New and more sleep deprived than ever!

[leajbd24]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post. I just discovered the reason for my chronic fatigue of 15 years. I have sleep apnea...yahoo! I was happier than ever to finally get a diagnosis that could be treated. I want to use my new CPAP and I'm not fighting it at all.

I started using the CPAP 3 days ago. Since then, I feel more tired than ever. Last night, I slept 14 hours with only 5 of them being on CPAP. I took it off in my sleep. I just had to force myself out of bed and it was much harder than usual. I'm assuming I will need time to get used to it and hopefully sleep more soundly. I definitely am optimistic and wont give this up.

Anyone new and/or looking for a buddy, let me know!

Thanks,
Jennifer

[lbw]

Welcome to the forum!
I am about 10 months into CPAP. It took me about 3-4 months before I noticed an improvement. As you read thru the forum you will see that everyone has had a different experience. Don't forget that you have had 15 years of sleep depravation. Your body needs to catch up on it's sllep deficit. Good sleep hygiene is important. Try to keep a regular sleep cycle. I to found myself removing my mask in my sleep but it did not last long. If it keeps happening try some tape. It will wake you up so you can put the mask back on. Good luck!

[BethK]

Jenn, hang in there.........I am in the same boat, altho I tend to go into the family room and fall asleep on the couch for a few hours after taking the mask off. I keep being told to hang in, keep trying....don't give it up........I am new, starting only this past January, and it has been horrific. But the alternatives are simply not acceptable. Mask changes, adjustments.........and for me, a new doctor, and dumping Apria is in the near future. Stick to it.............

[Pugsy]

I slept 14 hours with only 5 of them being on CPAP. I took it off in my sleep.

You will feel worse doing the above. You are new at this and it does take some extra time for some people. Mask comfort and leaks will be your greatest challenge. If after a week or so you still can't increase time using the machine, look hard at mask comfort and leaks to see if that is part of the problem.

Taking mask off during the night and not realizing it? Try taping the outer surface of the mask to the face so that when you try to take it off during the night the discomfort will wake you so you can stop. May need to use snug mittens.

Wake up and ditching the mask? Gotta force yourself to put it back on. Lots of wake ups? Consider something to help you sleep better so as to not have so many wake ups? Talk to doctor about it. Some people do need a little help early on. Consider other possible sleep disturbance issues also.

Mask uncomfortable? Consider changing to something more comfortable. No way we can ever hope to sleep well with mask discomfort.

[Mary Z]

Good Luck with it. You've got to learn to keep the mask on the whole time you're sleeping- that's when you can start making up any sleep deficit you may have developed. You've gotten some good advice. You need a mask that fits, doesn't leak much, and that you can wear all night. That can take some experimentation. It can take a while to start feeling better even when completely compliant. Take baby steps, if necessary- wear the mask a little longer every night.

[kentoboo]

Jennifer, Have you considered nasal pillows? I fought the same mask you have for about a week and decided to try nasal pillows. They are a lot less restrictive and the headgear is alot lighter. Either way it is going to take time. You will soon find that you cannot go to sleep without your mask, given time.

[swfslovenian]

Hi, I am new as well. I just received the machine on Thursday. I am finding that I am sleeping a little longer each night with the mask - still taking it off though cuz I find my throat gets very dry and it wakes me up. I am pushing up the humidity each night to see if this makes a difference. I figure it will take some time to get used to - at least I hope that is the case because like you, I am feeling really tired.

[nanwilson]

Hi, I am new as well. I just received the machine on Thursday. I am finding that I am sleeping a little longer each night with the mask - still taking it off though cuz I find my throat gets very dry and it wakes me up. I am pushing up the humidity each night to see if this makes a difference. I figure it will take some time to get used to - at least I hope that is the case because like you, I am feeling really tired.

swfslovenian:
Please fill in your profile so that we know what kind of machine you have and most importantly what mask you are using. If you are using a nasal or pillows mask you are more than likely mouth breathing and your therapy is going in your nose and out your mouth....hence dry mouth and no therapy. Do a search on mouth breathing and you will find lots of suggestions, but first fill in your profile so that we can really help you with problems that crop up.
And most importantly.....WELCOME!
Cheers
Nan

[swfslovenian]

Hi, the medical supply company is going to send out a chin strap for me to try. In the meantime, I am going to increase the humidity once again.

Finally was able to see the AHI number after we changed some settings on the machine and it is 4.4 for 3 nights of sleep between 3.5 hours - 5 hours with mask on.

[Chris_Johnson]

Like swfslovenian, I also received my machine last Thursday morning. The first night was fitful trying to get the mask adjusted correctly, leaks, trying to keep my mouth shut, etc... I'm not sure how much I actually slept. The second night was much better. The machine said I used it 10.5 hours. The third night was a little worse. I woke up several times with what felt like a mouthful of cotton. I suspect my mouth is opening a little. I have ordered a chin strap that I hope will help. I know, from what others say here, that things will get better, so hang in there. That's my plan.

Chris

[Pugsy]

Chris,
Welcome to the forum. You have the ResMed Escape? Just got it? Are you aware that it is the most basic of ResMed machines and you will never be able to see anything but the hours of use? No way to monitor effectiveness of treatment. It will give good therapy but if you ever want to see any data as to how you are doing or even monitor leaks which will greatly impact therapy, this machine will not provide that information. Hours of use to satisfy insurance compliance requirements is all it will ever show you.

If you are happy with a non data capable machine, that is fine but just so you understand the limits of the machine.

[Chris_Johnson]

Are you aware that it is the most basic of ResMed machines

Yes, I realized that after reading about the machine later in the day. I don't know how others get their machines, but for me it was like this. I had the sleep study which confirmed I had apnea, my doctor then sent a prescription to a local medical company, and a nurse or technician (I'm not sure of her title) showed up at my door Thursday morning with the machine. So, I don't know how it was determined to send that particular model. Insurance company maybe ???

[Pugsy]

I don't know how it was determined to send that particular model. Insurance company maybe ???

The DME determined which machine to give you. Based on profit margin. Basic machine costs them less so they make more money. If insurance was involved it was only to verify that you had insurance. The billing code is the same for all machines. I bet the Rx from the doctor stated cpap and heated humidifier at such and such pressure.

The time to speak up is now if you want to. You do have options.

You can tell that supplier that you want at least the S9 Elite CPAP (it is fully data cpapable). See what they say.
You can shop around for a DME that will supply a data capable machine if that is what you want.
You can have the RX sent to the DME that will give you what you want.
You are entitled to have the RX yourself and even purchase out of pocket on line if you wish.


One of the members has a blog with some very useful information about DMEs and what to expect and do.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/

[bap40]

Yes, it does take time and having a positive outlook is the best way to go at it. The decision to make therapy work goes a long way in how successful we are or aren't. On to the machine issue……and it does become an issue. The first thing to be aware of is that as far as insurance companies paying for any machine goes they are billed by a single code. What this means is that both auto and straight c-pap will receive the same payment from insurance no matter what kind of machine it is. So DME's will do their best to make the most money out of us by selling a cheaper machine. So we go in blind and have no idea what is what and end up with what makes THEM the most money. A lot of sleep doctors are affiliated with a certain DME and will always go with them without even asking. You can go to any DME not just the ones connected to the doctor. The prescription given to you by the doctor has to say "auto" on it to get one. The interesting thing is that ANY doctor can write a prescription not just the sleep doctor. My place had the DME connected to the doctor's clinic and of course I got the cheapest of the lot. Since this place was associated with the doctor I could not get them to change out for an auto. What I did do was to go to my family doctor and ask him to write a prescription for an auto. He was very happy to do so. I took my machine back to the DME, fired them and hooked up with another place and got the exact machine I wanted with no problems. Since you have just started out you should be able to do the same thing. Just do some research on the different machines, find a place that is easy to deal with and get what you want. I had to stay firm on what I wanted because the RT I dealt with went as far as to call my own doctor to tell him that I did not NEED an auto machine!!! Let me tell you he was pissed about that phone call and was happy to let me have the machine of my choice. I just went in and explained the machine differences and how beneficial an auto with the ability to give me all the details on a read out and software. By the way that first DME was out of business about a year after I fired them. It is your treatment and is more likely to go much better if you have what you want. You should also ask for copies of your study to keep for yourself and have a prescription on hand if something ever happens and you are not in your home area and have a machine or mask problem. You will not be able to purchase either without a copy of your script.

Good luck and hang in there.
Brooke

[EricinNC]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post. I just discovered the reason for my chronic fatigue of 15 years. I have sleep apnea...yahoo! I was happier than ever to finally get a diagnosis that could be treated. I want to use my new CPAP and I'm not fighting it at all.

I started using the CPAP 3 days ago. Since then, I feel more tired than ever. Last night, I slept 14 hours with only 5 of them being on CPAP. I took it off in my sleep. I just had to force myself out of bed and it was much harder than usual. I'm assuming I will need time to get used to it and hopefully sleep more soundly. I definitely am optimistic and wont give this up.

Anyone new and/or looking for a buddy, let me know!

Thanks,
Jennifer

You should not feel more tired on CPAP, something is not right. Are you waking up with a dry mouth or air coming out of your mouth by any chance? That is what happened to me, I started out with a nasal mask and kept waking up with dry mouth/air leaking/gushing out of my mouth. I told my DME RT about it and was switched to a FFM and the problem disappeared overnight and I began getting consistent good sleep.

Eric