Newbie can't fall asleep

Andibabe · Post by **Andibabe** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 6:26 pm

I've had two nights with my cpap and I can't fall asleep. THe first night I lasted an hour and then turned it off and slept the old way. THe second night I lasted a couple of hours. No sleep. (I should also mention that my sleep studies were torture nights where I barely got enough sleep to complete the study.)

So now, I get my mask (nasal pillows) comfortable, the pressure feels fine, the straps seem okay, though I had to play with them. I found that I can't snuggle against my pillow like I'm used to because that pushes the straps up, and I used to like to rest a lot of my face into the pillow, but that pushes the mask just enough to start leaking. On my back it's fine, but I haven't slept on my back in years -- since I started having trouble sleeping at night. I'd like to train myself to sleep on my back again because I used to enjoy that position, but I'm just so self-conscious now aobut everything I should do and with how the mask is working. I keep checking to see if there is any leakage. Then I become super conscious about the sound of the machine. SOunds normally never bother me, but now I can't stop listening to them.

Any tips? I'm ready to fall asleep with this thing on already!

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 6:40 pm

The thing that will help the most is the hardest to do...RELAX. If you let yourself get too stressed over all of this you'll never sleep! It takes time to adjust to all the noises and wearing a mask hooked to a hose hooked to a machine. When you put on your mask take a slow deep breath and breathe out slowly. Do it a couple of times, it will help relax you. Give it time and you will get used to it, you will find new favorite positions for sleeping.

Brenda

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 6:47 pm

My suggestion would be to put the mask on for a couple of hours before you go to bed.

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:03 pm

Anonymous wrote:My suggestion would be to put the mask on for a couple of hours before you go to bed.

That was my thought. Put it on and watch TV or read a book if that's what you do in the evening. You will get very used to it and it won't be such a big deal.

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:04 pm

I use foam earplugs most every night. If the fit is good, they eliminate the sounds of the machine and the mask. Of course my hearing is badly damaged in the first place so they may be less effective for you.

TerryB

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:13 pm

If you have a ceiling fan in the room... try that on at night... mine's louder than any of the machines that I've used.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 1:13 am

[quote="Andibabe"]I've had two nights with my cpap and I can't fall asleep. THe first night I lasted an hour and then turned it off and slept the old way. THe second night I lasted a couple of hours. No sleep. (I should also mention that my sleep studies were torture nights where I barely got enough sleep to complete the study.)

So now, I get my mask (nasal pillows) comfortable, the pressure feels fine, the straps seem okay, though I had to play with them. I found that I can't snuggle against my pillow like I'm used to because that pushes the straps up, and I used to like to rest a lot of my face into the pillow, but that pushes the mask just enough to start leaking. On my back it's fine, but I haven't slept on my back in years -- since I started having trouble sleeping at night. I'd like to train myself to sleep on my back again because I used to enjoy that position, but I'm just so self-conscious now aobut everything I should do and with how the mask is working. I keep checking to see if there is any leakage. Then I become super conscious about the sound of the machine. SOunds normally never bother me, but now I can't stop listening to them.

Any tips? I'm ready to fall asleep with this thing on already!

JZ · Post by JZ » Sat Sep 08, 2007 5:58 am

I had a very similar experience when I started CPAP a year ago. I agree with all of the advice on the above posts. I think the most critical factor is getting the right mask. You did not say which nasal pillows you are using. Early in my therapy I used the Swift and could not keep a seal when laying on my side. I switched to the ComfortLite 2 and had better luck with it.

There are several other nasal pillow systems that seem to be popular with side sleepers. Although I did not like the Swift, many others do. Go to cpap.com and click on CPAP Masks, then Nasal Pillow Mask Systems to see the variety of choices. I hope you have a Durable Medical Equipment (DME) company that will let you try a mask for a week or two and trade it for another if it does not work.

Also, there is a wide variety of non-prescription supplements that help with sleep (e.g., melatonin, valerian root). You could try those to see if it helps you relax and sleep. Worst case scenario, talk with your doctor about short-term use of a prescription sleep aid. Just be aware that those medications are not a panacea and can have side effects.

Your experience is common. Generally, though, if you hang in there you will push past this rough start and begin sleeping with the mask.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Janna

Refugee · Post by **Refugee** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:37 am

What you are going through is very common. When I first started I tried for 2 weeks and could not sleep with it. After being awake for 4 or 5 hours I would throw the mask on the floor in frustration and sleep a couple of hours without it. I actually gave up after two weeks and it wasn't until a few months later I decided I would make it work no matter what. I think it is important that you are absolutely determined to make it work. I'm to the point now where I am scared not to use it. There have been just 2 nights in the last 6 months where I could not use it as I was on vacation and got sick and did not have a full face mask with me. Those were 2 miserable nights.

Stick with it and you will adjust to it! Soon you will be able to sleep much better than you ever did without it.

fredpb · Post by **fredpb** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 2:02 pm

I have to concentrate my mind on something soothing..a nice soothing sound to fall asleep. It keeps my mind from racing and keeping me awake. I do one of three things:

1) I have a CD of rain falling. I play that and it's very calming. It lasts about an hour. If I don't fall asleep by the time it ends, I get up for a while.

2) I also have one of those sleep noise machines. I use the setting that sounds like you are on a train... clikity clak, etc. Works.

3) I play soft classical music. I have a wireless music device connected to my bedroom stereo, that is liked to my wireless computer network in my other bedroom. Anything I play on my computer will play in my bedroom. I usually select about 7 hours worth of music. This works best when I have trouble getting to sleep. I get lost in the music.

Newbie can't fall asleep

Newbie can't fall asleep

Re: Newbie can't fall asleep