How can you tell if CPAP is working???

" . . . the thin "rubber" broke . . ." [Really silicone]
Most masks have REPLACEABLE cushions/pillows--usually only that PART needs replacement.
Often no Rx required. Especially less pricey bought online--cpap.com, craigslist, etc.
Getting used to cpap may take a while--keep trying--it can SAVE YOUR LIFE.

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 29, 2018 9:55 am

" . . . the thin "rubber" broke . . ." [Really silicone]
Most masks have REPLACEABLE cushions/pillows--usually only that PART needs replacement.
Often no Rx required. Especially less pricey bought online--cpap.com, craigslist, etc.
Getting used to cpap may take a while--keep trying--it can SAVE YOUR LIFE.

In 2008 I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. They gave me a CPAP machine & I used it for 3-4 years. It made me feel worse, never better. I kept using it because I thought I needed time to get used to it. I finally gave up & stopped using it.

A few months ago I saw a different doctor & explained that I already went through the sleep study & tried CPAP for 4 years but it made everything worse. I gave them copies of my records from 2008, they made copies but never bothered to read them. I was looking/hoping for a different treatment. So they put me through the same exact routine. Home sleep study, overnight sleep study in the hospital & another diagnosis of SEVERE Sleep Apnea & gave me another stupid CPAP machine. I told them I already did all that & it's not going to work. They said "try it anyway". So I've been trying it again with the same exact results. I told them it's making me feel worse not better & they had the nerve to act surprised & said "REALLY? It doesn't work? It makes everything worse??? Wow! I never heard of that before!".

prodigyplace wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 29, 2018 8:35 am

What mask & size were you using? Sometimes there are free or low cost ones here from forum members.

I have an Air Fit F20 medium.

Aimless wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 29, 2018 7:36 am

I just broke my mask, the thin rubber up by my nose split

Don't clean the next one so hard.

Aimless, you have still not let us know WHAT cpap machine you have.
Hopefully yours is compatible with Sleepyhead, or at least shows more data than a vacuum cleaner.
Data is essential for evaluating WHY you are having problems--if those problems are due to bad settings,
a problem all too common.
Please show your MACHINE INFO.

Aimless wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 12, 2018 11:54 am

If I'm sitting or standing upright I can breath through my nose. As soon as I lay down my nose swells completely closed...

It's called vasomotor rhintitis. No cure. FFM, click on mine in my signature to view.

Muse-Inc wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 30, 2018 2:34 am

Aimless wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 12, 2018 11:54 am

If I'm sitting or standing upright I can breath through my nose. As soon as I lay down my nose swells completely closed...

It's called vasomotor rhintitis. No cure. FFM, click on mine in my signature to view.

Sinus allergies can cause issues too. Mucus runs down your throat when upright, but you can feel like you're drowning when laying down.

Antihistamines/decongestants are the only solution other than changing position.

Ok, so I checked & I have a Resmed Tango. No humidifier. Looks like it's discontinued. I tried to update my equipment profile but it's not listed.

I don't have insurance right now. I'm waiting for November to sign up on the marketplace. So I can't see any real specialists or get better equipment (as far as I know).

I was first diagnosed with severe sleep apnea back in 2008. Been suffering from sleeping problems my entire life. I had trouble sleeping when I was a kid, when I was physically fit, when I was thin. Back in the 80's in elementary school I was put through a battery of tests to see if I was mentally retarded. But my results were above average & they just dropped it. I never heard anything more about it. I didn't have extreme fatigue until the mid 90's. I'm 45 now & it has been untreated the whole time. Now I'm overweight & they're trying to blame everything on that. I tell them I've had sleeping problems my entire life, even when I was thin but they won't listen to a word I say. They know it all, they have already cured me. I can't find the help I need. I believe I have some other sleep/psychological problem besides the sleep apnea but nobody will check into it. To them sleep apnea is the only sleep problem that exists I have no right to question them.

Crap..the Tango is an old brick. No data. Nothing to help us figure out if there is maybe something in your therapy itself that needs to be improved to maybe let you feel and sleep better.

Any extra cash laying around to maybe go towards a gently used full data better machine???

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:55 am

Crap..the Tango is an old brick. No data. Nothing to help us figure out if there is maybe something in your therapy itself that needs to be improved to maybe let you feel and sleep better.

Any extra cash laying around to maybe go towards a gently used full data better machine???

I just got paid & don't have enough money to get through the next 2 weeks. I'm sitting here trying to figure out what corners can be cut to make the money stretch. And last night the air conditioner in my house stopped blowing cold air. I have very low tolerance for hot weather so I'm all around screwed.

I understand.

I will keep an eye out for a decent donated full data machine. We see them here every now and then.

I was just looking to find what my problem was as a child & found this:

https://www.belmarrahealth.com/terminal ... lier-like/

Terminal insomnia is a condition where you can fall asleep easily when going to bed, but find yourself waking up much earlier than you want and are unable to fall back asleep. A precise terminal insomnia definition would be when early awakening occurs for three nights or more, waking up more than 30 minutes too early. Terminal insomnia is also sometimes referred to as “end of night” insomnia.

I only sleep for around 2 hours all the damn time! The longest I can sleep is 5 hours, which doesn't happen often. So while I was suffering from insomnia my whole life, they were busy testing me for being mentally retarded. I always thought insomnia was not being able to fall asleep. I didn't know it had anything to do with what happens after you fall asleep.

Aimless wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 30, 2018 10:05 am

...Terminal insomnia is a condition where you can fall asleep easily when going to bed, but find yourself waking up much earlier than you want and are unable to fall back asleep...

Oh brother, what a PITA! The following might help.

I used to wake up at night all the time, drove me nuts -- not the same as TI. CPAP therapy stopped it for me. If I am really tired, I tend to wake up. My solution is 1 mgm of melatonin taken at bedtime WHEN I am really tired or now with a screwed sleep cycle I'm trying to re-set. It might help you.

My mom had Lewy-body Dementia and had TI, I didn't know it was a thing . What I did was buy a SAD light from Amazon and turn it on while she ate b'fast (about 20 mins). I pointed it at the ceiling (bouncing the light) as she hated the direct light. Withing a week, she was sleeping at least 8 hrs at night. This might also work.

Worth investigating. Good luck finding a resolution.