I dont think I am going to be able to do this. I am so frustrated. I have tried all the ff masks that the store has, I have tried nasal, cant do those. I have moderate apnea, so maybe this isnt for me. I took 2 benadryl the other night to see if I could leave the mask on, and I fell asleep, but took the mask off after one hour, I just cant get past an hour and sometimes cant do it at all. I just cant deal with this mask on my face. I went back to sleep after taking the benadryl and slept like a charm, even had a dream, so maybe I will just stick to something to make me sleep and relax.
I originally started with a bipap and the pressure was so bad I couldnt even leave the mask on hardly anytime, then they switched me to an auto, now I am using a cpap auto, I have tried everything and nothing is working.
Its ridiculous, I'm getting less sleep now than I was before, go figure.
I go to my doctor on Monday and let him know all about my wonderful 5 weeks of nothing.
frustrated
14 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Mask trouble
Dove,
5 weeks - that surely would be frustrating, yet not unheard of in trying to find what works.
First of all, you've got to know in your heart and mind that medicating yourself instead of treating the apnea is not in your best interest. An appealing thought, but not the answer. That would be comparable to putting a bandaid on a cancer. My apnea is classified as moderate, and I have so many of the long term effects - enlarged heart, high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain, cognitive impairment - enough? Don't stick your head in the sand on this - it's too important.
But about your struggles - I had a very rocky start and even quit for several months (a move I regret but I didn't know what else to do). Keeping my mask on was a major issue for me for a very long time. Getting my ramp and pressure increased helped me keep it on for an hour at a time, but finding a mask that was best for me helped me finally increase my mask time. Even then I have had periods of relapse, but a few hours on the machine is better than no hours. Please try to approach this as a short term sacrifice for a long term reward.
If you would post some specifics about your treatment - pressure, setting for ramp or settling, etc. some may be able to give you some more targeted help. All I can say is that you've slept a lifetime without a mask on your face - of course it doesn't feel "right" there. Give yourself more time.
Kathy
5 weeks - that surely would be frustrating, yet not unheard of in trying to find what works.
First of all, you've got to know in your heart and mind that medicating yourself instead of treating the apnea is not in your best interest. An appealing thought, but not the answer. That would be comparable to putting a bandaid on a cancer. My apnea is classified as moderate, and I have so many of the long term effects - enlarged heart, high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain, cognitive impairment - enough? Don't stick your head in the sand on this - it's too important.
But about your struggles - I had a very rocky start and even quit for several months (a move I regret but I didn't know what else to do). Keeping my mask on was a major issue for me for a very long time. Getting my ramp and pressure increased helped me keep it on for an hour at a time, but finding a mask that was best for me helped me finally increase my mask time. Even then I have had periods of relapse, but a few hours on the machine is better than no hours. Please try to approach this as a short term sacrifice for a long term reward.
If you would post some specifics about your treatment - pressure, setting for ramp or settling, etc. some may be able to give you some more targeted help. All I can say is that you've slept a lifetime without a mask on your face - of course it doesn't feel "right" there. Give yourself more time.
Kathy
_________________
| Mask: TAP PAP Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Improved Stability Mouthpiece |
| Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control |
| Additional Comments: Bleep/DreamPort for full nights, Tap Pap for shorter sessions |
My SleepDancing Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE7WA_5c73c
I slept 6 whole hours (wow) on my 66th night with the CPAP.
I hear, live, and feel your frustration.
I'm still in denial about having to use this thing on my head, up my nose, and dangling from my body every night.
Makes me want to cuss like a truck driver in the Navy.
-Bev
I hear, live, and feel your frustration.
I'm still in denial about having to use this thing on my head, up my nose, and dangling from my body every night.
Makes me want to cuss like a truck driver in the Navy.
-Bev
Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regrets; for I am far surer of what is kind, than I am of what is true.
This may have been suggested to you by others already, but here goes in case it hasn't.
Dont just try to wear it at night.
It's strange, it takes getting used to. Try wearing it when your not trying to sleep to get used to it.
Move the machine into the living room, watch tv while underpressure. (and hey, if you nod off and sleep for awhile, your already masked up).
Keep trying, once you get a few nights of compliance under your belt, and it makes you feel better, you will become determine to make it work. Now it's just part of my nightly routine. And as you might have seen others talk about it, but when the machine is first on, it's like wow.. pressure... when I wake up it's like, is this thing on?
Dont just try to wear it at night.
It's strange, it takes getting used to. Try wearing it when your not trying to sleep to get used to it.
Move the machine into the living room, watch tv while underpressure. (and hey, if you nod off and sleep for awhile, your already masked up).
Keep trying, once you get a few nights of compliance under your belt, and it makes you feel better, you will become determine to make it work. Now it's just part of my nightly routine. And as you might have seen others talk about it, but when the machine is first on, it's like wow.. pressure... when I wake up it's like, is this thing on?
thank you
Thank everyone that has posted so far. I know I have to keep trying. I have 3 machines right now and no particular mask that I am using. I think alot of my problems are I dont understand alot about the difference between bipap and cpap.. I know that when I was on the auto machine before this cpap auto I could breath better, it just felt different, and now with this cpap auto I have constant air and I dont like that. The doctor originally prescribed me the bipap machine but the respiratory place when she brought other masks for me says she feels I would do better with the cpap? See why I am so confused.
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oceanpearl
- Posts: 650
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:21 pm
- Location: Virginia Beach, Va
Re: thank you
[quote="DOVE"]Thank everyone that has posted so far. I know I have to keep trying. I have 3 machines right now and no particular mask that I am using. I think alot of my problems are I dont understand alot about the difference between bipap and cpap.. I know that when I was on the auto machine before this cpap auto I could breath better, it just felt different, and now with this cpap auto I have constant air and I dont like that. The doctor originally prescribed me the bipap machine but the respiratory place when she brought other masks for me says she feels I would do better with the cpap? See why I am so confused.
I just want to go back to sleep!
Dove,
I would check with the Dr. that prescribed the bi-pap. He must have had a reason. I wouldn't let the "respiratory place" talk you into something different, just because that's the one they have to sell, or THEY get cheaper.
Getting the right machine and mask for you makes all the difference in the world.
I would check with the Dr. that prescribed the bi-pap. He must have had a reason. I wouldn't let the "respiratory place" talk you into something different, just because that's the one they have to sell, or THEY get cheaper.
Getting the right machine and mask for you makes all the difference in the world.
Re: thank you
[quote="DOVE"]Thank everyone that has posted so far. I know I have to keep trying. I have 3 machines right now and no particular mask that I am using. I think alot of my problems are I dont understand alot about the difference between bipap and cpap.. I know that when I was on the auto machine before this cpap auto I could breath better, it just felt different, and now with this cpap auto I have constant air and I dont like that. The doctor originally prescribed me the bipap machine but the respiratory place when she brought other masks for me says she feels I would do better with the cpap? See why I am so confused.
_________________
| Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: Machine: Resmed AirSense10 for Her with Climateline heated hose ; alternating masks. |
And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Good advice is compromised by missing data
Forum member Dog Slobber Nov. 2023
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Good advice is compromised by missing data
Forum member Dog Slobber Nov. 2023
it would help if you filled out your profile and input your machine type and titrated or known pressure, we would have some place to start.
It takes a lot of patience when starting with this therapy. As for the mask(s) where the one that is the most comfortable, if you are tightening the straps to stop leaks to the point where it is uncomfortable, then let it leak just keep any leaks out of your eyes.
Lower pressure is easier to tolerate, if you need lower pressure until you get used to the therapy then so be it, at this point you should not be worrying about any AHI or minor leaks, your efforts should be improving comfort and using the machine longer. If you can only use it 1 hr tonight, then so be it, try an hour and half tomorrow.
if you have 3 machines and one say auto on the top, use it. Try and find out the brand and type should be on the top or bottom of the machine (don't flip it upside down with water in it).
1. start with machine type,
2. confirm its pressure settings, tell us which type and we can tell you how to do that.
3. If you had a lab study, try and find out what your pressure was, we can find it without it but it is a lot easier if we know that up front.
IF your pressure is high then there are ways to get around that or make it so you can tolerate it easier, be we need more info about the machine and pressure.
It takes a lot of patience when starting with this therapy. As for the mask(s) where the one that is the most comfortable, if you are tightening the straps to stop leaks to the point where it is uncomfortable, then let it leak just keep any leaks out of your eyes.
Lower pressure is easier to tolerate, if you need lower pressure until you get used to the therapy then so be it, at this point you should not be worrying about any AHI or minor leaks, your efforts should be improving comfort and using the machine longer. If you can only use it 1 hr tonight, then so be it, try an hour and half tomorrow.
if you have 3 machines and one say auto on the top, use it. Try and find out the brand and type should be on the top or bottom of the machine (don't flip it upside down with water in it).
1. start with machine type,
2. confirm its pressure settings, tell us which type and we can tell you how to do that.
3. If you had a lab study, try and find out what your pressure was, we can find it without it but it is a lot easier if we know that up front.
IF your pressure is high then there are ways to get around that or make it so you can tolerate it easier, be we need more info about the machine and pressure.
someday science will catch up to what I'm saying...
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sharon1965
- Posts: 1232
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 4:59 pm
- Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
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allergyridden
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:35 am
- Location: NJ
It's not supposed to fun!
I have felt just like you, not sure I could ever sleep with a mask on!. But I am. I'm three weeks on a Bipap auto & I think that's the one you need to use. After my first titration with a cpap I told them there was a lot to be said for dying in your sleep. The next time they put me on the Bipap & that makes the breathing much easier. My high seems to be a 10, which is not terribly high.
Two nights ago I finally slept 8 1/2 hours. It was 5 & 6 before that, and I felt worse from lack of sleep & so tired in the afternoon. When a mask is driving me crazy I get up & switch to another one. (I bought 2 off ebay)
Last night I put on the one I slept so well with the night before & it was annoying me so much. I got up & readjusted everything in the living room, so I didn't wake up my boy friend. Then went back to bed and slept till 10:30.
It really does get easier as you go! Instead of thinking "I can't do this," tell yourself "I have to do this."
Two nights ago I finally slept 8 1/2 hours. It was 5 & 6 before that, and I felt worse from lack of sleep & so tired in the afternoon. When a mask is driving me crazy I get up & switch to another one. (I bought 2 off ebay)
Last night I put on the one I slept so well with the night before & it was annoying me so much. I got up & readjusted everything in the living room, so I didn't wake up my boy friend. Then went back to bed and slept till 10:30.
It really does get easier as you go! Instead of thinking "I can't do this," tell yourself "I have to do this."
14 posts
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