Am I ever going to make it past 4 hours?
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Am I ever going to make it past 4 hours?
4 hours is my magic number. Off comes the mask. And off I go in search of something to drink to relieve my dried out mouth. Is it possible that I would be better off with just the nasal pillows and a chinstrap?? I know I'm not due a new mask yet. Unless I get a copy of my prescription and buy from cpap.com instead of going through my DME.
_________________
| Mask: Swift™ FX For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: ResMed VPAP S and a Padacheek hose cozy, Quattro FFM as backup |
Original AHI of 32
Mirage Liberty hybrid mask as backup
Mirage Liberty hybrid mask as backup
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fastwingguy
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2010 5:59 pm
- Location: the 'burbs of Detroit
Re: Am I ever going to make it past 4 hours?
Thats just part of fitting CPAP into your life. The mask is the smallest part of the system, but in some ways the biggest element. If you aren't "into" your mask, you can have the best machine and it doesn't matter. Some of us go through a dozen masks before finding one that suits us. CPAP is great stuff but it IS intrusive technology in a very personal area of your life. You just have to be comitted and keep "dinking around" with different solutions.
Re: Am I ever going to make it past 4 hours?
Yes, you WILL make it past 4 hours if you keep working at it and knocking off each little issue that causes you problems.
It takes a while to really get used to it, and it can take several masks before you find your "forever" mask that allows you to sleep comfortably. I went through 10 masks!
If it is possible, try putting the mask back on when you rip it off. Use the tape suggestion so that you wake up when you rip it off. The trick is to get your subconscious to really accept the fact that sleep = mask, and that means putting it back on every time you take it off. Yes, you'll have a lot of lousy nights' sleep at first, but they will improve. It takes that consistent putting-back-on to really get your mind to understand that this is not an option.
I was lucky--fairly soon after I started, I had taken my mask off and was going back to sleep when I had one of the dreaded "I'm suffocating and dying dreams" from a long apnea. I hated those with a passion, and that one incident (after a few nights of not having any of those dreams), was all it took to convince me that I would not sleep without my mask again. Period. And I haven't. Can't even pretend to sleep without my mask.
Weezy
It takes a while to really get used to it, and it can take several masks before you find your "forever" mask that allows you to sleep comfortably. I went through 10 masks!
If it is possible, try putting the mask back on when you rip it off. Use the tape suggestion so that you wake up when you rip it off. The trick is to get your subconscious to really accept the fact that sleep = mask, and that means putting it back on every time you take it off. Yes, you'll have a lot of lousy nights' sleep at first, but they will improve. It takes that consistent putting-back-on to really get your mind to understand that this is not an option.
I was lucky--fairly soon after I started, I had taken my mask off and was going back to sleep when I had one of the dreaded "I'm suffocating and dying dreams" from a long apnea. I hated those with a passion, and that one incident (after a few nights of not having any of those dreams), was all it took to convince me that I would not sleep without my mask again. Period. And I haven't. Can't even pretend to sleep without my mask.
Weezy
_________________
| Mask: Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control |
| Additional Comments: Hybrid is alternate mask |
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cpapmommy
Re: Am I ever going to make it past 4 hours?
I know how you feel I have been on the cpap machine for less than a week and Im trying to my mask on past 4 hrs,but its hard! Mary FF mask: Quarto mirage macinhe : Remstar system one
Re: Am I ever going to make it past 4 hours?
Dusty and Mary,
I am also new to CPAP, I'm on my 15th day, but I have tried twice in the past and gave up, before I felt any real benefits. Please don't give up because someday, you will have to address it, like me, and I regret having not solved these problems six years ago when I was first diagnosed. The problem doesn't go away on its own, and you're left dealing with it again, again. I dreaded going to bed and putting on the stupid mask and fighting with it all night. I try to justify sleeping without it because I feel like I sleep better, just because I am not aware that I am waking up. I have figured out that it's just an illusion. You're NOT going to get good sleep without the mask if you have sleep apnea. And I do feel worse than I did before I started, but I hear this is normal, too. You have to repay your "sleep debt."
I can't help much with masks or machines or anything because I am new to this, too. But I found the PurSleep.com website that sells aroma therapy for your CPAP. The theory is that your brain can only focus on one thing at a time, and if you can smell a pleasant aroma coming into your mask, then your brain can focus on that, instead of whatever's bothering you and keeping you from sleep. It seems to help me -- A LOT. It's $34, I believe is what I paid. And they send you three big bottles, one is called "Spice" one is "Clear" (supposed to help clear your nasal passages, has peppermint, lime, sage, and clary sage) one is "Peace" and there's ten samples of other fragrances they carry. One is called "Calm", one is "Fresh", one is "Comfort" one is "Deep." Some are just fun, like Black Cherry, (which I absolutely LOVE) and bubblegum, strawberry (Love it!), French vanilla, and the only one I can't stand is the Dark Chocolate -- The only awful one in the bunch. It comes with little wafers (diffusers) that you put just a drop or two, or several drops if you want to really be immersed in the smell, and a diffuser stand that you set behind your machine at the air intake.
I am finding that I actually look forward to putting the mask on and trying a new scent! May not work for everyone, but I am finding that it does seem to help make it not so unpleasant. I have only had it a week, and I am having fun trying out the different scents. Yeah, FUN! Fancy that!
Anyway, just a suggestion, as I know what you are dealing with and I'm dealing with the same thing. Past pulling the mask off, but still don't find it comfortable, and just really hate everything about this "Treatment." Wish I could just take a pill...
If you're interested, the actual product is called CPAP Vapo Clear. PurSleep.com.
Also, Mary, I used the Quattro Full Face Mask for a while last time I tried and found it was the best one I had tried until then. I was just given the FlexiFit 431 a few days ago, and I like it MUCH better! It keeps its seal and is very comfortable.
And Dusty, I was having the same problem with a dry mouth. I am a die-hard mouth breather. I can't really breathe well through my nose. When I would wake up, my tongue would be cracked in three or four places, and it hurts and bothers me during the day, and just gets worse the next day after another dry night. Makes me hate it even more. I don't know if you use a humidifier or not, but mine didn't seem to do any thing to relieve the dryness. Like there was no moisture whatsoever. Someone suggested somewhere that you heat the water a little. Helps the humidifier to work a little better, I think. I have not had a dry mouth since I started doing this. Not boiling or anything, just a little help for the humidifier to get the steam going.
Just my two cents from one newby to another.... just try to solve one problem at a time, and then on to the next. Just don't give up! It helps so much to have the support of this forum, people that have been there, done that, and solved their problems one by one, and now actually have a life! Anybody that doesn't use CPAP can't understand these problems, including a lot of doctors and especially the DMEs. I am determined not to give up this time. Good luck and keep at it, I hear it's worth it!
Lori Dawn
I am also new to CPAP, I'm on my 15th day, but I have tried twice in the past and gave up, before I felt any real benefits. Please don't give up because someday, you will have to address it, like me, and I regret having not solved these problems six years ago when I was first diagnosed. The problem doesn't go away on its own, and you're left dealing with it again, again. I dreaded going to bed and putting on the stupid mask and fighting with it all night. I try to justify sleeping without it because I feel like I sleep better, just because I am not aware that I am waking up. I have figured out that it's just an illusion. You're NOT going to get good sleep without the mask if you have sleep apnea. And I do feel worse than I did before I started, but I hear this is normal, too. You have to repay your "sleep debt."
I can't help much with masks or machines or anything because I am new to this, too. But I found the PurSleep.com website that sells aroma therapy for your CPAP. The theory is that your brain can only focus on one thing at a time, and if you can smell a pleasant aroma coming into your mask, then your brain can focus on that, instead of whatever's bothering you and keeping you from sleep. It seems to help me -- A LOT. It's $34, I believe is what I paid. And they send you three big bottles, one is called "Spice" one is "Clear" (supposed to help clear your nasal passages, has peppermint, lime, sage, and clary sage) one is "Peace" and there's ten samples of other fragrances they carry. One is called "Calm", one is "Fresh", one is "Comfort" one is "Deep." Some are just fun, like Black Cherry, (which I absolutely LOVE) and bubblegum, strawberry (Love it!), French vanilla, and the only one I can't stand is the Dark Chocolate -- The only awful one in the bunch. It comes with little wafers (diffusers) that you put just a drop or two, or several drops if you want to really be immersed in the smell, and a diffuser stand that you set behind your machine at the air intake.
I am finding that I actually look forward to putting the mask on and trying a new scent! May not work for everyone, but I am finding that it does seem to help make it not so unpleasant. I have only had it a week, and I am having fun trying out the different scents. Yeah, FUN! Fancy that!
Anyway, just a suggestion, as I know what you are dealing with and I'm dealing with the same thing. Past pulling the mask off, but still don't find it comfortable, and just really hate everything about this "Treatment." Wish I could just take a pill...
If you're interested, the actual product is called CPAP Vapo Clear. PurSleep.com.
Also, Mary, I used the Quattro Full Face Mask for a while last time I tried and found it was the best one I had tried until then. I was just given the FlexiFit 431 a few days ago, and I like it MUCH better! It keeps its seal and is very comfortable.
And Dusty, I was having the same problem with a dry mouth. I am a die-hard mouth breather. I can't really breathe well through my nose. When I would wake up, my tongue would be cracked in three or four places, and it hurts and bothers me during the day, and just gets worse the next day after another dry night. Makes me hate it even more. I don't know if you use a humidifier or not, but mine didn't seem to do any thing to relieve the dryness. Like there was no moisture whatsoever. Someone suggested somewhere that you heat the water a little. Helps the humidifier to work a little better, I think. I have not had a dry mouth since I started doing this. Not boiling or anything, just a little help for the humidifier to get the steam going.
Just my two cents from one newby to another.... just try to solve one problem at a time, and then on to the next. Just don't give up! It helps so much to have the support of this forum, people that have been there, done that, and solved their problems one by one, and now actually have a life! Anybody that doesn't use CPAP can't understand these problems, including a lot of doctors and especially the DMEs. I am determined not to give up this time. Good luck and keep at it, I hear it's worth it!
Lori Dawn
Lori "Queen of the Fog" Dawn
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1