My "tryer" is fluking out!

[jshuler43]

Oh, despite all the help I have gotten on this forum - I still find myself almost about to give up. I just can't seem to wear the mask for over 3 or 4 hours a night. I keep it on in the evening when I watch television trying to get used to it. My mask appears to have very little leakage. It's not that uncomfortable. But I wake up in the morning with no mask on. Most of the time I have no memory of taking it off. But I seem to wake up about 4:30 (I go to sleep about 12:30-1:00). If I try to put the mask back on, I start to wake up to the point that i won't go back to sleep. In fact the mask is a pretty good deterrent to sleep. I have a hard time falling asleep with it on - night or nap time.

I think part of it is I'm having trouble breathing or getting enough air. I went to ENT and was told I have a deviated septum and enlarged turbinates. (I had surgery for this about 8 years ago!) Weird! I'm taking some steroid spray for my nose, but it's not completely helpful. I also saw my sleep dr and she said that my mouth is very narrow and that she felt I needed the MMA surgery on my jaws. She said I would be the perfect candidate. I was told this 8 years about, but just couldn't go through with it.

I don't know if the little bit of CPAP has made a difference. I don't know if there is any marked increase in energy. So far, I don't feel I can't live without it.

Unfortunately, my brain just can't seem to get the hang of SleepyHead. I have it downloaded and can read the info, but I can't transfer it to the board to save my life. Even had my son try to help and he was no better. So, I hesitate to ask for help as I can't give you the backup to really be able to figure things out.

[Pugsy]

Do you know how to take a screen shot?
If so...take a screen shot and save it as a jpg file to your desktop where you can find it easily.
Then go to imgur.com and create a free account...then upload that saved image to imgur...then copy the BBC code it will show you available for your image...then paste that BBC code in the body of your text here ....then click "preview" button...if you can see the image you did it right.

If you don't know how to take a screen shot...I think F12 it is in SleepyHead...will do it. You still have to save it to where you can find it to upload.
or if you have Windows Vista or higher it usually has the Snipping Tool in Accessories...Google Windows Snipping Tool.

Oh...4 hours of sleep with the cpap mask on is still better than sleeping without using it at all. Not ideal but some therapy is better than no therapy.

[49er]

Jshuler,

I am in the exact same position with the deviated septum and swollen turbinates and narrow mouth. Only difference is I fall asleep way too easily. Other than that, I totally relate.

49er

Oh, despite all the help I have gotten on this forum - I still find myself almost about to give up. I just can't seem to wear the mask for over 3 or 4 hours a night. I keep it on in the evening when I watch television trying to get used to it. My mask appears to have very little leakage. It's not that uncomfortable. But I wake up in the morning with no mask on. Most of the time I have no memory of taking it off. But I seem to wake up about 4:30 (I go to sleep about 12:30-1:00). If I try to put the mask back on, I start to wake up to the point that i won't go back to sleep. In fact the mask is a pretty good deterrent to sleep. I have a hard time falling asleep with it on - night or nap time.

I think part of it is I'm having trouble breathing or getting enough air. I went to ENT and was told I have a deviated septum and enlarged turbinates. (I had surgery for this about 8 years ago!) Weird! I'm taking some steroid spray for my nose, but it's not completely helpful. I also saw my sleep dr and she said that my mouth is very narrow and that she felt I needed the MMA surgery on my jaws. She said I would be the perfect candidate. I was told this 8 years about, but just couldn't go through with it.

I don't know if the little bit of CPAP has made a difference. I don't know if there is any marked increase in energy. So far, I don't feel I can't live without it.

Unfortunately, my brain just can't seem to get the hang of SleepyHead. I have it downloaded and can read the info, but I can't transfer it to the board to save my life. Even had my son try to help and he was no better. So, I hesitate to ask for help as I can't give you the backup to really be able to figure things out.

[jshuler43]

49er - Thanks for the reply! I do fall asleep on a dime when I'm not wearing the mask. All I have to do to stay awake is put on the mask!

Are you thinking of having surgery? My ENT is encouraging me to do that. I'm thinking it would help me actually breath more when I wear the mask. Right now I feel kind of suffocated with the mask on.

[Pugsy]

Refresh my memory please...what pressure are you using and are you using the ramp feature at the start of the night ...also what size nasal pillow are you using?

[Julie]

And just because... have you looked at the Sleepweaver mask on Cpap.com? It's fabric, and may be worth trying as it's softer than regular masks - as long as it fits you, of course.

[49er]

49er - Thanks for the reply! I do fall asleep on a dime when I'm not wearing the mask. All I have to do to stay awake is put on the mask!

Are you thinking of having surgery? My ENT is encouraging me to do that. I'm thinking it would help me actually breath more when I wear the mask. Right now I feel kind of suffocated with the mask on.

Yup, I am definitely thinking of having it. First plan of action is to have a full scale study since all I had was a worthless home study and go from there.

[Sir NoddinOff]

When you wake up after 3-4 hrs and take your nasal pillows off, do you have a dry mouth Try and write it down if you do, so that you don't forget. Maybe tuck a small piece of paper or something under your headstrap so it will fall out when you take off your headgear... be sure to have a pen nearby to take a note about dry mouth.

[herefishy]

Maybe try tying a panty hose around your forehead, over your mask, so just an accidental tug won't pull off your mask?

[IreneN]

The first few nights I wore the Nuance gel pillow mask I woke up without it on also. I figured out that it was slipping off because of my hair. I fixed that by pulling my hair up over the back strap and now it stays on without a problem. Probably not the answer to your problem, but you never know....