Six months into CPAP therapy...

10+ years on Treatment here.

If you're fighting it at a that length of time, Is revoked that you get another model of mask. This is tricky business. I've had to switch DMEs, in the past, to get a mask that worked. Once one works, then you'll always know if the current one is. I say that because sometimes they'll discontinue a mask that's working great and you are forced to find a new one that works. In those cases, I've learned that once one works, you'll always know after that. However, you don't know yet. For me, mask problems are 90% of the problems that I have.

They like to keep the low pressure at 5 or what I consider to be very low. There are medical reasons why they do that, however, to he, it's like partial suffocation. I'm not one to adjust my machine on my own, however, I will go back to the doctor and/or DME as often as I need to get the setup correct. I've had only one pressure change in ten years after the first month. I don't recall how many visits I made during the first month. I knew initially it was kind of helping and the leaks and suffocation feeling had to go away. Some forums like this one helped me a lot.

Seek advice from users who have had therapy for awhile, is my advice. Show up to doctor without appointments. Go to DME. If you work hard at this, you could have life changing results.

I've also taken SSRIs for a long time. Find good forums about those too. Get a prescriber that specializes in mental health: psychiatrist or psychiatric APN. All advice. I apologize for sounding bosy. Sleep apnea and mental health are areas I've struggled with for over a decade. I've had huge successes and problems. If you think something isn't right, stay in front of your providers until it's better.

When my sleep improves my mental health does. When my sleep quality declines, so does my mood.

I have a follow-up next week and will ask to adjust the pressure, I've looked at the data on SleepyHead, if someone suggests what data I should post I'll be happy to seek the advice. This machine will say I've had it on for 8, 9 hours sometimes longer and it feels like I haven't slept at all. I suspect when the AHIs are detected the pressure ramps up and either suffocates me or the mask leaks into the eyes and wakes me up anyway. Several mornings I will wake up and legitimately think I have a pin or needle sticking in corner of my eye. I more fully wake up just after I rip off the mask and throw it to the floor. Just tired of being tired. Every. Damn. Day.

bkn wrote:I have a follow-up next week and will ask to adjust the pressure, I've looked at the data on SleepyHead, if someone suggests what data I should post I'll be happy to seek the advice. This machine will say I've had it on for 8, 9 hours sometimes longer and it feels like I haven't slept at all. I suspect when the AHIs are detected the pressure ramps up and either suffocates me or the mask leaks into the eyes and wakes me up anyway. Several mornings I will wake up and legitimately think I have a pin or needle sticking in corner of my eye. I more fully wake up just after I rip off the mask and throw it to the floor. Just tired of being tired. Every. Damn. Day.

The three links below explain how to post your data. By examining every breath, you can see what was happening just before you woke up. Once you know what is waking you up, then you can attack it.
Without data, there is nothing but guessing.

You may want to have your testosterone levels checked, as well as testing for adrenal insufficiency. Just a couple of ideas that I had done to rule it out.

Six months since last post and figured I would provide an update. I had a titration test done a few weeks ago and they decided to raise the pressure on my machine to 17, and it is constant, not variable like it was before. The technician at the hospital said I woke up constantly all night, without any hypopneas, for no particular reason. Hopefully the new pressure will keep me asleep, but who knows.

Last night was the first night at the new pressure. My AHI doubled from a very consistent 2 or less over the last year, to a 4. According to SleepyHead software, my Clear Airway Index which has never been higher than 0.41 in the last year, was a 2.39 last night. Average mask leak rate had been no higher than 1.81 since changing to a different mask last November. Last night average leak rate was 4.19. I'll give it about a week or so and look at the numbers again.

I still hate this machine, the mask, the dry mouth, everything about it. Maybe some day I'll actually get a good nights sleep, whatever the hell that is.

bkn wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:56 pm

... I am not able to use nasal pillows so I have the full mask. ...

Why can't you use pillows?

Mouth breather, and the nasal pillows are annoying. Can't stand them.

After the results of the last titration study, I was prepared to find a hobbit and have him throw my machine into a fiery pit somewhere. Anywhere actually. The doc switched me to a Dreamwear full mask in May which takes a much lower pressure. I feel better than I used too, but this mask leaks badly and I fight it every night. This mask sits under the nose, it leaks all around the mouth especially after I've been on the machine for awhile and my face begins to get moist, the mask and tubing seem dry but I have to stop the machine and dry my face off several times each night. I dread going to sleep, not as bad as the previous full masks but still a horrible experience. Every. Single. Night. If I tighten it enough to stop the leaks, my jaw is quite sore the next day. I have a follow-up with the sleep doc in a couple of weeks.

If this is the rest of my life, it's going to suck.

Maybe you'll like the new Resmed F30 mask, when it's available.

If you are having leaks caused by your skin getting sweaty, try a mask liner. I have made liners for full face masks (Simplus), Amara View and the Dreamwear FFM. I made them out of old, well-used tee shirts and paint rags I purchased at Lowes and Home Depot. If you want a pattern for the Dreamwear FFM, send me your regular email address in a PM.