first night with CPAP

[pandatx]

Well, that sucked. I was uncomfortable, I kept waking up. My mouth kept opening. At one point I woke up feeling like the tubing was "pulsing". I finally yanked the mask off at 3:30 (after trying since about 2 to keep it on). I don't like this at all

[SleepWellCPAP]

Hello Pandatx and happy Friday!

Sorry to hear about your first night. It was not what you expected and you're disappointed. Never fear though, things will get better. Because it is critical to keep the air in the circuit, the fact that you were mouth breathing was probably the primary reason you didn't sleep well. You may have experienced nasal dryness, this lead to your mucus membranes swelling up and flow limitation. When that happens you'll open your mouth because you feel like your not getting enough air. You may need a chinstrap, at least temporarily. A lot of people think of chinstraps like training wheels on a bicycle. They use them for a few nights and then try without them.

Regarding nasal pillow style masks in general, unfortunately, they typically take about three days to get used to and also they are prone to leaking. I'd recommend for now to keep trying the nasal pillows as they are the most comfortable, but don't let the therapy keep you awake. Give it an hour or so and if you're not drifting off to sleep, put it down and try again the next night. It's very important you remain as patient and positive as possible at this stage. I know its hard. By Monday, if you're still not sleeping, you may want to go to a Mir Fx for her mask. Most ladies are finding the small size fits best.

Keep posting progress and good luck!

Jim

[Ricoh]

My S9 does the pulsing thing, too, if I'm not breathing.

What kind of mask do you have? If you're having problems with mouth opening (assuming you're not using a full face mask..), you can try a chin strap, or even just try your luck with a FFM. Speaking personally, here, I got my FFM because of a severe deviated septum, worst the surgeon had seen in the past year-- no way a nasal mask was going to work, but I've since had my nose and sinuses operated on successfully, and I'm still not in any rush to get rid of my FFM. It works well for me.

Sorry you had a bad night, but you've come to the right place for support. It'll get better. The first few nights I was lucky if I got a couple hours of semi-decent sleep with the mask. It rapidly got easier in my case. It's been about six months now, and apart from some specific issues to troubleshoot now and then, it's been pretty smooth sailing.

Keep at it, don't get too discouraged if you have slow progress adapting to the mask at first. Some people notice an improvement the first night, but IMO, the real benefits take a while to realize in any case.

[Pugsy]

Are you using the Bella Loops or the traditional headgear with the Swift FX?

Mouth opening...is air entering the mouth via the airway in back and trying to sneak out the mouth?

Have you read about the tongue placement trick?

[NotLazyJustTired]

My first night was the worst, so many new things to get used to. All I can tell you is that I am 16 nights into this journey and it really does get better. It takes time to adjust to such changes. You will adjust if you stick with it. Take it one step at a time and work on the things are are most disturbing. You mentioned having problems with opening the mouth. That seems like a common problem people have. The chin strap is one remedy. Some people have resorted to using tape as well. I haven't had an issue with mouth breathing, but I am sure others will be along to provide more support for you here. Hang in there! It is worth it!

[pandatx]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I don't have a chin strap but I guess I might need one. I have the Swift FX mask and I was using the headgear and not the Bella loops (but I have them too). I know its going to be an adjustment process but I just kept waking up and thinking "this sucks".

[Pugsy]

Practice wearing it while watching TV for a while in the evening...it helps retrain the brain to accept the "alien" stuck on your face so maybe the brain won't be so hyper sensitive.

Also practice keeping your tongue in the roof of your mouth so that it acts like a door and blocks the air from trying to exit the airway prematurely through the mouth.

During the day make an effort to breathe only through your nose and don't use your mouth at all if you can help it.
It helps to reinforce the habit of keeping the mouth closed.

You can make a cheap homemade chin strap to give you and idea if it would help or not...a bit of ace wrap to offer gentle tension to remind mouth to stay shut. Unless you have major congestion issues mouth breathing or opening at night is often just habit from gasping for air during the night because of the apnea events.
I had that habit myself but a couple of months of taping my mouth seemed to break that habit for the most part.
I didn't have much luck with chin straps and I found they were more disturbing to my sleep than tape was but a lot of people have great success with chin straps.

[pandatx]

Those are some really good tips Pugsy...thank you! Also Jim, thanks for the detailed suggestions. Very helpful

[carbonman]

Well, that sucked. I don't like this at all

.....well said.
I think those were my exact words after my first night.

You are finally on the road......your path ahead is well traveled.
What awaits on your horizon will be well worth your efforts to get there.
In the dark of the night, you will make this journey....but, you're not alone.
When you lose your way, there are many to nudge you back on the path.
Be patient w/yourself.....be kind to yourself.
You have yet to realize the new person that is just waiting to be released.
How exciting for you.

I'll see you on the road.

[hyperlexis]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I don't have a chin strap but I guess I might need one. I have the Swift FX mask and I was using the headgear and not the Bella loops (but I have them too). I know its going to be an adjustment process but I just kept waking up and thinking "this sucks".

My DME wouldn't even give me a nasal or pillow mask when I first started. They told me that I absolutely needed to start using cpap with a full face mask to begin with. Likely because of my history of allergies and sinus problems and the fact I always usually slept with my neck back and mouth open (for more air.....).

I have since expanded my mask collection to nasal masks and one pillow mask, now that I have been 'trained' to sleep on cpap with my mouth shut (mostly).

Don't drive yourself crazy with this. Switch over to a nice, comfortable FFM like the Quattro or one of the Fisher Paykel FFMs that fit under the chin and help keep the mouth closed, and you will do yourself a world of good. Then once you too have become more accustomed to cpap, try your nasal pillow mask.

Good luck!

[carbonman]

Switch over to a nice, comfortable FFM like the Quattro or one of the Fisher Paykel FFMs that fit under the chin and help keep the mouth closed, and you will do yourself a world of good. Then once you too have become more accustomed to cpap, try your nasal pillow mask.

Once you go full ....you never go back.

[hyperlexis]

Switch over to a nice, comfortable FFM like the Quattro or one of the Fisher Paykel FFMs that fit under the chin and help keep the mouth closed, and you will do yourself a world of good. Then once you too have become more accustomed to cpap, try your nasal pillow mask.

Once you go full ....you never go back.

Especially if its black.

Which drives me crazy -- why don't they offer black cpap gear. I think it would be awesome! Just like a fighter pilot. It's all this boring clear stuff. Black and multicolored would be far more fun.

[Janknitz]

I just kept waking up and thinking "this sucks".

CPAP doesn't suck, it BLOWS! (someone else said that to ME when I said it sucked).

This is a process to get used to. Hang in there and be patient with yourself!

Be sure the check the Swift FX fitting tips in my signature line below.

You'll get the hang of this, and one night you'll sleep a long time and wake up peacefully rested, and you'll "get" why we all do this every night.

You have to keep your warrior stance on to conquer this, and you will, too. I have faith in you!

[cosmo]

Which drives me crazy -- why don't they offer black cpap gear. I think it would be awesome! Just like a fighter pilot. It's all this boring clear stuff. Black and multicolored would be far more fun.

You could get a camouflage mask. Then get a snake skin hose cover. Goes well with a bear hide comforter.

[kaiasgram]

Hi pandatx -- There is really no set timeframe for adjusting to a mask or to the machine. Since you are new to both, it may be premature to suggest that you switch to a different mask. You didn't say that the mask was uncomfortable, just that you kept opening your mouth. You may first want to see if you can train yourself to keep your mouth closed before you start mask hunting. Some good suggestions have already been offered here for working on that.

It is not true that nasal pillows are the most prone to leakage -- with a good NP mask and proper fit, they are less prone because of less surface area that needs to hold the seal. Obviously if your mouth is opening then your leaks will increase, but that's not a characteristic of the mask itself. Hang in there.