Need advice

[Guest]

I'm wondering if anyone else experienced this and if it goes away -- I've had my c-pap for over a week now and have not yet been able to fall asleep with it. I wrestle with it every night for an hour or two and then take it off. At first I felt like I was smothering and then I read on another message to turn off the heat so I did that and that did help in that area but now my problem is that my head feels like it is blowing up like a balloon. My ears feel stopped up like they are needing to pop. Is this something that everyone goes through till they get used to it or does it sound like it's turned up too high. It's set on 6 now.[/b]

[Hugh Jass]

Using a CPAP is a whole new experience and it will take time to get completely used to it. Your sleep may get worse for a while. I suspect for the first couple of weeks I was waking up because of not being used to having something stuck on my face. I was fortunate that the timing of my first use coincided with a two week vacation, so the stress of not being able to fall asleep was minimal.

I'm on about week 8 now, and it doesn't bother me anymore. I only realize it's on when I start thinking about it.

However, I'm still not used to playing with the hose everytime I wake up and want to change sleeping positions. It's a pain in the you know what. Wouldn't a "hoseless" connection be great !

My ears did bother me from the pressure (I range between 5-9), but not so much anymore. It should get better for you as your body adjusts.

6 doesn't sound that high, but if you're a small person, it may be.

I can't imagine what some people have to endure with pressures above 15.

Ouch !

p.s. Hang in there...

[Liam1965]

I've had my c-pap for over a week now and have not yet been able to fall asleep with it.

Amen, brother (or sister, you androgenous guests are so difficult to tell!). I still can't sleep with mine, either. I think I'm the one who suggested you turn off the heat, and I still keep mine off, or I feel like I'm smothering.

But I've yet to figure out how to sleep. My problem, I think, is that I'm a light sleeper, it doesn't take much to wake me up. As such, every time I move and the mask shifts a little bit and makes a little hiss as a small new leak opens up between it and my face, I wake up.

Unfortunately, I haven't been with it long enough to tell you whether it eventually gets better or not. I know last night I tried a different mask, this time it was the Comfort-Lite nasal pillows, and although I had much less leaking, now I've got a night-long sinus headache to deal with. Maybe that'll go away with time.

I know it works for a lot of people, and I know I need to sleep better, but I can only hope it happens sooner rather than later, I can't afford to treat my poor sleep with NO sleep.

Liam, a ray of hope in a bleak and bitter world.

[sleepynomore]

I have a pressure of 13 and only in the beginning (since last June) did I occasionally have ear popping after swallowing. I don't even notice it now and I never feel like there's that much air blowing through the mask. I guess it's just getting used to it. Hang in there!

[jean19540_0]

hi, it sounds to me that the equipment might not be right for you. i have tried several fullface masks, which i now use, but had a bloody nose bridge, my consultant tried differant style masks, untill we got it right, i ended up with the original, it was more comfy. what im trying to say is, some of those masks, one being the orical (a mouth only mask) made me feel very much as if my cheeks were going to explode. i could feel the pressure in my head, it was awfull
go back to your technition & tell him its not right for you, that you want something differant. if he wont help, go elsewhere. another thing might be your pressure setting, but i'll leave that to someone else... wade where are you wade is very knowledgeable, seems to know his stuff jean

[MartiniLover]

I agree.

Equipment is the hardest parts to get just right. I started out with the Nasal Aire II, and it took more than a couple of weeks to get used to it. Since then, I have bought a new mask, but I still go back to the oriiginal mask. It has become the mask of choice for me as I am a side sleeper and stomach sleeper. It works great for me. My new mask I use if I decide to take a nap in the afternoon. (A luxury I still like to do) I have been on a machine for 3-4 months and don't need those naps very often.

I did the same thing, taking my mask off and the advice from my doctor worked. He said, "Get over it! Leave it on!" Well I took his advice and now sleep all night with it 6 out of 7 nights. When I do take it off, it is usually after 6-7 hours.

If you have to,..............scare yourself. You are goiing to cheat yourself, and you family and your friends. Don't commit suicide by not using it.

[snorlox]

I'm still trying to get the hang of it. You might try different configurations. thats what I'm doing. If one thing doesnt work. try something else. you'll eventualloy come upon a setup your comfortable with.