Well Here Goes.

runt08 I believe I owe you an apology - sorry if I hijacked your thread.

How about: Forgive me, as my mind is addled by chronic sleep deprivation?

I was suprised the BB doesn't have sub-forums so the threads are broken out - ie. new users, types of mask, etc.,. I posted on your thread as a new user too but didn't mean to step on your toes.

Hopefully I can offer you some encouragement by saying I'm having problems adjusting to the CPAP too - you and I are the same time in - two nights.

Night 2 I managed about 4 hours, then another 1 or so after ripping the mask off to reset the pressure. I woke up and I don't know what big pressure the APAP (an initial loaner to try and find a pressure for me) was running, but it was just intolerable to exhale against and I was having blowfish moments in my mouth. The vent was like a car defroster on full bore.

Wulfman was right - my mouth must be opening - holwing escalating gale force APAP winds shortly follow. Further reflection suggesting maybe mouth breathing is part of the root of the apnea.

There is a ton of advice around here on mouth opening. So last night I tried poligrip strips but they kind of dried and felt just wretched and gross, so that idea may go out the window for me. I now find myself considering mouth taping as I think this mouth issue is going to be a long term challenge for me. Maybe tonight.

I don't know about you runt08, but I am close to saying even with only 4 hours or so of sleep on CPAP I might feel about the same or maybe just a little bit better then before we started. Maybe I wasn't getting any good sleep at all. I can't really tell yet. I do feel very strange and not normal - knocked into a new rythm and slightly out-of-body all day long.

On the falling asleep I have read a number of people who went the ambien route until the strangeness/novelty of falling asleep with CPAP diminished - which sounds better than using outright exhaustion as your sleep trigger. That seems to make sense to me - a little light sedative to help get in the swing of things.

Let's both solve this sleep puzzle and get our bodies back to 100% health.

Thanks all for your advice and encouragement everybody who posted. It has really helped me.

Not to worry on the hi-jack. I just wanted to be sure we didn't lose runt08 in the thread so wanted to bring her topic back up to be addressed.

Country Gent: I was also surprised that there were no subtopics and it was one big free for all. It would be better I think if they did break out to subtopics, e.g. masks, machines, sleep studies, etc. But it is what it is and it seems to be working for the most part.

Runt08 - keep working at it. I seemed to be lucky, stuck the thing on my face and off to dreamland with immediate impact on my waking hours. One of the lucky ones I guess.

Keep working at it and let us know how it is going.
Suzanne

Hello All.

All is well regarding the Hi-jacking

I had to change my mask. I used a swift pillow but now i am using a nasal mask. (much better)
The only problem i have now is my ears are filled with air and my stomache.
and it hurts.
I still can not fall asleep!!!!!

I really want this to work for me.b

If misery loves company, I have to deal with popping ears and how to stop air getting into my gut too.

Managed about 5 hours. I'm exhausted.

Hate it.

Two steps back, one step forward. I am grateful to the old hands around here that say not to worry about the setbacks, that most people obviously have some difficulty adjusting.

For the stomach air issue do a search for aerophagia (I think I spelled that right).
There are a lot of folks here that suffer from the same thing and have various ways they've dealt with it.

I use a nasal pillow mask, the Headrest (Aura) and I don't find it being harder to exhale than when I was using a nasal mask (ComfortGel). You can try setting your C-Flex up to 3.....

It's actually a worthwhile hi-jack -- you can both commiserate with each other about progress and setbacks.....It's always nice to know you're not by yourself in your struggles.
We all have gone through the same things, so you're certainly not alone.

Also, as RG said, you both have the right attitude -- you'll succeed!!

take care
cheers
goose

Thanks. I'll look at the aerophagia info.

I'll try and be patient and persistant with the whole experience.

There are two messages coming through loud and clear - CPAP isn't an easy adjustment for many people; it is clearly worthwhile for many to stick with the fight to make it work - and recover the joy and benefits of good sleep.

No great progress to report yet - still waking up, uncomfortable, not happy with the alien clamped on my face and blowing at me. Lots of little fixes and small improvements though - a bent coathander over the headboard to lift the hose and allow me to roll over has helped prevent the early going umbilical cord strangulation ....

Countrygent:

Sounds like you've got the right attitude. Welcome to the society of hoseheads. It WILL get better if you keep trying.

Wally

Greetings Countrygent:

I've been a member of the board (& hosehead fraternity) for a year and a half. I'm also a fellow Canuck. I was one of the lucky ones who took to the therapy right away, and was able to sleep through the night with the beast attached to my face. I have been 99% compliant since May/06.
I can truthfully say that the therapy has changed my life. I too do not meet the usual profile, 6', 175lbs. But I still was on meds for high blood pressure, had heart palpitations, daytime drowsiness, groggy morning head, etc. All these symptoms have disappeared over the months, and have even thrown away my blood pressure meds (doctor says I have pressure of 18 year old (I'm 57)). Used to take a nap after lunch, now I go for a walk.
You MUST persevere! You owe it to yourself and those you love, and who love you. It is one of the most important things you'll ever do for yourself.
Read the posts and advice from the great folks on this board - they'll get you through the hard times and steer you to the great times ahead.
Best of luck.

Steve (can't log in as northernlights anymore)

Oh, I'll persevere.

I realise now I have had serious undiagnosed apnea for over five years and it has cost me in so many ways. I want my old life back.

Luckily I'm a stubborn masochist at heart.

Sorry I haven't communitcated in an while (internet was down)

Well... Sor far:
The night before last night I felt myself falling asleep with the mask on and then felt as though i was going to stop breathing (that happened two times and then I said... ok that's enough, took off the mask and went to bed.

Well that day, I couldn't stop thinking "well at least was falling off the sleep" I told myself that it was possible and that I will soon be sleeping with it.

Last night.... I decided to put on the mask and read for a bit.... I then noticed that the book was falling.... Thats correct..... I WAS FALLING ASLEEP (seriously, i was having a mini conversation with mysel it was soooo funny) I put down the book, maid myself comfotable.... and the next thing I know, i woke up and thought....."Am I still wearing this thing?????? Went back to sleep and then...................................... BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ My alarm was waking me up.

I don't even know if my husband was a wake.... I just started teling him how I made it through the night.... I was so excited, it was as if i won some prize.

And again... I don't know if is my mind, but I didn't feel like a zombie today...... I mean... i nomrmally feel my eyes closing at work and even feel dizzy and sick, but not today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AM SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!

Hey runt, isn't that great?

I'm so happy for you!

O.

ALRIGHT Runt!!!!!!! That's great news!!!!!
Keep up the good work!!!!

take care
cheers
goose

A full night! Fabulous and congrats. I'm sooooooo envious. Put a few nights like that back to back and you should be a new person.

I've had a few stretches of hours but no full night. Way to go and I'm so pleased for you. More hope and inspiration.

runt08 - I had the same problem - feeling like my breathing was stopping when I was going to sleep. It freaked me out, totally woke me up, and meant I was back on the road of wakefulness.

What I learned on the forum was that I was probably having a central (your brain doesn't tell you to breathe) which is common when you are going to sleep. After continuing the struggle for quite a while longer - I finally got the bright idea to change my attitude about the feeling that I couldn't breathe.

Now I recognize that feeling as a message that I am just on the verge of going to sleep, and as silly as it might sound - it helps me relax and actually go to sleep, rather than telling myself I can't breathe, which wakes me up too much to go to sleep.

Hope that helps.

yay runt....good idea to read with your mask on....I wish I could but my mask is a problem for reading.

Trust me it isn't your mind...the improvement is real. The night of my titration I only had 4 hours of sleep total and felt soooo good the next day. My problem was that it took another couple of weeks to get my machine, etc. and in that time the rebound was horrific. I got so depressed and felt worse than ever, even after one 4 hr night of good sleep.

You are well on your way...hope that it keeps getting better.

Country - hang in there, it will work.