1st night with CPAP machine

[fsmitty]

Well, it ws my first night with my own CPAP machine. All, I can say is that it was a rough night. It took me several attempts to try to get the mask secure and not feel uncomfortable. At one point last night at about 10pm. I almost decided to remove the device as it was becoming hard to get to sleep. Anyhow, I must have slept as I woke-up at about 1.30am. This is the annoying time that my body seems to wake me up at. The machine is not making me sleep longer, maybe my circadian clock is out of wack. Also, in the sleep lab, their CPAP machine appeared to give me more air to breath. This system is set for 9 but feels like I am not getting enough air.

The only problem that I have is the mask really hurt the bridge of my nose. The sleep tech said that I have a high bridge. When they showed me the mask, she did mention something about moleskin. Not too sure what she was referring to since she fed me too much info and only some of it sunk in. Would this moleskin help stop the bridge of my nose from being sore?


How many nights should it take to feel refreshed and get used to CPAP? Is it normal to have problems getting used to thesed devices? I am going to try to stick it out.

[cflame1]

The only problem that I have is the mask really hurt the bridge of my nose. The sleep tech said that I have a high bridge. When they showed me the mask, she did mention something about moleskin. Not too sure what she was referring to since she fed me too much info and only some of it sunk in. Would this moleskin help stop the bridge of my nose from being sore?

Yes it would. It's a type of padding that you cut to fit and stick to the mask. You can find it at many drugstores in the foot care aisle.

[momadams]

1. 3.5 hours of sleep your first night is a big deal.
2. The moleskin on the mask, or a PadaCheek accessory, should help the irritation. But there ARE other mask formats out there which might fit your face better.
3. A typical sleep cycle is 1-3 hours. It's normal to wake between them - but with CPAP you'll go back to sleep easily. Try counting backwards from 100 by sevens - works for me every time.
Keep asking questions - lots of helpful people here.
Shari

[fsmitty]

3. A typical sleep cycle is 1-3 hours. It's normal to wake between them - but with CPAP you'll go back to sleep easily. Try counting backwards from 100 by sevens - works for me every time.

Thanks, I might try that trick tonight. Last night, I did sleep with some ear plugs but had to take them out after a few hours. With the plugs in, I could here the breathing /sucking noises the machine was making when I breathed in/out. The Sleep Style 234 is quiet but still makes a slight noise. Tonight, I plan on taking some Benadryl to help me sleep a bit longer.

[Pugsy]

How many nights should it take to feel refreshed and get used to CPAP? Is it normal to have problems getting used to thesed devices? I am going to try to stick it out.

Unfortunately there is no magic number of nights that will insure feeling refreshed. It varies depending on the person, the quality of therapy, the quality of overall sleep and simply getting used to have the foreign stuff attached to our face.

Mask discomfort will play an important factor. Can't get good sleep when it hurts. Hence all the different mask stories you see here. We all have different needs. Even if the mask is comfortable but we still wake up often either from habit or other reasons, this also significantly impacts how we feel. Gotta get those hours of "good" sleep to have any chance at all of seeing improvement.

My first night I got about 3 hours of sleep and woke up so many times I couldn't count them all. After 4 months I seem to average 6-7 hours. I feel better on those nights I get closer to 8 hours so I still have some work to do.

Patience.... While there are a few lucky people who experience overnight miracles most of us have had to accept a gradual acceptance and improvement.
Your machine is not data capable if I remember correctly. You won't know if you are having mask leakage issues that will affect therapy. You won't know if the pressure is the most optimum for you. You won't know if you feel like crap because of less than optimal therapy or maybe simply poor sleep architecture. In my case I needed a little bump from my titration pressure AND work on my poor sleep architecture.

Work on the mask first. Without a comfortable mask fit you can't expect to rest well. Moleskin is used often to soften mask contact points on the nose. Worth a try and not expensive. Some people use simple bandaids. Gotta watch out though because too much padding to prevent pain also sometimes creates more leaks. Gotta find the happy medium.....

[millich]

Three and a half hours for your first night really isn't bad, fsmitty! Pat yourself on the back for that! I only slept with mine for 2 hours the first night, 2 hours the second, made 4 hours my goal for the 3rd night and made it (barely). Eight hours was my goal for the 4th night and I've been sleeping as long as I want with it ever since.

Your comment "the machine is not making me sleep longer" intrigues me. CPAP isn't meant to make you sleep longer. It is expected, though, that once you get used to it, you'll sleep better. Two months into treatment, I still wake a couple times a night to adjust my mask. BUT, even with those arousals, I am sooo much more rested than I was before treatment. Before, I had to sleep 10 hours to function. Now, 8 is plenty and I can survive on an occassion 7 or 7 1/2 (totally unheard for me prior to treatment).

With regards to not feeling you're getting enough air - I wonder what your ramp pressure is. If it's set too low, you will feel that way. Most of us need 6 or 7 minimum.

Is it normal having problems getting used to CPAP? I'd go so far as to say it's ABNORMAL not to have problems. Some lucky few don't have problems, but that's pretty rare. However, you WILL get used to it and when you do, you'll be glad you stuck it out. Stay the course! It is worth it!

[millich]

Oh, one more suggestion. Instead of fighting the noise of hearing yourself breathe, I suggest you focus on it. Time your counting with your breathing. If you consider the sound your friend, it might help lull you to sleep. It does me.

[fsmitty]

Oh, one more suggestion. Instead of fighting the noise of hearing yourself breathe, I suggest you focus on it. Time your counting with your breathing. If you consider the sound your friend, it might help lull you to sleep. It does me.

I will take your suggestion and try the counting method. Event though I didn't sleep much last night, I had a wonderful day. What I noticed is my energy level was higher, didn't feel tired in a 2 hour meeting at work. Also noticed that my sinuses feel very clear and have been breathing very well through my nose. Usually I get stuffed up in my nasal passages. The CPAP experience that I had last was the same experience that I had in the sleep clinic. In the clinic, I kept waking up and felt like I never actually slept. The sleep tech did say that I did get some sleep. Maybe the CPAP is giving me a couple hours of quality deep sleep which my body needs.

I do plan on sticking with the regime as I need to get my OSA under control which hopefully will lower my hypertensive blood pressure.

[carbonman]

If you consider the sound your friend, it might help lull you to sleep.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

You got'a believe.

[dreamchick]

I now have the same FFM as you and I too experience the nose discomfort some nights. The mole skin works but first try putting the mask on in the mirror to make sure it is sitting correctly on your face. I find that if it sits slightly above my nose bridge I don't have discomfort. You also might have the dial set to tightly. I have been loosing a lot of weight and have to adjust the mask every once in a while and notice that if I get the head straps too tight or turn the knob to tightly my nose not only hurts but has a nasty red mark the next morning. Hope this helps.

[millich]

Maybe the CPAP is giving me a couple hours of quality deep sleep which my body needs.

I think you just might be right. Keep focusing on the positive (like you're doing!) and look at the difficulties as problems that CAN be solved. You'll be just fine!

[PST]

Fsmitty, if the bridge of your nose hurts after one night, it will hurt worse after two unless you make a change in the adjustment or find a mask that suits you better.

This is a little uncharitable toward respiratory technicians, but I think in many cases their first instinct is to strap tight. Getting rid of leaks is priority one and our comfort can wait. So we go home with the wrong idea of how the mask should fit. I have the Quattro, and it has a nice system for making sure that the big forehead pads take the pressure, not the nose. I had some red nose mornings before I got it right. Find the right setting on the screw adjustment, memorize it, and keep it there. Your high bridge shouldn't matter -- there should still be a setting that gets the hard part of the mask off your nose. At 9 cm of pressure, you will have less tendency to leak than many people, so you have a better chance of getting by with less tight straps. The Quattro doesn't want to be pulled too tight. It wants to float a bit on a kind of pneumatic cushion and use the air pressure in the mask to help form the seal. If nothing works, it may mean that the Quattro is just wrong for the contours of your face. Lots of people here have tried several before finding one that fits them.

[fsmitty]

I have the Quattro, and it has a nice system for making sure that the big forehead pads take the pressure, not the nose. I had some red nose mornings before I got it right.

You are correct that the problem could be due to making the mask too tight. Yesterday, I managed to find the Resmed video that shows you how to put on the Quattro. Last night, I put the mask on but this time did not over tighten the straps. What a difference a night can make as my nose/face feel fine and the mask did not leak. It was a very pleasant nights sleep about 8 hours with no issues. I was able to sleep on my stomach and side with no mask issues at all. To help me get used to the mask/cpap I did take a couple of Benadryls.

I think that I am already starting to get used to the machine and really enjoy the alertness I feel in the morning.

[PST]

I think that I am already starting to get used to the machine and really enjoy the alertness I feel in the morning.

That's great. That kind of good result right from the start is a great motivator. It's not always smooth sailing, but I'm addicted to feeling better now, and never skip masking up.

[fsmitty]

I think that I am already starting to get used to the machine and really enjoy the alertness I feel in the morning.

That's great. That kind of good result right from the start is a great motivator. It's not always smooth sailing, but I'm addicted to feeling better now, and never skip masking up.

I am certainly getting used to the full face mask now. My 3rd night on CPAP also went without any hitches. The positive thing is that each morning I have been taking my blood pressure. Each morning, since using CPAP, my blood pressure has been near 120/80, it used to be about 138/98 or higher. Hopefully, my blood pressure issues which were diagnosed about 2 months ago, are caused by the sleep apnea. I am hoping that I will be able to quit taking these blood pressure pills. I go back to my family physician for a blood pressure follow-up in two weeks.

The only problem this morning is my bridge of my nose is a little bit sore. I must either try to find some moleskin or try to make some more mask adjustment. This morning, I also noticed that the humidity chamber on the CPAP machine was still high as if it didn't use any. I felt the container and is was warm. When I turn on the CPAP, I usually take the default humidity setting of 2.5. The previous nights the chamber went down to almost empty. Why would it not use any water this time?