I'm having a hard time sleeping with the CPAP masks

[postitnote]

It seems a little incongruous to me that someone plagued with crushing headaches, insufficient sleep, mental confusion & constant fatigue..... would realistically be inclined (or able) to spend any time at a gym, doing workouts. Doesn't seem plausible.

Well crushing headaches are starting to diminish. Must be the CPAP.

If I don't spend any time outside, getting my heart rate up, I will feel even worse.

Rode 22 miles today on my mountain bike, but I'm on a mission. The CPAP will continue to help me feel well enough to increase my workouts. And that will also give me more energy in of itself. It's a win win. Plus I'm getting back on allergy therapy, did a test today and doing another tomorrow. Gonna take care of my sleep apnea and allergies and increase my fitness all at the same time.

I hope that I keep on making progress with CPAP and don't have a lot of relapses. Waking up after 2 or 3 hours seems to be a semi common thing and I can only hope that that stops happening.

And you are right that it isn't that plausible. It's just willpower. Before, I could never lift weights because I would feel I don't have enough air in my body. But the other day I was doing back rows and deadlifts like crazy. So I know CpAP is doing something and getting more air into my brain and body.

You're also a lot younger than most of us too I'm proud of you! Keep fighting for your health!

[Guest]

Enchanter, in spite of all the road blocks, being unfamiliar with various equipment and parts, breaking stuff, and a whole bunch of concerns, you are actually making this work.

Congratulations!!!

yup trying to do what I can do. nothing is worse than waking up with crushing head pressure. Each day it gets a little better.

That's your body adjusting to therapy. It will take some time. I used a CPAP for 9 years, switched to a new machine in Apr. My numbers are STILL improving 3 months later, which tells me I still haven't fully adjusted to the new machine/mask.

Hang in there, and hopefully each day WILL get a little better. They won't ALWAYS get a little better, though--some nights my numbers are not as good as others, for whatever reason. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

[bobmc]

Enchanter, in spite of all the road blocks, being unfamiliar with various equipment and parts, breaking stuff, and a whole bunch of concerns, you are actually making this work.

Congratulations!!!

yup trying to do what I can do. nothing is worse than waking up with crushing head pressure. Each day it gets a little better.

sigh...wasn't signed in...

That's your body adjusting to therapy. It will take some time. I used a CPAP for 9 years, switched to a new machine in Apr. My numbers are STILL improving 3 months later, which tells me I still haven't fully adjusted to the new machine/mask.

Hang in there, and hopefully each day WILL get a little better. They won't ALWAYS get a little better, though--some nights my numbers are not as good as others, for whatever reason. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

[Enchanter]

Enchanter, in spite of all the road blocks, being unfamiliar with various equipment and parts, breaking stuff, and a whole bunch of concerns, you are actually making this work.

Congratulations!!!

yup trying to do what I can do. nothing is worse than waking up with crushing head pressure. Each day it gets a little better.

sigh...wasn't signed in...

That's your body adjusting to therapy. It will take some time. I used a CPAP for 9 years, switched to a new machine in Apr. My numbers are STILL improving 3 months later, which tells me I still haven't fully adjusted to the new machine/mask.

Hang in there, and hopefully each day WILL get a little better. They won't ALWAYS get a little better, though--some nights my numbers are not as good as others, for whatever reason. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Still getting better after 9 years? Anyways, my mouth was very dry when I woke up last night after 2 hours

[49er]

It seems a little incongruous to me that someone plagued with crushing headaches, insufficient sleep, mental confusion & constant fatigue..... would realistically be inclined (or able) to spend any time at a gym, doing workouts. Doesn't seem plausible.

Gasper62, as an FYI, I have read about people with narcolepsy who didn't want to take meds literally force themselves through workouts in an attempt to cope. It seemed to help. Personally, I agree with you but I think alot of things in life that don't seem plausible many times turn out to be.

Kudos to Enchanter for being able to. I think I need to take lessons from him because I fear I am not getting nearly enough exercise.

[Enchanter]

49er, they told me to call on Friday.

Anyways, I woke up after 2 hours again. What is going on? I get it, you're supposed to adjust to it... But if this keeps on happening?

[chunkyfrog]

.

[49er]

49er, they told me to call on Friday.

Anyways, I woke up after 2 hours again. What is going on? I get it, you're supposed to adjust to it... But if this keeps on happening?

All right E, make sure you get those results when you call on Friday. Don't take no for an answer.

Wake ups are normal. Are you able to get back to sleep pretty quickly?

49er

PS - You need to avoid the "what if" questions.

[Enchanter]

49er, they told me to call on Friday.

Anyways, I woke up after 2 hours again. What is going on? I get it, you're supposed to adjust to it... But if this keeps on happening?

All right E, make sure you get those results when you call on Friday. Don't take no for an answer.

Wake ups are normal. Are you able to get back to sleep pretty quickly?

49er

PS - You need to avoid the "what if" questions.

49er only without the mask. No the wakeups are not normal. I don't usually wake up. I feel it's the CPAP causing me to wake up

[49er]

49er only without the mask. No the wakeups are not normal. I don't usually wake up. I feel it's the CPAP causing me to wake up

Everyone wakes up when they sleep but simply don't recall doing so as you obviously don't when not wearing the mask.

Anyway, as I previously asked you, are you able to go back to sleep right away once you wake up while using the mask?

[Cardsfan]

Do not take off the mask after you wake up in the middle of your sleeping time. Teach your brain that you will go back to sleep with the mask on. Do not sleep without the mask.

[Bill44133]

Do not take off the mask after you wake up in the middle of your sleeping time. Teach your brain that you will go back to sleep with the mask on. Do not sleep without the mask.

+1!

Do NOT take off the mask!

[Sonya]

49er only without the mask. No the wakeups are not normal. I don't usually wake up. I feel it's the CPAP causing me to wake up

I'm still struggling with this. I wake up in the middle of the night, take of the mask and if I lay back down, I'll sleep the rest of the night without it. Not good.

If I wake up and absolutely have to take it off, I get out of the bed. I'll walk around a bit, go to the bathroom, wash my face, whatever I feel like I need to do and then I go mask up and go back to sleep. Sometimes it takes time to get back to sleep, but I just count my breaths (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 as I inhale, same with the exhale) and I eventually fall back asleep.

Your body/mind take time to adjust to this new experience. It will take time, maybe a few months, for it to seem "normal". Just keep putting the mask on and find what works for you to keep you from going back to sleep without it.

[bobmc]

Enchanter, in spite of all the road blocks, being unfamiliar with various equipment and parts, breaking stuff, and a whole bunch of concerns, you are actually making this work.

Congratulations!!!

yup trying to do what I can do. nothing is worse than waking up with crushing head pressure. Each day it gets a little better.

sigh...wasn't signed in...

That's your body adjusting to therapy. It will take some time. I used a CPAP for 9 years, switched to a new machine in Apr. My numbers are STILL improving 3 months later, which tells me I still haven't fully adjusted to the new machine/mask.

Hang in there, and hopefully each day WILL get a little better. They won't ALWAYS get a little better, though--some nights my numbers are not as good as others, for whatever reason. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Still getting better after 9 years? Anyways, my mouth was very dry when I woke up last night after 2 hours

No, I got used to my old machine a long time ago. It was a straight CPAP that did not provide any data to use to adjust settings. I was just winging it based on how I felt. My new machine is an auto that adjusts itself during the night to try and reduce OSAs. It also provides data so I can adjust settings and see if they improve things or not.

But after 3 months I'm still adjusting to the new machine/mask even though I've used CPAP for a long time.

You haven't used CPAP before. Your body isn't going to adjust immediately. Things should get better over time as your body gets used to your machine/mask. You'll need to be patient.

Keep in mind, also, that you don't currently have the results of your titration to know what your settings should be. It's likely that once you get things set properly there will be some improvement.

[Jewel]

My RT told me that a lot of people with sleep apnea avoid sleep subconsciously as we know it's dangerous for us. Once we realize that the CPAP machines make sleep safer for us, we start to relax into sleep more easily. I don't know if that's what is really happening, but I do know that I fall asleep MUCH quicker since starting the CPAP machine than I ever have before. Personally, I think that I'm aware of my breathing on the machine and it's almost like a form of meditation that relaxes me and helps me fall asleep quickly.

I still struggle with the mask and have tried a few (and still want to try another) but overall I'm finding that I wake up feeling less lethargic. I'm having a lot more headaches and TMJ issues, but that might not be related to the mask at all (although I think it contributes to it a bit).

Try to take the time to adjust to the mask and try out different masks if you're able to. I couldn't tolerate the nasal pilows, but I am trying a newer mask next week (the Amara View).