New User!!!

jfdo75 · Post by **jfdo75** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:33 pm

Hi everybody! Although, I have been having Apnea for years; I just stardet my Cpap therapy 2 months ago. At the beginning was very difficult to get used to the machine; I had a full face mask and It was something wrong with this, I don’t know if it was the size or simple I couldn’t get on with it, so and I week later I got a Devilbiss flexset nasal mask and I felt the difference since the first morning. I was very happy, I wake up early and I didn’t felt sleep in the day; it was great and my life changed. But recently I have been yawning many, many times in the afternoon, what is more yesterday I felt sleepy. Some mornings I think that the machine has not been working, but ist works just I turned over and I feel the air; and if I turned to one side I feel that the air pressure drop. My air pressure is 11 the most comfortable for my but ones a tried to up this to 12 and I cuoldn’t cope with it. Does someone know why is it? Could someone give me and advice how to have the same performance that I used to have in the first days, or this is normal?

Thanks very much

Jose

linda b · Post by **linda b** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:51 pm

In your message, you said you started with a full face mask and then switched to a nasal mask. It could be that you have air escaping through your mouth during the night without you being aware of it. If that happens too much, you lose the benefits of the therapy. Many of us use some sort of tape over their lips to keep their mouth closed. Some of us use Polident Strips cut into two pieces and placed on wet lips to keep the mouth closed. Others use a chin strap, but many find that uncomfortable.

The bottom line is that if too much air is leaking, either from a badly fitting mask or from your mouth, you are not getting the benefits you should in order to not feel sleepy. And do not be too impatient -- for some there is a great deal of "sleep debt" that the body needs to make up before you start really feeling better.

If you are quite certain that you are not mouth breathing or having serious mask leaks, your pressure may not be right. I assume the pressure you are using was determined during a sleep study. You might want to discuss your problems with your doctor or someone who did the original test and see if another pressure might be better for you. If you need a higher pressure but find it difficult to tolerate it, you might try using the ramp feature on your machine -- that is where you can set it to start at a lower pressure and it stays at that pressure for however long a time you set the ramp feature for. Another option would be to see if your doctor would order an APAP machine for you.

But the MOST important thing is to not give up. Keep trying until you find what works best for you. This forum is a great place to get lots of really good information. Check back in with us if you need help.

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:14 pm

Welcome to the forum. This is one great forum for a to zpap

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:23 pm

I'm still new at this Hosehead thing so all I can really say is to hang in there and don't give up. Keep asking your questions and you'll find your answer eventually. There is also great wisdom under the yellow light bulb at the top of the forum that might help as well.

Cliff · Post by **Cliff** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 6:27 pm

I have using cpap now for about 4 months....improvements came slowly for me, unlike a friend of mine who said it was like someone flipped a switch.

I am much better, but still get tired and yawn sometimes in the afternoon. The only thing I will say is when I do want to take a nap, it is no longer the "feel like crap and can't keep my eyes open" type tired...it is now a genuine relaxed and almost enjoyable state of being tired. And when I wake up, I wake up refreshed.

Having said that, I still sometimes use "provigil" to keep me going. I am hoping weight loss will help as well.

Cliff