Need help - 2 years with CPAP and unable to sleep

[kteague]

An addition to reducing reactivity to sensations... One tip my doc gave me on limb movements was to, when on my side, put a long pillow that went from between the knees to between the feet. I asked how this would help the limb movements and she explained that it wasn't to stop the movements, but could buffer the movements enough to reduce awakenings. And it did. Only problem was I flip from side to side so often I was waking up every time to grab and reposition the pillow. For someone who doesn't toss and turn a lot it could make big difference.

[newname]

I'm in the same predicament only I've been on cpap for 3 years with no results. I periodically send my smart card to my dme for a report, but the reports don't tell me much. I don't know how to interpret them. All I know is that my pressure usually is around 9-12. It's set at 8-16.
I've tried so many types of masks and chinstraps. I've taped my mouth.
I sleep for an hour or two, wake up, fall back to sleep for another hour or two, wake up, etc. I never feel rested and fall asleep during the day if I sit down and watch tv or knit. Sleep is hell for me, never feeling refreshed.
I continue to use cpap because I'm afraid not to use it, but it really isn't doing me any good. I don't know what to do.
Is there a sleep study that can figure out why I don't sleep well? I mean to detect other problems besides apnea.

[SleepingUgly]

I'm in the same predicament only I've been on cpap for 3 years with no results. I periodically send my smart card to my dme for a report, but the reports don't tell me much. I don't know how to interpret them. All I know is that my pressure usually is around 9-12. It's set at 8-16.
I've tried so many types of masks and chinstraps. I've taped my mouth.
I sleep for an hour or two, wake up, fall back to sleep for another hour or two, wake up, etc. I never feel rested and fall asleep during the day if I sit down and watch tv or knit. Sleep is hell for me, never feeling refreshed.
I continue to use cpap because I'm afraid not to use it, but it really isn't doing me any good. I don't know what to do.
Is there a sleep study that can figure out why I don't sleep well? I mean to detect other problems besides apnea.

Every diagnostic sleep study should be an attempt to detect what problems you may have besides apnea. Maybe it's time for another one.

[Phillysnooze]

I'm also coming up on my 2 year anniversary using CPAP. I have no problems falling asleep ... because after trying a few different masks I found what worked best for me is the ComfortGel Nose Mask. No more dry mouth.

My problem is I often wake up in the middle of the night because of the air pressure being so high (I think it's on "16" as per my sleep doctor's insistence -- I have very severe OSA, my AHI is something like 100) I have to reach over and hit the "ramp" button. I discussed this with the doc, and he said "go ahead hit the ramp button, but lowering the air pressure is out of the question."

[Muse-Inc]

If anyone can help, I would appreciate it. I've been struggling with CPAP for about two years. In general, I'm a very light sleeper, slight movements and sounds will wake me immediately....

When I acclimated to my OptiLife mask and CPAP pressure, I started sleeping deeper and noise & light & movement were less likely to wake me up. Now, that's not saying they aren't still issues for me because they still are, but I sleep more soundly now. As my untreated apnea worsened, I became a lighter and lighter sleeper...in my PSG, I did not have any restful Stage 3-4 sleep and no REM, either without or with the mask & machine. My events score earned me the tag "severe" for apnea but I also had a lot of arousals...tech said I sorta skimmed the edges of sleep, a few seconds in, then out, then in again, repeated endlessly -- my brain was really afraid to let me sleep because of all the events and oxygen desaturations I had when asleep. At least with CPAP pressure, my events were eliminated allowing me to eventually start getting restful sleep.

I wish you the best in finding a comfortable mask that allows you to sleep with equipment the entire night.

[needsomesleep28]

This is all so helpful! Thank you very much. I think I'm going to increase the pressure a bit and try taping until I get a new mask that prevents mouth breathing. In the long term, I definitely want to get a machine with greater data capabilities. I just wish I knew of this site when I first started. Well...I hope to have positive results to report very soon.

[Sleepy Taz]

For those who have problems sleeping through the night you can try wearing the mask with the Cpap on while watching TV or reading a book. This will help you to get used to it and in time you will think that the air pressure is lower than what it is set at. I use an Opus 360 pillow mask at a setting of 17 and hardly feel the air at all. Most important is to embrace the therapy positively and keep the mask on at all times when you are ready to sleep. I also highly recommend those that use the ramp feature to turn it off so that you can get used to that pressure quicker. Many are sensitive to the pressure changes as they occur which is why you keep being awakened.