recently diagnosed and recent CPAP user - my story

[justacpapuser]

Maybe time for a new cushion?? Some people get a longer life and some people don't. Have you checked with your insurance to see how often a replacement cushion is allowed?
Also, if warmer weather is maybe making things more uncomfortable maybe a mask liner to help with dissipating any heat or sweat when might be uncomfortable or causing extra leaks.??
Just a thought.

Which part exactly is the cushion? I have a Quattro FX full face mask. There is the plastic/silicone padding but other than that I don't see any cushion.
And I have been using it under a month. Does it make since that I already need to replace something?

[Pugsy]

Which part exactly is the cushion?

This is what is termed the "cushion"
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... ro-FX.html
Medicare allows a new one of these every 30 days. Other insurance may use Medicare's schedule or they may implement their own.

For some people it seems like silicone (any silicone like my nasal pillows) life will vary among users. I get months of life from my nasal pillows and others are lucky to get 2 weeks..Medicare allows 2 replacements per month.
Same thing with the cushion on your mask. Some people get a long life out of one and some people don't.
If you don't have a replacement cushion you need to get one anyway. Always should have a spare in case something happens to the one in use.

I don't know for sure that this is your problem but it would not be impossible for it to be related to the age of the cushion.
You might be one of those people who won't get a long life out of the cushion. It might be something else also.
Since you need a spare anyway...get one as soon as you are eligible and see if it makes any difference.
Or consider an alternative mask to see what happens.....which would probably be what I would do but that is me.

[archangle]

Which part exactly is the cushion? I have a Quattro FX full face mask. There is the plastic/silicone padding but other than that I don't see any cushion.
And I have been using it under a month. Does it make since that I already need to replace something?

It might be worth cleaning the cushion really thoroughly. I disassemble my mask and wash it in the dishwasher. I wouldn't do that with every type of mask, but the QFX looks like it would be safe. Don't dishwash the headgear.

I think apnea is sometimes like drinking too much or smoking. Your body adjusts its chemistry to compensate, and you may feel out of balance for a while when you stop.

You sort of have to get the feel for how to take the hose off the connector. You don't pull or twist, you pull one side off first. The motion is sort of like what you'd do if you were trying to break a pencil in two by holding it in both hands.

[justacpapuser]

Which part exactly is the cushion? I have a Quattro FX full face mask. There is the plastic/silicone padding but other than that I don't see any cushion.
And I have been using it under a month. Does it make since that I already need to replace something?

It might be worth cleaning the cushion really thoroughly. I disassemble my mask and wash it in the dishwasher. I wouldn't do that with every type of mask, but the QFX looks like it would be safe. Don't dishwash the headgear.

I think apnea is sometimes like drinking too much or smoking. Your body adjusts its chemistry to compensate, and you may feel out of balance for a while when you stop.

You sort of have to get the feel for how to take the hose off the connector. You don't pull or twist, you pull one side off first. The motion is sort of like what you'd do if you were trying to break a pencil in two by holding it in both hands.

Thanks but I don't think cleaning it will help me sleep better. It happened again tonight, though this time I put a clock nearby. Seems I woke up after 3 hours, and just felt compelled to take off my mask and sleep on my stomach. I then ended up waking twice (that I remember). Mask didn't leak this time and I didn't feel too hot. This has been going on for a week now. I have no idea why. Was able to get 6-7 hours sleep easily 2-3 weeks before this week.

[Pugsy]

Seems I woke up after 3 hours, and just felt compelled to take off my mask and sleep on my stomach. I then ended up waking twice (that I remember). Mask didn't leak this time and I didn't feel too hot. This has been going on for a week now. I have no idea why. Was able to get 6-7 hours sleep easily 2-3 weeks before this week.

Sounds like a bad habit is forming for some reason. Must not reward that little devil compelling you to take the mask off and leave it off and go back to sleep.
Bad habits are so easy to make and so hard to break.
You have to keep telling the little devil that no mask means no sleep. It's hard but the longer the habit..the harder to break.
The mind is a powerful thing..it can do bad as well as good stuff.

[chunkyfrog]

One thing I really like about the Respironics masks: several models have the quick-connect on the mask.
I don't know about a quick-connect on ResMed masks, though.
A universal MASK quick-connect would be REALLY nice (HINT)

[justacpapuser]

Seems I woke up after 3 hours, and just felt compelled to take off my mask and sleep on my stomach. I then ended up waking twice (that I remember). Mask didn't leak this time and I didn't feel too hot. This has been going on for a week now. I have no idea why. Was able to get 6-7 hours sleep easily 2-3 weeks before this week.

Sounds like a bad habit is forming for some reason. Must not reward that little devil compelling you to take the mask off and leave it off and go back to sleep.
Bad habits are so easy to make and so hard to break.
You have to keep telling the little devil that no mask means no sleep. It's hard but the longer the habit..the harder to break.
The mind is a powerful thing..it can do bad as well as good stuff.

Though it is weird that I had no problem the first 2-3 weeks and now it is there for no apparent reason.
Why I wake after 3 hours or so is also a mystery.


I hope to go back to normal as in the first few weeks. It is nice not being as tired and also not waking at night.

[Pugsy]

Though it is weird that I had no problem the first 2-3 weeks and now it is there for no apparent reason.
Why I wake after 3 hours or so is also a mystery.

You aren't the first to have that little devil raise its ugly head later in therapy instead of the first night.
Unknown as to why for many people but the little devil gets in the habit of winning and doesn't like to leave.
You just have to keep telling him he isn't going to win.

If you are trying to develop some sort of sleep maintenance insomnia where you go to sleep fine and wake up for some unknown reason then you might want to take a hard look at all your sleep hygiene habits. That little devil likes to weasel in at every opportunity.

RobySue can offer much more insight into any large or small insomnia issues. Hopefully she will see your recent comments and chime in. She has practical ideas to try because she has been through it. I haven't been through it so I mostly can only offer the "bad habits are easy to make and hard to break" thing and not a lot of actually how to break it other than don't ever let the little devil win. If you have to get up out of bed to chase him away so that you aren't tempted to bury your face in the pillow...then do it.
If she doesn't see your thread...change your topic to something to include trouble staying asleep...and she will spot it and chime in with her thoughts.

[justacpapuser]

Though it is weird that I had no problem the first 2-3 weeks and now it is there for no apparent reason.
Why I wake after 3 hours or so is also a mystery.

You aren't the first to have that little devil raise its ugly head later in therapy instead of the first night.
Unknown as to why for many people but the little devil gets in the habit of winning and doesn't like to leave.
You just have to keep telling him he isn't going to win.

If you are trying to develop some sort of sleep maintenance insomnia where you go to sleep fine and wake up for some unknown reason then you might want to take a hard look at all your sleep hygiene habits. That little devil likes to weasel in at every opportunity.

RobySue can offer much more insight into any large or small insomnia issues. Hopefully she will see your recent comments and chime in. She has practical ideas to try because she has been through it. I haven't been through it so I mostly can only offer the "bad habits are easy to make and hard to break" thing and not a lot of actually how to break it other than don't ever let the little devil win. If you have to get up out of bed to chase him away so that you aren't tempted to bury your face in the pillow...then do it.
If she doesn't see your thread...change your topic to something to include trouble staying asleep...and she will spot it and chime in with her thoughts.

Thanks for the idea. I started a dedicated thread at:
viewtopic/t78994/problems-falling-aslee ... ng-up.html

[justacpapuser]

I took a look at my AHI this morning. I don't remember the exact readings, but there were two of them a little over 6.0.
I remember that a few weeks ago they were around 3.

My first 2-3 weeks were 6-7 hours straight and quality sleep, though it then stopped and now I sleep more like 5 hours and I no longer has the since of waking from a very deep state of sleep when I get up.
Any reasons to be concerned or these things happen?

[justacpapuser]

An update:

I have been using the CPAP for about half a year. In the middle of the treatment, I had about 3 months of poor usage or not using at all due to some cooling issues in my apartment I won't get into now (exceedingly hot during summer) plus mask adjustments issues. Anyways...... Last Friday I went to my doctor for a follow up. It occurred to me that I'm feeling so much better than before. Improvement manifests itself in the following areas:
[*]I am no longer thinking about coming home and going straight to bed because I'm sleepy or feel the need to "turn myself off" (haven't thought about it in some time now).
[*]Much easier to concentrate at work, playing my piano, and in conversations with people.
[*]More interest in the world surrounding me.
[*]Less depression/anxiety and depression related thoughts or repetitive thoughts.
[*]I don't feel the urge to eat too much like I did before and snacks are now just snacks not a snack meal.
[*]Better sense of well being.

These actually have been improving gradually over time. I consider the changes before and after CPAP almost like night and day. Aside from changes which are physiological, actually not being so tired and mentally fatigued allows me to enjoy things more which in turn contribute to a better mood. My doctor was very pleased to hear that and was also surprised as he diagnosed me with a mild condition. I think that on the sleep study I slept "relatively well", which what contributed to the "mild" diagnosis.

I hope that I am still in "recovery" mode and things will only get better. I just wanted to provide an update.

[chunkyfrog]

Congratulations; and good work!
For me, the improvements sneak up on me, even after nearly 3 years on.
I must have needed pap for a very long time.

[Phil_in_CA]

Thanks for your encouraging post!

I am three months in and things are better, but not only do I find myself taking the mask off in the middle of the night, I wish I felt better. I can see that I need to continue to persevere...

Phil

[justacpapuser]

Thanks for your encouraging post!

I am three months in and things are better, but not only do I find myself taking the mask off in the middle of the night, I wish I felt better. I can see that I need to continue to persevere...

Phil

I have had nights where I felt I had to take off the mask as well. Some were due to hot summer nights and some that I just felt I have to sleep on my stomach. So I can very much relate.
I advise on really taking the time to play around with your mask, potentially try other masks, clean them properly, and replace silicone parts when necessary.
On one occasion, it took me a while to figure out that I woke up at night due to a leak into my eyes due to silicone seal degradation/wear.
I only fully realized it once it started leaking even when I put the mask on - I just didn't realize that was what woke me up at night.