Still trying for years to get used to auto-cpap

Hi,

I've literally been trying on and off for a number of years - to get used to my auto-cpap machine. I get frustrated trying and just cannot seem to sleep through the night with it. Diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea years ago. I keep trying but either wake ups choking or just can't fall asleep with this full mask on . I have the nose pillow, but that makes it worse as I normally breath through my mouth and my sinuses are often someone clogged. So I am sticking with the full mask (ResMed).

Lately I'll fall asleep with the mask on, and will sleep for maybe an hour or so, but wake up and find that my mouth is super dry and the inside of my mouth seems sore - like something was irritating the sides of my mouth. I do have a humidifier on the unit and fill it to the line with bottled water. I have not used the heater because it raises the temperature of the vapor and that seems to wake me up even more.

Please (please) I would appreciate anyones suggestions. I am dying to get a good night's sleep and really do want this thing to work out.

thank you,

'mark

If you go to t he user control panel (located below the search bar), you can include what equipment and mask you have. That will help us figure out what you are struggling with so that we can help you.

I am fairly new myself. Almost 1 month. I have 2 different masks. I like both, but I have only had a couple really good nights. Most nights are play to good with 3-4 big wakeups that include adjusting or changing masks. But like both, and I have managed to sleep well with each, so I know it is possible once I master it.

If you can tell us about your mask and what problems you have with it, somebody can probably recommend another mask that will work better for you. That seems to be the most important component to making the whole cpap system work for each person.

Hi

thanks for the quick response. I just added the gear info.

Happy Memorial Day.

'mark

Are you using the machine in APAP mode with auto adjusting pressures? If so what is the pressure range.
You have the software shown in your profile? If so what is your AHI? Can you post an image of one of your daily detailed reports for when you did get a few hours of use on the machine?

Dry mouth..mouth breathing which is okay since you have a full face mask in regards to not losing therapy pressure but highly annoying since it wakes you up. First suggestion would be to add heat to your water so you get more moisture but since you state you don't like the warmth...then about all you can do is try to hydrate yourself really well prior to bedtime and perhaps had a mouth moisturizing agent....Biotene makes products for this...mouthwash and an gel.

How long do you persist before giving up? That might have something to do with your difficulties. It takes time to adjust, sometimes a month or two. It is really rotten to feel so stymied and tormented. Adjusting can be hell.

If you don't know how to post your data, here are instructions: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=77593&p=706743#p706743

if you've been doing this for years i'll bet that ultra mirage mask and more importantly it's cushions are old. get new cushions, or better yet get a modern mask. i reccomend the quattro fx. i was diagnosed in 1990 but didn't get my first machine til 2001. in december i got an apap but still had mask problems using your mask. i got a quattro fx mask to try from cpap library, it worked perfectly and i bought one. now my leaks are near zero and i feel like i'm on the starting line with cpap. don't let the dme put a template on you and tell you your mask size. go to cpap dot com and look up quattro fx to find out how to size it. i had a size large in your mask for all those years and always had leaks. when i measured myself for the quattro fx i was a medium and almost small. mask sizes are different mfgr to mfgr and mask to mask within mfgr just like womens clothing.

if its really been years like maybe more than 5, insurance might get you a modern automatic machine. if you go for it, get a prescription specifically for a resmed s-9 autoset or a rp system one auto with a-flex. accept nothing less. the cost is the same no matter which one you get.

m_ahlenius wrote:I do have a humidifier on the unit and fill it to the line with bottled water. I have not used the heater because it raises the temperature of the vapor and that seems to wake me up even more.

Mark,

As others mentioned, dry mouth means that you are primarily breathing through your mouth, which is OK with a full face mask. About the only way to avoid dry mouth in that circumstance is to add more humidity, which means turning up the heat on the humidifier. I know that the heat tends to bother me a bit, so I found that it helps to cool down the air in my bedroom. That way, it kind of balances out. I often run with the A/C unit turned down a little further than normal, and I sometimes use a fan in the bedroom to circulate the cooler air a bit.

BTW, which you say bottled water, I want to double-check that you are using distilled water. While we have rehashed the distilled vrs non-distilled question here many times, I wouldn't feel comfortable using anything but distilled water.

-john-

Thanks everyone for the informative responses.

I will look into these and post what I find.

I really appreciate your assistance and suggestions. Each of you does have some skin in the game so to speak. Last time I spoke with the respiratory therapist - they were a bit impatient with me (frustrated me) and I asked the they ever used a cpap - and they said no. case closed on that one.

best,

'mark

m_ahlenius wrote:Thanks everyone for the informative responses.

I will look into these and post what I find.

I really appreciate your assistance and suggestions. Each of you does have some skin in the game so to speak. Last time I spoke with the respiratory therapist - they were a bit impatient with me (frustrated me) and I asked the they ever used a cpap - and they said no. case closed on that one.

best,

'mark

I've only been to my sleep doctor once so far. My 6 week followup is on June 15th. He told me that he also has sleep apnea, so he used a machine. I was told to call to schedule the 6 week appointment once I had my machine in my possession. They want to have a good amount of data to review for the followup. When I called, the receptionist asked how I was doing with it since I had actually used it for 3 nights before calling. She asked what mask I had and then a question bout it. She also uses cpap and was interested in trying that mask. So, it is nice knowing that the doctor has personal experience using a machine to sleep.

Apap can provide too little air. My S9 on 4 is suffocating for me. I set the min to 5 and I don't like it but if I'm relaxed its ok but not great as I feel like I'm breathing in all the air its providing. The extra features to "breath easier" can make that worse.

Bumping the lower presure from 4 to 5 or 6 might help a great deal. When I have a cold, I bump it to 8 but that might be high.

Hi,

one other issue I find after waking up using the mask is that my mouth is not only dry, but my cheeks (facial mind you) are bloated or pressed out -like a ballon. Its a bit uncomfortable.

Just wondering if this is normal?

thanks again,

'mark

m_ahlenius wrote:but my cheeks (facial mind you) are bloated or pressed out -like a ballon. Its a bit uncomfortable.

Just wondering if this is normal?

Chipmunk cheeks. Air goes up the nose into the airway and starts to go down the airway but makes a detour into the mouth. Lips are shut..cheeks inflate. To prevent this we use the tongue pressed up against the roof of the mouth so that it acts like a door and doesn't allow the air to enter the mouth. Takes some practice to learn to keep it in place (easy to do while awake but it often moves out of the way when asleep) so take a lot of practice during the day.