CPAPtalk.com

I also run a small fan in the room to drown out the noise of my APAP and the exhaust coming out of my mask exhaust.

Like you I tended to focus on the breathing and the machine cycling up & down with the C-Flex.

With the fan it covers all the distracting noises and also blocks out the birds chirping at dawn which also used to wake me up.

What is the deal with your sinuses? Can you get them open? IF so, you have more options available to you.

Best,

Tom

I remember back in the day one of my phschology teachers said it takes 3 weeks of doing something for it to become customary.

My advice is to make a firm commitment to use the machine for 3 weeks. Work your way up in hours of usage per night. For the first night, commit to 3 hours. Commit yourself to 4 hours the next, then 5 and then the whole night.

I started off with the CL2 and love the mask but it didn't work for me due to congestion. I then tried the Comfort full 2. I had leaks around my eyes and couldn't use that mask either. I tried the Ultra Mirage full face mask the last two nights and I feel great this morning. I think that's the mask for me. At least until my ENT Dr can do something about my chronic congestion.

My guess and hope is your fear of your mask and machine is temporary. The long term health effects of not treating sleep apnea are permanent. Be afraid of the consequences if you don't use the machine.

well folks this is my 2nd night using the CPAP machine when I was in the sleep lab I knew I didn't want the face mask as it made my face sore and left marks on my face till the evening so I knew that was no good so when I got my own Cpap I asked for the pillows the first night I couldn't sleep with it on but 2 hours but last night I made it 4 1/2 hours so I think with time I will get better sleep my sitting is set at 4 to 8 I wished it would stay at 4 as I can handle that but when the 8 kicked in it is a lot stronger and wakes me up but guess with time I will get used to it.

thanks for listening
Doddie

What is waking you up? Leaks?

That is a relatively low pressure range. Which pillows mask do you have?

Tom

Hi Doddie
A year ago I felt just like you do now, hoping my 4-8 pressure will stay at 4.

And yes, I did get used to the pressure - and now, by my own choice, my range is 5.5-7.5.

Don't worry, take it easy and you'll be OK.

O.

You're certainly not alone with having problems in adjusting to sleeping with CPAP. I'm a 9 year veteran and I still have problems some nights. I still wake up at times in a panic, feeling like I can't breath. The best advice I can offer is to not beat yourself up when you don't make it all night with the CPAP. Beating yourself up over it will only lead to talking yourself out of using it entirely.

I tried a mask during my first month but found I was waking several times a night to adjust it to stop a leak. I also found that it took me several weeks to get used to the low pressure during the ramp up. I felt like I couldn't breath - as so many others have posted.

At the end of my first month, I talked to a sleep technician at the sleep lab about my problems and she suggested nasal pillows. I was fitted with an Adam Circuit with large nasal pillows and I've been able to sleep with my CPAP ever since - except when I'm so congested even a nasal spray won't help.

Hang in there!

Hi Folks

its me again I had my 3rd night and I slept for 6 hour without waking up and kept the cpap on I feel like I will be able to get used to it afterall so good luck to all of you

Doddie

Hi guys,

I have been on cpap for a month. I finally found a mask that I like. It is lightweight and comfortable. (Ultra Mirage) The problem I am having is anxiety. I go to bed exausted only to stay awake for 2 hours or more, so I take the mask off. I agree witht the person who suggests a sleeping aid although my RT says no. Maybe my own physician can prescribe it? I will not give up.

Brenny

Brenny:

Is that the Nasal or FFM ?

If your pressure is very low 5 or lower you can sometimes feel like its hard to draw a breath. This can certianly make you anxious."

Best Tom

The nasal mask. My pressure is at 5. I do take meds for anxiety, but the whole cpap is making it worse. I'm going to try to get meds from my physician.

Brenny,

YES! Your DOCTOR needs to decide whether or not you need anxiety meds, not your Respiratory Therapist! It sounds like you have a preexisting anxiety problem, and if so, what USUALLY works for CPAP patients might not work for you. The RT knows CPAP, but he/she does not know your entire medical condition.

You have been fighting this for so long, it is obvious you need something. You are definitely on the right track to go talk to your primary care doctor about this.

Regards,

Moogy

P.S. I am glad you finally found a mask that you like!

If you have been able to assure yourself that everything is WORKING RIGHT. How about a Progressive Relaxation tape/CD. It is a very structured approach to relaxing that can help you focus on something other than the mask. It a good method for those of us who can't just go with the flow. Try to listen to the voice before you purchase. Some of the voices I have heard are not conducive to relaxation. Some people like a male voice-others female.

Thanks for the advice.
I have a Dr. Appt. on thursday, I will ask her then.
The mask doesn't really bother me, I'm just focusing on being awake. The more I think about it the more I can't fall asleep.
The tapes might help.

Brenny

Hey Moogy
How did you get your picture on the forum?

Brenny

brenny wrote:Hey Moogy
How did you get your picture on the forum?

Brenny

Go to PROFILE at the top of the page, and at the very bottom it says "AVATAR CONTROL PANEL."

Use "upload avatar from your computer" and browse to find the picture you want to use. Naturally, you need to have the photo already on your computer. Since there is a max. size of 15 KB, you might have to resize a picture in advance to make it small enough.

I bet LOTS of forum users don't know what an "AVATAR" is, so they don't use this feature! I picked up the term from my son when he was addicted to computer games for several years. Although people warned me those games would warp him for life, I knew my kid and was sure he would be ok in the long run. Thankfully, son has now moved on to more productive activities. He is now finishing his junior year in college, recently made Phi Beta Kappa honorary society, and just took the admissions test for med school! <oops, I slipped into "mom brag mode" ...>

Moogy