A little advice for a newbie

I was initially advised to talk to my sleep disorder Dr. to combat my high blood pressure. It runs in my family. But, I have read on a few of the forums that the Doctor's will push you to get a CPAP machine when you do not necessarily need one. I think this is happening to me. The first trip to my Doctor he began telling me that the CPAP machine was very good. This was before we were even certain there was a problem. I went to the sleep study that he set up and it was confirmed that I have (in his words) a "very mild case of sleep apnea." He told me that he thought I would benefit greatly from wearing the machine. I told him that when they put it on me it felt like someone was smothering me to death and that I did not want it. He asked me to at least rent it for 2 weeks and see if I can become acclimated to the machine. The thing is that he never really entertained any other option. Regarding my high BP, my Endocrinologist game me tons of options. If anything I thought my sleep study Doctor would have tried to put me on a weight loss regiment and see if that worked but he did not do that either. Do you guys think he is just trying to push this machine on me to make some money?

Also,I have tried to wear the CPAP the last two nights and I have taken it off both times. It feels terrible and the mask hurts the bridge of my nose. Does anyone have any sort of advice to get over my anxiety of this machine and are there masks that cover only your mouth so it will no carve into my nose?

Thanks for any advice.

Sounds like you may have the wrong mask (size, brand, style, etc.). If a mask is hurting you, it may be the wrong size or too tight. Also, some masks just plain "hurt" to wear, regardless of size or strap tension. (like the Comfortfull 2 that I have)

Yes, there are "mouth-only" masks, but I don't think you wanna "go there", either.

Tell your doctor about the mask problem and see if they can get you another that fits better and is more comfortable. Also, depending on what pressure setting they set you up with could make the experience worse.

You may be lucky if they caught your sleep apnea in the early stages. Many of us don't find out about it until it's done damage to our heart or other organs and we're physically run down.

Hang in there. When you get your therapy tweaked, you'll get some very good sleep.

Den

You don't say if you have any other symptoms of a sleep disorder.

Are you tired during the day? Do you snore? Do you wake up a couple times a night (I am sure there are others), but in my non medical opinion going to cpap with no other reason may not address high blood pressure.

I have high blood pressure and apnea and snoring. I had been hoping that cpap would help with the blood pressure.

The cpap is wonderful for the wakeups and daytime tiredness but as yet after a year my BP is not any better.

My BP meds on the other hand are bring it down. Benicar and norvasc.
I tried diuretics and hated them...

So you really need to look at just how mild your apnea is and what other symptoms you may have to truly know if Cpap is right for you.

You also have to want to use it for it to be successful.

Guest,

I don't blame you for wanting to examine other options if you have a "very mild case" of OSA. You may be one of the lucky ones that can benefit from a mouth appliance that you wear at night. However, Den has a really good point, that if you have a sleep disturbance, you're much better off fixing it early rather than later. If you want help, you've come to the right place. Register, so we can talk to you instead of "a guest". Let us know your sleep study results, and what kind of machine and mask you're using. The more information you give the kind folks here, the more help you'll get.

Good luck to you, and welcome to the forum!

I went ahead and registered. Thank you all for your helpful advice.

I do not know anything about my sleep study results. The Doctor never told me. I do know that the machine I am using is made by Escape the designation is S8. The attachment piece says HumidAire 3i. The mask I am wearing is one that fits over the mouth and nose. It just says Resmed on it but I am not sure if that helps at all. The machine also says Resmed. I do not know if this is good or bad. But, I have a pointy nose so it hurts right on the bridge.

My BP meds are working well also. I am taking Diovan HCT.

To answer some of your questions. Yes, I do snore. No, I rarely wake up in the middle of the night. If it helps I lead a pretty active life where I work out 3 days a week in the gym for about an hour and a half. Plus, I play football or soccer about twice a week. I have snored my entire life. Even in my prime I would "saw logs".

When I was younger though I always slept on my stomach. When I started college due to the small size of the dorm beds I started sleeping on my back. In the video that I was shown with Obstructive Sleep Apnea a flap of tissue lays down and obstructs the airway. Is it possible that sleeping on my stomach will prevent this?

Thanks again for any and all advice.

Hopefully, I logged in successfully that time.

But, also my machine is set at level 7 if that helps at all.

Hi Derek, I didn't want to believe I had OSA and hated the masks. I lost over 100 lbs and no change in apneas. AND, my bp is down and I sleep way better using the mask. In fact it is no doubt the power of suggestion but just getting ready to put it on makes me yawn. i fall asleep right away and stay asleep but it took a while and I was really angry that I had to bother with all this stuff. i kept getting the sore nose too until I loosened the mask until it felt like it would fall off. hope you hang in there. this forum saved me because my doc wasn't very helpful either. good luck

Derek,

Yes, I believe that sleeping on you back is the worst for apnea so sleeping on your side or stomach would probably reduce the number of incidents.

You should get a copy of your sleep studies and try to understand the numbers. Many here can help. That way you will know why you are on CPAP.

Also, snoring can disrupt your sleep even without apnesa. If you make enough noise to wake yourself up (even if it is not enough for you to realize that you are awakening) you don't get to the deeper stages of sleep. CPAP can reduce or eliminate snoring.

Masks come in a couple different types. You have what is called a full face mask. There are nasal masks (only over the nose) and nasel pillows, and even an oral mask. Some of us here like each kind. The nasal pillow will not hurt the bridge of your nose as it sits under your nose. If the mask you have is not working for you (leaking or hurting you) you should try another. It may just be the wrong size or adjusted wrongly too. The mask is probably the toughest thing to get right.

You may well have an ultra mirage FF mask since it says Resmed on it. If so, there is a tilt adjustment so it will press less on your nose as much. Try adjusting that if that is the mask you have.

If you register your equipment in your profile we could see a picture of your stuff and we would know for sure what you are dealing with.

While you are getting a copy of your sleep studies, I would also get your prescription and keep a copy of that for future use.

Resmed makes a good machine. The escape is one of there lower end models (surprise surprise) but still a good straight CPAP machine. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think I remember (not having that particular one myself) that it doesn't collect useful data).

A pressure of 7 is reasonably low, so comfort with the pressure should not be as much of an issue for you as for some of us.

Welcome, Derek!

Sorry that your doctor couldn't be bothered with explaining all this to you. I'm pretty new to CPAP myself, but if you've been snoring all your life, then your apnea probably won't fix itself by sleeping on your stomach. And, it'll make your mask choices very limited. I assume you'll be following up with your doctor, so in addition to getting your prescription and your sleep study data, ask him/her if you're a candidate for a mouth appliance (forces lower jaw forward to open airway). I don't think the mouth appliance works for many OSA cases, but it must work for some or it wouldn't be out there, I guess.(?) Ask lots of questions with your doctor - as much to educate yourself as to see if they are willing to take care of you the way you should be.

Good luck!

Thanks again for all the advice. I tried once again last night to wear the machine. I have still been unsuccessful. But, I have gotten a little farther each night. It is hard. I do toss and turn alot when I sleep. Sometimes I sleep on my side, sometimes on my back and sometimes on my stomach. I woke up one morning and I had completely done a 180 in the bed. So, that makes the mask even harder. It prevents me from moving around. Plus, last night I was having one of my shaky leg episodes. It only happens about once every month or so but it is definitely annoying.

I think the main issue that I have is the look of the contraption. I feel like a monster when I have it on. I look over at my new wife of about 8 months and tell her that I have to put on my Darth Vader mask. She laughs and finds it funny but part of me I think is self conscious. Is this something that you guys went through.

Also, which machines are good vs. the others or are they all about the same. I am going back to my Doctor on the 14th of October so I will get all the information that you guys advised I get.

I have been married nearly 29 years. I think my wife considers the mask an improvement.

Can't speak from the man's perspective. However, back in the eighties, I was married to a man with OSA. Nobody had heard of it at the time, and being in my early twenties, before the internet, all I knew was that the man stopped breathing when he slept. Let me tell you, I got almost NO sleep, waiting for each episode to end. He'd get mad if I poked him, or if I rippled the waterbed, or even if I slept on the couch. He's now my ex-husband.

I'm guessing this much:
Your wife appreciates you treating your apnea and/or snoring,
Your wife would rather sleep with you than without you,
Your sense of humor will help her feel at ease with it too,
and
Before long, she won't be able to sleep without the sound of "Darth"

Hang in there, we're pulling for you! She can PM me if she has any questions or concerns.
Cathy

DerekR wrote:Thanks again for all the advice. I tried once again last night to wear the machine. I have still been unsuccessful. But, I have gotten a little farther each night. It is hard. I do toss and turn alot when I sleep. Sometimes I sleep on my side, sometimes on my back and sometimes on my stomach. I woke up one morning and I had completely done a 180 in the bed. So, that makes the mask even harder. It prevents me from moving around. Plus, last night I was having one of my shaky leg episodes. It only happens about once every month or so but it is definitely annoying.

I think the main issue that I have is the look of the contraption. I feel like a monster when I have it on. I look over at my new wife of about 8 months and tell her that I have to put on my Darth Vader mask. She laughs and finds it funny but part of me I think is self conscious. Is this something that you guys went through.

Also, which machines are good vs. the others or are they all about the same. I am going back to my Doctor on the 14th of October so I will get all the information that you guys advised I get.

Movement: DerekR, take it from someone who is an active sleeper, your new wife of 8 months probably loves the better night sleep she gets from you not doing "180 in the bed." I am still waiting to get my machine, but my hubby is really hoping it will reduce the times I turn over, get out of bed, and otherwise wake him up at night.

Darth Vader: I've been with my hubby for 17 years and still worry the mask (contraption) will reduce my love life - that I've treasured for years. He assures me it won't, but still . . . it's natural to have these fears. He wants me to live more years than to have me snuggle.

Sleeping on Stomach: Try this - position yourself on your stomach and totally relax. Relax your shoulders, neck, and above all your jaw/face. If you breath well, then maybe there's hope. If you're like me, you'll find you can hardly breath after relaxing.

I'm new to the forum and am glad to meet another new comer.

gasp wrote:Movement: DerekR, take it from someone who is an active sleeper, your new wife of 8 months probably loves the better night sleep she gets from you not doing "180 in the bed." I am still waiting to get my machine, but my hubby is really hoping it will reduce the times I turn over, get out of bed, and otherwise wake him up at night.

Darth Vader: I've been with my hubby for 17 years and still worry the mask (contraption) will reduce my love life - that I've treasured for years. He assures me it won't, but still . . . it's natural to have these fears. He wants me to live more years than to have me snuggle.

Sleeping on Stomach: Try this - position yourself on your stomach and totally relax. Relax your shoulders, neck, and above all your jaw/face. If you breath well, then maybe there's hope. If you're like me, you'll find you can hardly breath after relaxing.

I'm new to the forum and am glad to meet another new comer.

I have been trying to sleep on my stomach lately. It is not too bad. I slept that way when I was younger. And I think I could start doing it again. But, I am definitely trying to stay positive and give the mask a shot.

I have not turned a 180 in several years but I have always tossed and turned while I sleep. I know that this has bothered my wife a few times but she is pretty quick to fall back to sleep. She has been very understanding with my sleep situation. So, that is fortunate.

I have always wondered if it is that I am not comfortable when I sleep. There are several things that I need to give a second look. I have always pushed little problems off to the side because I was never one to worry too much about them. But, I have to start focusing on these smaller things to focus on the big picture.

Anonymous wrote:I have always wondered if it is that I am not comfortable when I sleep. There are several things that I need to give a second look. I have always pushed little problems off to the side because I was never one to worry too much about them. But, I have to start focusing on these smaller things to focus on the big picture.

Sounds encouraging. I'll root for you