Can't sleep w/CPAP

Becky · Post by **Becky** » Fri May 30, 2008 2:55 pm

I have yet been able to make it through the night wearing my CPAP mask(s). Started out with OptiLife nasal pillows...borrowed a ComfortGel mask on loan until late June...and received Profile-Lite as 2nd mask from insurance DME.

Last night I was determined to sleep with Profile-Lite mask through the night!
Did not succeed.

I put the KY jelly up my nose (solving dryness)...rubbed my face with soft terrycloth towel (to prevent itching)...bought a new pillow (for comfort) ...humidifier on...mask fitted to my petite facial features. Once again AWAKE at 1:30 a.m.. I attempted to ignore the desire to remove the mask but I had a new issue last night of air escaping my lips.

Twice in past month I made it to 3:30 a.m. but that 2 hour in-mask and awake at 1:30 a.m. seems to be the trend.

I guess my next option prior to another mask would be earplugs to keep me from hearing anything.

I am very disappointed with lack of CPAP success. Confused that I can go to sleep for two hours then awake fully miserable with mask on. Easily go back to sleep with mask OFF.

I am using ramp feature starting at 6 cm that goes up to 12 cm.

Should I attempt to discontinue ramp?

Becky

alnhwrd · Post by **alnhwrd** » Fri May 30, 2008 3:17 pm

If air is escaping your lips, you might as well not have the mask on. This could easily explain why you are not feeling any better. I would try some tape on your mouth to keep you lips together and your air in your throat where it will do some good. Or if you can, try a full face mask for a few days and see if that helps.

It also takes time to adjust to all of this CPAP "stuff". Wearing a hunk of plastic strapped to your face hooked up to a hose connected to a machine that makes noise all night is just plain unnatural. In time your mind and body will adapt to these things. Some people are helped by using white noise or a fan in the room. Some are helped by using a product called Pur-sleep which provides a soothing aroma to help you sleep. Others use some form of relaxation technique. Others just stick it out. Do keep trying, it will get better, and if you can overcome these obstacles you will love the results.

Alan

Warbird · Post by **Warbird** » Fri May 30, 2008 3:48 pm

Becky,

Keep trying. It will get better, you just need time to adjust to this new way of sleeping. Once you get past the rough spots, you will know it was worth it.

I have be on the HOSE for almost a year now. Keep reading here. We all have been where you are now. Just keep trying!

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Fri May 30, 2008 4:17 pm

I tape every night. I use Roosters method;

viewtopic.php?t=9653

Do give it more time. It can take what seems like a very long time to adjust to all of this. Every change you make will take even more time to adjust to. Don't give up! Keep posting how you are doing and try to drop into chat for even more help.

Brenda

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri May 30, 2008 4:45 pm

If you are reluctant to tape your lips try buying a small tube of PoliGrip Denture Gel. Spread a very THIN layer of the gel on your lips from corner to corner and press them together.

If necessary you can easily open your mouth w/o discomfort and can easily reseal your lips by just wetting them lightly w/your tongue. The denture gel is safe, after all it is made to be used in your mouth.

Or try a full face mask. Because of the larger area to cover full face masks are usually more difficult to fit w/o leaks than the nasal cushions. I'm not a fan of nasal pillows style masks but MANY love them and do great w/them.

gasparama · Post by **gasparama** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:12 pm

Hi Becky,
There are thousands of people who understand your frustration. And there are as many variables as there are people who use CPAP. It does take time to adjust to this new way of sleeping.

Take into account the advice about closing your mouth with tape or polident. Also consider the full face mask.

I've been on the hose for less than a year, and I actually enjoy the full night's sleep so much that bedtime is now a quite pleasant time. But I've been through 5 masks with a variety of cushion sizes. It's been quite a juggling act to get all the little pieces of therapy balanced into a good night's sleep Changing to C-flex drove me crazy because of the noise. My humidifier dial has been all over the map My nightstand drawer is filled with experimental sinus medications. I'm telling you this to tell you that you may have to really make some adjustments to make CPAPPing your own way of sleeping. And that is perfectly normal. Please be encouraged and stay with the machine and with this group of people.

Jere · Post by **Jere** » Fri May 30, 2008 9:49 pm

Keep trying.

It is a long road to get totally comfortable with anything covering your face. I was an insomniac long before the hose, so I was sure it would never work. Try not to put pressure on yourself. Don't castigate yourself if you can't sleep one night or a part of a night with the mask. For all of us it has been a process. Believe it or not (and I sure did not believe when I took my equipment home 3 years ago), but the night will come when you will be reaching for the mask in order to fall asleep. It happens. Just keep in mind that it is a process that may take a while. Keep a good attitude and don't stop trying. If you need support, post on this board - there are lots of people here anxious to help you.

Jerry

deglorious · Post by **deglorious** » Fri May 30, 2008 10:27 pm

Hi Becky!

Welcome to the forum. You are not alone. The same thing used to happen to me when I FIRST started cpap treatment. I was using a nasal mask then and had problems staying asleep. Then I realized that what was waking me up was breathing through my mouth and the noise it would make.

Well, to make a long story short I asked the sleep doc about a full face mask and he ordered the Quattro.

I love my Quattro! Ever since I got it I've slept through the night the majority of the time except for the few time I had to get up to pee. I've also gotten it adjusted so that I frequently have zero leak nights.

Keep it up and stick out these first tough weeks. Also, try a ffm you might get some relief from it. PS I never tried taping--too vain, I guess...

Good luck

Deglorious

countman88 · Post by **countman88** » Sat May 31, 2008 8:10 pm

I doubt there would be few, if any, who managed even close to a full night's sleep in there first week.
I started off for one hour a night for the first 3 or 4 nights, building up to three hours by the end of the second week. Within a month I was able to get a full 6 or 7 hours sleep.
It seems most people don't like chin straps, but I have not had any problem with mine, which quickly overcame air escaping from my mouth. Rarely wear it now, but a much betrter option if it works than having to tape up your mouth every night from my point of view.

Regards
KenD
Brisbane

trice54 · Post by **trice54** » Sat May 31, 2008 9:20 pm

Hi Becky...I can sure relate to your problem. I havent been having much trouble first getting to sleep (I am taking a sleep med.) But I often wake around 1:30, also, and then sometimes have trouble getting back to sleep. I found out that I mouthbreathe when I first started a few months ago, so I am now using a Quattro full face mask. Sometimes I end up taking it off to go back to sleep, and then put it back on when I wake up later. I TRY to keep it on all nite, and have been getting better, but I am not beating myself up if I don;t make it all night. It has been about 3 1/2 months for me..it gets better gradually so give yourself time. Good luck!
Trice

ColoradoDreamer · Post by **ColoradoDreamer** » Sat May 31, 2008 11:03 pm

Welcome Becky!

Getting use to the equipment will take time with many adjustments and fine tuning to find out what works for you. Jere is right about eventually needing to have CPAP to sleep. I've been at it for nearly 2 years and look forward to going to bed because I know I will sleep well and wake up refreshed and alert. Stick with it.

You will find that people adjust differently to this new treatment. I adapted quickly with CPAP and got at least 4 hrs a night since day one. Others, such as yourself, have to ease into it.

One way to check if you are mouth breathing is if your mouth is dry when you wake up. If it is, you are mouth breathing. Use one of the taping methods mentioned or get a full face mask.

Regarding ear plugs, I always have some sort of white noise going while I sleep. It masks the noise of the cpap machine and the outside noise. Right now I have a fan in the room running at medium speed. In the winter I use a white noise generating machine. I find them to be very effective.

Are you taking medication? Is it non-drowsy, such as some of the antihistamines? "Non-drowsy" also means "you will not sleep". It took me a couple sleepless months, pre-cpap, to figure out why I could not sleep. If this is the case, check with you Dr to see if you can take meds any other time besides before bed time.

I don't use ramping, but others have mentioned it elsewhere in other posts. You may want to see what they say about it.

nightingale · Post by **nightingale** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:01 am

Becky,

I have been using CPAP now for 2 years, and am unfortunately one who awakens several times each night, usually because of mouth leaks -- I have no difficulty falling asleep but have yet to sleep through the night -- have tried every available mask. Have just accepted this as the way it is -- most I have ever slept without waking is 4 hours, and hopefully one day there will be a "miracle" full- face mask for me!
Hang in there!!

Mary

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 7:23 am

Welcome and everyone else has given you some great options on tweaks to make this therapy work for you so I won't do that. I am just going to tell you to keep at it. It DOES work in the end and is well worth it.

Good Luck!

lifeartist59 · Post by **lifeartist59** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:45 pm

As I read through all these posts to the original one on making it though the night, I feel a lot better myaself. I have not made it longer than 6 hours a night, and average about 4. It is getting a bit easier, but I just got a new mask and now went back a bit. Does anyone else find each mask is different, even if it is the same brand and model? I feel like the nasal pillows are slightly different on the new one, maybe because I wore the old one into fitting my face? Oh well, every minute or hour helps right? Thanks to those of you who posted positive remarks to this original person, I think it helps everyone to be encouraged and not feel like they are failing at it.

Pineapple · Post by **Pineapple** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:15 pm

Becky,

I'm 4 months in and I still wake between 1 and 2, I believe my body has just conditioned it's self to do this. I expect it to go eventually. I assume from your comments that you are useing the ramp to fall asleep at bedtime. When you wake at 1:30, are you pressing the ramp again to help you get back to sleep? If your not, try it and see if you can get back to sleep more easily. If you find that you feel like your sufficating when the ramp starts, then ajust the ramp start pressure up, but from what I read, it doesn't sound like you're ready to get rid of the ramp just yet.

Mouth leaking - ugh. the bane of my existance. Tapeing or poli-grip are things you can do easily with a trip to the drug store. Since others have given you some advise on this, I won't belabor the issue except to say if the other suggested methods don't work for you, try a search on "tapeing"

Hang in there.

Can't sleep w/CPAP

Can't sleep w/CPAP

You can do it.

lots of good advise

Mask