new and very frustrated

[sunnysandy96]

Hello All,
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am sure this posting is around here somewhere that is a simliar but here is my problem

Was so excited to get my cpap machine..thinking..finally no snoring my husband can sleep..and I will be full of energy.
My setting is a 6 on the remstar--and I was on 1 on humdity..first night ok
2nd night...terrible headache...absolutely terrible -- like a bad hangover
3rd night -- terrible headache
4th night terrible headache...killing me for entire day....like a migraine..which I have only had 2 in my life....

The mask leaves awful marks on my face-- that I have to pray go away before I arrive at work...

I have a call in to my dr...but was wondering...if I am alone out here..with my furstrations... My brother has had the machine for 5 years and loves it..prob doesn't need it anymore since he lost a lot of weight .and needs to be reevaluated......but still loves to sleep with it.

How are the nasal pillows?? Any better then the mask???

Thanks so much
Sandy

[Jersey Girl]

Dear Sandy,

Most of us hit bumps in the road when we are starting out. What type of mask are you using? If you could take just a few moments to click on the "User control panel" in the upper left hand corner and fill in your profile and especially your equipment information, that would greatly help us to help you.

I started out using a Comfort Gel Nasal mask because that is what they gave me at my sleep study and it was comfortable. I eventually got a Swift FX with nasal pillows - it allows me to read or watch tv just before I fall asleep with my view unobstructed and I love how very light it really is. That said, choice of mask is a very individual thing - what feels great to me, may not feel so wonderful for you. I tried 4 masks Comfort Gel Nasal Mask, Swift LT for Her with nasal pillows, Mirage Soft Gel Nasal mask and then the fourth was my Swift FX, which is my favorite. So, sometimes it helps to try a few different types so that you can find the best one for you.

Wishing you peaceful, restorative sleep,

Jersey Girl

[Craig P]

Welcome,

One of the first things I would check is whether or not your mask headgear is too tight. Most masks should be fitted fairly loose.

A couple of things we need to know to offer some advice:
What type of mask are you using?
Specifically what machine are you using?

Complete your profile so that others can provide assistance.

Looks like Jersey Girl beat me to it

[montana]

... My brother has had the machine for 5 years and loves it..prob doesn't need it anymore since he lost a lot of weight .and needs to be reevaluated......but still loves to sleep with it.

Wow that is the way I feel about my machine. Once ya get used to it you really don't want to sleep with out it. I has a nifty air filter and humidity what more can ya ask for ?

[Lug_Nut]

The mask set-up the equipment rep made turned out to be quite incorrect (his April Fool's joke on me, perhaps?) I've now taken the time to read the manual and have adjusted it properly. It still isn't "comfortable", but I don't have the red warning triangle on my face that lasts for 4 hours after I get up.
I'm still not sleeping any better and am not feeling more rested, but I am, now that I've adjusted the nose mask fit, almost able to tolerate the mask all night.
I'm also not giving up just yet. I'm only two weeks into this.

[SleepyT]

Hello All,
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am sure this posting is around here somewhere that is a simliar but here is my problem

Was so excited to get my cpap machine..thinking..finally no snoring my husband can sleep..and I will be full of energy.
My setting is a 6 on the remstar--and I was on 1 on humdity..first night ok
2nd night...terrible headache...absolutely terrible -- like a bad hangover
3rd night -- terrible headache
4th night terrible headache...killing me for entire day....like a migraine..which I have only had 2 in my life....

The mask leaves awful marks on my face-- that I have to pray go away before I arrive at work...

I have a call in to my dr...but was wondering...if I am alone out here..with my furstrations... My brother has had the machine for 5 years and loves it..prob doesn't need it anymore since he lost a lot of weight .and needs to be reevaluated......but still loves to sleep with it.

How are the nasal pillows?? Any better then the mask???

Thanks so much
Sandy

I love the nasal pillows...and I think you might too....but the first thing that hits me about your post is your pressure setting of 6. That seems low to me...might be hard to breathe at that setting. Just a thought! And I agree with the others....make sure you don't over tighten your mask. It should just float on your face...no tighter than it takes to prevent leaks. Good luck! Keep at it....

[brazospearl]

Welcome to the forum!
I agree with SleepyT that 6 sounds like low pressure. It's a very individual thing, but that sure wouldn't work for me. Please let us know what machine and mask you're using. And keep reading, you'll learn so much here!

[sleepyjan48spivso]

Been on cpap a couple of months now and a lot of what you're saying I can say me too to...Try different masks, I've tried 3 and keep going back to my first one after I discovered I had it so tight I was getting bad sores....The high expectations at the beginning got toned doen by the long timers here, as one member said "it took along time to get this sick, don't expect to get well overnight". THat said. you'll have good nights and bad nights but the good ones come closer and the bad ones get farther apart. I didn't realize how much better I was getting in many ways until I went to work and did the tasks in 6 hrs what would have taken 2 days to do 6 months ago. Not to mention I worked an entire day off in my garden, something I couldn't do last fall...I guess the moral to this ramble is hang in there, you're getting better even if you don't realize it and it does take time! Good luck from another fairly newbie.

[jweeks]

Was so excited to get my cpap machine..thinking..finally no snoring my husband can sleep..and I will be full of energy. My setting is a 6 on the remstar--and I was on 1 on humdity..first night ok

Hi,

I think you need a 2nd opinion on your treatment. Can you find a different sleep doctor, or get a referral from your MD? I think you have the wrong mask, the wrong settings, and if those are wrong, then I bet there is a good chance that you have the wrong machine. How did you get tested, diagnosed, and how was your treatment plan determined? The reason I ask is that your DME setting up your mask such that it give you headaches sounds like someone who has never done this before. And a machine set on 6 is too low of a pressure for most people to breathe, let along get treatment from. Sorry to sound so depressing, but I can promise that it is worth the effort to find a treatment that works for you. I know because I went through some of the same challenges to get a working treatment and get my machine & mask fitted right and dialed in.

-john-

[gpk111]

Careful about the pressure, nice people. Mine was diagnosed at 8 in a sleep study. The S9 automatically adjusted it to 6, as averaged over 30 days. It feels just fine. Also reviewed it with DME and doc and they're ok with it. AHI is about 1.

My takeaway: 6 works for me with a 95th % of 8.

I was told that 8 is on the low side of patients' needs. 6 is obviously even lower, but it works for some.

The other lesson learned: Tracking CPAP data is more accurate than a snapshot based on one night's sleep study.

[pdean44]

I had some problems with headaches in the beginning. I believe i was over tightening the head straps. Getting a comfortable mask that works along with the right gear takes some work but will be well worth the effort when you get there. I am still going through this period to get where I need to be. I am feeling better than before I started therapy. Dont let the bumps in the road get you down. You can and will over come them. You are on a great adventure to better health.

[ardneham]

Keep at it at all costs. Even trial and error modes are usual with this kind of therapy? The news item below
is of concern to all of us:
Stroke: Sleep Apnea Sufferers at Risk
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Sleep apnea may forecast a much more dangerous event -- stroke.

New research links sleep apnea and stroke in both men -- and for the first time -- women. Results of the nationwide Sleep Heart Health Study show a man's risk of stroke rises with the severity of his sleep apnea, with severe sleep apnea tripling a man's risk of stroke compared to men with no or moderate sleep apnea.

Study results also reveal that while the link between sleep apnea and stroke is stronger in men, women with severe types of sleep apnea are also at increased risk of the life-threatening event.

The Sleep Heart Health Study followed 5,422 participants aged 40 or older with no history of stroke for nine years. During the study, 193 participants had a stroke: 85 men out of 2,462 enrolled and 108 women out of 2,960 enrolled.

"Our findings provide compelling evidence that obstructive sleep apnea is a risk factor for stroke, especially in men," Susan Redline, M.D., MPH, professor of medicine, pediatrics, and epidemiology and biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and lead author of the study, was quoted as saying. "Overall, the increased risk of stroke in men with sleep apnea is comparable to adding 10 years to a man's age. Importantly, we found that increased stroke risk in men occurs even with relatively mild levels of sleep apnea."

Stroke is the 2nd leading cause of death worldwide, and more than 12 million American adults are reported to have sleep apnea.

Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, April 8, 2010