How Long to Get Used to This?!!!!

[MinerMomx3]

Been trying to sleep for 2 weeks with a CPAP. Have a ResMed Elite with nasal pillows for a mask. It is a little uncomfortable, but not too bad at all. I ramp from 4-7 over 20 minutes. I have been wearing the mask while reading and watching TV to get used to it, but when I lay down to sleep, I am awake. I can't fall asleep!!! I doze, but never full on sleep. I finally take the mask off to sleep.

Help! Does this get better???

[kteague]

Hi. It does take time to get used to this feeling of something foreign on the face, but time will help with that. What you don't want to do is keep waiting to get used to it when something is actually wrong that needs addressed.

First of all, if your issues occur shortly after donning the mask, suspect your ramp pressure. At a pressure of 4 I felt as if I were suffocating. You may want to up that. It would be hard to relax and sleep if not breathing comfortably.

Best wishes on tweaking things and getting used to the equipment. Having the "want to" is half the battle.

Kathy

[jaybee72]

I'd agree - with a pressure as low as 7 I'd consider trying it without the ramp. I'm on the same machine with a pressure of 8 and have had great luck in the 27 days I've been using it. I used the ramp the first night, and haven't used it since. For the last 2 weeks I have noticed that I wake up and wonder if the machine is still on - it seems that natural now!

[ozij]

Apparently using the mask interferes with your ability to fall asleep.

In order to get used to falling asleep with the mask on, you have to make a deal with yourself that you won't sleep without the mask.

By letting yourself fall asleep after you take the mask off you're are (subconciously) teaching yourself that you can only fall asleep without the mask - you are learnig to avoid the mask - and that's a very bad habit to acquire.

Sticking to the deal means that "mask off means I get out of bed". Give it about 20 or 30 minutes, then get out of bed, do something relaxing, when you feel sleepy get back into bed, put on the mask, and try to fall asleep. Can't sleep? Mask off, and out of bed. As many times as necessary.

The begining will be difficult - but once you get used to falling asleep with your mask on you'll feel much better.

O.

[allergyridden]

I know exactly how you feel! It was that way for me too. I'm three weeks into therapy and I just started to really sleep. I switch masks a lot, sore nares etc. I finally found a second mask I can sleep. I just tried staying up till I was really tired, I could do that since I'm not working now.

[Roadie]

My straight CPAP pressure is also 7. I have always found the ramp to be more bother than it is worth. It has been this way for 5 years.

I tried several different styles of traditional masks and finally landed on one that was acceptable and used it for most of the 5 years. Recently I got an auto machine and my range is from 6 to 10, I still don't use the ramp, my machine just starts at 6 and raises the pressure if I need it. Most nights the machine hovers between 6 and 7 with only a few minutes at higher pressures. When I got the new machine, I also made a radical change in my mask. I am now using a nasal pillows type of mask. I have found that for me this makes a huge difference in my overall comfort.

Mask fit is incredibly important to making this therapy comfortable. I am not the least bit claustrophobic, but the nasal pillows design I use has no structure over the bridge of my nose. This makes it so much easier to see, things like reading or watching TV used to be awkward in my old mask, but are now quite natural.

It does take time to get used to wearing any mask. Give it time, and try it without the ramp.

Roadie