New user issues

Hey everyone, I’m new to the CPAP game, I’m a week in and I still can’t sleep with this thing on. It took me the first week just I get where I could keep the mask on for an hour or so (severe claustrophobia that I didn’t know I had).

Now my main issue is that I’m a stomach sleeper, so I can’t sleep on my side or back. If I lay in my side, I do just that, lay there. If I lay on my back, I get almost on the verge of sleep, then get this hitch that wakes me up so I have to start all over. I get frustrated, then take the mask off so I can get some sleep so I can go to work, which causes even more anxiety.

Second, I’m having issues with my mouth and throat getting dry and that wakes me up as well.

Oh, I have a full face mask because I’m a mouth breather.

54MercMan wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2020 12:28 pm

Hey everyone, I’m new to the CPAP game, I’m a week in and I still can’t sleep with this thing on.

welcome to the zoo! here's a link to a stomach sleeping position called "the falcon"-

http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html

perhaps that can help?

as to getting used to the mask, that is very much a problem for most of us. forum moderator pugsy says it's like trying to get used to sleeping with an alien on your face. your brain is pretty much shrieking at you to take it off!

may i suggest you wear the mask when not in bed? you don't even have to have it connected to the machine. just have it on while doing some routine task around the house. this will help your brain get used to it.

in the meantime, stick with it. it will become second nature at some point.

good luck!

Welcome to the forum.

You can still sleep on your stomach but it's going to present some special challenges what with the bed pillow and the mask not wanting to play nice together.

Research cpap pillows...pillows with special cutouts for the mask to rest in so the bed pillow doesn't put pressure on the mask.
If you want to try one...don't spend big bucks just yet...go to WalMart and buy the cheapest memory foam pillow they have and make your own cut outs....box blade works well or electric knife works even better for cutting the memory foam.

Folks, I appreciate the positivity! This is an arduous journey, for me anyway, because I have to comply with this thing eventually or face losing my career as a truck driver.

Honestly, I’ve never had trouble with daytime sleepiness, except for when I worked overnights, now in the last 8 days, I’ve never been so tired.

This machine I have is driving me nuts, I get no moisture and cool air when it’s cold and humid jungle air when it’s humid (Texas in winter, went from 70 and tornado watches last Friday to snow Saturday morning).

I’m also having a lot of issues with support from the supplier my doctor and insurance chose for me, hopefully the doctors office can get them to call me back finally.

I really appreciate wing allowed to vent here, my wife thinks I’m making this stuff up just to not use it!

'Just a suggestion, but when's the last time you had a comprehensive exam with labs and anything else your MD might come up with? Not everything's about Cpap/Osa and sometimes it's good to look at more. Just saying...

54MercMan wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2020 7:24 pm

I’ve never been so tired.

54MercMan wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2020 12:28 pm

I’m a week in and I still can’t sleep with this thing on.

Until your sleep quality improves you don't have much chance of not being tired.
Are you saying you haven't actually been able to fall asleep with the mask on?
How much time laying there awake trying to fall asleep do you think you get before you give up and take the mask off?
If that is what is happening...how many hours of sleep are you getting after you take the mask off?

Know that your body is saying a big "NOPE"! Your body will eventually give in and accommodate you getting use to wearing the mask all night.
Sheriff

This was determined while I was in the hospital with a few blood clots, I haven’t had more than a take home sleep study, then they put me on the machine, which they told me is an APAP

Julie wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:10 pm

'Just a suggestion, but when's the last time you had a comprehensive exam with labs and anything else your MD might come up with? Not everything's about Cpap/Osa and sometimes it's good to look at more. Just saying...

I lay there for about 2 hours, give or take a bit, then take the mask off and try to sleep for the next 4-5 hours. I’ve tried staying up as long as possible to just pass out and tried going to bed early so I can at least get a 3-4 hours.

Thankfully, I’m doing TRW work so I’m just sitting in the office for a few hours then going home, so I don’t worry about falling asleep while driving.

As an aside, if I’m doing something, staying awake isn’t too hard, sit still for more than 30-40 minutes, I’m fixing to go to sleep.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:18 pm

54MercMan wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2020 7:24 pm

I’ve never been so tired.

54MercMan wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2020 12:28 pm

I’m a week in and I still can’t sleep with this thing on.

Until your sleep quality improves you don't have much chance of not being tired.
Are you saying you haven't actually been able to fall asleep with the mask on?
How much time laying there awake trying to fall asleep do you think you get before you give up and take the mask off?
If that is what is happening...how many hours of sleep are you getting after you take the mask off?

I was a lifetime mouth breather before CPAP.
Sleep doctor insisted I at least make a 'best effort' to use a nasal mask.
He doesn't prescribe a full face mask for anyone until they try and fail with a nasal mask.
The transition was easier than I expected and I got the added side benefit that my bleeding gums stopped bleeding.

My doctor just said go here, and he told me to make sure to tell them I wanted the pillows, which I wish I had chosen now. I did that, and the tech helping me pushed me towards the mask, I am changing to the nasal pilllows and see how that goes.

My other issue is the machine itself, but maybe switching masks will probably help with that!

harrywr2 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2020 6:53 am

I was a lifetime mouth breather before CPAP.
Sleep doctor insisted I at least make a 'best effort' to use a nasal mask.
He doesn't prescribe a full face mask for anyone until they try and fail with a nasal mask.
The transition was easier than I expected and I got the added side benefit that my bleeding gums stopped bleeding.

harrywr2 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2020 6:53 am

I was a lifetime mouth breather before CPAP.
Sleep doctor insisted I at least make a 'best effort' to use a nasal mask.
He doesn't prescribe a full face mask for anyone until they try and fail with a nasal mask.
The transition was easier than I expected and I got the added side benefit that my bleeding gums stopped bleeding.

Realistically, the doctor should not prescribe a specific mask...Prescription should read "mask of patients choice"'

54MercMan wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2020 7:33 pm

My doctor just said go here, and he told me to make sure to tell them I wanted the pillows, which I wish I had chosen now. I did that, and the tech helping me pushed me towards the mask, I am changing to the nasal pilllows and see how that goes.

My other issue is the machine itself, but maybe switching masks will probably help with that!

harrywr2 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2020 6:53 am

I was a lifetime mouth breather before CPAP.
Sleep doctor insisted I at least make a 'best effort' to use a nasal mask.
He doesn't prescribe a full face mask for anyone until they try and fail with a nasal mask.
The transition was easier than I expected and I got the added side benefit that my bleeding gums stopped bleeding.

I too was told I was a mouth breather. Here, use this full face mask as it is the only one that will work for you. BS. Made my own choice and bought a nasal cushion mask. Haven't had a full face mask on since then....

There are two nasal pillows mask I would recommend for someone that sounds like they tend to bury their head into the pillow some. ResMed P10 or ResMed P30i. Both are pillows style, which stay sealed a little better than the cushion style. P10 has the hose in the front, P30i has the top mounted hose. Top mounted hoses are one less thing to wake you as you should never have to fool with the hose at night. Or day in your case as truck drivers sleep at different hours!

Trying to get help from those that provided your mask and machine is not usually going to work out well. Same for too many Doctors. Sure, the Doctor will see you but making changes is tedious with them. Too many don't want to get really involved with "fine tuning" your settings. So, you have found this forum. Post questions and learn. Make you own decisions and/or use that information to better talk with your Doctor.