Trouble falling asleep?

Cantare · Post by **Cantare** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:01 am

Hi,
I just got my CPAP machine about a week ago and find it very helpful to read this forum. I know it takes awhile to get used to it but I wonder if anyone has trouble just falling asleep with the mask on? I'd be happy with just a few hours of sleep with my mask on but can't even seem to do that. Cathy

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:15 am

Could you please fill in your profile so we will know what equipment you're using? Any additional information like your pressure would help, too.

Welcome to the forum.

Den

Sergey45 · Post by **Sergey45** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:21 am

I would suggest – start with meditation. Just put your mask on and try to meditate for 15-20 minutes. Observe your sensation. Slowly bit by bit you will get use to it.

Cantare · Post by **Cantare** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:24 am

Thanks for the response Den. I have filled in my profile. I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and my pressure is 4. Cathy

allergyridden · Post by **allergyridden** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:25 am

Just falling asleep sounds so simple! I'm a newbie too & having the same trouble. All I can do is concentrate on my breathing & hear the noise. It is difficult & just when I think I have it conquered, the next night is more difficult. I use the NAII, but last night was not good, so I switched masks twice. Finally got back to sleep with the Optilife. My favorite is still the NAII. I think it's just going to take time to adjust.
My biggest problem is waking up early in am with air blasting & puffy cheeks, then trying to get back to sleep. We just have to stick with it, until it gets easier.

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:34 am

Cantare wrote:Thanks for the response Den. I have filled in my profile. I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and my pressure is 4. Cathy

Yes, I saw that you had filled in your profile.....thanks.

HOLY COW!!! Do you feel like you're suffocating? That's almost no pressure at all.
Do you have a copy of your sleep study? If not, I would advise getting one and look it over.....both the PSG/diagnostics part and the titration part. It would be interesting to know how they came up with that pressure number.....that's as low as the machine will go. On top of that, you have a nasal mask, so if you are feeling deprived of air, you're going to be more likely to "mouth-breathe" and lose the seal from the PAP machine's pressure (whatever little there is).

Den

debst99 · Post by **debst99** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:05 am

I have only been on cpap since August 8th. Have finally recognized a tremendous difference with not being tired during the day, but sleep about 10 hours at night also (probably because my old dog wakes me up at least four times a night, lol). I had a hard time at first, but kept with it. I would try to control my breathing, etc. and would get panicky. For about a week, I took a xanax before bed and was able to conquer it. No xanax now and have a easy time falling asleep. A lot of my success has been that my first mask has worked, swift 11 nasal pillows and very quiet machine. I am very lucky that it has because most people on here try many differerent masks. Good luck to you!

msheda · Post by **msheda** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:42 am

I might be one of the stranges ones (not the first time for that) but I am falling asleep easier with the mask on. I am also fairly concious of each breath now as I am laying there, so the concentration is on the breath going in, and going out, and listening to the corresponding sounds. I realize that this is borderline self-hypnosis or mediation, but I really don't care, as long as it works I'm happy!

SisterShotgun · Post by **SisterShotgun** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:08 am

When I first started the CPAP I too had difficulty falling asleep at night. But not anymore, now I place the mask on my face and it is like Pavlov's bell I fall asleep in minutes. This can be a problem when I want to stay up watching a movie at night

Cantare · Post by **Cantare** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:25 am

Den,
My bad, the pressure is actually set to 5, not 4. I do have access to my sleep study and this is the pressure to which I responded best. Cathy

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:35 am

Cantare wrote:Den,
My bad, the pressure is actually set to 5, not 4. I do have access to my sleep study and this is the pressure to which I responded best. Cathy

That's still pretty low.....but, whatever works, I guess.

Just make sure you're not mouth-breathing (a dry mouth will be a clue).

Hang around and keep reading and posting.

Den

KAZ · Post by **KAZ** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:00 pm

The best thing I've found is to take an evening walk. I was doing all of my walking in the morning, now, I still do most in the AM, but I've added a 30 minute jaunt in the late afternoon/early evening. The reason many have asked you about your pressure is that Severe SA usually gets you a RX for pressure in the 15 to 20 range. Regards

Cantare · Post by **Cantare** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:09 pm

Both my doctor and the respiratory therapist thought it was stange that with severe sleep apnea I had a setting of 5 but that's the what the sleep study recommended. Go figger!

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:13 pm

I can't even imagine trying to go to sleep with a pressure of 5. Starting ramp at 4 drove me nuts and I don't use ramp at all now. It seems like 5 would probably suffocate me if I just had to lay down and not get more pressure quickly.

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 5:04 pm

dieselgal wrote:I can't even imagine trying to go to sleep with a pressure of 5. Starting ramp at 4 drove me nuts and I don't use ramp at all now. It seems like 5 would probably suffocate me if I just had to lay down and not get more pressure quickly.

I totally agree. My ramp is set at 11 and I only use it when I'm on straight BiPAP, but when in Auto since I start out at 13, it's not that much difference to me so I just auto start. I could never go lower than 11 even then I barely feel comfortable. My R.R.T. calls me a pressure person. I guess I am, but I'm used to having a fan/AC blow directly at my face, so that I could feel like I could breath and be comfortable to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Christy

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