problem falling asleep w/ mask on

[4lads]

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SLEEP APNEA BACK IN MAY. I STARTED TREATMENT IN EARLY JUNE. WHEN I GET READY TO GO TO BED I CAN BE DEAD TIRED AND READY TO GO TO SLEEP BUT WHEN I PUT ON THE MASK AND TURN ON THE MACHINE I'M WIDE AWAKE AND I DONT KNOW WHY. I GET DISCOURAGED WITH IT AND TAKE OFF THE MASK AND GO TO SLEEP WITHOUT IT AND WAKE UP FEEELING LIKE CRAP. THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME AND I WANT TO FEEL BETTER BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW NO DICE. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT I CAN DO?

[wlo2008]

I think we all can say we have been through this. Things to do to help you get used to it. Put it on and set the ramp and read till you start getting tired or watch TV. Also if it becomes a big issue and anxiety is an issue. Your doctor can give you something mild to help you doze off. This would be the last resort. Also try setting your bed time at a reasonable time and put it one. That way by the time you fall a sleep with it on, it is not late and you will feel more refreshed when you get up in the morning.

[Snoredog]

my suggestion:

-use Ramp feature to assist you in falling asleep
-try TylenolPM, Benedryl or melatonin to help you fall asleep, my suggestion 3mg melatonin.
-if you watch TV to fall asleep, use the sleep timer feature so it shuts off
-Looks like your CAPS Lock button is also broken, I'd extend some effort to disable it.

[alnhwrd]

Some have used a product called Pur-Sleep (available at http://www.pursleep.com) to help them relax and fall asleep. But after three months it may be time, as previously suggested, for some chemical intervention, whether OTC (I'd try that first) or RX, to get you to sleep.

[plus1hdcp]

You might try wearing you mask while sitting on the couch/recliner watching TV or reading WITHOUT attempting trying to go to sleep to try to become used to wearing your mask. Also, you may need to try a different type of mask. Good luck.

[SleepGuy]

The central nervous system goes on altert whenever we experience something new, especially something that might pose a danger. These are unconscious reactions for the most part. For most people using a CPAP falls into that category of experiences.

Fortunately it is not only possible but relatively simple to train your brain that CPAP is not dangerous. For example, after a while you won't be able to feel the pressure / airflow from the mask. It freaked me out the first time that happened to me--it literally feels like breathing normal air and I thought my machine had stopped working. Nope. My brain just normalized the airflow and decided that the information was not dangerous or relevant, so it filtered out the sensory input. That was a great day! It has continued the same.

There's quite a bit of good information about desensitization on the forum. Aromatics can be very effective in this process because the part of the part of the brain that gets excited about danger (the limbic system) is the same part of the brain that perceives aromas. So if you can introduce a pleasant aromatic into the CPAP system, it will tend to help the limbic system calm down. The conscious brain can focus attention on one thing at a time so another part of the aromatic approach is to provide a pleasant stimulus for the conscious brain to focus on to the exclusion of other distractions (noise, pressure, airflow, mask, straps etc.).

For those who do not know me I am the person behind the PurSleep (CPAP aromatherapy) products so take my comments subject to that disclaimer. It's a simple idea that seems to help most people who try it.

Whatever you do, please stick with your therapy. Sleep apnea is much more than a sleep or breathing disorder. It's much more about what happens to the body during prolonged low blood oxygen episodes. This causes panic, high blood pressure, heart and lung disease, type 2 diabetes, and all kinds of other nasty things. Stick with it long enough and you'll get it figured out!

[Bignose]

I have exactly the same problem. Maybe it's long Island. My problem is made worse by the fact that every time I use it I get a bruise on my nose and can't use it for about 4 days until it heals. I also have to adjudt it quite often and feel like my head is in a vice grip. I think I will try a Hybrid. Wonder if anyone else uses this product??

[carbonman]

I PUT ON THE MASK AND TURN ON THE MACHINE I'M WIDE AWAKE AND I DONT KNOW WHY. I GET DISCOURAGED WITH IT AND TAKE OFF THE MASK AND GO TO SLEEP WITHOUT IT AND WAKE UP FEEELING LIKE CRAP. THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME AND I WANT TO FEEL BETTER BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW NO DICE. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT I CAN DO?

..I know you're frustrated, but you don't have to shout.

Here's a thought:
Without the mask, you know you're going to feel like crap...

so, why not relax, endure the mask and believe that sooner or
later, you're going to go to sleep....maybe for just a few minutes...
..and you'll wake up feeling like crap.
The next night, do the same thing, and you may sleep for a few minutes more,
and wake up feeling like crap.
Stay with me, so far, no harm, no foul.....
You're still feeling like crap.

If you keep doing this, one morning you'll wake up and THINK you
did'nt sleep much, BUT, you'll feel a little better than crap.

Could work.

......I know, it worked for me.

[plus1hdcp]

If you keep doing this, one morning you'll wake up and THINK you
did'nt sleep much, BUT, you'll feel a little better than crap.

What a great line !