One month w/CPAP and not sleeping

I'm new here and glad I found the forum. I see that I have lots of company getting the hang on CPAP life. I have an Elite II with a humidifier, and I'm using a RESMED Activa Mask, but I started with a Swift nasal pillow. I've had the Activa Mask just two nights so I'm still getting it adjusted. I don't know what pressure I'm getting out of the pump which I go December 2. The therapist set it according to the physician's prescription, and I don't know how or if I can change the pressure on this pump or weather I should, if I can. That's one of my many questions.

I've been using the sleep aid Ambien for a while and would like to stop it, but when I don't take it I have trouble getting to sleep. I don't think Ambien is addictive but it gets me to sleep. The problem is I wake up a couple of hours later, go to the bathroom, then I can't get back to sleep.

I also take Buproprien (spelling?), which is a generic anti-depressant, and may be a stimulant interfering with my sleep. I've had depression for years but not sever, clinical depression and have taken an anti-depressant for about a year. It seems to me if I can get my sleep problem under control, that will probably go a long way toward eliminating my depression.

What are your thoughts/experience with prescriptions and CPAP use.? My sleep doc says I should stop taking Ambien ("a waist of money").

Back to the CPAP. Getting the mask or nasal pillows adjusted properly seems to be the key to getting a good night's sleep. Making the adjustment is a trial and error proposition and I'm gaining there. The one problem I really need help on is mouth breathing and getting a "balloon head" as one person said, here. I use a chin strap which helps but it adds pressure that tends to give me a headache. I have to get it really tight to keep my mouth closed. Even then, I still get a mouth full of air which wakes me. In some respects this whole approach to sleep apnea seems barbaric. It's kind of like putting a straight-jacket on a crazy: it provides control but doesn't solve the problem. Still it beats suffocation, and I'm not for surgery.

That best thing of all, during short time I've used my CPAP, is that my wife has stopped complaining about my snoring.

Your doc is right.

Welcome.

First things first. The mask. Make sure you don't leak ... either around the seal or by flapping your lips.

Go here for more barbarism ...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47716&p=435648#p435648

Stay awhile.

Read a lot.

Ask what ever is on your mind.

Be patient. Be persistent. Not give up.

dogbone wrote:...In some respects this whole approach to sleep apnea seems barbaric. It's kind of like putting a straight-jacket on a crazy: it provides control but doesn't solve the problem. Still it beats suffocation, and I'm not for surgery...That best thing of all, during short time I've used my CPAP, is that my wife has stopped complaining about my snoring.

Yup, print this out and read it daily , it's a good reminder of why you sleep with equipment! Now, have you investigated taking omega 3 essential fatty acids for the depression? Worth investigating. It take the brain a while to learn that it's OK to let you relax into deep sleep when you sleep with equipment...have patience. Worth asking your doc about taking melatonin...after you do some investigation. Lots here have been helped by it.

Welcome aboard.

I don't like sleep aids and never have. I know they say some don't have side effects but still I don't like them, but that's me.

You should ask for a copy of your prescription, after all it's your prescription. Get a copy of it and scan it into a pdf file so you have a good electronic version. Then keep a paper copy in the travel bag for your machine.

As far as falling asleep, you are probably concentrating on your breathing, the mask you are wearing, the machine making noise. Does that sound familiar? This is going to be the hard part. Try to clear your mind and think of something relaxing. I know, deep breathing is supposed to be relaxing but not if you concentrate on your breathing. This is something you will have to work on.

Chin strap--- Ouch-- barbaric midevil restraint device. Ok, not really but that's what most people think of it. Yes I tried one when I first started and it gave me a terrible headache and made my jaw hurt more than getting punched in the jaw a few times. I wear a full face mask because I am a lifetime mouth breather. I have worked for since about June on not mouth breathing and it has worked for me. I started a thread asking others how they overcame mouth breathing. So far there are only a couple posts there viewtopic/t47986/How-did-you-stop-mouth ... mouth.html. You can also do a search on here up at the top type in mouth breathing and or other terms.

Your wife not complaining about your snoring is great.

Gerry

Thanks for all your support. I'm going to try training not breathing through my mouth. . . that sounds like the best solution, if I can do it. I started last night with good sleep then woke up with too much pressure on my forehead where the mask's upper adjustment is. My total focus went to my forehead pressure. So ended my mask-sleep last night. Nevertheless, I gained one bit of awareness: reducing stimulants make for better sleep.. I didn't use a sleep aid, I didn't take my afternoon anti-depressant, and I drank only two cups of coffee in the morning. I spent a good amount of time, yesterday, adjusting the mask and thought I had it set quite good but obviously not good enough. I looking around the house for some good padding I can use on my forehead. I tried a couple of things and though I got a soft feeling but the pressure still bothered me. Now, I'm thinking the nasal pillow may be less troubling. so I'm going to try the nasal-billow, again, tonight. I guess I'm turning into my own little testing lab. I'm hoping my insurance covers most of my costs and I'm afraid to ask.

Great attitude!

Keep the experiment going. I use a Hybrid which I like a lot now. There is less on the face.

One way to take your focus of your mask issues is --- to think about something else --- Find a simple "mantra" or image. Like your favourite fishing memory or movie plot - soothing one not "Die Hard" in other words write a chick flick in your head.

dogbone wrote:I didn't use a sleep aid, I didn't take my afternoon anti-depressant

Make sure you talk to your doctor about how to taper the bupropion.