Sleeping worse (1-3 hrs) with cpap. How do i make it better for me?

[kdt15]

Resmed airsense 10 with humidifier, full mask phillips amara

I take it off in 1.5-3 hrs apparently in my reports.

I notice its uncomfortable and then just take it off and wake up or just go back to sleep normally. i gasp for air at times with it on.


I do have a stuffy nose most of my day (and my life) and it alternates. i mouth breathe a lot for convenience. i sleep with mouthbreathing as well and thus drool. with this mask, i try to force nose breathing. sometimes my mouth opens up a bit and it feels like i choke since a ton of air shoots in, prompting me to go back to nose breathing.

What can i do to make this better? Are there certain things i should adjust?


thanks

[kteague]

Based on your prior posts, it looks you've been on cpap for a few months now. Do you use it every night for 1-3 hours or how often? About the mask discomfort that results in waking and taking the mask off, can you be a bit more descriptive of what is uncomfortable... the mask itself? the headgear? the ability to breathe comfortably? We might think of some tips if you can help us be more targeted. Someone here may have experienced the same things.

It would be interesting to see what the data gurus here would think of your Oscar reports. If your therapy isn't yet optimized it could account for the times you say you gasp for air. Could be that a little tweak of your settings could have you sleeping more comfortably.

[kdt15]

Based on your prior posts, it looks you've been on cpap for a few months now. Do you use it every night for 1-3 hours or how often? About the mask discomfort that results in waking and taking the mask off, can you be a bit more descriptive of what is uncomfortable... the mask itself? the headgear? the ability to breathe comfortably? We might think of some tips if you can help us be more targeted. Someone here may have experienced the same things.

It would be interesting to see what the data gurus here would think of your Oscar reports. If your therapy isn't yet optimized it could account for the times you say you gasp for air. Could be that a little tweak of your settings could have you sleeping more comfortably.

thanks for the response! i actually stopped in august after this and forgot about it, wanted to return to it. im going to try it tonight again and see what the issues are since i forgot.

[chunkyfrog]

Tape the mask to your face, and wear mittens.
Consistency will achieve what a half-hearted "try" cannot.

[Skete211]

Is the mask you currently use the only mask you have tried? Maybe that mask just doesn't work for you. I went through four different masks and/or sizes before I finally got the one that works for me. Maybe the mask you are using isn't a good fit?

[harrywr2]

I was also a mouth breather with chronic nasal congestion. My sleep doctor insisted I 'try' nasal pillows. (I started with P10 pillows but prefer the hose on a swivel above my head of the P30i setup.)
The humidifier on the CPAP machine does a fair job of keeping the congestion in check so I can breath thru the nasal pillows.
I turned off the autoramp(I was gasping for air) and find a minimum pressure of around 6-7 cmH20 a comfortable breathing point. (The initial 5 cmH20 on my prescription probably would be fine if I was breathing thru my mouth)
I also spent a couple of afternoons/evenings sitting on the couch with the mask on and the machine running to get used to the mask.

Everyone is different and the journey to a full nights restful sleep is filled with trial and error and sometimes a lot of frustration.

[Mr Nosey]

Based on your prior posts, it looks you've been on cpap for a few months now. Do you use it every night for 1-3 hours or how often? About the mask discomfort that results in waking and taking the mask off, can you be a bit more descriptive of what is uncomfortable... the mask itself? the headgear? the ability to breathe comfortably? We might think of some tips if you can help us be more targeted. Someone here may have experienced the same things.

It would be interesting to see what the data gurus here would think of your Oscar reports. If your therapy isn't yet optimized it could account for the times you say you gasp for air. Could be that a little tweak of your settings could have you sleeping more comfortably.

thanks for the response! i actually stopped in august after this and forgot about it, wanted to return to it. im going to try it tonight again and see what the issues are since i forgot.

I hate to say this but you really should aggressively fight to make CPAP therapy work for you, regardless of the number or frequency of failure or the number of hours you can tolerate therapy. Not being able to breathe does affect health...this is a fight you cannot afford to lose. When I first started on CPAP, it took me many weeks to sort out what would work for me.

As you have chronic nasal congestion, seems like a FF mask makes the most sense unless you can/have identified drug(s) that will reduce stuffiness (unless it's structural). Have you tried triamcinolone, azelastine or oxymetazoline nasal sprays? Also, how about one of the newer FF masks that don't extend over the nose? Maybe one of the newer FF masks won't leak as much.

You really should sort this out regardless of the amount of effort, costs (if possible) and/or discomfort ..it's a fight you cannot afford to lose..and you will ultimately feel better.