Can't get through night with headgear on

srv_827 · Post by **srv_827** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:52 pm

I have had my S8 Compact with Mirage Swift for about 2 months now and am getting discouraged.

At first, I was able to sleep for a while with it on, but would wake up in the middle of the night and rip it off because it was either uncomfortable or was interfering with me getting back to sleep. I figured this would get better with time and kept a positive attitude about the whole thing.

After a few weeks, I started to notice that I was waking up with the headgear on the floor with the machine still running. Through conversations with my wife, I have surmised that I am taking the headgear off within 10-30 minutes of going to sleep. Ditto when my wife wakes me up and has me put it back on. I like to sleep on my side or stomach, very rarely on my back. I can't seem to adjust the headgear to get a comfortable fit in these positions. I'm thinking maybe this is why I've been taking it off, but I can't get a different style for 4 or 5 months because of insurance.

Frustration is not the word. I am trying to keep an upbeat attitude about the whole thing, but I am getting a less and less restful sleep at night. I can usually get through work okay, but as soon as I get home I'm useless. Here's the cycle: I don't sleep well, which makes me more tired during the day, which makes me do less and gain weight, which increases my apnea symptoms, which makes it so I don't sleep as well, etc., etc.

I have also noticed that when I have the Swift on, I often yawn frequently. My pressure was originally at 5 and I bumped it to 7 and then 9, but I hasn't seemed like I has helped.

I hope this doesn't sound too disjointed. I am tired as hell. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Now, I'm going to take a nap.....

Selena (but really Julie) · Post by **Selena (but really Julie)** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 4:38 pm

Hi, Have you tried a nasal masK? I found the Swift to be next to useless myself, no matter what the setting, and now use an Resmed Ultramirage II. I'm certainly aware of wearing it, and have pulled it off on occasion, but I can also sleep anyway I want to without it coming off easily, and it doesn't vent straight out in front like so many others - and the Swift vents noisily. Maybe even a full face mask might be worth a try for you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:32 pm

You should just go to CPAP.com and see if you can get a Comfort Lite 2 or Aura. Those two masks dont go on your face nearly as much. Also, try a sleeping pill if you have to, not consistantly, but jsut for a week, to get your subconcious used to the mask. I am not a doctor nor do iplay one on TV so take this information accordingly.

Jack

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:34 pm

you're only the 10th zillion person, including myself, who has had trouble adjusting to sleeping with a mask, there are many archived posts on this topic, so you should check them out.

train yourself to sleep on only one side with swift and put the mini-hose on the other side. this may not come easily at first but will with practice.

it's a negotiation between the requirements of wearing the mask and your sleeping preferences. i wouldn't expect the mask to wholly conform to you, but rather you have to do a bit of conforming to the mask, as above. the mask is like a child--you've got to give in to it a bit.

i think, from what you describe, it's a mask adjustment problem, not a swift adjustment problem, although i could be wrong. i'm projecting here. when i've been in mask avoidance mode, they all wind up on the floor or the bed. it doesn't matter where they wind up, only that they're not on your face.

you should look for the archived threads on making friends with your mask.

good luck. this too shall pass.

caroline

littlebaddow · Post by **littlebaddow** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:30 am

srv_827 wrote:Now, I'm going to take a nap.....

How was the nap and did you take the nap with the mask on
I found napping in an armchair for an hour or so with the machine and mask helped me to adjust to using them.

Do persevere, the long term benefit will far outweigh the short term discomfort and frustration.

Good luck.

srv_827 · Post by **srv_827** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:18 pm

Thanks for the input.

I actually never got a nap (my wife has a honey-do list she won't let me forget about), but I never thought about taking one with the mask on. I'll have to try that. My wife video taped a nap of mine about a week ago and I kept curling my upper lip like I was imitating a monkey or something. I was laughing my butt off until I noticed that I wasn't breathing half the time. After watching that, I've decided to redouble my efforts to get this thing working right.

As for getting a new mask, my insurance won't pay for another until somewhere around October and I don't have the money to go buy one right now, so I am going to try to make this work.

Also, any ideas on what to search for to find older topics?

Thanks again for the time everybody

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:30 pm

I just found this and copied it to another post in the forum. Thought you might be able to pick up some hints here too. Try reading them.

viewtopic.php?t=3934

littlebaddow · Post by **littlebaddow** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:37 pm

srv_827 wrote: I actually never got a nap (my wife has a honey-do list she won't let me forget about), but I never thought about taking one with the mask on. I'll have to try that. My wife video taped a nap of mine about a week ago and I kept curling my upper lip like I was imitating a monkey or something. I was laughing my butt off until I noticed that I wasn't breathing half the time.

I would never think about taking a nap without the mask and machine. Not breathing cannot be good for you any time you sleep, even if only for half an hour or less

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:41 pm

yes, you need to get your mind to make this equation: sleep=mask.

caroline

p.s i didn't mean to sound like your dilemma is old news or not worthy. mask resistance is part of the drill for many of us, but once you can get it to stay on, i think you'll find it worth the effort.

Sinister_Girl · Post by **Sinister_Girl** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:11 pm

I am going through the same problem with my headgear. I am not sleeping well because of it. Sometimes, I HAVE to take it off because the head strap gives me a headache. I've loosened the headgear straps, but that just causes the mask to slip off. For the past few weeks I have been thinking of ways to rig my headgear, to the point that it's comfortable & won't slip off. I'm sorry you can't buy another set of headgear and/or mask because of insurance. I don't have health insurance because I don't work. Thanks to the Apnea, I never lasted very long at one job. As soon as I start feeling better, I am going to go back to work! The best job I ever had was as a Veterinary Asst. I want to do that again. And it's imperative to be alert at that job. Anyway, for now I go to the State Hospital for medical care & meds. My mother & boyfriend went in 50/50 and bought me the CPAP. I'm very fortunate. I'm not giving up on the CPAP and I don't want you to either! We'll make it through this trying time. Besides there are lotsa cool people on this forum who have been or are going through the same thing. With their knowledge and advice we will OVERCOME!
_________________

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DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 12:14 am

When you can get a mask, it sounds like the Resmed Activa will work for you.

srv_827 · Post by **srv_827** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 6:49 pm

Wow Linda, you're Awesome!!! You should be named the official CPAPtalk Archiver or something regal sounding. I appreciate your links

I tried some more adjustments last night and was able to get a couple hours sleep with the Swift on, but... My wife came to bed after I was asleep and said that I was on my side and she heard a gurgling, rushing air sort of sound which I took to mean that my mouth was open. She also said that I would stop breathing frequently, but would start again when she touched me. This also backs up the idea of my mouth being open, because if it weren't, I would hope the machine would be forcing me to breath. I read something on here about mouth taping, but I have facial hair and sensitive skin, so I'm going to look a bit more into using fixodent or something to glue my lips shut.

One more thing. A big part of the reason I removed the Swift last night was nose irritation. My right nostril was real sore and I thought I could smell blood (probably just from the rawness, not from actually bleeding or anything). I bought some nostril moisturizer at Rite-Aid today, but I was curious what other people use to help alleviate this problem.

Oh yeah. I figured I wasn't the first one with issues, so your comments weren't taken as anything but helpful Caroline. Thanks.

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 7:50 pm

people use ayr gel, saline solution, vaseline or k-y jelly. each one has its fans, and we do not debate the ins-and-outs of each one around here anymore, because discussions have become too heated. but those are the options.

caroline

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:34 pm

I'm a side sleeper, and couldn't manage the Swift.
I find the Breeze and the Headrest (Aura) much easier on my nose for side sleeping.

The Aura is a good all arounder, the Breeze is more problematic for back sleeping.

And yes, I used one of the things mentioned by caroline, for a long time.

O

srv_827 · Post by **srv_827** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:11 pm

From everything that I've been reading, I'm guessing that I'll try the Aura when I get to order a new one. I sleep almost exclusively on my side and stomach. It's amazing how much I've learned about my sleep habits since this began. I guess I never really cared before.

I didn't have a good night last night, but here I go to try again. Wish me luck.....

Can't get through night with headgear on

Can't get through night with headgear on

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Re: Can't get through night with headgear on

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