That first night of sleep is eluding me now

[TheDreamer]

Well, last night I tried it....removing my humidifier to see if I could sleep like I did on the first night.

I slept the same amount as the night before, but only woke up once. So, I suppose that's an improvement. Though my breathing seemed noisy, though not as bad as when the humidifier was attached. Wonder if the chamber is acting like some kind of natural amplifier...

Maybe I need to drop in to the DME on Monday and inquire about a different mask.

The Dreamer.

[TheDreamer]

Alright, decided my nose was raw enough from trying two nights without the humidifier....so I hooked it back up. But, last night I had it set to 0...to see if that would be enough.

Though I found that I couldn't breath last night....nose was all full, rolled on my back so that it would drain down the back of my throat...and eventually I set off to sleep. Though it was kind of rough with the coughing and swallowing....probably more the swallowing, sure had gas in the morning....

I stopped by the DME on the way into work this morning, to find out if I had options with my mask. She said to come back tomorrow with my mask and smartcard and we'll see.

Hmm, I seem to be sneezing like crazy today too.

The Dreamer.

[TheDreamer]

Well, I had my appointment at the DME with the RT. She downloaded my data and went over the results with me. Basically I'm doing good, talked a bit and then got to my mask. I told her that how I often sleep with my hand holding the mask in place, etc. (especially when I'm sleeping on my side) And, probably need something with a bit more in straps to hold things side to side. So, now I'm trying the FlexiFit HC407.

Guess I'll find out tonight if this helps.

The Dreamer.

Though cpap.com's sizing tool suggests this isn't the mask for me....

[TheDreamer]

Darn, it didn't seem this bad when I tried them on at the DME....but can't seem to get it to not leak laying down.

Guess its back to the DME tomorrow. Or wonder if I want to take a chance and order a mask recommended by the sizing guide on cpap.com?

The Dreamer.

[Outlawswife47]

Dreamer....I'm coming into this a little late but I might have some help for you. Regarding the humidifier and getting a "spraying" effect. Do you have the humidifier higher than your head? Remember, water runs downhill. I put mine on the carpeted floor. It solved the spraying problem, the "drowning feeling", AND the noise problem. After a coupla weeks I had gotten so used to the noise from the machine that I can't fall asleep without it! But that's the noise of the air --- the noise from the vibrations on the bedside table will NEVER be tolerated!

As for finding a mask that doesn't shift.......good luck. I still have to adjust mine a lot.

[TheDreamer]

I have the unit moved down to the floor, though it has reduced the amount of hose I have to maneuver with. Also have hose cover and dropped the setting by one....and then I still have trouble some times (though not as bad as that first night). Depends on how cold it gets over night.

Not sure how long it'll be before I get over sounding like Darth Vader....though getting stuffed up at night hasn't helped.

Just don't know what to about the mask situation. Think I took a wrong turn somewhere. I'm really, really tired...and I wanted to go to bed early today, but now I can't sleep....

The Dreamer

[TheDreamer]

Well, it got late, and I got really tired...and I fiddled with the mask more....eventually got it to only kind of leak from the sides, but not into my eyes. And, managed grab some shuteye. Though it made it really tight, so my forehead hurts now....

Wonder if it was leaking because my nose is wider than the mask opening....but I didn't notice because air was warm at the DME, while my bedroom air is cold.

The Dreamer.

[TheDreamer]

Stopped at the DME and talked to the RT this morning. Exchanged the Fisher & Paykel FlexiFit HC407 for a Respironics Profile Lite. Didn't try it with CPAP or anything or the headgear, but it did seem to fit around my nose....so hopefully it'll all work out until I can't sleep without it or something..... And, then maybe when I finish paying all my bills, I'll look into buying other masks....

The Dreamer.

[Outlawswife47]

I'm glad you got another mask. Because we have wood heat (and hardly have a furnace on) and live where it gets in the 10s-20s (sometimes MINUS 17), we found that the air was awfully cold. It actually hurts your sinuses!! I bought some fleece really cheap and sewed a tube for the hose. Then I use velcro straps to hold it on. That not only helped with the cold, but it helped with the noise of the tubing hitting the headboard. I noticed they were on sale at one of the "cpap supply stores" online for $15.00 or so.

[TheDreamer]

Last night I slept....I still woke up, though later in the night....probably because I had drunk too much tea during the evening before bed, and it got really cold last night. There was no 1-2 am wake up....

The mask didn't fit perfectly, so I snugged it a little tighter than I should've and couldn't move as much as I wanted. I think when I get home this evening, I'm going to dip the gel to get it to fit better.

The other thing I did last night, was snake in the reptile heater wire through the hose cover....had my humidifier at 2 and no problems, even with it getting really cold over night.

The Dreamer

[Outlawswife47]

Good deal! Sounds like an improvement! I still will wake up occassionally -- sometimes because of mother nature and other times because of the cold. I purchased an electric bed pad and turn it on when it's going to be really cold out. Sometimes I just turn it on when I wake up cold. Then I'm all snuggy and sleep for hours!

[crossfit junkie]

Hi,
Still optimistic but......New to all this as of about two weeks ago, I just finished trial run of CPAP at pressure 12 and this afternoon go get a BiPAP for a trial run at 18/10. (Yes, I don't know why the doctor sent me home with 2 different perscriptions but that's not my question here). My mask was perfect- leak rate of .14%.Comfortable-Hybrid Mirage Swift. My question: BEFORE PAP treatment, all my life I woke up about every 10 minutes. Sill doing it. I DO feel less tired in morning but I still constantly wake. Maybe I'll start sleeping more soundly when I get on the right machine?? Any thoughts? I have no idea what it feels like to go to bed at night and wake up THE NEXT DAY. Wow, that must be awesome. I look at the clock at 1 and then 1:10. 1:20 and then 1:30 etc until I get up.
CFJ

[Outlawswife47]

Turn the clock around so you can't see it!!!! Seriously! Your body may have programmed yourself to wake so often, too..... Yes, when you get the right pressure and the right machine you'll do better. I've been on one for 3 years....I still wake once in a while but for the most part I sleep all night and have ENERGY in the mornings!

[mhurley3]

Just a thought here, but when I was starting out I was told to make the final adjustments to my headgear while laying down. It seems to work better for me. Have you tried that?

[TheDreamer]

Ya, I have an electric mattress pad to help deal with the cold. I had gone to bed last night with it off, but turned it on when I woke around 4:40am.

I have discovered that there's a big difference in adjustment of the headstraps between standing in front of the mirror and then later when I'm laying in bed. More so with the nasal mask than when I had the OptiLife mask. Though I guess it could explain why my memory of how the straps should be to where they were when I was laying in bed didn't match. Seemed a lot harder to get the straps to not cut my ear off when I was laying in bed.... When I was at the DME returning the OptiLife mask....there was blood coming from my right ear.

Now there's a bit of blood coming from the sore on my nose....but, it is time I got some shut eye.

The Dreamer