Allow me to gripe for a minute...

[CPAPhope]

Okay, I know. So last week or so, I was all, ooh, I love my CPAP. This week, not so much. Hardly slept at all last night, could NOT get comfortable with the mask. Took it off, and still couldn't go to sleep. I think I'm in the anger stage of this transition. Feel like crying. Boohoo, poor me! I know I'll get over it, get on with it, and eventually come to terms with it. But right now...Aaaargh!
And another thing: I'm trying to get hold of a respiratory therapist (insurance has me working with one) to arrange to try a full face mask, 'cause the nasal mask plus chin strap makes me feel like my head is in a vice. I've left messages, and so far have had no response. That is so frustrating!
So, please, I need all you CPAPtalkers to give me a lot of support and encouragement right now. I'm sure I, and anyone else who is in the same spot as I, will appreciate it no end. Thanks!

[amos]

Please know that cpap therapy is not an easy "onward and upward" escalator ride. There are a lot of hits and misses, stops and starts, and plateaus. Just hang in there, it'll all come around one day. One day it will become such a habit that you won't even notice it, like combing your hair or tying your shoes.

amios

[JO'M]

I've been there too. I sailed through my 1st couple of months ( I've been on CPAP since August) thinking I was golden. But about November, I had issue after issue, couldn't get comfortable, could keep a seal on my mask, couldn't this couldn't that, woke up with headaches. Part of my issue was the placement of my hose system pulling my mask off when I moved, part of it was my pillow situation. I kept with it and things got better. I kept telling myself this too will pass and it did.

Stick with it and things will improve, Good luck

[BlackSpinner]

About 3-4 weeks in I started waking up with the feeling "I can't breathe with this on! OMG OMG". Before this point I was sleeping like I was out cold. I would lift the edge of the mask and feel the breeze and tell my mind to stop behaving like that. It took about 2 weeks to get it across.

At about a year in, in the spring I suddenly started brooding that I couldn't go camping anymore - now I hadn't been camping for about a decade and my joints are not happy on the ground but... I couldn't go camping... And OMG if the Apocalypse happened.... How would I help people if I couldn't breathe! Right, the apocalypse is an important factor in cpap therapy...

[kaiasgram]

And OMG if the Apocalypse happened.... How would I help people if I couldn't breathe! Right, the apocalypse is an important factor in cpap therapy...

[cosmo]

Its all about attitude!

I have 3 mask. I can be leak free on all 3 and generally comfortable. But I must have a different sleeping style for each. Before cpap, I was a stomach sleeper with my face smashed in the pillow and covers over my head

[ems]

I've been there too. I sailed through my 1st couple of months ( I've been on CPAP since August) thinking I was golden. But about November, I had issue after issue, couldn't get comfortable, could keep a seal on my mask, couldn't this couldn't that, woke up with headaches.

You could be writing about me... exact same story. Expecting my new Wisp mask sometime this week and will try again! I had about six months where everything was just fine... then things went to hell in a basket. It just seems strange that things can go along just fine and then bam... nothing is right. It seems that all I do lately is start over. Wasn't there a movie called, "Starting Over"?

[quietmorning]

My first year was one trial of working out the kinks after another. It DOES get better. In fact, it gets to such an easy routine after all the kinks are worked out that I'd rather not go to sleep at all than go without machine for even a little while. I think also, I've come to terms that I will never sleep like my husband. I will always sleep like ME - and getting to the point where I'm looking for healthy not perfect has gone a long way in helping me to relax at night and get the sleep I need.

The biggest hardest thing to learn was to not be afraid to 'complain' to my doctor and to my dme if things aren't going well in a consistent manner. Now I have what I need and I sleep well.

A friend of mine told me it took her a good year to get all the kinks worked out. I just finally got the last of the changes I needed in place - I've been on it for 18 months. Hang in there. . .it does get so much better. Work through, it though. These nit picky things won't take care of themselves, you are your best advocate.

[chunkyfrog]

If hubby complains about my "gaseous contribution", I tell him to put the mask back on--or here comes MORE!

[BlackSpinner]

It seems that all I do lately is start over. Wasn't there a movie called, "Starting Over"?

Do you mean "Groundhog Day"?

[Slinky]

Ah, how well l remember those early days. (I don't miss them at all!) Patience, persistance and a good sense of humor plus the guys and gals here at cpaptalk will get you thru the rough spots and then you will SLEEELEEEEEEEEP! Ahhhhh.

[ems]

It seems that all I do lately is start over. Wasn't there a movie called, "Starting Over"?

Do you mean "Groundhog Day"?

I don't know... at least I don't think so. Maybe there are two movies, one called, "Groundhog Day" and the other, "Starting Over".

[ems]

Ah, how well l remember those early days. (I don't miss them at all!) Patience, persistance and a good sense of humor plus the guys and gals here at cpaptalk will get you thru the rough spots and then you will SLEEELEEEEEEEEP! Ahhhhh.

Do ya promise? One would think all the reading I do here would help some. Well, it does... lots. But then, none of you sleep with me.

[hanes]

And another thing: I'm trying to get hold of a respiratory therapist (insurance has me working with one) to arrange to try a full face mask, 'cause the nasal mask plus chin strap makes me feel like my head is in a vice. I've left messages, and so far have had no response. That is so frustrating!
So, please, I need all you CPAPtalkers to give me a lot of support and encouragement right now. I'm sure I, and anyone else who is in the same spot as I, will appreciate it no end. Thanks!

Have you tried going without the chin strap? I was a notorious mouth breather prior to beginning CPAP, and I assumed that because of that I would have to have a full face mask, but it turns out I don't. Somehow the sensation you get when you open your mouth and the air escapes through your mouth with the Darth Vader effect feels so strange to me that I immediately began keeping my mouth shut tight. As a result I've been able to just use nasal pillows.

My wife is equally amazed, because as a result of keeping my mouth shut I have instantly gone from a humongously loud snorer who sucked paint off the ceiling to almost nothing. She can't believe it, and frankly either can I. And my ceiling now stays painted much longer!

Maybe my experience is unusual, but thought I'd at least ask if you tried without the chin strap.

[Elle]

People without sleep apnea have good and bad sleep nights. I adjusted to cpap right away but going on 7 years later I still have nights that I want to throw my mask across the room. There are all kinds of variables that affect sleep. I have used the same mask for years and some nights it just doesn't fit.

Hang in there.