Ugh not good

It feels like I gave up before I started.

I have the AirSense 10 with nasal pillows and a tube that connects to the top of my head.

Background: I only have 5 sleep episodes per hour, according to my at home sleep study. I have to wear this machine for 4 hours a day for 30 consecutive days for insurance, but it’s getting hard to do this.

Problems:
- Any small adjustments to the nose mask and I can no longer breathe. I toss and turn A LOT. How can I expect this mask to sit exactly over my nostrils?

- I hate the constant smell of plastic I’m inhaling

- I can’t swallow or my ears pop

- it’s giving me headaches

- I breathe from my mouth at night, so I’m not sure why I have this device when the air is pushed through my nose but if my mouth is open, the air comes out of my mouth.

- air is too warm

- tube is heavy, makes my neck hurt.

- I have a beard and it’s very irritating under my nose

I honestly hate this thing and wish I never got it at this point. I had way better sleep before this. I cannot fall asleep with this thing on. I don’t think my apnea is severe enough to warrant a CPAP... my doctor hasn’t reached out once since I got this thing. They don’t even have a phone number to call, just email. This is theory UPMC in Pittsburgh. Honestly it’s been a horrible experience and I’m getting ready to send this back and ask for a refund.

5 sleep episodes per hour means you wake up roughly every 12 minutes.

Any small adjustments to the nose mask and I can no longer breathe. I toss and turn A LOT. How can I expect this mask to sit exactly over my nostrils?

Sounds like bad fitting. What mask are you using?

I hate the constant smell of plastic I’m inhaling

It's the silicone and it goes away in the first few days of the mask.

I breathe from my mouth at night, so I’m not sure why I have this device when the air is pushed through my nose but if my mouth is open, the air comes out of my mouth.

Some people report resuming normal nose breathing after starting CPAP. If your nose is congested and you are still mouth breathing, you need a full face mask.

air is too warm

This is easily fixed by fiddling with the humidifier settings (reducing humidity or hose temperature).

tube is heavy, makes my neck hurt.

Are you using the climateline hose? You could try the slimline which is very light and flexible, almost unnoticeable.

I honestly hate this thing and wish I never got it at this point. I had way better sleep before this. I cannot fall asleep with this thing on. I don’t think my apnea is severe enough to warrant a CPAP... my doctor hasn’t reached out once since I got this thing. They don’t even have a phone number to call, just email. This is theory UPMC in Pittsburgh. Honestly it’s been a horrible experience and I’m getting ready to send this back and ask for a refund.

If you were issued a CPAP, I assume you have health issues you would like to treat. Returning the CPAP because you had a rough start is not a good idea. Read up on the negative effects of untreated sleep apnea.

Most people hate CPAP in the beginning (as explained by the less than 50% treatment compliance rate). If you persist with it and find the right mask and machine settings for you, eventually you won't even think about it when you sleep. The brain can adjust to almost any situation.

Stay in the fight!