Newbie and needing help!

[minolta25]

Minolta, the mask really IS the key to this therapy, so don't give up on that yet. While some may not find the 'perfect mask', most of us do end up finding one or two masks that work great on most nights.. just takes some hunting around.

You should first check with your DME because they may allow you to return masks if they're not working for you.
Here are some mask trials that are running, which will let you try the masks for free: mask test drives. Or trade masks with someone else on the mask roulette.
Finally, you can try cpapauction.com for cheap masks.

Happy mask hunting (or, "the Odyssey of the Mask" as carbonman calls it )

Thanks Echo for the suggestions. I will check them out. I really appreciate this forum and all the folks who have been there done that!

[minolta25]

It is not unusual for those with untreated sleep apnea to sleep long hours as the body's desperate attempt to compensate for the poor quality of sleep. It's a good thing that you now can't sleep without the cpap - helps keep you on the straight and narrow. Hopefully you'll get a mask that works well for you and you can sustain your sleep better, at least eliminate some of your wakeups.

Is there anything about your "somewhat complex, multi-layered problem" that could be contributing to your awakenings? Also, did any of your studies mention significant limb movements? They can be real sleep breakers. Some meds can affect sleep.

Since getting things leveled out using cpap (right pressure, mask ok) I've been able to fall asleep easily but not maintain sleep, primarily due to limb movments. A few months ago I began having to take Tylenol PM just to fall asleep and get any amount of sleep at all. I thought it would just be for a few nights, but apparently not. Hey, we gotta sleep, right? As long as the sleep aid doesn't mask an issue that needs resolved, such as needing a pressure change to address all the apneas. Have you done an overnight home oximetry to confirm that you are no longer having those desats?

Sure hope you work the kinks out of your therapy soon and get some GOOOOOOD sleep.

Kathy

The oximetry was done BEFORE the CPAP RX. I was never actually told I had APNEA per se, just that my oxygen levels were falling so low and that the only way I could continue to receive the Provigil was to continue with my CPAP therapy. I did not have significant limb movement, or didn't during my studies. I an going to ask for a copy of my studies when I go back in January. I had no idea there were so many different facets to all this.

I have been taking Ambien since staring on the CPAP because I could not sleep otherwise. I have no trouble falling to sleep, I just cannot stay that way. I do have wakenings during the night to go to the bathroom and I wake up whenever I need to turn over, that kind of thing. I now know more about what I will need to ask/find out when I go back to my sleep doc.

They were wonderful - it is just the DME I have been frustrated with.

Thanks for all the info and good sleep to you too

[minolta25]

my DH was just placed on BIPAP (he has congestive heart failure, diabetes and many other problems)

Hi Minolta and welcome to the board. The others are giving you great advice and suggestions for your own treatment, so I'll switch to something you said that made my ears perk, regarding your husband having just been placed on BiPAP. The words... "congestive heart failure."

What is the full name of your husband's machine, as written on the top of the machine? What I'm hoping is that his machine has the letters "ASV" or "SV" at the end of the name. And not the letters S/T.

Oh boy, it says RESPIRONICS BiPAP Plus M series. That's it.