New User and Can't Get to Sleep

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
Hildegarde
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New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by Hildegarde » Mon Oct 03, 2022 3:16 pm

I used the machine for the first time last night and could only stick with it for about 90 minutes. It kept waking me up. As soon as I felt myself drifting off to sleep, a big rush of air would come in and wake me up. The machine was also very loud, but I could have tuned that out and fallen asleep if I wasn't being jerked awake all the time. What am I doing wrong? Is there an air pressure adjustment I should make?

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Julie
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by Julie » Mon Oct 03, 2022 3:59 pm

Please read the Stickies at the top of the main page - we need more info to even begin to help... which model of what machine do you use? Mask? Pressure settings? Etc, etc. etc.

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zonker
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by zonker » Mon Oct 03, 2022 4:30 pm

welcome to the zoo!

julie is correct; much more info is needed. we are each of us different (duh) and that means that we aren't using the same machine, the same mask or the same pressures.

the differences are crucial. without knowing details, we would just be guessing. and we'd hate to guess wrong and give you bad advice.

good luck!
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Jlfinkels
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by Jlfinkels » Mon Oct 03, 2022 4:41 pm

zonker wrote:
Mon Oct 03, 2022 4:30 pm
the differences are crucial. without knowing details, we would just be guessing. and we'd hate to guess wrong and give you bad advice.
Amateurs guess, then apologise afterwards.

Julie and Z are spot on as usual. Get them data so they and others can help you.
Last edited by Jlfinkels on Mon Oct 03, 2022 7:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sometimes it is the very people who no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one imagines

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zonker
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by zonker » Mon Oct 03, 2022 4:45 pm

Jlfinkels wrote:
Mon Oct 03, 2022 4:41 pm


Amateurs guess, then apologize afterwards.
i can't imagine who you are talking about.

<whistles tunelessly>
people say i'm self absorbed.
but that's enough about them.
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robysue1
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by robysue1 » Mon Oct 03, 2022 5:11 pm

Hildegarde wrote:
Mon Oct 03, 2022 3:16 pm
I used the machine for the first time last night and could only stick with it for about 90 minutes. It kept waking me up. As soon as I felt myself drifting off to sleep, a big rush of air would come in and wake me up. The machine was also very loud, but I could have tuned that out and fallen asleep if I wasn't being jerked awake all the time. What am I doing wrong? Is there an air pressure adjustment I should make?
We need to have a better sense of exactly what the problems are.

There are lots of things that new CPAP users will notice when trying to get to sleep with the machine, and sometimes the same language is used to describe very different problems.

For example, that "big rush of air that comes in and wakes you up" could be caused by a leak in the mask: The machine will blow more air to compensate for a leak.

Or it could be that you've moved around and are now feeling the exhaust flow from the mask coming out of the mask's vents hit your arms or chest or covers.

But it could also be that you are noticing the air pressure ramp up if the DME folks set the machine up to start off with a "ramp period."

And depending on the machine, it could also be that your machine is using a "smart ramp" and it doesn't start increasing the pressure until your breathing pattern makes the machine think that you are safely asleep when you're still in the process of dozing off.

Without knowing what machine you are using, what mask you are using, what the pressure settings are for your machine, and whether the ramp was enabled or not, we really can't tell you what to do about that big rush of air that comes in and wakes you up.

Likewise, you say the machine seemed to be very loud. But in order to help, we need to know what kind of noise you are hearing from the machine. Sometimes new PAPers complain about machine noise when the problem is actually caused by the hose somehow amplifying the sound of their own breathing. Or they may be talking about a "gurgling" sound coming from the hose. Or they could be talking about a whooshing sound coming from the mask. And all of these sounds are in fact real problems for some newbies. But the fixes are different for each of the potential sound issues.

Once we better understand your problems and know what equipment you are using, we'll be better able to give you good advice on things to try for fixing your particular issues.
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Jlfinkels
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by Jlfinkels » Mon Oct 03, 2022 7:06 pm

zonker wrote:
Mon Oct 03, 2022 4:45 pm
i can't imagine who you are talking about.

<whistles tunelessly>
Never you good Sir. Never you.
Sometimes it is the very people who no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one imagines

clownbell
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by clownbell » Mon Oct 03, 2022 7:14 pm

Agree with all that has been said above.

One thing to add, independent of the machine and other factors mentioned earlier. Your brain is probably perceiving the mask and hose as alien beings that pose a threat to you. So talk to yourself several times a day, to convince your brain that the mask is a friend (not a foe) that can bring you better sleep, more energy, and the mitigation/elimination of future medical problems too new to mention here. This probably sounds naieve, but I think it is crucial. Convince your brain to welcome this new friend.
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Hildegarde
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by Hildegarde » Tue Oct 04, 2022 7:41 am

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful and careful replies. This forum is going to be a big help. I will look up the information you asked for and make another post.
— Hildegarde

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Julie
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by Julie » Tue Oct 04, 2022 9:44 am

Great... but please stay in this thread so we can follow the story even if you change the emphasis... Thx!

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zonker
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by zonker » Tue Oct 04, 2022 10:53 am

Hildegarde wrote:
Tue Oct 04, 2022 7:41 am
Thank you everyone for your thoughtful and careful replies. This forum is going to be a big help. I will look up the information you asked for and make another post.
— Hildegarde
please stay in this thread moving forward. makes it easier for folk here to keep track of how you are doing.

good luck!
people say i'm self absorbed.
but that's enough about them.
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Hildegarde
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by Hildegarde » Wed Oct 05, 2022 6:00 am

To answer your queries, I am using a full-face Dreamweaver mask that covers just the nostrils, not the whole nose; and a Resvent CPAP Auto 5-20 Machine with a heated humidifier. The machine has auto-titration (spelling?).

I talked to my therapist yesterday and he thought that all my problems stemmed from leaks. He told me to gradually tighten the straps until the leaks (which I could hear around my jaw, like somebody throwing “raspberries”) stopped. I had tightened the lower straps, but never thought of tightening the top straps as well. This did the trick. He said the rush of air I was getting was because the leaks had emptied the chamber and the machine sensed I-needed more air. I also had a problem with the air going into being very cold and irritating my nostrils. He said that increasing the humidity would help with that. I increased the humidity level from 1 to 3 and that was much better.
So. — I had a great night’s sleep last night with the machine on all night. I only woke up once at 3:00 a.m. (
instead of the usual three or four times) and woke up refreshed in the morning.
Another thing that has also helped is to start the night reading for a while with the machine and mask on — a tip I found on this forum. It really does help you to relax.

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robysue1
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by robysue1 » Wed Oct 05, 2022 8:13 am

Hildegarde wrote:
Wed Oct 05, 2022 6:00 am
To answer your queries, I am using a full-face Dreamweaver mask that covers just the nostrils, not the whole nose; and a Resvent CPAP Auto 5-20 Machine with a heated humidifier. The machine has auto-titration (spelling?).

I talked to my therapist yesterday and he thought that all my problems stemmed from leaks. He told me to gradually tighten the straps until the leaks (which I could hear around my jaw, like somebody throwing “raspberries”) stopped. I had tightened the lower straps, but never thought of tightening the top straps as well. This did the trick. He said the rush of air I was getting was because the leaks had emptied the chamber and the machine sensed I-needed more air. I also had a problem with the air going into being very cold and irritating my nostrils. He said that increasing the humidity would help with that. I increased the humidity level from 1 to 3 and that was much better.
So. — I had a great night’s sleep last night with the machine on all night. I only woke up once at 3:00 a.m. (
instead of the usual three or four times) and woke up refreshed in the morning.
Another thing that has also helped is to start the night reading for a while with the machine and mask on — a tip I found on this forum. It really does help you to relax.
It sounds like you are now off to a great start. Do stop by if you have further questions or problems with your therapy. Or even just to let us know that things are continuing to go well if you don't have any additional questions or problems.
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Oughtsix
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Re: New User and Can't Get to Sleep

Post by Oughtsix » Wed Oct 05, 2022 6:35 pm

Hildegarde wrote:
Mon Oct 03, 2022 3:16 pm
I used the machine for the first time last night and could only stick with it for about 90 minutes. It kept waking me up. As soon as I felt myself drifting off to sleep, a big rush of air would come in and wake me up. The machine was also very loud, but I could have tuned that out and fallen asleep if I wasn't being jerked awake all the time. What am I doing wrong? Is there an air pressure adjustment I should make?
That sounds incredibly similar to when I started using a CPAP 20+ years ago. Every night I made it a little longer before ripping the mask off my face and eventually I could make it through the entire night.

My machine sits on the floor besides my bed to minimize the noise BUT most noise from a CPAP is the sound of rushing air, often due to leaks, in my experience.

I spent a few years with a nasal mask which got the job done but wasn't pleasant. It wasn't until I switched to nasal pillows that I truly got the full benefit of my CPAP. That said, it was VERY TOUGH learning to keep my mouth closed at night to keep the pressurized air from going into my nose and right back out of my mouth with never actually making it to my lungs. Sleeping with my mouth closed took time but it eventually became second nature.

I don't know if anyone actually makes it through their first night without ripping off their mask?

Hildegarde wrote:
Wed Oct 05, 2022 6:00 am
To answer your queries, I am using a full-face Dreamweaver mask that covers just the nostrils, not the whole nose; and a Resvent CPAP Auto 5-20 Machine with a heated humidifier. The machine has auto-titration (spelling?).

I talked to my therapist yesterday and he thought that all my problems stemmed from leaks. He told me to gradually tighten the straps until the leaks (which I could hear around my jaw, like somebody throwing “raspberries”) stopped. I had tightened the lower straps, but never thought of tightening the top straps as well. This did the trick. He said the rush of air I was getting was because the leaks had emptied the chamber and the machine sensed I-needed more air. I also had a problem with the air going into being very cold and irritating my nostrils. He said that increasing the humidity would help with that. I increased the humidity level from 1 to 3 and that was much better.
So. — I had a great night’s sleep last night with the machine on all night. I only woke up once at 3:00 a.m. (
instead of the usual three or four times) and woke up refreshed in the morning.
Another thing that has also helped is to start the night reading for a while with the machine and mask on — a tip I found on this forum. It really does help you to relax.
This sounds right to me. It always takes a while for a new mask or new pillows to conform to my face / nostrils and stop leaking while having to tighten the straps incrementally. When I had a nose mask I always had a sore on the bridge of my nose... often making it too painful to use the CPAP. Eventually I got used to the mask and it conformed to my face a bit. Back then there were not many choices for nasal pads... I actually think there weren't any.

I would ask to try a couple different masks and nasal pillows at home on the same night. Trying them on at the therapist's office does not give you a true feel of how they will work for you when sleeping. I can not imagine having to go back to a mask. Ask specifically for the P10 nasal pillows, they work well for a lot of people. You will have to get used to sleeping with your mouth closed which is also difficult.

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