Decided to give it another go.

metallicstar · Post by **metallicstar** » Tue Oct 27, 2015 10:02 pm

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2011. However between moving around and not having the proper place for my machine I never used it. The mask made my nasal passages hurt or I had an unsupportive spouse. However I am trying to do me and get healthy again, and in doing so I figured it was time to try again. It's like I'm new to it and having to get used to sleeping with a machine and trying my hardest not to take my mask off at night. I hope I can succeed and keep it on for a full night. Any advice for an oldie but newbie?

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Tue Oct 27, 2015 11:12 pm

Congrats on deciding to do what's best for you. That's not always convenient or supported, but hopefully you are now at a place in your life where your well being now and in the future will be adequate motivation. You're in the right place for tips on making your mask as comfortable as possible and addressing issues. Let us know as they arise.

yaconsult · Post by **yaconsult** » Tue Oct 27, 2015 11:47 pm

Welcome! This is a good place to get answers and help.

The best thing to do is to get used to the mask and machine by using it during the day while you are awake and doing something else, like watching tv, reading, or surfing the internet. You may need to increase the minimum pressure if you don't get enough air to breathe comfortably and you don't want to use the ramp while doing this. Then when you go to bed at night with it, it won't seem like an usual thing.

Also, please go to the profile section of your account and fill in the equipment section and display as text. This will add your equipment to every post and people won't have to ask you what you are using.

PoolQ · Post by **PoolQ** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 12:00 am

If your doctor is a good one, your therapy pressure will be set right. If not there are some great people here that can help with that.

The rest is mask comfort and fit, and all the comfort settings on your machine. If you are not comfortable then you will not sleep with the mask on.
Letting us know what machine you have will help us a lot to help you set things up. Don't assume that the comfort settings are correct, only you will know what is comfortable.

No matter what your night was like come and tell us about it, someone here will always have done exactly everything that will happen with you.

Best of luck and please stick around

metsfan302 · Post by **metsfan302** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 5:03 am

welcome! yes this place is amazing for information! I was just about to hang up my hose till I found this site, I have learned so much info and am going to be much healthier from it. Stick with it and yes maybe going with a lower pressure up to what you need might be a good way of getting back to it

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 6:13 am

metsfan302 wrote:welcome! yes this place is amazing for information! I was just about to hang up my hose till I found this site, I have learned so much info and am going to be much healthier from it. Stick with it and yes maybe going with a lower pressure up to what you need might be a good way of getting back to it

Why would you recommend a lower pressure when you have no idea what pressure she is at or what her specific problems are?

WindCpap · Post by **WindCpap** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 7:30 am

Start on a long weekend (either a real one or one you create). From Friday night, never sleep without the mask. If you want to take it off, get up and do something else.

“Do. Or do not. There is no try.”

49er · Post by **49er** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 9:10 am

WindCpap wrote:Start on a long weekend (either a real one or one you create). From Friday night, never sleep without the mask. If you want to take it off, get up and do something else.

“Do. Or do not. There is no try.”

I think it depends on the context. Many people on this board try several different masks before finding one that works. That is definitely a "do" action.

Now when I tell friends I am going to try to follow my PCP's advice to exercise 30 minutes a day, I admit I am not very committed. All jokes aside I do realize I have to make this a priority which is another post.

But back to mettalicstar's post about trying pap therapy. She sounds very committed to making this work even though she knows there are going to be difficulties. Otherwise, why would she have posted on this board. So I rate her "try" message a "do" action.

49er

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 9:26 am

Yes, good for you, girl!
Daytime "practice" is a great way to get used to the mask and the pressure.
I used the mental image of myself wearing the mask in an adventure--undersea, outer space, etc.
This gave me the platform for pleasant fantasies, and a bit of fun in my dreams.
Cpap is a gift we give ourselves, not punishment.

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Mask	Humidifier

Machine	Mask