Newbie here (2 months) and feeling discouraged (:

[wordbabe]

<t>As a woman of a certain age who had sleep issues for years, I was actually relieved to discover (via a home test) that I had OSA as I thought it would solve my sleep problems once and for all. (For the record, I was diagnosed as having moderate apnea with an average of 17.5 AHIs an hour going up to 35 AHIs in REM sleep with oxygen desaturation going down into the 70s) I began using my CPAP on November 7, 2018--just over 2 months ago--with much enthusiasm and high hopes but am now quite discouraged. My first mask was a nasal pillow but, unfortunately, I kept getting mouthfuls of air that woke me up. Tried it with a chinstrap--no luck. Switched to a new face mask--the Resmed AirFit 30--but still having problems. I am a side sleeper and love to bury my head in a super soft, billowy, fluffy pillow but no matter how I lie, the face mask feels hard and also seems to block the nostril of the side I'm on (lying on right, right nostril blocked etc.). Secondly, the "My Air" app indicates that I'm having up to 8 AHIs an hour. I seem to awaken at these times because I feel like I have air exploding in my mouth and that the mask is leaking although "My Air" doesn't record these as leaks so maybe it isn't. (I don't know how else to describe it.) I saw my doctor and he reduced the air pressure a little but obviously can't reduce it too much because then it will defeat the purpose of the CPAP! Finally--and this is a technical problem--I installed the Sleepyhead program but cannot download the SD card info even after spending an hour with Geek Squad! So, my questions to all out there are the following:<br/>
1. While the Resmed AirFit 30 mask is brand new on the market and, therefore, considered very comfortable, it isn't! Can anyone comment on masks and comfort expectations? <br/>
2. Can anyone comment on the best pillows to use? I tried a CPAP pillow obtained from Bed, Bath and Beyond but it was meh!<br/>
3. Is it normal for me to still have apneas while using a CPAP????<br/>
4. What might be causing me to wake up feeling like my mouth is exploding with air?<br/>
5. Any comment on how I can get the info off my SD card and into the Sleepyhead program?
Thank you for any and all help!</t>

[palerider]

Tried it with a chinstrap--no luck.

Chinstraps don't stop mouth leaks, teeth aren't air tight. now, double sided boil and bite mouth guards, or tape, that will stop it. also, sometimes wearing stretchy cloth headband over your mouth will do the trick.

. Secondly, the "My Air" app indicates that I'm having up to 8 AHIs an hour.

My air is pretty much useless, get sleepyhead.

cannot download the SD card info even after spending an hour with Geek Squad!

Geeksquad is as useful as myair.

What seems to be the problem?

So, my questions to all out there are the following:<br/>
1. While the Resmed AirFit 30 mask is brand new on the market and, therefore, considered very comfortable, it isn't! Can anyone comment on masks and comfort expectations? <br/>
2. Can anyone comment on the best pillows to use? I tried a CPAP pillow obtained from Bed, Bath and Beyond but it was meh!<br/>
3. Is it normal for me to still have apneas while using a CPAP????<br/>
4. What might be causing me to wake up feeling like my mouth is exploding with air?<br/>
5. Any comment on how I can get the info off my SD card and into the Sleepyhead program?
Thank you for any and all help!</t>

1. I like the P10, but that's a nasal pillow mask.
2. I use a plain pillow, have for years, and just sleep towards the edge of it, the mask doesn't need cushy comfort.
3. Not if it's set right.
4. with a FFM? you opened your mouth.
5. Tell us what you're doing, and what's happening.

[kteague]

As much as you love your soft fluffy pillows, they may not be your friend with CPAP. For me, a flat and firm pillow has given me best results. No issues with the pillow pushing on the mask. In my early times, I struggled mightily with the air puffing out my cheeks and escaping my lips. I've used tape, denture adhesive, stretchy headbands, chin straps, cervical collar - it was no fun. The singular best thing I did to help myself was to train my tongue to stay sealed by suction against the roof of my mouth. I even keep it placed there when awake, now it's second nature and I don't even realize I'm doing it. To help keep that seal I try to avoid giving my jaw any opportunity to go slack and drop. A flat pillow that does not allow my chin to be lower than the top of my head is key. Also, as I allow my head to hang slightly over the edge of the pillow (side sleeping), I go just far enough for the edge of the pillow edge to collapse just a bit, making my nose just a bit closer to the bed. This slight downward tilt toward the bed helps the tongue stay to the front of the mouth rather than falling back into the throat. Make gravity work for you rather than against you. BTW, for various reasons I have nearly always used a pillows style mask. Having initial problems doesn't necessarily mean you will never be able to use them. I have a theory that when one's therapy allows events to slip through it's prime conditions for the air to come forcefully into the mouth. If the airway is blocked, the incoming air has to go somewhere. Don't know if that makes sense from a scientific perspective, but makes sense to me. Good luck with things.

[Grace~~~]

Hi wordbabe ~~~ welcome!

I can't help with the sleepyhead specifics but I want to encourage you to absolutely not stop until you can get sleepyhead installed and up and working and begin to learn from the folks here.

For some of us (like me) getting these 'tech' things working is very hard. ... but this step is CRUCIAL!

...as for your mask ... have you looked at the dreamwear? I wear the dreamwear cushion, but have the dreamwear full face for when I get a cold and can't breath through my nose.

It's SUPER soft and comfortable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGhbM39gKtY

[wordbabe]

Thank you for these responses!! So.... what I'm gathering, then, is that I should not be having AHI events (or, I guess, fewer than what I am experiencing).

Regarding pillows, I'm going to try the CPAP pillow I bought from B,B andB. Maybe I just have to be patient with getting used to it as it may help keep my head more properly aligned.

Masks: The first mask I tried was the Dreamwear and, compared to the AirFit 30, it IS more comfortable save for the mouth opening problem. But if I get the pillow thing right, maybe it will eliminate the mouth opening issue. I will also try some of the other tricks suggested to keep my mouth shut. (My husband will be thrilled heh, heh, heh)

The remaining problem is SLEEPYHEAD. My computer is a PC and our operating system is Microsoft Windows 7. I installed the program but when I inserted the SD card into the computer, the information refused to download. I called Geek Squad and allowed them on my computer. They tried for about an hour to help me download the info from the SD card without any luck, I checked our laptop to see if I could do this there but there is nowhere to insert an SD card. Could my computer just be too old???? Just an FYI, I brought my SD card to the doctor when I went for my follow-up appointment and he was able to get all the information off it so it's not the card.

I really want this whole process to work---the CPAP, Sleepyhead, etc.. I wake up every night and find it hard to get back to sleep. I feel constantly fatigued with brain fog, etc. Through the years, before this diagnosis, I had tried EVERYTHING one can imagine! I have a library of books on sleep; I'm very careful about my sleep hygiene; I have tapes I play, etc. My doctor suggested I see a special Sleep Therapist and learn CBTI-- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia-- which is what I'm doing now. I read ---and even printed out---an extremely helpful blog post entitled "Adventures in Hosehead Land: Taming the CPAP-Induced Insomnia Monster" by one your members, RobySue. It was that article, in fact, that encouraged me to keep wearing the CPAP the whole night and not give up on it. But I have to confess, I do find this whole thing a challenge. I had hoped/expected it to be so much easier.

[Barbee]

I picked up an sd card adapter for my laptop. It has a plug on one end to insert into your usb port then there is a slot for the sd card to go in on the other end. Simple enough for my tech challenged self to use

[isaacsmith]

The remaining problem is SLEEPYHEAD. My computer is a PC and our operating system is Microsoft Windows 7. I installed the program but when I inserted the SD card into the computer, the information refused to download.

Hi wordbabe,

Could you please describe the steps you took to import the CPAP data into Sleepyhead, and what error messages or other issues occurred?

[xhiker1416]

I have used 4 masks in the past 6 weeks and all have leaked and also caused serious skin abrasions and discomfort. I stopped using a cpap 15 years ago for the same reasons but was asked by my Dr. to try again. At 76 years old, I'm not sure the 'cure' for sleep apnea is worth the problems it causes.

[John Stephen]

Wordbabe, thanks for your post, and thanks to all who have responded so far. This thread is of interest to me because I'm also new (on my fourth week with CPAP) and wondering the same things. I know that many folks have been helped greatly by CPAP. But for me, I have yet to see or feel any benefits. My initial sleep test measured me at 16 events per hour. I've been mostly having 5 to 9 events per hour with the CPAP (which is a total of 35 to 63 events per night, for me). I sometimes wake up not just gasping (which I occasionally did before CPAP) but gasping AND feeling as though a desert storm has blown into my throat. Waking up like that can't be good for my heart (I'm 64). I"m going to stay with it at least until mid-February when I have a follow-up with my doctor. Until then, I will watch this and other threads with much interest. Again, thanks to all who posted on this one, it's been very interesting so far.

[Radio]

I can only comment on your pillow question, and what I have tried.

I could not get comfortable on my normal pillow but found a flat memory foam pillow. On top of that I use a small square pillow (the decorator type that you place on the ends of the couch.) I move the small pillow around to try and keep pressure off the mask. So far that is working but my wife isn't happy loosing the sofa pillow.

[peelunkins]

I have used 4 masks in the past 6 weeks and all have leaked and also caused serious skin abrasions and discomfort. I stopped using a cpap 15 years ago for the same reasons but was asked by my Dr. to try again. At 76 years old, I'm not sure the 'cure' for sleep apnea is worth the problems it causes.

Same here, Xhiker1416.
More problems than it is worth to be sure

[Sleepy in GV]

...as for your mask ... have you looked at the dreamwear? I wear the dreamwear cushion, but have the dreamwear full face for when I get a cold and can't breath through my nose.

It's SUPER soft and comfortable

I agree, I like the dreamwear full face. I am a (mostly) side sleeper, I toss and turn a lot, and I couldn’t give up my soft down pillow. Dreamwear full face is the only mask I’ve tried, so I can’t comment on anything other masks. I did have to go from a small cushion to a medium, but I feel like I got lucky finding the dreamwear. Works great in my situation.

I agree with everyone else. Don’t give up! Figure out how to get Sleepyhead downloaded. And for me, reading all of the sticky’s and other people’s posts helped tremendously.

Good luck !

[zonker]

I have used 4 masks in the past 6 weeks and all have leaked and also caused serious skin abrasions and discomfort. I stopped using a cpap 15 years ago for the same reasons but was asked by my Dr. to try again. At 76 years old, I'm not sure the 'cure' for sleep apnea is worth the problems it causes.

Same here, Xhiker1416.
More problems than it is worth to be sure

peelunkins, you may be better off if you stick to your own thread and get help. going around in other peoples threads and complaining isn't going to do much for you.

please read this-

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

and start getting some help.

good luck!

[peelunkins]

Wordbabe, thanks for your post, and thanks to all who have responded so far. This thread is of interest to me because I'm also new (on my fourth week with CPAP) and wondering the same things. I know that many folks have been helped greatly by CPAP. But for me, I have yet to see or feel any benefits. My initial sleep test measured me at 16 events per hour. I've been mostly having 5 to 9 events per hour with the CPAP (which is a total of 35 to 63 events per night, for me). I sometimes wake up not just gasping (which I occasionally did before CPAP) but gasping AND feeling as though a desert storm has blown into my throat. Waking up like that can't be good for my heart (I'm 64). I"m going to stay with it at least until mid-February when I have a follow-up with my doctor. Until then, I will watch this and other threads with much interest. Again, thanks to all who posted on this one, it's been very interesting so far.

Same here, John

[zonker]

Same here, John

when are you going to start taking control of your therapy?