Aaaaargh, I hate this

[Rick B]

Well, I got in 8 hours last night after two weeks of this. Woke up 4 times after about an hour and a half. Used an allergy pill and saline spray to clear my sinuses when I went to bed. Had to use the saline spray again after second wake-up for clogged sinuses again. The humidifier was at 2 and I turned it down to 1. All in all, I think I got about maybe 5-6 hours sleep out of the whole 8. Good thing I'm on vacation this week so I could try to get more sleep, otherwise the sleep time would have been considerably less. I'm dreading going back to work next week and having to set the alarm clock.

Aaaaaaaaaargh!

[sleepmba]

You are on the right track. Experimenting with the humidifier is a good idea. Tonight trying setting 3 may make a positive difference.

When I'm performing titrations in the sleep center, first I'll make sure the mask has a good seal and then I'll increase the heated humidity for congestion. Give it a whirl and keep us informed.

You may find some of the topics helpful in my blog listed in my signature below. Good Luck.

[elena88]

"Aaaaaaaaaargh! "

(oh boy, do we know what you mean!)

HI Rick,
I know it doesnt FEEL like you are doing so great, but in the scheme of things, logging in eight hours is a milestone..
even with the waking up so much, sinus issues.. Its one heck of a learning curve, isnt it?

It is a good thing you are on vacation, because this is quite an adjustment.. pretty soon you wont remember what a struggle these first
few weeks were, and when you get your humidity figured out, and all the rest of it, youll be having some pretty sweet dreams and
maybe lots more energy too.

Keep us updated! We are all pulling for you!

elena

[tattooyu]

I completely agree that you are on the right track. ESPECIALLY, since you put the mask back on after your middle-of-the-night arousals. That's a huge thing as is the number of hours you logged.

Is your mask sealing well? If not, fix that first. Play around with the humidifier a bit. Higher might be better for you. For me, too much humidity clogs me up, unless I'm sick and then it's better. You might not need the humidifier at all.

Keep going! It gets better the more you persist!

[carbonman]

Aaaaaaaaaargh!

Ode to a newbie: How easy it is.

I wish I could tell you how easy it is.
I put on the mask, I hit the blue light,
I'm adrift in the night.

It did'nt come easy you know,
infact it was a fright.
The straps and that mask,
....and....damn those blue lights,

I screamed and swore,
and cried out in the night,
"Why me? Why me?"
This just isn't right.

Out of thin air, through the ethernet,
came a glimmer of hope, as I cried out my plight,
"..please, don't spook me, don't scare me,
I just want to sleep through the night."

My questions were answered,
my mind put at ease.
We're here to help you,
all you got'a do....
is believe.

So,I listened and learned.
I chin strapped and glued,
and sealed up the holes.
I had tender, scraped nares
and a bruised, bleeding nose.

Night after night, I begged for relief.
"Please, please...give me back my life!"
Then one morning, just after first light,
a release from the pain, the fatigue,
just ever so slight.

Now.....it's just that easy.
I put on the mask, I hit the blue light,
I have a new life.

[obrosk]

Carbonman, your "Ode to a Newbie" was wonderfully reassuring. I needed it. Thanks!

[sonyat]

I also had a bad night last night. The back of my throat kept filling with air and I had to open my mouth to release the pressure. Gave up at 3 am when I figured out that the problem was that one side of my sinuses was totally blocked, so I couldn't exhale enough out, hence air stuck in my throat. And this was after doing a saline rinse and using my Beconase nose spray. Bummed out because I woke up today feeling like crap, and I really enjoyed all the other mornings this week where I felt alert.

I wish I could get sinus surgery already.

So, more humidity, not less?

I don't want to have to get a new mask (not a lot of money right now) but I wonder if I'd be better off with a hybrid.

[carbonman]

I needed it.

I know.

Thanks!

You're welcome!

[kteague]

Yeah, good timing on having some time off from work. About the congestion, have you tried a nasal rinse in the evenings? It can rinse out some of the allergens that contribute to congestion. I would recommend not waiting till bedtime though since it seems to stir things up for a little while. Also, have you tried elevating the dead of your bed a few inches to see if just a bit of gravity might help things from backing up? Not sure about all machines, but I know the white fine filter on my machine sure catches a lot of dirt that makes it thru the foam filter.
EDIT: make that the HEAD of the bed

[bedhead1]

I have trouble with the humidifier causing my sinuses to swell and close. So I turn the heat off and just let the air blow over the water. That is sufficient to keep the air humid. No more closed nose! Hope this helps you.

[frh]

It is interesting how everyone is different. Nasal congestion made my first two or 3 weeks on CPAP terrible. A neti pot nasal rinse did not help a lot. Then I got a prescription for Nasonex. It took about two weeks for it to start working, and I haven't had a congested night since. I have a problem with irritation in my esophagus. The humidity really helps ease the irritation, so I have it turned way up.

[Muse-Inc]

...one side of my sinuses was totally blocked...wonder if I'd be better off with a hybrid.

Works for my 30+ yrs of chronic congesion-allergies-vasomotor rhinitis.