New to CPAP

[Meecalii]

Im 33 years old now.. and best anyone can figure i've had sleep apena since i was 5 years old. I just got my first Cpap the respironics system one with a humidifier and the true blue mask.. The only reason i did finally get the sleep test done and my girlfriend came to an dr appt with me and asked if there was anything that could be done about my snoring(which i have talked a different dr in the same office before and he laughed and said it was a part of life oh well) so the new dr said well that could be sleep apena and i got the test for it. I suffer from GERD and right now they have me on two different meds for that. plus asthma...i've had 7 nights on the cpap and ive noticed i tend to take it off during the night shut the cpap off and i dont remember doing any of this. i was woundering if that was normal does everyone do this? my pressure is set for 10 the sleep lab said i should have between 10 and 14... Also how do i get used to this thing? i think i figured out how to prevent water from being in the mask and a pool in the tube i turned the humidifier down from 3 to 2.. Today and yesterday i've noticed my brain is like in over drive when i'm awake i'm thinking faster then my mouth talks and there are other times when i see something know what it is but it is almost like i'm in a different universe is this also part of the sleep apena? they say i have mild to servre sleep apnea... i've been all over the internet trying to find information about the effects of sleep apena and how to clean it and how to use it and what you might feel. but nothing i've seen suggests anyone on how they to get used to the damn thing other then get used to it oh well. and i'm trying hard to accept it and deal with it. but how in the heck do i keep that on my nose when half of the time i dont recall taking it off?

[zoocrewphoto]

I have taken it off without remembering it several times now. I went a couple weeks without doing, and then did it last night. I suspect that in my case, I take it off to scratch an itch or something, and then fall asleep before getting it back on. I think it gets better with time. I am only 9 weeks into this, and I am feeling much better, and I am getting used to it.

Give yourself time and keep at it. I would try to go through the posts here as that will help you with tips and support. The 4 main topics at the top are great for new people.

[Sheriff Buford]

Welcome to the forum! The "brain in overdrive" is a result of you getting good sleep. You are making up for the damage caused by sleep apnea. You will eventually get used to wearing the mask all night. I couldn't sleep without mine... like being naked ... Put the mask on during the day or before you go to sleep. Watch TV, listen to some tunes or read. This will help you adapt. Also, you may put a few strips of tape on your mask, so when you take it off at night, you'll feel the sensation of taking the tape off and it will awaken you. Work every issue you have through this forum. Trust me, you are doing very well and better than most do when starting out. Keep up the good work!


Sheriff

[mrghos]

Agree! I have been on mine for 9 days and getting used to the mask has been a bit of a challenge. There is a lot of really good information on this site and the folks here are amazing to say the least.

Just keep reading and things will get better. I am keeping a positive mental attitude and will make this work no matter what. I read the affects of OSA and I dont want to be another victim of the bad stuff that can happen if I dont knuckle down and do what I am supposed to do. I know it will take time...

But time I have!

[Grand-PAP]

but nothing i've seen suggests anyone on how they to get used to the damn thing

Hi Meecalii.

Welcome to the forum!

It feels good to finally be able to give some advice to a newbie! If you would like a chuckle, read the post I did a couple of weeks ago . . .

viewtopic/t79659/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=78 ... 39#p717039

With the exception of taking the mask off, what you're experiencing is similiar to what ALL of us have to one degree or another. Look closely at the suggestions you have already been given and I'm sure many others will provide helpful information.

In case you didn't spot it, read the current post from another newbie, TheMonk . . .

viewtopic/t79629/First-Full-Week--Encouraging.html

You will eventually get used to wearing the mask all night. I couldn't sleep without mine... like being naked

But most importantly as the Sheriff points out -- you WILL get used to it. Right now I am in Costa Rica. I am in my third bed and I carried with me my machine, mask, mask liner and hose hanger. As I mentioned in the post above, I just can't imagine going to sleep without my gear. As impossible as it may seem now, I'm sure you will eventually as well.

Come back with questions/concerns and you'll find ample support here!

Best of luck with your therapy!

[jweeks]

Hi,

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on getting your sleep study and getting started on CPAP.

Im 33 years old now.. and best anyone can figure i've had sleep apena since i was 5 years old.

It is amazing how under-diagnosed this disease is, and how many people never learn about it for years and years. I know I had it as far back as age 24, and I didn't get started on CPAP until age 46. I spent half of my life in the ozone as a result.

i've had 7 nights on the cpap and ive noticed i tend to take it off during the night shut the cpap off and i dont remember doing any of this. i was woundering if that was normal does everyone do this?

Yes, a lot of folks do this, especially at first. The line between sleep and awake is very blurry. Many folks are awake 3 or 4 times at night and never even realize it because it is for only a minute or two at the tail end of a REM cycle. The solution to this is the same as many other household and mechanical problems--duct tape. Or rather, white paper surgical tape. Just put a small piece across the straps on the edge of each side of your face. Then, the next time you try to take it off, the tape will give enough resistance to pop you fully awake, where you can decide to keep the mask on. After 10 days or so, you will learn to not take it off.

my pressure is set for 10 the sleep lab said i should have between 10 and 14...

You have an auto-adjusting machine. It might be set for a pressure range. Are you computer savvy? If so, you can get the SleepyHead software and read the treatment data from your SD card. That will tell you the pressure settings, and show you a graph of the actual pressures used. If you are, in fact, set to a fixed pressure of 10, you should ask your DME or respiratory tech to change it to match what was found in the titration study. It might already be set right, but it would be good to double-check.

Also how do i get used to this thing?

Give it a little time. This is a lot of new stuff in a short period of time. Long term OSA makes your brain a little foggy, and that makes it harder to problem solve and harder to adapt. The fog will clear, and it will get easier to deal with. One thing that really helps is to make sure that you are fully sold on the damage that OSA causes and the value of the treatment. Once you internalize that, CPAP will become second nature. It is my "new normal".

i think i figured out how to prevent water from being in the mask and a pool in the tube i turned the humidifier down from 3 to 2.

Another trick is to keep your machine low to the floor so the water runs back down into the humidifier tray. I route my hose up behind my pillow, and that keeps it vertical enough that it doesn't pool up in the hose. If you want the the higher humidity, and rainout is still a problem, a heated hose will really help. A hose cover also helps a bit.

Today and yesterday i've noticed my brain is like in over drive when i'm awake i'm thinking faster then my mouth talks and there are other times when i see something know what it is but it is almost like i'm in a different universe is this also part of the sleep apena?

I struggled with that at first, except when I was sleeping. My subconscious would kick in and start problem solving on the things that I had been thinking about during the day. I just couldn't get my brain to quiet down. Then I started getting good enough sleep to get longer periods of REM, and the dreams went into overdrive. That lasted about 6 weeks. I am not sure what happened after that...if my brain went back to normal, or if I just don't notice the noise anymore.

Best of luck, and please post some updates to let us know how you are doing.

-john-