My 2nd night with CPAP

I survived my second night. The first night I was absolutely miserable. I just wanted to roll over on my side and sleep. However, I decided to try sleeping on my back like the guy at Apneacare said. I also felt claustrophobic at some point and had to take the mask off for a few minutes because I freaked out. The sensitive skin on my nostrils hurt a bit. I slept a solid 3 hours and was awake on the hour every hour for the rest of the night. Around 6am, I threw the mask off and slept for another hour. I had red marks on my face from the mask.

Last night, the second night, was a little better. I played around with the mask for a bit and made it more comfortable. I slept from 11:30 to 1am. Got up to use the bathroom. And then slept until 6am. So I actually slept through most of the night. I still have red marks on my face from the mask though. I guess it's just trial and error until I get it right.

I'm not sure if I feel better yet or not. I'm still yawning like crazy. I think my body wants me to actually go back to bed. I really should, as it is only 6am here and I have a day off.

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I just wanted to roll over on my side and sleep. However, I decided to try sleeping on my back like the guy at Apneacare said

Either the guy is a total idiot or you misunderstood. Sleeping on your back is the worst thing you can do. You can sleep anyway you feel comfortable as long as the vents are clear.

For sensitive skin cut up an old teeshirt or other thin smooth cotton into a V shape, lay it over the edges that touch your face where it hurts and apply mask by bending over it. I cut up an old pair of cotton panties because they were thinner then any teeshirt I had.

BlackSpinner wrote: Either the guy is a total idiot or you misunderstood. Sleeping on your back is the worst thing you can do. You can sleep anyway you feel comfortable as long as the vents are clear.

For sensitive skin cut up an old teeshirt or other thin smooth cotton into a V shape, lay it over the edges that touch your face where it hurts and apply mask by bending over it. I cut up an old pair of cotton panties because they were thinner then any teeshirt I had.

Is sleeping on your back bad because of potential back issues? Or is it bad because it's not the position I'm used to? I usually sleep on my side with my face practically buried in the pillow.

Sleeping on your back allows your jaw to drop open much more easily. The only time my mask leaks is if I end up on my back. And then my AHI is much higher.
Check out all the info you can find under the "our wisdom" light bulb.

I agree with the assesment of the mental capacity of the guy at Apneacare.... is this the guy who gave you a bare bones machine that won't even let you track your data?

The ResMed Escape does not track your breathing events (aka efficacy) it only tracks your copliance. By tracking your breathing events you can get a much better idea of what works and what does not - try to have that machine exchanged ASAP.

Sleeping on your back may induce more apneas that sleeping on your side, what made that person suggest that?

I sleep on my side.
O.

ozij wrote: Sleeping on your back may induce more apneas that sleeping on your side, what made that person suggest that?

I sleep on my side.
O.

I think he said it's because it prevents mask leaks. Mask leaks are more prevalent on your side I guess. I slept on my side last night and slept through most of the night which is unusual for me.

I think exchanging the machine would cost more money than we can afford right now. We will barely be able to afford the $40 a month payments for this machine right now. Much less being able to buy a machine outright online.

You're paying $40 a month for a low end machine when you'd probably pay the same for a better machine. The insurance codes are the same for both. It's a matter of which one makes the local DME more profit. If he gives you the cheap one, he makes more profit and makes it sooner.

How long do you pay the $40? If you pay it more than 10 months, you could have purchased a new, better quality machine, with full data reporting capability.

Look at your insurance statement. When I first started, the local DME was being paid $85 a month by the insurance company AND was charging me a $20 copay for something. They had teh cheap piece of crap machine they gave me paid off in less than 4 months but continued to charge .... and the big excuse here is "Well we provide services" .... uh... what services? They never called to check on me, never even offered to sell me filters. They just grabbed as much money as they could with both hands and left me out to dry.

When I said to them, "This mask is really hurting my face", their response was "You'll get used to it"

..... but I'm not bitter or anything....