Help - About to Give Up

[Wonka]

I don't know how everyone got used to sleeping with a mask on their face. When I put the darn mask on, it just drives me crazy that it's there. I've been staying up very late every night trying to get so tired I won't notice. It hasn't worked. I just can't keep the mask on. I've had the machine a short time and had hoped to use it in a separate bedroom for a week or so, but we've had company. My wife snores and the mask in combination just doesn't seem to work.

I have a Medicare question. Am I stuck with paying for this if it's returned within 30-days? I'm concerned I'm one of the few that just won't be able to tolerate a CPAP mask. I've had trouble breathing through my nose for years, and have trouble at the dental office, etc. when I have to keep my mouth open.

I'm very depressed about this.

[cflame1]

If you can't breathe thru your nose, why did you go with a nasal mask? Why not a full face mask?

[Duckie]

If you have trouble breathing through your nose use a full face mask. I switch and I am happy I did. An allergist Dr. might help increase your comfort with breathing through your nose. As to wearing a mask it is mind over matter. I just told myself I can and will wear a mask every moment I sleep. If I don't have a mask on I don't sleep. Slowly but surely my body learned to sleep with it. I also did sleep hygiene. I limited my time in bed to 7 hours. It took a good 2 month of sleep hygiene to get use to sleeping at night with the mask but now I have so much energy, I glad I did it

[BlackSpinner]

I don't know how everyone got used to sleeping with a mask on their face. When I put the darn mask on, it just drives me crazy that it's there. I've been staying up very late every night trying to get so tired I won't notice. It hasn't worked. I just can't keep the mask on. I've had the machine a short time and had hoped to use it in a separate bedroom for a week or so, but we've had company. My wife snores and the mask in combination just doesn't seem to work.

I have a Medicare question. Am I stuck with paying for this if it's returned within 30-days? I'm concerned I'm one of the few that just won't be able to tolerate a CPAP mask. I've had trouble breathing through my nose for years, and have trouble at the dental office, etc. when I have to keep my mouth open.

I'm very depressed about this.

It took you longer to learn to walk and talk. Get counseling or hypnotherapy.
It is like walking with a cast - you learn by doing because you must. You chose to make it work or not. Your motivation could be to awful things you will do to your loved ones when you get a stroke if you chose not to make this work for you.

I hope you have your will and living will all ready if you chose not to make this work.

[robysue]

When I put the darn mask on, it just drives me crazy that it's there. I've been staying up very late every night trying to get so tired I won't notice. It hasn't worked. I just can't keep the mask on.

I'd suggest that you try some desensitization techniques: The most commonly suggested on here at cpaptalk is to move the machine to the living room or family room or where ever there's a really comfortable chair during the daytime. Put the mask and machine on while you are sitting AWAKE in the chair and then read or watch tv or browse the web for an hour or two with the mask on. Do this every day until you start to notice that you're not constantly being bothered by the mask blowing air at you all the time. And do this FAR AWAY FROM BEDTIME since you don't want the desensitization to be waking you up just before you want to try to get to sleep.

Also---try to get everything CPAP related done WELL BEFORE you go to bed. Wash your face and equipment at least two hours before you plan to go to bed. Assemble the mask/hose and hook it to the machine well before bedtime. Fill the humidifier up well before bedtime. You might even try to do a prelimary mask fitting well before bedtime. The idea is that you want to be able to just put the mask on and press START at the point where you feel like you're on the verge of falling asleep anyway.

And talk to an allergist or an ENT about your problems with breathing through your nose or consider switching to a full face mask. If you're wanting to breathe through your mouth at night and actively fighting that in order to continue using the nasal pillows/mask, that's bound to be making it much more difficult to fall asleep at night with the mask on.

[digitaleagle]

Just so you know - I am 3 days into my therapy and have feelings similar to you.

I don't like the mask they gave me so I'm going to change it next week.

I agree with others that this is not an easy thing to get adjusted to. I have some co-workers who are struggling as well but they all say it gets better with time.

[cobra4x4]

You haven't mentioned what pressure your at, If its a reallly high pressure you may need to set the pressure relief on your machine.

Also is the ramp feature turned on? if so you may want to turn it off because as the pressure increases it can create a feeling of discomfort.

[Wonka]

Thanks for the replies.

First, I breathe through my nose. That's why I'm using a nasal mask. I just don't breathe through my nose well. I've been the an ENT and Allergist and now my 2nd Pulmonary Doc. All seem to think my nasal and much of my breathing problems are a combination of Asthma and Rhinitis. I've tried all kinds of medications and nothing really seems to help. My current Doc has me off all medications except Prisolec. I also have Acid Reflux. Geesh! It sounds like I have one foot in the grave!

I have a full face mask as well. It drives me twice as crazy. I have a Pillows mask in-transit.

I was very apprehensive in the first place because of my experiences at the Dentist with having my mouth open (especially when they make a mold and you have to have your mouth full of the material). So, I guess to sum it up I'm claustrophobic when dealing with covering my nose, etc. Otherwise, tight spaces don't bother me...go figure.

Of course, I realize it's psychological...but, my recognition that it's psychological doesn't make any difference. I'll try the idea of wearing it while watching TV. The only times I've been successful were the first couple of days, but...I had to use Ambien. After that, even the Ambien didn't work.

As to the question on pressure, I use an Autoset that initially was set with a ramp 4 - 12 (I think). After I talked to the DOC, it was changed to 7 -20. And I've found it more comfortable at 9-20. The pressure really doesn't bother me that much. It's the confinement of the mask.

I'm doing the best I can.

[robysue]

Since you do breathe through your nose and you're a bit claustrophobic, the pillows mask may well work better for you than the nasal mask or the full face mask do since the pillows don't cover your whole nose. But it does take some getting use to since the pillows snuggle right up against your nostrils. Just be sure that the cone (pointy) parts of the pillows are not going too far up your nose---that's uncomfortable, can create soreness inside your nose, and lead to serious leaks. The cone parts of the pillows are supposed to just barely poke up into your nostrils with the bottom part of the cone resting against the edge of the bottom of your nostrils.

[KAZ]

I'm going to be a little tougher on you! If, you have been diagnosed with SA then you have to make it work like your life or at least the quality of your life depended on it. Sometimes I think that since I did survive that my coming into SA the hard way was a blessing. I was un diagnosed and collapsed(body running on CO2) while on a(2007) trip. Only some good hospital/Doctor work saved me. 21 days intensive care plus four more weeks in level two. I came home on a walker and had to learn how to talk,walk, etc a little at the time. Severe SA with a pressure of 20 required. Thanks to knowing I have SA and knowing that I have to deal with treatment I now have to tell you that I'm not sure that I could sleep without my machine. I'm 100% compliant and have my energy/health,quality of life back. There are some great folks on this forum who will help you sort out a path that works for you just as they did for me over three years ago, but don't even consider "sending back" your machine. Regards

[Janknitz]

Wonka,

I don't know if it helps or not, but almost every one of us hit the same low you are going through. This IS hard to get used to, it interrupts sleep, and makes us into very unhappy people at first. I liken it to when my children were newborns. That sleep deprivation (not to mention the mom's hormones), the discomfort, and the dramatic life change makes you crazy. But you can't give up on a newborn baby--and you can't give up on CPAP.

All you can do is make a list of all the annoyances and whack them out one at a time. Right now it sounds like the mask. That may get better with the nasal pillows, but realize that you may find new annoyances with nasal pillows that have to be dealt with. But nothing is insurmountable and you can find a lot of tweaks here to make you more comfortable.

As for your nose, make sure you are doing good nasal hygiene (saline rinses--like a neti pot--and whatever medications your doctors suggest, trying to avoid decongestants and sprays like Afrin, though), and make sure you are doing a good job with your asthma control. You may find that the nasal pillows greatly help the sinus situation, once you get used to them and get the humidification well adjusted (too much AND too little can cause increased congestion, so it's a balancing act).

Your wide open pressure range MAY be contributing to the mask discomfort. You get a tiny leak, the pressure increases, you get bigger leak, the pressure increases more, making a bigger leak, etc. Soon your awareness of the mask increases significantly because of the high pressure. Tightening the pressure range might help, even though you are not perceiving this as an issue.

There is an answer to your Medicare question, but returning this is NOT an option. You NEED CPAP, so you're going to have to resolve to stick with it (and perhaps your snoring wife needs it too???).

[Wanttosleep]

Please know that you are not alone in your struggles. I've had my CPAP machine for approx. 6 weeks now and I have had very mixed reactions to different masks. I feel more tired today than I did before CPAP but I am not giving up. I downloaded the software this weekend so that I can start to learn about the numbers and take some control over my own destiny. As luck would have it, my main computer has crashed and I am in the process of rebuilding it so I can re-install the software.

If you continue reading the posts on this forum you'll see that most people struggle in the beginning. It is a huge change but it is something you need to stick to in order to improve and lengthen your life.

I started with a full face mask that leaked as if it were a spaghetti strainer BUT I felt a difference with that mask. Even though I woke up every 10 to 15 minutes all night long for the 3 days I used the mask, I had energy and actually stayed up and watched TV.

Then I changed to nasal pillows and they were great for 3 days and started leaking. I felt drained and exhausted even though my eyes were shut for 8 hours a night for 2 week. I also developed a terrible itch in my nose that was unbearable. Now I have a nasal mask and get no leaks but I feel as if I don't get enough air with it. I've stuck with them for the past 3 or 4 weeks and I feel as if I'm getting more and more tired. My husband and daughter just told me that I'm snoring with this nasal mask on...no wonder I'm tired.

In Feb. I'll be able to try another mask and I'm going to try a full face mask again. And if that doesn't work, I'll try something else. Hang in there. I've read so many POSITIVE posts about the effects that CPAP has had on people's lives that I know it's just a matter of time.

[Wonka]

Again...Thanks for the input.

I have another question. It appears that those adjusting to the use of a CPAP never sleep without it (including camping trips, etc.). Does continued use of a CPAP increase one's dependency on the machine?

[spinifex]

Again...Thanks for the input.

I have another question. It appears that those adjusting to the use of a CPAP never sleep without it (including camping trips, etc.). Does continued use of a CPAP increase one's dependency on the machine?

It is an indirect dependency. It's called "a dependency on life", as without the machine, you may end up not having one.

I also have only been using my machine for a short time, and to date has improved my life heaps.
Oh yes, i'm still trying to get comfortable with my mask too, but i rather that, then the alternative.

Jon

[BlackSpinner]

It appears that those adjusting to the use of a CPAP never sleep without it (including camping trips, etc.). Does continued use of a CPAP increase one's dependency on the machine?

If I sleep without it I am not "there" major headache, falling asleep as I am typing on my computer, falling asleep at 6pm... What is the point? Why would I do that to myself?