I need encouragement!

BigOrangeAsh · Post by **BigOrangeAsh** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:33 am

Hi everyone, I'm new to CPAP & new to the forum. I've been on CPAP for about a month, and I'm totally frustrated! My nose hurts, I'm exhausted, and I'm trying to keep the faith! I'm getting lots of good tips from the forum - I just tried the Mack's earplugs for my nose last night. Now if I can just stop the leaking in the mask...How long does it take to acclimate to CPAP? Thanks!

Pad A Cheek · Post by **Pad A Cheek** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:40 am

Hello BigOrangeAsh.
Welcome to the Forum. You have a wealth of information and encouragement here at your finger tips.

This does take time, and patience. It does get better gradually if you have the leaks under control and you are wearing it every time you sleep.

I think you have already made it through the hardest part. That first month is the toughest in my opinion. The correct mask and good fit is a great start. If your nose is getting sore, try a different mask, or try the one you have looser. Often we are told to strap the mask on tighter than is necessary and some masks actually work better to prevent leaks if they are looser rather than tighter. It took me 6 months before I had everything straightened out, but I did not know about this forum then. You should be able to do it faster.

I wish you luck and good sleep.

Karen

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:26 pm

Welcome to the forum.

About that mask leak........Quattro, right?

Please read this thread and my comments about the leaking elbow.

viewtopic/t33324/HELP-PLEASE-with-my-ne ... -Mask.html

If something "hurts", you've either got the mask too tight or it's the wrong size. Nothing should hurt with this therapy.

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:46 pm

Took me 6 weeks and 8 masks to get to 100% nightly compliance. Too a few weeks after that before I began waking up feeling normal.

You're right on track. Keep up the good work! You know we're here for you!!!

Hugs,
Babs

Insomniyak · Post by **Insomniyak** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:47 pm

I've been on CPAP for a month now, and now that I have the leaks under control, I too am getting the marks on my nose. I am going to lossen the bottom straps little by little, and compensate with the upper straps. As others said, main thing is the leaks and finding a comfortable mask. I am sure at this point mine is just too tight since I was trying to correct the leaks.

I am just getting to the point once again where I have energy and it feels great when I have that.

BigOrangeAsh · Post by **BigOrangeAsh** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:53 pm

Thanks for the helpful thread, Wulfman. Thanks to everybody who responded to my whining. Hopefully I'll get the attitude under control soon. I know I need to suck it up & stick with it! I have just been wearing the mask the way the therapist fit me, but it sounds like I should definitely experiment with the fit. Thanks, folks!

echo · Post by **echo** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:28 pm

Welcome to the forum BigOrangeAsh! No reason to be hard on yourself -- dealing with the emotional aspect of the treatment is just as important as getting used to the equipment. Give yourself time to learn and adjust. It won't be overnight, but if you stick with it, learn as much as you can, and become your own health champion, you're already better off than most people! So start with congratulating yourself for being proactive!

You might want to read about the "7 stages of CPAP" : cpaptalk-articles/CPAP-stages-feeling-good.html

and "CPAP adaptation stages" :
cpaptalk-articles/recovery-CPAP-adaptation-stages.html

nice handle by the way

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:46 pm

BigOrangeAsh wrote:Thanks for the helpful thread, Wulfman. Thanks to everybody who responded to my whining. Hopefully I'll get the attitude under control soon. I know I need to suck it up & stick with it! I have just been wearing the mask the way the therapist fit me, but it sounds like I should definitely experiment with the fit. Thanks, folks!

Odds are pretty good that the therapist is not a CPAP user and may have never even had a mask on........and fits them according to a "textbook" approach.

With this therapy, one has to be intuitive and experiment. You may luck out and get the right mask on the first try (like I did) or go through many more before finding what works best for you.

There's definitely a learning curve for all of us and it varies for each of us.
In your original post, you asked how long it takes to acclimate to this therapy......my answer is: as soon as you accept it.
On the first morning after my first night of therapy, I said to myself: "One night down.....the rest of my life to go."

Hang in there......it'll all fall into place soon.

Den

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I need encouragement!

I need encouragement!

Encouragement here