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Re: First post after beginning CPAP therapy
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:16 am
by albill
Mtnviewer wrote:I'd seriously try to analyze your sleeping position(s) and perhaps slowly changing (vs. just saying that you "can't" as it may be the problem), vs. trying to find hardware solutions to the problem as increased pressures and mask tensions could be just as difficult and disruptive to your sleep to get used to? I wonder if increased pressures could not be reduced for many of us by just adapting our sleeping positions?
I am trying to transition to side sleeping. So, when I first go to bed, I try that for a while, and my body relaxes, etc. So far, I haven't been able to reliably fall asleep on my side but I am continuing to try. In the long run, it is probably the optimal position for me.
Mtnviewer wrote:I'm thinking that without SEEING how we are sleeping, we are blindly just using trial and error on what "might" be causing events or disrupting sleep, vs. seeing a problem that relates to the machine data or how we feel and then coming up with a solution. In my case, I wasted many months playing with pressures, APAP vs. CPAP, chin straps, mask tensions, sore spots, diet, drink, oral appliance, mouth taping and still being tired, when the main problem and cause of events for me was due to sleeping partially or completely on my back and then figuring out blindly how often I was rolling partially or completely onto my back or shoulders. I unfortunately didn't think of it earlier and don't have the money or the nearby resources to borrow or rent a video recorder, but I am looking out for used ones on eBay.
Like in a sleep lab, I think that analyzing the software data and video and sound recordings are also very good tools for us at home to monitor our own therapy. Cumbersome perhaps, but great tools to "seeing in the dark". Good luck solving your mystery.
That is a good thought.
Re: First post after beginning CPAP therapy
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 1:46 pm
by ozij
The Aeiomed Headrest is a nasal pillows maks in which the vent points upwards -- no chance of cold air hitting you wife when you use that one. It's also a very good mask for stomach sleepers.
You may also want to to try to put a pillow between you and her so the air doesn't blow on her.
Re: First post after beginning CPAP therapy
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 2:05 pm
by Gerryk
Abill, if you have the paperwork for that mask it may be in there or you can visit the manufacturers web site. But I believe your machine will when properly programmed to your mask report the actual leak rate not the vent rate, so you probably are opening your mouth. Your description of waking up with your mouth dried sure sounds like a mouth leak. I would bet if you were to work on that mouth leak, you will notice a difference. Add that difference to what you already feel and I don't think you will be unhappy.
Gerry
Re: First post after beginning CPAP therapy
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 3:00 pm
by LoneStar
Albill,
Regarding difficulty in going to sleep - have you tried melatonin? I read about it on a thread here and bought some for my husband to try as he has always had major problems falling asleep. (Even though I'm the hosehead in the family, falling asleep has never been a problem for me.) It has truly helped my husband; he usually falls asleep before I do now.
Anyway, I ordered it from
http://www.vitacost.com. Order
SUBLINGUAL 2.5 mg. tablets. You stick them under your tongue and allow them to dissolve. Take one with dinner and one before you go to bed.
Lisa
Re: First post after beginning CPAP therapy
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 3:17 pm
by Gerryk
About having trouble falling asleep. Are you concentrating on your breathing, the machine, your mask, the hose, how well you will do with the cpap when you do fall asleep, how badly you want this to work? Sound familiar? That was me and many others on here. I kind of just got tired of worrying about all that and finally just went to bed and went to sleep and I finally slept. I knew what I was doing and it wasn't easy to not do it. I finally tried reading which was hard to do when I was so tired. But I would sit up in bed and read and would fall asleep a few times but my wife would wake me up if I didn't wake myself up. I would wait till I was just about ready to fall asleep and would put the mask on turn the light off and the machine in as fast as I could and lay down.
It's not easy getting past this but once you realize you are doing it then the hard part of stopping it is the next step then you can finally sleep.
Gerry