First night on the forum. I've been using my cpap for about 6 weeks. The biggest problem I am having with it is dry mouth. I use a full face mask (the other choice was duct tape my mouth shut) because I am apparently a mouth breather at night. I don't have a humidifier with my machine but apparently from what I am reading I need one. I sleep fine for about 2 hours or so then wake up with a mouth that feels like somebody filled it with sand. so I get a drink and try again. 2 hrs later same story all night long or until I get frustrated and take it off.
I look forward to future discussions with all of you.
Chris.
Happy New Year and Hello
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Happy New Years too!
Welcome, Chris!
And Happy New Years also. Personally, I just couldn't get to sleep after the ringing in of New Years so I thought I'd instead welcome new forum members.
Be sure to post questions and topics to the main section. No doubt soon you'll get lots of helpful suggestions and plenty of encouragement. I've found forum members to be such wonderful cheer leaders.
I got my humidifier several days after first using my machine (about a month ago). It did make a big difference. It's a heated humidifier, and ever since using it, I've not had that dry sand feeling. Everyone has slightly different experiences, but still, you will find that will help.
Welcome, and hang in there!
Linda
And Happy New Years also. Personally, I just couldn't get to sleep after the ringing in of New Years so I thought I'd instead welcome new forum members.
Be sure to post questions and topics to the main section. No doubt soon you'll get lots of helpful suggestions and plenty of encouragement. I've found forum members to be such wonderful cheer leaders.
I got my humidifier several days after first using my machine (about a month ago). It did make a big difference. It's a heated humidifier, and ever since using it, I've not had that dry sand feeling. Everyone has slightly different experiences, but still, you will find that will help.
Welcome, and hang in there!
Linda
I'm new too
New to forum and cpaps (two weeks). Still getting used to it and trying different masks and prob. settings. The pressure I need is quite high, a '20' and not sure if I can tolerate it. Already getting info from the topics part of this forum, appreciate it being here.
tk
tk
Chris,
Oh, it wasn't noise keeping me awake or anything like that. Just lots on my mind. Ever since starting the bipap, I don't feel nearly as tired as I used to before the bipap. Oh, I still can feel plenty tired, but now I actually have times when I'm actually wide awake. After experiencing so much exhaustion before the treatment, this is terrific, a kind of minor miracle.
I used to drive several hours to my hometown. It used to be a snap, but later with my growing exhaustion (not knowing it was sleep apnea), I found myself actually stopping and resting every time I made the trip. Now, it's like old times, and I'm wide awake for it all. Sounds wierd to be exalting over such a thing. But it's proof this stuff is starting to work, I'm happy to say, even though I still often struggle with the mask and all.
Hope you had a nice New Years..
Linda
Oh, it wasn't noise keeping me awake or anything like that. Just lots on my mind. Ever since starting the bipap, I don't feel nearly as tired as I used to before the bipap. Oh, I still can feel plenty tired, but now I actually have times when I'm actually wide awake. After experiencing so much exhaustion before the treatment, this is terrific, a kind of minor miracle.
I used to drive several hours to my hometown. It used to be a snap, but later with my growing exhaustion (not knowing it was sleep apnea), I found myself actually stopping and resting every time I made the trip. Now, it's like old times, and I'm wide awake for it all. Sounds wierd to be exalting over such a thing. But it's proof this stuff is starting to work, I'm happy to say, even though I still often struggle with the mask and all.
Hope you had a nice New Years..
Linda
Wow, tk!
That sure is a high pressure. Mine's a 17, and I do struggle with that. If I wake in the middle of the night, from just shifting sides or whatever, I then find myself really fighting the pressure. The mask even starts making odd noises, like a flute or something! Then I have to hit the ramp button to ease back into it, but in doing so, I'm even more awake. Viscious circle, sometimes. But each time is getting a little better. I'm just worried about getting a cold for the first time. Don't know if I'll be able to handle that.
Do you have a bipap? Autopap? Do you also find yourself fighting that thing? Are you able to use the ramp button?
Linda
That sure is a high pressure. Mine's a 17, and I do struggle with that. If I wake in the middle of the night, from just shifting sides or whatever, I then find myself really fighting the pressure. The mask even starts making odd noises, like a flute or something! Then I have to hit the ramp button to ease back into it, but in doing so, I'm even more awake. Viscious circle, sometimes. But each time is getting a little better. I'm just worried about getting a cold for the first time. Don't know if I'll be able to handle that.
Do you have a bipap? Autopap? Do you also find yourself fighting that thing? Are you able to use the ramp button?
Linda
re:machine
Yes a 20 is the highest pressure the machine goes to. At that pressure it's difficult not to have a leak. Tried the b-pap during a sleep study but did not do well on it when asleep, and had a difficult time falling asleep, it was like my air supply was cut off right before I was ready to exhale. Very weird. Prob. have to go to the newer auto-pap, the "cadillac" of machines is what my dr. says. I do have the ramp, starts at 13, which I hardly notice after using this thing for two weeks.
tk
tk
tk,
Hmmm. I feel the same way with my bipap. Using the ramp, the pressure starts feeling too low, and I do feel like I'm suffocating a little. Sometimes I have to just remove the mask for a second and take a big gulp of outside air. Strange feeling. Don't know what the autopap is like. Do you know how it's different from a bipap? If there is something better, I'd like to know. I've seen others write about the autopap, but I just don't know how the two are different.
Thanks for writing and describing your experience. Helps me for sure.
Linda
Hmmm. I feel the same way with my bipap. Using the ramp, the pressure starts feeling too low, and I do feel like I'm suffocating a little. Sometimes I have to just remove the mask for a second and take a big gulp of outside air. Strange feeling. Don't know what the autopap is like. Do you know how it's different from a bipap? If there is something better, I'd like to know. I've seen others write about the autopap, but I just don't know how the two are different.
Thanks for writing and describing your experience. Helps me for sure.
Linda
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BetterBreathinBob
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2004 12:40 pm
- Location: Mount Prospect IL
High Pressure Problems
Pressure of 20 is high! If Bipap wasn't comfortable for you then you need to look into the auto-pap or a machine that uses the C-flex technology. In our lab we will use C-flex when the patients on higher pressures start to struggle alittle.
Good luck and keep working at it
Bob
Good luck and keep working at it
Bob
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