My first night

[rushman007]

So I received my lovely CPAP machine last night, and things went okay.
Since I am not a stranger to sleeping in the guest bedroom (for my wife's sake), we decided that maybe I should camp out in there for the first couple of nights so that I can simply get acclimated to sleeping with the mask.

Overall...not too bad. My biggest concern is how tight the mask is set on my face. The technician who came by was very cool, and he explained everything clearly. However, he warned me about keeping the mask too tight on my face. He said that the skin could react unfavorably if it was too tight, leading to sensitive skin and minor sores.

My question is this: How tight should I keep it? I noticed that there are less leaks (especially when I'm on my side) when the mask is tighter. I also noticed that when I woke up today, I could see what he was talking about when he mentioned sensitive skin. My face didn't hurt where the mask rested, but I know that one night is not a proper barometer when determining if it WILL hurt down the road.

Also, I think a good pillow might help with how my head rests at night. Thoughts?

This is my first post, so be gentle. =)

Don

[Hawthorne]

Getting the mask just right (not too tight and not too loose) is trial and error. You need it tight enough not to leak but not so tight that is hurts your face. Generally, as loose as possible is the best. It's hard to describe.

Certainly, the right bed pillow (FOR YOU) can make a difference but what is good for one may not be good for another. There are special cpap pillows that can be purchased (cpap.com). I use a basic memory foam contour pillow and it works well for me. Others swear by a feather pillow that is very soft and crushable.

It would be helpful if you filled in your profile telling us what machine and mask you have (use text please). Then we can be more specific about the tightness of the mask and we can be of more help if you have other questions down the road.

Welcome and the best of luck!

[wasColette]

Congratulations on your first night of cpap! I think your mask should only be as tight as is necessary to prevent leaks. I try to keep mine as loose as I can before leaks start. I wear a full face mask and find that when sleeping on my side I can keep the mask looser than when I'm on my back. I have even heard that pulling the mask too light may actual cause more leaks. It will be a journey for you to find what works best for you in time.