Trying not to hate life,. My introduction

So, I'm a truck driver. My old company had sent me for a sleep study because I'm overweight-a familiar story, i'm sure.

Let me be clear, I had never experienced any symptoms such as drowsiness, lack of alertness, or even the slightest snore, so you can imagine my apprehension when I was told I have moderate to severe sleep apnea. What I feel about it is, of course, irrelevant now that I have the diagnosis, but I was outright lied to and felt jacked around every step of the process, which is why I'm so cynical about it.

After months, i still rarely get a full night of sleep with the machine and I'm getting burnt out. The pressure had been changed multiple times, and now, after quitting that company, I no longer have support for it. I simply have the machine and use it as I'm legally required to, but I would much rather it not be the burden that it's turned out to be since i have no choice. I also have a permanent back injury that compels me to sleep on my stomach to minimize pain, but am unable to because of the mask, and I'm not sure how to get new ones. I have a resmed airsense 10.

I miss looking forward to going to bed. Can anyone help me hate my life less? I already struggle with my mental health and this is not helping. Masks that might help, where to find them, who to talk to, does anyone's insurance cover a different mask, anything that may help. Please.

Welcome to the forum.

So what mask is preventing you from sleeping on your stomach? People can sleep in any position they want to sleep in using about all the masks out there.
What mask are you trying to use?

Sorry to hear that things turned out the way they did. You have come to the right place to get help. If you are willing to do the work, we can get you thru this. In the end, you will be thankful for the treatment the cpap offers. You'll be healthy and you'll be proud you accomplished this feat. Most people are so thankful and proud of themselves after conquering this sucker! We need more specific info to get started. As Pugs stated, what kinda mask are you using? Most folks go thru several masks before finding the one that is comfortable and doesn't leak. After several years, I eventually found two, but it didn't take long to find the first one.... tho' I went thru about 6 masks. Who is your insurance company? Most insurance providers will allow new supplies and a new or different mask every 3 months. You will get your mask supplies (mask) at your DME. DME stands for Durable Medical Equipment. It is the place you got your machine and you get your supplies from.

You can get thru this. You will be so thankful for doing this!

Sheriff

You have a PM...

Julie wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:02 am

You have a PM...

Julie's cut-a-hole-in-your-mattress method?

BattleBronco wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:47 pm

sleep on my stomach to minimize pain, but am unable to because of the mask

A person can sleep on their stomach with almost every CPAP mask. Read this blog carefully to learn the correct method - http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleepingposmaskleft1b.jpg

It works well for CPAP and for the back.

BattleBronco wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:47 pm

I miss looking forward to going to bed.

Hi BattleBronco

This just struck me as incomprehensible? I love putting on my mask as it means I am going to sleep. I love how my mask smells and feels and how great I breath and sleep.

I'm scared of being stuck without my mask and not being able to sleep.

What kind of things do you not have now that you used to "look forward to in going to bed?"
Can't you look forward to going to bed tonight - right now?

Tell us more.

BattleBronco wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:47 pm

So, I'm a truck driver. My old company had sent me for a sleep study because I'm overweight-a familiar story, i'm sure.

Let me be clear, I had never experienced any symptoms such as drowsiness, lack of alertness, or even the slightest snore, so you can imagine my apprehension when I was told I have moderate to severe sleep apnea. What I feel about it is, of course, irrelevant now that I have the diagnosis, but I was outright lied to and felt jacked around every step of the process, which is why I'm so cynical about it.

One of my friends (who I met here) is a truck driver, she's overweight, her story is exactly like yours.... she was fine, she didn't need that stupid thing, etc etc etc.

Turns out, she *wasn't* fine, even though she was only diagnosed with mild sleep apnea (something like an AHI of 11, I think).

But, after she came here, and the good folks of this forum (waves at pugsy) got her therapy *working*, (and she got the DME to quit meddling with her settings remotely), she discovered that she hadn't, in fact, been "fine" ... she noticed that she was more alert, she didn't need as many energy drinks (I think she's down to one every couple days now) and as she puts it "I'm not nearly as much of a raging bitch as I was". (plus, she's lost weight)

BattleBronco wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:47 pm

After months, i still rarely get a full night of sleep with the machine and I'm getting burnt out. The pressure had been changed multiple times, and now, after quitting that company, I no longer have support for it. I simply have the machine and use it as I'm legally required to, but I would much rather it not be the burden that it's turned out to be since i have no choice. I also have a permanent back injury that compels me to sleep on my stomach to minimize pain, but am unable to because of the mask, and I'm not sure how to get new ones.

Well, I'd suggest you follow in her footsteps (probably not path, since she OTR, based in Wisconsin) and let the people here actually optimize your therapy, something that hasn't been done. You've got nothing but better days (and nights) to look forward to.

BattleBronco wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:47 pm

I have a resmed airsense 10.

An Airsense 10 what? there are four different models of the Air 10 line. I'm hoping it's an Autoset... (it says on the front of the unit).

I have found that Sleepweaver masks (all cloth) work for tummy sleeping.

Happy to see many replies, i will try to respond correctly to all.

I won't have any insurance for 90 days with my new job as i just started and the old company, as far as I know, will not be sending me supplies, since I am no longer with them unless they want to donate.

I have the full face mask. I know nothing more about it.

It is the auto set.

I have managed on bad nights to sleep on stomach, but it usually results in discomfort on my face before long. I find either the mask is pushed far enough off my face to leak, or it has to be so tight i get headaches.

I'm not going to argue effectiveness, but I've never needed energy drinks or the like.

What i meant by, i miss looking forward to bed, is I have a great mattress, but all the things you liked, the smell, feel, etc are things i dislike. I always sleep fine without it. I have trouble falling asleep in the first place because i move a lot because of the back and the hose always needs moved or I'll yank the machine or knock it over. I miss simply going to bed and that be the only necessary step: lay in bed and sleep

I can't tell the difference whether i use it or not. If I lost weight it would be out of spite or with the hope that it would cure me, even though I know it isn't that simple. I wish I could be one of those people who had their lives turned around, because I'm not quitting my career over this, so it has to get better, it simply has to. Thank you for the encouragement everyone, I'm trying to make it work anyway.

So to itemize issues for better detail:
---

Trouble falling asleep due to hose and limited positions to use(are there masks with different hose locations? Why can't they send air via Bluetooth already??)

Mask gets mashed into my face uncomfortably when trying to lay on stomach, so can't do that all night.

Mask leaks and i have to adjust it often, and it ends up eitherleaking or being too tight, can't seem to find the middle ground where it is comfortably snug but still seals.

---
I would like to trade my body for a new one. If I am this broken at my age, and they say it's all downhill as you get older, I'm going to be a sorry case before long.

Welcome to getting older and all the "joys" that come with it but like I always say...better than not getting older alternative.

How come you were given a full face mask? Do you have chronic nasal congestion issues that pretty much force you to mouth breathe a lot?

Can you go here and see if you can spot your mask? Do you still have the package it came in by chance?
It's really hard to offer ideas for a mask if we don't know which one you are using.
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks/full-face-cpap-mask

Yes, there are masks with different locations....either they are off the nose or on top of the head.
Once again...I don't know which one you have but sounds like probably the hose comes in at the nose. That does sort of get in the way a lot for stomach sleepers.