Hello to all,
I'm new to CPAP, about 1 week and hate it! On my first night I used the mask that covers your nose - I sleep on my stomach so needless to say I couldn't and didn't get any sleep. The next day my home medical service brought me the swift nasal pillow - well it's a little better - did get a little sleep but still couldn't sleep on my stomach with that thing up my nose. The mask drives me insane because I can feel it and ofcourse I'm not used to sleeping with something on my face. The sound of the air also keeps me awake. To make matters worse I've been married for about 6 weeks so how humiliating to sleep with a mask and tube coming out of my nose Does one ever get accustomed to sleeping with CPAP
Littlered
CPAP Misery
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Hi Littlered,
Welcome! I'm sorry you're having such a rough start. Like anything new, this takes awhile to get used to. I think most people find this whole process very frustrating in the beginning. If you stick with it (and I hope you do), it will get easier. If you read through some posts, I think you'll find that what you're experiencing is very normal. I do not sleep on my stomach so I'm not sure how to help you choose a mask that's suited best for that position but hopefully somebody else can. I can tell you that if you have OSA, you need to find a way to adjust to the treatment. Not treating your OSA can lead to some severe health problems...high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease....very serious stuff. You mentioned being a newlywed. I can only guess that the masks are making you self-conscious. Well, I've been married for 18 years and I was very self-conscious about the mask in the beginning too. But my hubby is very supportive and has yet to laugh at me. I'm at the point now that I really don't care how I look....if it's helping me live longer, then it's ok with me. I'm sure your spouse will be supportive of you as well. Just explain the health risks of not wearing the mask...if he loves you, he'll accept the mask.
Hang in there...it will get better. Trial-and-error are the "name of the game" when treating OSA. You need to be patient and keep trying different masks until you find one or two that you can live with.
Good luck!
Amy
Welcome! I'm sorry you're having such a rough start. Like anything new, this takes awhile to get used to. I think most people find this whole process very frustrating in the beginning. If you stick with it (and I hope you do), it will get easier. If you read through some posts, I think you'll find that what you're experiencing is very normal. I do not sleep on my stomach so I'm not sure how to help you choose a mask that's suited best for that position but hopefully somebody else can. I can tell you that if you have OSA, you need to find a way to adjust to the treatment. Not treating your OSA can lead to some severe health problems...high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease....very serious stuff. You mentioned being a newlywed. I can only guess that the masks are making you self-conscious. Well, I've been married for 18 years and I was very self-conscious about the mask in the beginning too. But my hubby is very supportive and has yet to laugh at me. I'm at the point now that I really don't care how I look....if it's helping me live longer, then it's ok with me. I'm sure your spouse will be supportive of you as well. Just explain the health risks of not wearing the mask...if he loves you, he'll accept the mask.
Hang in there...it will get better. Trial-and-error are the "name of the game" when treating OSA. You need to be patient and keep trying different masks until you find one or two that you can live with.
Good luck!
Amy
Hi Littlered,
I feel your pain! I have been on APAP for about 6 months and I thought I would toss everything out the window during the first couple of weeks. I used to take off my mask in the middle of the night all the time. Once you get used to your new bed partner (I mean the CPAP machine and not your new spouse) things will get better.
Like you I was very self conscious about how I looked with my mask on. I guess, I still am to a certain degree but I really like how I feel when I am using my mask. We just had our 8th anniversary and I am happy to say that my husband is very supportive about my "other bed partner". Like Amy said... it really will get better and I suspect your new spouse will be very supportive and love you regardless!
Finding the right mask for you will take time. I think I went through 2-3 masks before I found one that worked for me. Make sure you keep in close contact with your DME and your sleep doc to let them know what is working and what isn't working. Be a pest if need be!
Unfortunately it may take a 3-4 months before you really start feeling better. Above all... keep searching and reading everything you can on OSA. This site was especially helpful to me when I first started on my APAP. If nothing else, it can help to talk to people going through the same thing.
Best Regards,
Teri
I feel your pain! I have been on APAP for about 6 months and I thought I would toss everything out the window during the first couple of weeks. I used to take off my mask in the middle of the night all the time. Once you get used to your new bed partner (I mean the CPAP machine and not your new spouse) things will get better.
Like you I was very self conscious about how I looked with my mask on. I guess, I still am to a certain degree but I really like how I feel when I am using my mask. We just had our 8th anniversary and I am happy to say that my husband is very supportive about my "other bed partner". Like Amy said... it really will get better and I suspect your new spouse will be very supportive and love you regardless!
Finding the right mask for you will take time. I think I went through 2-3 masks before I found one that worked for me. Make sure you keep in close contact with your DME and your sleep doc to let them know what is working and what isn't working. Be a pest if need be!
Unfortunately it may take a 3-4 months before you really start feeling better. Above all... keep searching and reading everything you can on OSA. This site was especially helpful to me when I first started on my APAP. If nothing else, it can help to talk to people going through the same thing.
Best Regards,
Teri
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- WOW -- What a Ride!"
As others have said, the benefits greatly outweigh the embarrassment. I know if the situation were reversed and my wife had apnea and needed CPAP, I'd not only support her and accept it, I'd be selfish and insist she use it so that she'd be around longer to be with me.
It can take some time to get used to things, but just try to keep a positive attitude. After only a few weeks on CPAP, I'm now finding that I fall asleep very fast, and don't wake up much at night at all to fiddle with the mask. I seem to have gotten used to wearing it - in fact one morning I woke up early and thought I must have taken it off, as I didn't even FEEL it on my face - but it was still there.
So stick with it, and keep posting here! This is a great group of people, their positive (and humorous!) attitudes have really helped me.
It can take some time to get used to things, but just try to keep a positive attitude. After only a few weeks on CPAP, I'm now finding that I fall asleep very fast, and don't wake up much at night at all to fiddle with the mask. I seem to have gotten used to wearing it - in fact one morning I woke up early and thought I must have taken it off, as I didn't even FEEL it on my face - but it was still there.
So stick with it, and keep posting here! This is a great group of people, their positive (and humorous!) attitudes have really helped me.
--FJC (Frank)
Having a positive attitude makes a huge difference in CPAP therapy - and vice versa!
Ride that loop!
Having a positive attitude makes a huge difference in CPAP therapy - and vice versa!
Ride that loop!
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1