Two nites & frustrated!

kquilts · Post by **kquilts** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 10:45 am

Hello all,
My doctor was able to move up my appt from the end of the month. I started using all the new stuff Saturday night, I clocked in 3 hours the first night and
90 minutes last night.
I was given two mask and both seem to have negative issues. The Swift moves off my nose when I roll to my back or my side, if its too tight I'm woken with a tooth ache and upper lip pain under the nose.
The second mask which covers the nose and rest on my forehead, is fine as long as I do not move an inch. otherwise I repositioning it then I lay there awake waiting for my mind to shut down and fall back to sleep.
I finally gave up and shut the machine off.
Doctor told me when I left the clinic, do what you can and don't worry about
getting 8 hours, work thru it and take in one night at a time.
Two nites down 28 days left before I return for a check-up. I'm so tired and now feeling down and no longer so eager to go to bed. So far this is discouraging
Thanks for listening!

tlc95066 · Post by **tlc95066** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:24 am

Hi Kquilts,

Please call your doc and see about getting another appt sooner. Or does your doc have a respitory therapist (RT) that can help you with find a comfortable mask. I don't see my doc when I need adjustment to my machine or want to try different masks, I see the RT.

It does take awhile to find a mask that will work for you. Please don't give up! I think just about everyone on this board will tell you that they tried several masks before finding on that was comfortable. I think I am on mask 3 or 4.

I know for me it took some time before I was able to ignore or get used to all the "new noises" with wearing a mask and the machine. The amount of time that you will keep your mask on will gradually increase over time also. I remember only keeping my mask on for a few hours a night before tearing it off. Now I am sleeping anywhere from 6-8 hours. Just depends upon how much sleep I am actually getting.

Hang in there,i remember being where you are right now a few months ago. It really does get better!
Best,
Teri

PS. Make yourself a pest to the doc until you get what you need. Remember he is working for you.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:59 am

I'm so tired and now feeling down and no longer so eager to go to bed. So far this is discouraging

I know what you're talking about. My first two week, with unfitting masks and wrong pressure were dreadful. And even when the mask was OK, it was all those strange sensations and sounds....

I read what you wrote on the other thread about your daily driving - I can only suggest that if it's that bad, try to take time off for this "cpap boot camp" time. If you can't do more than 90 minutes in the beginning do the 90, and don't worry about the rest. You're training yourself to sleep differently, or as someone on (I think) this forum once said: you were "perscribed this new way of breathing" while you sleep - it needs time.

I also found the following very helpful:Diary of a new hoser.

We're listening - we know how hard it can be, and we know how much help we've recieved from others on the forum - don't let discouragement have the upper hand.

O.

Jan in Colo. · Post by **Jan in Colo.** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 12:46 pm

I use the Swift and have no trouble changing positions with it. There are many threads on the topic of the Swift...you might want to do a search and get ideas and inspirations on how to adjust it properly.

I found that if I adjust it somewhat snugly, but not tight, that was best. And then you can rotate that plastic nose thingie to get it aimed in the right direction. Also, I turn the CPAP on before I put the mask on. Then that sucker just seals right on and I have very few problems during the night. I believe someone else may have said that you might try one size up on the nasal pillows, sometimes that works better.

Oh, the back strap tends to ride up. Someone suggested putting your hair in a ponytail if you have enough hair that is, and putting that back strap under the ponytail to keep it from riding up. Well I don't have long enough hair for a ponytail and I can't stand to sleep on the rubberband anyway. But I have tried pulling up my hair just with my hand and positioning that back strap at the nape of my neck.....that works pretty well at keeping it in place.

Keep trying....this is going to work for you!

Jan in Colo.

joey · Post by **joey** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:01 pm

Nearly all of us had trouble at the beginning, it took me 6 months, but don't give up. I know it doesn't seem possible now but it does get better and sooner than later you won't want to be without CPAP.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:32 pm

Just let me add to try changing pillows or not use one at all for a few nights. That is what moves the Swift. Don't give up! It will get better. And when it does, you will start feeling so much better.

Fatigue Fighter · Post by **Fatigue Fighter** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 9:24 pm

I clocked in 3 hours the first night and
90 minutes last night.

Wow! I think you are actually doing quite well for the first two nights. Really! It takes time to adjust to everything. Try adjusting the Swift more and definitely try different pillows as everything changes once you are on XPAP therapy. Eventually, you actually do fall asleep for longer periods and, from the sound of it, you are just going through the "one step forward and two steps backward" period.

FF

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 9:30 pm

And then one day you can't sleep without it cradleing you.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:59 pm

rock and roll wrote:And then one day you can't sleep without it cradleing you.

How true!
O.

Jan in Colo. · Post by **Jan in Colo.** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:41 am

Oh, just remembered another tip I was given.....to go home with the masks and just watch TV or read a book with them (it) on, to help you acclimate to it. So basically every time I was going to sit down, I hooked myself up until it all felt normal.....

Just a thought. Doesn't address the fact you can't get them to stay on though, does it.

Jan in Colo.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:29 am

If you have the wrong size pillows on your Swift (too small) then it won't stay in place and will leak. I know this because I tried the small.

If the straps are too loose, the Swift won't stay on place and will leak. I know this because last week my straps (the rear ones, not the top ones) were too loose and I had leaks at my nares loud enough to wake my wife!

If the straps are too tight, it'll hurt your nose. I know this because that is the way I wore it the first night.

If the pillow size is just right and the straps are just right, I sleep like a baby! I know this, because that's the way it has been most nights .

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): swift

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:52 am

I don't know what other mask you have, but I can tell you some things about the Swift. First of all, start from scratch. Loosen the straps and, like Bill said, use the right size pillows. Good idea is to stand in front of a mirror and try the different sizes and see which best covers your nares. They don't have to be overly huge, as that will make your nares sore, but enough to cover them.

Once you do that, put them on the straps. Then put the device on and tighten the back strap first. Do not overly tighten it, but just enough to feel it comfortably snug. Then adjust the top strap until you're comfortable that the barrel stays in place and that it's not too tight to hurt your nose.

Then try turning on the machine. If you hear or feel any leaks, then gently rotate the barrel until you are able to seal wherever the leak is coming from. When the straps are adjusted properly, the tops/side straps should be somewhere in the middle between the sides of your eyes and the tops of the ears, not close to the top of your ears. The adjustment really does make a difference.

You might try, too, if you sleep with the hose in the down position, sleeping a bit on the edge of the pillow when you turn on the side that the hose is connected to. I bought myself a Tempur Pedic pillow and it worked a lot better than any of the other ones I bought or owned before.

I hope this can help you in some way get a better fit so that you won't have the problems with all the leaks at night. There is also a post from Tridens about how to affix the hose in the up position by attached it to the TOP strap. Keeps the tube out of the way of your face guaranteed. I will give you the link. My daughter is "featured" in the photos that show how it should be configured in that thread so you can get a visual, too. viewtopic.php?t=4290&highlight=swift

Hang in there. If these two masks don't work out, there are a zillion more you can try. It's trial and error. But don't give up too fast until you exhaust everything you can try with the ones you spent your money on this time. Sometimes it's just a matter of a tweak here and there. I loved the Swift. Thought it was the best mask they put out. Now I am using the Aura and love that even more.

Let us know how you make out, please. You will do fine. Sometimes it just takes a little time to get it right.

Mask

Two nites & frustrated!

Two nites & frustrated!

Don,t give up