New to cpap... lucky, but frustrated.

[motherofsharks]

I started on cpap about a week ago. For the most part, I am completely blown away by the difference it has made. I wish I hadn't put it off for so long! I had no idea how sleep apnea was affecting me and my life. I felt like I was deteriorating and I'm only 30, I had no clue why. I was trying so hard to figure it out these past couple of years. I have WAY more energy, I feel mentally alert and the fog has lifted, I don't nap every day anymore, I can do multiple errands in one day and not feel absolutely exhausted. I used to feel unbearably exhausted after doing one errand! My mood is dramatically better, and I feel motivated and inspired in life again. I even feel physically 10x better. I have inflammatory arthritis and it's not like its gone or anything but the pain and inflammation is not as bad and constant anymore. I can do more physically. It's almost like a spiritual awakening lol, I feel alive again. It almost feels too good to be true, I'm paranoid it wont last or something.

I know I'm VERY lucky to be feeling this way so soon. I'm also very lucky that I am not experiencing a lot of the side effects I hear about from others.

I am struggling to get a comfortable sleep with cpap though. I've been fully compliant because I feel better getting a shorter interrupted sleep with cpap than I ever did getting a long comfy sleep without it. I'm trying to be positive and problem solve and adjust but I miss getting a comfy sleep haha. I first tried the nasal only mask, I didn't like it, I have almost constantly inflammed sinuses and a deviated septum, so certain positions are more difficult to breathe. Full face is better. The full face mask is also just so uncomfortable though. Horrible. Yesterday, I was switched to Dreamwear, the hose comes put the top of the head. Its the best one yet, but still not exactly comfortable. I'm a stomach sleeper, since I was a kid. Trying to train myself out of it, but it's not easy.

I take sleeping pills still to help myself fall asleep and stay asleep despite the discomfort, but I would prefer not to, since they still make me feel groggy usually. Still way better, but still groggy.

It's not even an option to me to be noncompliant in my treatment, but damn, I hope they come out with something more comfortable soon. I'm grateful, but feeling like I'm never going to get a comfy cozy sleep again.

[wm_hess]

I am struggling to get a comfortable sleep with cpap though. I've been fully compliant because I feel better getting a shorter interrupted sleep with cpap than I ever did getting a long comfy sleep without it. I'm trying to be positive and problem solve and adjust but I miss getting a comfy sleep haha. I first tried the nasal only mask, I didn't like it, I have almost constantly inflammed sinuses and a deviated septum, so certain positions are more difficult to breathe. Full face is better. The full face mask is also just so uncomfortable though. Horrible. Yesterday, I was switched to Dreamwear, the hose comes put the top of the head. Its the best one yet, but still not exactly comfortable. I'm a stomach sleeper, since I was a kid. Trying to train myself out of it, but it's not easy.

I take sleeping pills still to help myself fall asleep and stay asleep despite the discomfort, but I would prefer not to, since they still make me feel groggy usually. Still way better, but still groggy.

It's not even an option to me to be noncompliant in my treatment, but damn, I hope they come out with something more comfortable soon. I'm grateful, but feeling like I'm never going to get a comfy cozy sleep again.

Hi, welcome to the forum.

I've always used full face masks and I use a buckwheat pillow which is pretty firm. I can lay on my side with my head on the edge of the pillow, and the mask hanging off. It works for me, but as far as masks and sleeping positions are concerned everybody's different!

I'm not a stomach sleeper, but you may want to read up on what's called the falcon sleeping position. http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html. This may let you sleep in your preferred position!

Again, welcome and glad to hear you're acclimating to the fun of sleep apnea!

-Bill

[Thumper68]

Welcome to the wide world of CPAP AKA cpap talk.com!

You are doing great! I, like you experienced almost instant relief of my OSA symptoms. Many are not so lucky. Yes it makes sleeping a different experience, but it is amazing what the human body will adapt too. I am almost 3 months in and am way more comfortable with the mask. With the last 2-3 weeks I even wake up and wonder if my machine is still on! Give it some time and you will most likely adapt to it. Stay strong. I have to resolved to never sleep with out cpap.

There is lots of information here and wonderful people who will help you out with most anything.

[Janknitz]

It took me a good 3 months or so to get used to sleeping with CPAP. I set as my goal to simply put the mask on my face and go to sleep, just as matter-of-factly as I put on my nightgown. I kept tweaking and tweaking for comfort, that's crucial.

Sounds like you are on the right track, keep working on it and be a little patient with yourself. You are way ahead of where I was at 1 week, so I doubt it will take you that long. But just keep working on it--you'll get there.

[zonker]

I am struggling to get a comfortable sleep with cpap though. I've been fully compliant because I feel better getting a shorter interrupted sleep with cpap than I ever did getting a long comfy sleep without it. I'm trying to be positive and problem solve and adjust but I miss getting a comfy sleep haha. I first tried the nasal only mask, I didn't like it, I have almost constantly inflammed sinuses and a deviated septum, so certain positions are more difficult to breathe. Full face is better. The full face mask is also just so uncomfortable though. Horrible. Yesterday, I was switched to Dreamwear, the hose comes put the top of the head. Its the best one yet, but still not exactly comfortable. I'm a stomach sleeper, since I was a kid. Trying to train myself out of it, but it's not easy.

welcome, shark mom! i think one of the VERY hardest parts of getting used to therapy is finding the right mask for you. we are all so different that there really isn't much of a one size fits all. many of us have gone through many masks until we find what is right for us. if you want to look at some of the varieties and read some reviews, please try here-

https://www.cpap.com/

they are the sponsors of this forum, just so you know.

in the meantime, i think your positive attitude is to be admired! you can do this and you WILL do it. takes time, is all.

btw, when you have a minute, please read up on this-

viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

good luck!

[Flex Plexico]

Glad to hear of your success! I'm in exactly the same boat as you, 30 years old and basically felt like I was deteriorating. Except my doctor never took me too seriously when I came to him complaining of fatigue, and by the time I got a sleep study scheduled I was 2 weeks away from hitting rock bottom (that was in mid august, hit rock bottom in sept - was bed bound, couldn't do anything, couldn't work, extreme fatigue). I called and hounded to get my sleep study moved from march to like, immediately, had 30 vials of blood tests in the mean time to determine if I had anything else (I didn't), and just got my APAP a week ago with a diagnosis of 27 AHI.

I echo what others are saying re: mask. When I got my rental APAP (dream station), I asked for a variety of appliances... a full face mask, a nose fitting, the dreamwear with cushion and with nasal pillows. I discovered I can't STAND anything except for the dreamwear with the cushion, and even that took about 4 days to get used to (had some irritation and sizing issues). Last night was the first night I got over 5 hours of sleep with an AHI of 2.2. My first two nights I had 1-4 hours fragmented with AHI of 15. There is definitely an adjustment period.

[motherofsharks]

Well, last night I had probably the best sleep so far. It wasn't great, but better!! I got about 5 hours sleep, woke up at 5:45am and couldn't fall back asleep.

My AHI was 0.7, what does that mean? Usually it's 0-2, sometimes 4, but what is 0.7?

Thanks! Will add my equipment etc to my signature asap. Just gotta check exactly what the machine is etc it's still a loaner machine from the sleep clinic.

[zonker]

Well, last night I had probably the best sleep so far. It wasn't great, but better!! I got about 5 hours sleep, woke up at 5:45am and couldn't fall back asleep.

My AHI was 0.7, what does that mean? Usually it's 0-2, sometimes 4, but what is 0.7?

Thanks! Will add my equipment etc to my signature asap. Just gotta check exactly what the machine is etc it's still a loaner machine from the sleep clinic.

we (i say "we", but i mean more knowledgeable people than ME.) can't tell you what it means until we get the sleepyhead reports from you. as palerider keeps telling me, we sleep different each night. so this may be good news in that your therapy is going GREAT.

AHI is the average of events you had throughout the night. i forget the formula but it's basically how many times you had events per hour.

sorry, that's a horrible explanation. but some smart person will come along and explain it shortly.

good luck!

[Okie bipap]

The 0.7 means you had four events (apnea, hypopnea) during your five hours of sleep. Hopefully, you will be able to get more sleep once you adapt to having that alien thing on your face when you sleep. I took me a few weeks before I became with it, but now sleep every night with it on.

[zonker]

The 0.7 means you had four events (apnea, hypopnea) during your five hours of sleep. Hopefully, you will be able to get more sleep once you adapt to having that alien thing on your face when you sleep. I took me a few weeks before I became with it, but now sleep every night with it on.

i KNEW someone smarter than me would explain it!!

[motherofsharks]

The 0.7 means you had four events (apnea, hypopnea) during your five hours of sleep. Hopefully, you will be able to get more sleep once you adapt to having that alien thing on your face when you sleep. I took me a few weeks before I became with it, but now sleep every night with it on.

Ohhh I see, okay. So the AHI is per hour. So, if it's 4 for example, its 4 an hour, not 4 for the entire amount it says I slept. Well, that's good, most of my AHI last few nights have been 0. something. I'd like to lower my AHI though, I don't want even 4 apneas at night. Is that possible though?

Last night was probably the most decent sleep Ive had since going on cpap, so that's hopeful haha. I think Im getting the hang of sleeping with it.

I've decided to not even nap without it, because I swear that even having a nap without it, I wake up feeling sh*tty. Maybe it's the immediate after affects of the lack of oxygen? I don't know! I'm feeling a bit sleepy again, but still not as bad as before. I think it's the short amount of sleeping at night and naps with no mask.

[palerider]

I've decided to not even nap without it, because I swear that even having a nap without it, I wake up feeling sh*tty. Maybe it's the immediate after affects of the lack of oxygen? I don't know! I'm feeling a bit sleepy again, but still not as bad as before. I think it's the short amount of sleeping at night and naps with no mask.

You're absolutely right, you shouldn't nap without the machine, because the same breathing problems that affect your sleep will affect your naps too.

[Okie bipap]

I'd like to lower my AHI though, I don't want even 4 apneas at night. Is that possible though?

It sure is. I normally sleep around 6 1/2 to 7 hours a night and usually have only 1 or 2 events all night long. In order to have this low number, I use a relatively high pressure and I small pressure range. My IPAP pressure is 17 to 20 cm with PS of 4. I'm lucky that the higher pressures have never bothered me. Exhaling against the high pressures feels about like I do when my asthma flairs up and my breathing is severely restricted.

[kteague]

So, if it's 4 for example, its 4 an hour, not 4 for the entire amount it says I slept. Well, that's good, most of my AHI last few nights have been 0. something. I'd like to lower my AHI though, I don't want even 4 apneas at night. Is that possible though?

Here's the thing about striving for near zero events in a night. If you are using a pressure with no problems like mask leaks, air escaping the mouth, air in the belly, or the emergence of central events, you could probably increase your pressure a bit and shoot for the ultimate in optimization of treatment. Sometimes the problems that can come with increased pressure make sleep worse and nobody wants that. I chose to be satisfied with an AHI between 0.5 and 1.5 as I have trouble with air in my belly at a pressure over 12, and I now need 14. According to my my data on the Sleepyhead software, my remaining events aren't long in duration. They don't cause me to wake with a rapid heatbeat or choking. I can live with them. You'll figure it out as you go along where your priorities lie. Before my pressure needs increased I saw zero events per night as often as not. Aging - ugh! But I don't like the alternative.