Are these common beginner problems?

[SleepySmiley]

I have successfully completed 2 entire nights with CPAP! Wooo Hoo!! I do have a couple questions for the audience...

1. I notice air blowing on top of my nose and it is quite distracting. Is this a type of mask issue or does everyone experience that and it's something I just need to get used to?

2. I have been fully compliant with 8hrs usage both nights. However, I notice that I am still waking up numerous times throughout the night checking on my mask for leaks. I haven't noticed many so far (still REAL early in the game) but is that again something that will pass when I am more used to having a mask on my nose?

I love reading the forums and they have been quite helpful even though I'm just a beginner!

[jdm2857]

I looked at the photo of your mask, and the vent port is located at the top of the nose. Is the air you feel coming through the vent (small holes in mask) or between the mask and your nose. If it's coming through the vent, it's normal as the vent is designed to let exhaled CO2 escape. If it's between the mask and your face, it's a leak and you should adjust the mask to try to eliminate it. Note that many masks need to be a touch loose when the xPAP is off so that the seal can inflate with the air pressure.

As for waking up, you will adjust. After a short while you won't be waking up so much.

[suznjean]

Hi - am am a beginner too -- just under two weeks. My first 5 nights were pretty rough. Couldn't get to sleep. Got up and did stuff until I was to tired to see straight and tried again. Would fall asleep and wake up several times. I felt much worse than I had before CPAP. The last few nights have been a lot better. Still wake up from time to time, still trying to figure it out and also trying to keep my mouth closed. I have nasal pillows which I found out I had on too tight -- they were leaking. Funny, I was told by a RT to tighten and someone on this forum told me to try and loosen. Forum wins! Right now my biggest problem is keeping my mouth shut -- both during the day and while sleeping. haha. But I got a chinstrap from my DME and tonight will try that with the honkin "bionator" retainer I have to wear for unrelated purposes.
So, there are folks here I really feel for, who seem to not be able to get comfortable or well with all of this. But as someone just starting out myself, your troubles seem to be typical of a beginner. I am amazed there isn't a little more education and followup on this. Sort of feel thrust into a new world with no wings to fly.

I am so grateful for this forum and those who offer help.

Good luck, keep us posted, keep fighting for your right to a good night's sleep!

Suz

[jweeks]

Hi,

I had both air problems...leaks around the eyes, and air movement around my eyes from the exhaust port. The Quattro mask was especially bad. I used a hybrid that was better, but any air at all near my eyes simply drove me nuts. I tried taping on thick paper wings trying to make an air deflector. That didn't work well at all. The solution to both problems was to move to a nasal pillow mask. I followed Rooster's lead and went with the Swift mask. It was almost like a miracle cure for me. The swift is still a little bit louder than I would like, but then again, since I am actually sleeping now, I really don't notice it.

-john-

[eloise1253]

Hi~

I am still dealing with leak adjustments and rain-outs. I do wake sometimes during the night, often due to mask adjustment or shoulder pain from staying on one side so much (it seems like too much trouble to haul around to the other side!!) I am finding it all to get easier, but can't say i am full of energy just yet. Am NOT falling-over sleepy at 3 pm lately, though--hooray!