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Scared to wear my mask
Was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea 10 months ago, and for some reason I am scared to sleep with my mask on. Sometimes I lye down for about 30 minutes before going to sleep with my mask on then it has to come off. I have tried the nose mask with the chin strap, didn't work, now I have a full mask and still no luck??? I have heart problems and recently had heart surgery, my elecrocardiologist stays on to me about the importance of the need for me to wear my mask, but it seams that no-one actually want to help me with learning to wear the mask. Anyone's Help will be more than Greatly Appreciated!
Views: 169
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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Steven have you ever not woken up when you regurgitated? Also PAP therapy should help with your GERD. I know that it is tough, but you need to figure it out. I would hate for all of those doc's hard work to be for not. Every night that you go without the mask is another night of damage on your heart. Good luck! Keep posting and wlcome to sleepguide.
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Permalink Reply by Marcy on
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I was a little scared of mine at first. Can you elevate the head of your bed and try it like that? Maybe practice with it during the day when you are not real sleepy. Lie down and use it for 15 minutes. Think of other things. Use imagery to take your mind off your breathing or sing a song in your head. It is hard to get a rhythm down I think at first. Just relax. It will be ok. You do need to wear it especially with your health issues. Believe me you will come to rely on it. I got over my fear. Now, I'm scared not to use it! I always take it with me on trips. If I nap during the day, I have it on. I used to love to nap on the couch but I can't unless I have my CPAP. You WILL feel so much better once you use your CPAP regularly. The difference is amazing. I hope you are sucessful with this cause the benefits are tremedous. If all else fails, maybe a over the counter sleep aid like Unisom might help the first few nights. Good luck to you.
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Permalink Reply by M'Lady Wench on
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I had the same problem for a while. My cpap shuts off and turns on automatically so when my hubby didn't hear my machine, he woke up to find me on my back with my mask on my chest. LOL He would say "pressurize" in my ear until I put it back on. I never remembered him doing this though. My partner never noticed, but I would wake up and find the mask on my chest. I just put it back on and went back to sleep. Eventually, I got to where I wouldn't take it off unless I couldn't breath.
Margo Lozoya said:Deep breathing seems to help me as soon as I put the mask on...my problem is I am not aware that I remove my mask at night!
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Permalink Reply by Ruth Owens on
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Steven, I have had my CPAP now for 10 years and I too was fearful of the mask. I tried them all and none of them worked for me except the nasal pillows. They cover nothing but the holes in your nose, kind of like a larger version of nasal O2 that you probably wore in the hospital after your heart surgery.
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Permalink Reply by dave foster on
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i think its just getting used to something different. it feels strange, no? i have severe sleep apnea [osa] and after awhile, you become fearful of NOT having the mask on. if i fall asleep in front of the tv, sometimes ive awoke gasping for air [this is not good!] you just have to remind your self, 'this will help me, and make my life a little better'. you mention you have tried several kinds of mask. might be you havent found the one for you. what type machine do you use? what pressure? most of the old timers can help you w suggestions. ive only been cpap for about 8 mos, and now i find it comforting, knowing i wont wake up gasping for breath [or maybe not wake up at all !] and ive got my dreams back, which is very nice. my only advice: keep trying ! gets easier, and life gets better !
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Permalink Reply by Steven Cobb on
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First of all I want to THANK each and every one of you for your info and your help! I went to the doctor (Electrocardiologist that did my heart surgery) this last Wednesday, he was suppose to take me off of my heart rythm medication (Tikosyn)*(Very Expensive) but he ask me how I was doing with my sleep apnea and CPAP machine, I told him that I was still not using the CPAP and he told me that he would not take me off of the medication until I had my sleep apnea under control. He asked if my Pulmonologist was helping me with my problem with using the CPAP, I told him no, he never has really helped me in any way other than giving me a prescription for Lunesta, So he has refered me to another pulmonologist in which I am still waiting for my appointment. As I wait to hear back from them I will now try some of your methods that you have suggested here. I will be back in touch with you all as I hopefully progress to wearing the CPAP! Once again Thank You All Very Much!
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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Hang w/us, Steven. We're here when you run into problems. And we sure want to hear any success stories from you even if they are just little baby step successes!!!
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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Donaldson on
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When I first got on C-Pap, I used to wake up and find my mask off. Not all the time, but a couple of nights a week. This went on for a few months and finally stopped. I don't know why I did this. I don't remember doing it, but it passed in time.
Do you have a ramp function on your machine? If so, then try that for a while. Possibly you are having an issue adjusting to the pressure that you were set for. You may want to discuss with your sleep doctor about setting your machine to a lower pressure and then having it turned up gradually over time as you adjust to it. My feeling is that wearing the mask, even if it's set to a lower than recommended pressure is safer than not having it on at all.
If you have GERD, then that should be addressed too. I have that as well and I am on an ant-acid pill morning and night. I also do a couple of Tums before bed and that helps tremendously. The best thing for that is to elevate the head of the bed as well and let gravity help keep it down.
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Update on my progress, still not using cpap, went to see a new specialist and he wants me to try pillows instead of the mask, does anyone have any input for me on pillows? Suppose to get my pillows on 3-24-2010, Wish me luck!
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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What have you done, if anything, to get used to the machine?
Pillows are great -- but be aware of mouth breathing which negates the positive aspects of cpap. Is there someone that can observe you when you first start using the pillows? Watch for extremely dry mouth, which can be an indicator as well.
Your nostrils will be sore typically for a few days while you toughen them up. Try some lanolin based products or Ayr gel to help with the soreness.
Try each night, increasing the amount of time using the machine. If you have to take baby steps, it is better than no use.
Good luck.
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Okay, first off, I would like to see you a little less passive. Why do you have to wait until the 24th of March for a nasal pillows style mask? That's ridiculous. There are several brands and models of nasal pillows style masks and you should have been given one right then and there.
Take your humidifier reservoir (water tank) out of your CPAP so you don't spill water into the CPAP and take your CPAP out in to the living or family room. During the day and early evening as much as possible and as often as possible, just sit down, don your mask and turn your CPAP on and the just read a book or magazine, work a jigsaw or crossword puzzle, watch TV, anything that occupires your mind w/other than "I've got this dang contraption hugging to my face and I' got to get to sleep". Just get acclimated to the pressure and wearing the mask.
At night take your CPAP and mask back to the bedroom and use it when you go to bed to sleep. If you wake up w/it off, PUT IT BACK ON!
Nasal pillows masks do direct the air more directly into the nostrils and do tend to be more drying at first than a nasal cushion or full face mask. Ayr Saline Nasal Gel is great for soothing dry, chapped nostrils and helps to toughen the inside of your nostrils up w/in just a few days. Maybe 3-4 days. NEVER use a petroleum-based product in or under your nose.
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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on
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Mr. Cobb,
It took me about 3 months to sleep an entire night with a fullface mask. I had much anxiety. Working in the field didn't yeild much resolve. I elevated the head of my bed by four inches (gerd). I then purchased a box. i had severe cardiac issues and have an internal cardiac defibrillator. Once the full face mask remained on my face the entire night the cardiac rhythm issues settled down. in fact in the lst 6 month my ICD recored only 1 event with only 3 abarrant beats.
Sleep Apnea places you more at risk than vomit in your mask. Many of the folks here have given some great advice on how to try and get some comfort with your mask. it has been my expirience that nasal pillows to not work well with pressures above 12 cm. if you wish to talk about this issue please send me a message and will be happy to go over current issues over the phoneor skype.
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