first night

I slept with the APAP last night for 7 hrs. Not as bad as the titration study night. I had no trouble breathing in/out, the mask was annoying but not painful. I was amazed at how quiet the machine was. Please help with three questions,
1. Why do my ears feel "stuffy" this morning? They don't hurt but feel full, like at high altitude.
2. How did I end up with water in my mask? I set the humidifier at 5, what should I try tonight?
3. I woke up one time with my mouth dry and open. The pressure was strong at this point. The other two times I awoke I had my mouth closed. Does this mean I should tape mouth shut or use chin strap?
Thanks.

Hi, Barbyann, welcome. These are three questions I can safely answer, I believe, and not steer you wrong.

1. Why do my ears feel "stuffy" this morning? They don't hurt but feel full, like at high altitude.

Sometimes the pressure can cause that to happen. I find that happens sometimes when I first turn on my machine. I have never awakened to feeling like you describe. Being it's your first night, I would see what happens over the next few nights. Could be your body needs to adjust to the new air blowing into your head all night.

2. How did I end up with water in my mask? I set the humidifier at 5, what should I try tonight?

Your heated humidifier is set too high on 5. Start out much lower, first of all, like on a 1 1/2 or 2. If that is not enough humidification, slowly each night raise it to where you feel comfortable. What you experienced is what we call "rain out" due to too much condensation in your hose from the hh. If you need higher humidification, there is a hose you can purchase that a lot of users on this site have that has a heated coil running through it. You can order it from http://www.sleepzone.com.au/ for $89 US dollars. This site is in Australia. It actually cuts down on the condensation by heating the hose. But before you jump into that, try different adjustments to your hh. 5 is a high number. My DME told me start at 1 1/2 and go up a half a notch each night. You might not need more than a 2.

Also, make sure your machine is not level with your mattress. It should be below the top. If you get condensation, it needs to be able to drain using the downward slope of the hose to get back into the hh and not into your mask.

3. I woke up one time with my mouth dry and open. The pressure was strong at this point. The other two times I awoke I had my mouth closed. Does this mean I should tape mouth shut or use chin strap?

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about ANYTHING on your first night. People learn to deal with situations after using the machine for a little while. You can try to position the front of your tongue behind the top teeth and get used to keeping it there at night so that you can't mouth breathe. Some people just train themselves to do that or train themselves just not to open their mouths. If you can't do that, then you can always resort to taping, chin straps, or even a DIY (do it yourself) mouthpiece for which there are instructions on this site how to make out of two 99 cent boil and bend mouth guards that you buy from a sporting goods store, or do what a lot of us, including myself, have done and buy a Dr. Sue Nose Breathe device online for $80. Dr. Sue is a dentist in Hawaii who has this wonderful device he custom makes for you by sending you a DIY impresion kit. You make the impression and send it back and he sends you a custom fitted mouth piece that keeps your tongue in that position I told you about earlier.

Right now, with all this mind-boggling information to absorb, try to take it one night at a time. Yes, it is important to breathe with your mouth closed, but you may be able to adjust without doing any of those more drastic things mentioned. Try to just relax and take baby steps. It does get easier, I promise you. I have been on CPAP now three months and I still have questions. But the best thing you ever did was to find this site. The people here are absolutely wonderful and have so much information to impart to you.

Good luck and let me know how you did tomorrow. Stay smiling...it's your best defense .

Hi Barbyann,
What Sleepless on LI told you is all right on. I might add that the stuffiness feeling in your ears could also be due to allergies (if you have them). Allergies combined with all the air through the head makes me feel like I am at a higher altitude, and, thus, the stuffy feeling in the ears.
FF

Great post, Lori!!

Good advice for you, barbyann, from both Lori and Fatigue Fighter.

Sounds like you did extremely well for your first night on apap. 7 hours with the mask on...that's great anytime, but especially so for anyone beginning the treatment trek!

Good luck and keep us posted how it goes.

FF, you've got it right regarding allergies - the whole scenario changes when/if you have allergies.

Currently there's something in the air that has my ears all plugged up. It's not my BiPAP.

Can't add anything to Lori's wonderful post. But do hang in there as there will be a period of adjustment. Many of your little problems will work themselves out.