to congratulate you for working on achieve a good night sleep.

For many of us, it is a progress. The diagnosis, getting the pressure right, getting used to the noise of the machine etc, AND most of all the interface.

Somewhere Rested Gal posted that we should count days of treatment not from the day we get the xPAP but from the day we worked out all the steps to getting the treatment right. (Paraphasing)

That statement rang so strong for me.

So I would like to tell you, I do not know how many days you have been on treatment, 250 hours may just be the warm up for you to get to your holy grail.

As for the Nasal Aire II. I think I am the spokeperson for it. I love it. I spent many hours during various appointments trying interfaces on at the DME. I took some home to try. Non were for me. Until the Nasal Aire II.

The Nasal Aire II is the interface that gave me hope that the xPAP treatment is possible for me. (If the prongs are not the right size for you then you can not use the NA II. If you have prongs that do not leak then you are in business.)

I am a side sleeper. I have no problem with the tubes. My pillow is a bit soft. I tried a memory foam pillow with the NA II but there was way to much noise for me to use the NA II with the memory foam pillow.

The things I do which helps with my success:
1. I use lanolin, brand Lansinoh on the prongs and on the bottom of my nose. I do not know if I will be able to use the prongs with out the lanolin. It also acts to help seal better.
(I did go through a period of sores on the inside on the nares and used neosporin during the day.)
2. I do not use the headgear. I attach the tubes behind my head with the bolo.
3. I blow my nose just before putting on the NA II.

Have you tried polident strips to keep your mouth closed.

Have you tried the Hybrid as a full face mask. I was surprised how comfortable it is. It is great for side sleeping as well.

I hope you can reach the pressure you need for effective treatment.

Good Luck on your quest.



[quote="Sleepy-eyes"]I, like everyone else, am in search of the Holy Grail of this whole therapy............a good nights sleep. I have finally gotten used to the (what I consider) excessive noise of a CPAP machine. I'm even getting used to having fresh air forced into my lungs at night. I've worked up from a pressure of 10 to 13.5 on my journey to get back to the original RX of 15. But the mask.........well, that's the big deal for me. I finally started using a mouth guard, and even a chin strap. But the chin strap makes my mask leak even more than it did before................and that had gotten to the point of being ridiculous. I have to make the mask so tight it completely collapses the inner harder part. So when I went to bed last night, I "parked" the full face mask and went back to the Nasal Aire II.........using the chin strap and the mouth guard. I only lasted from 11pm to 4am, but never had my mouth pop open. My nares hurt like the devil, but I think I can get used to that if I'll just persevere. I'm a side-sleeper, and the Nasal Aire II has a hose arrangement on the side that makes it rather uncomfortable to sleep in that position. Maybe if I redesign their attachment system........................Hmmmmm!

Does anyone ever get it all together and make this therapy both tolerable and effective? Maybe I'm being too impatient. I only have 250 hours "under the mask" at this point. But it seems as if I'm more tired now than when I started. So much work.............so many irritating interruptions to my sleep.

Now that I've gotten all that off my chest, I think I feel better. Maybe I'll go back to bed and see if I can sleep some more.

[quote="Sleepy-eyes"]I, like everyone else, am in search of the Holy Grail of this whole therapy............a good nights sleep. I have finally gotten used to the (what I consider) excessive noise of a CPAP machine. I'm even getting used to having fresh air forced into my lungs at night. I've worked up from a pressure of 10 to 13.5 on my journey to get back to the original RX of 15. But the mask.........well, that's the big deal for me. I finally started using a mouth guard, and even a chin strap. But the chin strap makes my mask leak even more than it did before................and that had gotten to the point of being ridiculous. I have to make the mask so tight it completely collapses the inner harder part. So when I went to bed last night, I "parked" the full face mask and went back to the Nasal Aire II.........using the chin strap and the mouth guard. I only lasted from 11pm to 4am, but never had my mouth pop open. My nares hurt like the devil, but I think I can get used to that if I'll just persevere. I'm a side-sleeper, and the Nasal Aire II has a hose arrangement on the side that makes it rather uncomfortable to sleep in that position. Maybe if I redesign their attachment system........................Hmmmmm!

Does anyone ever get it all together and make this therapy both tolerable and effective? Maybe I'm being too impatient. I only have 250 hours "under the mask" at this point. But it seems as if I'm more tired now than when I started. So much work.............so many irritating interruptions to my sleep.

Now that I've gotten all that off my chest, I think I feel better. Maybe I'll go back to bed and see if I can sleep some more.

Lots of great comments and suggestions..............and they are appreciated. Tonight is another night. I'm not giving up, just frustrated. I know 250 hours isn't much.............probably not even a start. But I'd really hoped to be experiencing good sleep at this point. Guess I just complain too much.........or so my girlfriend tells me.

Have you read:
click on light bulb, help for the new or struggling CPAP user, various articles?

Well, I "suited up" last night and slept a full 9 hours without even getting up to use the bathroom. (hope that's not too much info) I went back to my full face mask. Rolled up a Kleenex tissue and placed it between the harder part and the more flexible part of the sealing area. Didn't wear the mouth guard. Lathered up the bridge of my nose with Lantiseptic for lubrication. Had some leaks, but they didn't seem to bother me enough to bring me too far out of my sleep cycle. The pressure feels fine...........in fact, I'm thinking I can raise it from 13.5 to 14 tonight. I think I could handle the full 15 my RX calls for, but I'm not sure I could keep the mask from leaking. I don't know if this means I've hit on a good combination or was just so tired from past nights that I cratered, but it feels positive. So I guess I'll slam the ball down in the end-zone, so to speak. Tonight is another night, so we'll see.

Congratulations on getting a decent night's sleep!!! May you have many more and even better nights w/your "buddy".

I would assume you have tried the usual fixes?

Fit the mask and headgear setting up to where it is comfortale, WITH MACHINE RUNNING AT USUAL PRESSURE, minor leak okay. Lay down, make any adjustments needed to get no leaks.

Pull mask 1/2" or so away from face, allow cushion to fill w/air, let mask back on face.

Nudge a bit to one side or other to close leak.

Nudge a bit up or down to close leak.

Tighten upper or lower strap as needed to close leak.

LOOSEN upper or lower strap as needed to close leak. (Common newbie "fix" is to tighten too much).

Try larger or smaller size cushion, mask or pillows.

Lady's nylon panty hose leg across interface and tied behind the head.

Name your mask(s) so others using the same can recommend their "fixes". Some are quite ingenious!

Yes, and I've clicked my heals together twice and spun around three times. Boy this therapy is complicated!!!!!