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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on April 5, 2009 at 10:22am

Yours are common complaints, especially starting cpap. It is not natural to sleep with a mask on your face. One has to adjust to the therapy. Very few take to it like a duck in water.

I don't know how long you have been on your machine. For some it may take a few days, others it may take a few months to fully adjust to sleeping every night all night with their mask on. Give yourself time to acclimate to this new way of sleeping. Once you become adjusted, you will not want to sleep without it.

During the day, wear the mask while watching television, reading (if your mask doesn't block your vision), resting, etc. Turn the machine on if you want to help you get used to the air. If you don't want to use the machine during this time, make sure you have the long hose that connects to the machine disconnected from the mask.

Try some pur-sleep. It is aromatherapy that has helped many relax and become used to the machine. You can find it at www.apnealife.com or www.pur-sleep.com If you can't afford this aromatherapy, you might try your local health food store and have them help you pick out a scent that is relaxing and comforting. Many times health food stores and day spas carry aromatherapy oils.

At night make sure you start with your mask on. Each night make sure that you use the machine a little longer. Tell yourself you will keep the mask on for awhile longer. Even if you get up, when you lay back down mask up. Don't lay down unless you put the mask on. This is really mind over matter. You have to tell yourself you have a chronic life threatening disorder that MUST be treated. If you do not treat it -- it will have major impacts on your life - such as chronic health problems that will shorten your lifespan.

For the skin irritation, make sure your face is clean and do not put on any moisturizers where the seal will touch. Wash your mask daily if you have to. If you already are washing it daily make sure it isn't the soap you are using to wash it. You want a very mild soap to wash it in.

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Permalink Reply by Monica on April 5, 2009 at 7:52pm

my contact at the DME told me to only use dove or ivory. i found some liquid ivory dish soap that i use on my mask (gel type nasal mask). it takes very little to get it clean. i have found that if i wash twice a week, it helps keep the sore spots down to a minimum. also, keeping the face clean helps alot. you may need to adjust your nosepiece or the headgear to make it a little more comfortable - if mine is too tight, the irritation is worse. my contact also suggested using a lotion or moisturizer in the morning after i get up. she suggested one that rubs into the skin, not just stays on the suface. i have some aloe gel that works great. also, making sure that your mask gets dry during the day helps too. moisture against the skin can cause friction and produce irritation.

if your machine has a ramp, use it. the full pressure at first makes me feel like i am suffocating, so i use the ramp and am asleep by the time it goes to full pressure, so i don't notice it. if i get up during the night, i start out with the ramp again once i have the mask on.

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Permalink Reply by White Beard on April 5, 2009 at 8:11pm

Rhonda besides washing your face really well just prior to putting on your mask I use the Citrus II CPAP wipes and wipe down all the parts on the mask that touch the skin! These wipes remove all oils off the mask that might be left on from previous useage. It also helps to ensure a better mask seal! You know some masks are more claustrophobic than others depending on the person. Do you use a full face mask? What type? If so I find the Hybrid or Liberty mask might be less confining as they don't cover the nose and don't impair your vision at all. But everyone is so different, it might be worth your while to try and check out diffferent mask, it you continue to have a problem. Good luck to You

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Permalink Reply by Rhonda McPherson on April 5, 2009 at 8:50pm

THANKS SO MUCH!!
RHONDA

sleepycarol said:

Yours are common complaints, especially starting cpap. It is not natural to sleep with a mask on your face. One has to adjust to the therapy. Very few take to it like a duck in water.

I don't know how long you have been on your machine. For some it may take a few days, others it may take a few months to fully adjust to sleeping every night all night with their mask on. Give yourself time to acclimate to this new way of sleeping. Once you become adjusted, you will not want to sleep without it.

During the day, wear the mask while watching television, reading (if your mask doesn't block your vision), resting, etc. Turn the machine on if you want to help you get used to the air. If you don't want to use the machine during this time, make sure you have the long hose that connects to the machine disconnected from the mask.

Try some pur-sleep. It is aromatherapy that has helped many relax and become used to the machine. You can find it at www.apnealife.com or www.pur-sleep.com If you can't afford this aromatherapy, you might try your local health food store and have them help you pick out a scent that is relaxing and comforting. Many times health food stores and day spas carry aromatherapy oils.

At night make sure you start with your mask on. Each night make sure that you use the machine a little longer. Tell yourself you will keep the mask on for awhile longer. Even if you get up, when you lay back down mask up. Don't lay down unless you put the mask on. This is really mind over matter. You have to tell yourself you have a chronic life threatening disorder that MUST be treated. If you do not treat it -- it will have major impacts on your life - such as chronic health problems that will shorten your lifespan.

For the skin irritation, make sure your face is clean and do not put on any moisturizers where the seal will touch. Wash your mask daily if you have to. If you already are washing it daily make sure it isn't the soap you are using to wash it. You want a very mild soap to wash it in.

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Permalink Reply by Rhonda McPherson on April 5, 2009 at 8:54pm

THANKS SO MUCH!!
RHONDA

Monica said:

my contact at the DME told me to only use dove or ivory. i found some liquid ivory dish soap that i use on my mask (gel type nasal mask). it takes very little to get it clean. i have found that if i wash twice a week, it helps keep the sore spots down to a minimum. also, keeping the face clean helps alot. you may need to adjust your nosepiece or the headgear to make it a little more comfortable - if mine is too tight, the irritation is worse. my contact also suggested using a lotion or moisturizer in the morning after i get up. she suggested one that rubs into the skin, not just stays on the suface. i have some aloe gel that works great. also, making sure that your mask gets dry during the day helps too. moisture against the skin can cause friction and produce irritation.

if your machine has a ramp, use it. the full pressure at first makes me feel like i am suffocating, so i use the ramp and am asleep by the time it goes to full pressure, so i don't notice it. if i get up during the night, i start out with the ramp again once i have the mask on.

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Permalink Reply by Rhonda McPherson on April 5, 2009 at 8:56pm

THANKS SO MUCH!! I HAVE A FULL FACE MASK. I WILL LOOK INTO THIS. RHONDA

White Beard said:

Rhonda besides washing your face really well just prior to putting on your mask I use the Citrus II CPAP wipes and wipe down all the parts on the mask that touch the skin! These wipes remove all oils off the mask that might be left on from previous useage. It also helps to ensure a better mask seal! You know some masks are more claustrophobic than others depending on the person. Do you use a full face mask? What type? If so I find the Hybrid or Liberty mask might be less confining as they don't cover the nose and don't impair your vision at all. But everyone is so different, it might be worth your while to try and check out diffferent mask, it you continue to have a problem. Good luck to You

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