Unconventional cpap compliance problem

ChicagoGranny wrote:

tootiredtothink wrote:helps curb my anxiety

Are you aware that untreated sleep apnea is a major cause of anxiety?

Indeed I am... which has me in a catch 22. The lack of sleep makes me anxious. My inability to comply with treatment makes me anxious. The idea of loosing my security system makes me anxious... there is nothing good about this situation. Ive been struggling with this for years, and I feel it coming to a head, and thats scary.

tootiredtothink wrote:I feel it coming to a head

The head should be to break this habit by all reasonable means.

I'm picturing a hose, almost like how they intubate people, to solve the problem of having something like a pacifier/thumb in your mouth but also letting you breathe in. But that doesn't solve your problem which is thumb sucking as an adult. I feel for you! I saw a psychiatrist for phobias and she cured me of all but 2. I decided I would just live with that and she called it "avoidance therapy". I haven't flown or taken an elevator since 1980.

postitnote wrote:I haven't flown or taken an elevator since 1980.

Doesn't sound like much of a problem if you are satisfied with a life between the corn and beans.

How about an oral mask....That way you will have something in your mouth instead of your thumb

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -mask.html

LSAT wrote:How about an oral mask....That way you will have something in your mouth instead of your thumb

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -mask.html

Interesting. Wouldnt air simply leak out of your nose though?

I get that it may be difficult to break this lifelong habit at this stage. I quit sucking my thumb at age 8--still pretty late, and I remember how difficult it was.

I second the pacifier idea. I think that would give you something to rest in your mouth like you do your thumb--it just may be difficult to find one of appropriate size. A baby bottle nipple with a long nipple might work too and it would already be flat at the bottom to fit in the mask--in hospital nurseries they use bottle nipples with some cotton stuffed in them so the wide flat part doesn't collapse to get sucked into the airway.

tootiredtothink,

I also second the idea of a pacifier of some sort as a short term solution. I also think you should indeed consider getting another therapist or talking to the one you have about the medical necessity of finding some alternative to the thumb sucking in the long run.

tootiredtothink wrote:Good question. To say I cant breathe through my nose is to say that I cant breathe ADEQUATLY through my nose. Every 5-6 breaths I start to feel like I am not getting enough air and have to open my mouth.

I'll also toss this idea out as well: If you have a full efficacy data machine that records full leak data it is worth trying a nasal mask or a nasal pillows mask and seeing just how bad the leaks actually are. It may indeed be the case that if you try to use a nasal mask that your leaks will be in official Large Leak territory for too much of the night. But it might also be the case that the leaks are actually acceptable. If you are breathing through your nose for 4 out of every 5 breaths (when you are awake and using the machine), you may find that once you are actually asleep with the CPAP on that your breathing settles down enough where you are NOT constantly mouth breathing. You'll only know for sure that you can't wear a nasal mask if you try and the leaks are unacceptable.

Remember that the air from your machine is slightly pressurized, so more air can enter. I found out that when I'm slightly stuffy, I can breathe easier with my P10.

Maybe a second opinion about your nasal passages?

When I finally let go of my thumb (at about 12) I started holding my closed fist in front of my mouth. When I started xpap I had to stop as the mask was in the way. I did succeed in actually letting the mask take over the role of my fist. Worth a try maybe? Using a soft liner like padacheek might help too. Good luck!

tootiredtothink wrote:

LSAT wrote:How about an oral mask....That way you will have something in your mouth instead of your thumb

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -mask.html

Interesting. Wouldnt air simply leak out of your nose though?

Unit comes with a nose clip....

tootiredtothink wrote: I've been struggling with this for years, and I feel it coming to a head, and thats scary.

Actually, that you feel it coming to a head is a positive sign, despite how scary it feels. It might very well mean that you're ready to do something about this. Kind of like hitting rock bottom. That's when change is most likely to happen. Lean into it.

I know I'm not the only one who was alarmed to read this:

My therapist is actually supportive of my thumb sucking...

You are not being served if your therapist is not treating you for this problem or referring you to a specialist who can. What makes it a problem? The fact that it keeps you from treating a serious medical condition (your sleep apnea) and threatens to compromise your health -- if not immediately, certainly in the long term. A defining characteristic of addiction is that a behavior, while pleasurable or soothing, becomes compulsive and continues despite the sufferer's awareness that it is interfering with important aspects of life -- work, relationship, and health. This is what makes the thumb sucking a serious problem in need of treatment rather than a benign habit.

People have offered some practical workaround ideas like the the oral cpap mask. Whatever you're willing to try, I hope you will take action and take care of your health. Get help and support for finding alternative ways of coping with anxiety that are effective and that don't interfere with your cpap therapy. It's a process and it is hard work. Make the commitment. We want you to succeed.

I use a "pillow" CPAP device that fits into my nose and gives me enough room to suck my thumb comfortably while using the machine. I think the pressure generated by the machine should allow sufficient breathing through your nose as I, too, have narrow nasal passages but am able to suck my thumb through the night while sleeping attached to my CPAP machine. From the first night I stopped snoring (according to my fiance) and was still able to suck my thumb easily. NOTE that I use a chin strap to keep my mouth closed around my thumb. It worked!

tootiredtothink wrote:I have had OSA for years and years, been prescribed CPAP forever, but am unable to wear it. I even had UPPP surgery to try to avoid it, and my AHI is worse now then before surgery. My biggest reason for not being able to consistantly wear my cpap is I mouth breathe and have to wear a full face mask. My nasal passages are too narrow for me to adequatly breathe through my nose, even during the day. Now, this sounds typical of many of our problems, but mine is complicated by the fact that even now in my 30s, I still suck my thumb. I have always done it, I cant stop doing it, I enjoy it and its part of my life. The issue is, I need to suck my thumb to sleep... you can see how the mask is an issue here. The rare times I am able to fall asleep with the mask on, I find myself having pulled it off after an hour or two in my sleep to get to my thumb. I would love to use a nasal mask, but opening my mouth for my thumb would leak all the air.

Any ideas? Im exhausted, need to use the CPAP, but am stuck against a rock and a hard place.

lazurm2 wrote:I use a "pillow" CPAP device that fits into my nose and gives me enough room to suck my thumb comfortably while using the machine. I think the pressure generated by the machine should allow sufficient breathing through your nose as I, too, have narrow nasal passages but am able to suck my thumb through the night while sleeping attached to my CPAP machine. From the first night I stopped snoring (according to my fiance) and was still able to suck my thumb easily. NOTE that I use a chin strap to keep my mouth closed around my thumb. It worked!

I also suggest trying a pillow style mask. I was fighting a FFM as I "knew" I could not breathe sufficiently through my nose. I finally tried the Airfit P10 and found after wearing it a while reading before turning out the light, it would eventually "inflate" my nasal passages such that I could wear it while sleeping.

Redonthehead wrote:a FFM

How in the world did you suck your thumb while using a FFM??