A Frustrasted Newbie

Elfman99 · Post by **Elfman99** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:17 pm

I really don't know what to do. Please any advice would be greatly appreciated. I was diagnosed with Moderate to Severe Apnea 3 months ago. I have had my CPAP for over two months and have religiously put it on every night when I go to bed. As of yet, I have not fallen asleep with it on even once. My machine is quiet. I went through 4 masks until I found one that I found tolerable. I lay there for hours every night until I give up and take it off. I usually then fall right to sleep. My doctor is threatening me with sleeping pills saying that the benefits of falling asleep with the CPAP outweigh the problems associated with sleeping pills. I just really don't want to rely on chemicals to sleep. I sleep on my side and I just feel like the mask and the hose are engulfing me, not fitting right, not sealed correctly, too tight, too lose---you name it. My wife says I'm obsessing but I have tried everything I can think of to not think about sleeping (or the equipment). i.e.; music meditation etc. HELP!!! Any glimpse of hope would be wonderful.

THANKS

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:42 pm

Welcome!

You've come to the right place; we have lots of folks who have been through similar trials and tribulations and have made it through to successful therapy.

One suggestion is to try wearing the mask when you're sitting up to get used to it.

Auto-suggestion and visualization may help if you tell youself that you are doing this for your health and well-being. Picture yourself with the mask on falling gently to sleep.

I was on Ambien when I started cpap and after almost 4 months am now almost off. So it is an option if it can help you get to sleep and adjust to the therapy.

There are lots of mask suggestions on this forum and you may want to do some searching. Google is the best way to find things according to some of us. Just type in:

search terms site:cpaptalk.com

for example: leaks swift II site: cpaptalk.com

It would help us help you if you would fill out the equipment part of your profile so we know what you are using.

Other people will add to this, I'm sure. We all like to help people work out their difficulties with this therapy because we know how important it is.

Mindy

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): swift, CPAP, auto

goose · Post by **goose** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:49 pm

Hey Elfman99,
Welcome to the forum -- you have found the best place to get the info you need.....
My first suggestion would be to fill out the profile info with your machine type and mask equipment etc. so that we can see what it is you are using.
What mask are you using?? Is it Full Face or Nasal with pillows or without pillows?? What pressure?? That kind of info would be really helpful.

You may want to try some Melatonin in lieu of sleep meds for the interim, but if the doc feels you can use some sleep meds, you may want to seriously consider it. The Doc is absolutely correct -- sleep with meds and CPAP is better than sleep without the CPAP.....Apnea is damaging your health!!!!!

You are not alone!!!!!!!!!! That is an important thing to understand.
We have all gone through the same things to one extent or another.

The secret is just keep at it....if your mask isn't working, try another mask (again it would help to know what mask you are using). You may be outside your DME's return window if you've been at it for a couple months. I have 30 days to try and return a mask so they can provide me another one to try.
If you go to the yellow light bulb at the top of these pages and click on that (our collective wisdom) you will find all kinds of info about all kinds of masks, machines etc....Give that a try also.....

The important thing is that you keep at it!!! Don't give up!!!!

Once again, welcome to the forum and also to the legions of hoseheads!!!!!

Good luck and take care
cheers
goose

Perchancetodream · Post by **Perchancetodream** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:47 pm

We understand your frustration. It is not that easy to adjust to life as a hosehead. Try reading Mike Moran's instructions on Housebreaking your mask, if only to rediscover your sense of humor: viewtopic/t26444/Housebreaking-Your-Mask-Humor.html
And a sense of humor will serve you well in the weeks to come.

I too, am using Ambien to adjust to wearing a mask. (There was a link posted recently that led to a study that suggested Ambien may help with central apnea, BTW) Melatonin may be another helpful aid to try.

Also, PurSleep essential oil is a good idea. I was skeptical until I tried it for myself. The scents just seem to relax me to the point that I was actually looking forward to wearing my mask at night. It really doesn't cost much to try.

Susan

linuxgrl · Post by **linuxgrl** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:25 pm

Elfman99 wrote:I sleep on my side and I just feel like the mask and the hose are engulfing me, not fitting right, not sealed correctly, too tight, too lose---you name it.

Side sleeping is tough for me as well... I still haven't been able to find the right combo of mask and pillow that won't cause leaks when I turn on my side. The best I've tried is the Quattro full face mask. It feels the most stable of all the masks I've tried (also have Liberty and Swift II) Its bulkiness is actually an advantage for me because it's much harder to move than a smaller mask.

I second Perchancetodream's suggestion of Pur Sleep. You can order at pur-sleep.com. My favorite scent is Clear. I love them so much that now it's gotten to the point that I get sleepy as soon as I smell the oils. Great stuff.

Hang in there! Hopefully things will get easier and pretty soon you won't even want to sleep without your CPAP ever again!

momadams · Post by **momadams** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:47 pm

Reminds me of a student who had been through every possible intervention known to mankind in order to teach him to read. He was one very stressed little boy. The breakthrough came when he was told that for 6 months, nobody was going to ask him to read - in fact, he was forbidden to read. Picked it up on his own shortly after that.
Learn from this what you will.
Shari

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:49 pm

I would suggest filling out your profile with the ALL of the equipment you use and your pressure.

I'm a side-sleeper, too.

Den

Elfman99 · Post by **Elfman99** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:28 am

Thanks to all who have replied to my first posting. As many of you have suggested; I have added my equipment list to my profile.

Thanks again

dand · Post by **dand** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:38 am

I see you have the same mask I used. It was actually my second. I originally thought I was a mouth breather and needed a ff mask. However, I really, really couldn't sleep with the ff. Well, masks are a highly individual thing, and I'm sure there are plenty of folks who can wear the ff successfully. However, only when I changed to my current nasal mask did cpap become comfortable. Have you tried a nasal mask? I'm a side sleeper also and my comfortlite seems to accommodate that position quite well.

Also, I notice your machine is straight cpap. An apap might be more comfortable. Also, I see that your machine does not have exhale relief. I don't think I'd be able to sleep without exhale relief. You might think about upgrading your cpap machine.

dand

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:00 pm

The equipment in your profile didn't catch till now (see time of post).

I addition to what others have suggeted:

Don't stay in bed with the mask for more than 20-30 minutes. If you can' fall asleep - get up. Do something quiet and pleasant, and when you're tired enough - go back to bed - and put your maks on.

If you're not asleep withing 20-30 minutes, get up again, do something quiet and pleasant, and when you're tired enough, go back to bed, and put your mask on.

Repeat as many times as necessary.

It is crucial that you do not let yourself fall asleep without the mask. You've reached a point where you've more or less trained yourself that if you stay awake long enough, you'll let yourself sleep without a mask. Bad idea. The mask is not pleasant, and you're reinforcing this bad habit by eventually sleeping without it. By removing the mask, and falling asleep wihout it you're givin yourself a present for not sleeping...

That's why there should be no more staying in bed for ages with the mask on. The rule should be very clear: sleep happens only with a mask. And if you're not asleep with the maks on within 20 (or at most 30) minutes, it is out of bed with you, till you're tired. Again, and again and again.

It is important enough to consider taking a day of two off from work.

Good Luck!
O.

Good luck.

O.

Elfman99 · Post by **Elfman99** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:48 am

First, I want to thank everyone for thier suggestions. I have already tried most of them. I still have not been successful in falling asleep, but just knowing that I'm not the only one out there that has had this problem brings me a sense of comfort. I now just keep reminding myself that if others can work through it, so can I. I have decided to talk to the Doc again and re-address my prior hesitence to sleep meds until I get used to the equipment. Thanks again for the help.

sleepyinaustin · Post by **sleepyinaustin** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:55 pm

Elfman,
I also am a new CPAP user. I have been using CPAP for about 2 months now. Falling asleep is not my problem - staying asleep is. I have changed masks 4 times so far, had my pressure increased and am going back in next week to speak with the doc yet again. I am waking up every hour or so most nights. However, I promised hubby that I would hang in there. Sudden death runs in my family and he is scared that I will die in my sleep like my mother & 3 of her sibs did. My sleep doc says this adjustment period can take a really long time for some of us, but it is really frustrating! Hang in there. I just found this forum and it seems really full of great advice and support from people who've been there and really understand. We're gonna make it.

Pat - Sleepless in Austin

TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:04 pm

Elfman, sorry to hear you're having problems.

Some of us have had pretty darn good success with a product by a guy here on the forum....SleepGuy....called pur-sleep. Here's the webaddy: http://www.pur-sleep.com

Do a search on it and read the comments. It sure helps!

Kajun

Perchancetodream · Post by **Perchancetodream** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:28 pm

I use the Hybrid which is very similar to your Liberty. But, it wasn't until I started using Pad A Cheeks that I slept without any awareness of my mask or machine. As a matter of fact, this morning I tried to answer the phone with it on. (http://www.padacheek.com/)

The last three months have been a journey of discovery as I have tried different techniques to make this therapy work. It seems to be a very individual journey as so much of sleep comfort is subjective. So what works for me may not work for anyone else.

What has worked for me:
Using the data to make pressure adjustments
PurSleep
Ambien
PadACheek
What Ozij said about only keeping the mask on for 20-30 minutes without sleep. At that point I take it off and try again later.

Just keep trying different things, use those ideas that work and discard the rest. And don't give up.

Susan

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:09 pm

Elfman,

Sorry to hear you are still having problems with sleep, but I think your attitude has changed noticeably from your first post. It sounds like you're hanging in and I hope you will continue to work on this. No one solution (or set of solutions) works for everyone and I look forward to hearing what you find works for you!

Mindy

Mask

Additional Comments: Also use Pur-Sleep and love it! Other masks: Liberty & Swift II

Humidifier

Additional Comments: Pressure 16 cm H2O at altitude 6550ft

A Frustrasted Newbie

A Frustrasted Newbie

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