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Permalink Reply by The SleepGuide Crew on December 21, 2008 at 2:18pm

It's perfectly normal for CPAP to take some time to get used to. To get used to it, some people recommend sitting down during the day with it running while you're doing something you enjoy, like reading or watching tv. That will take away some of the strangeness factor for your brain when you wear it at night.

Tell us a little bit about why you can't use it a full night --- is the mask uncomfortable, is the pressure feeling too extreme, or a combination?

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on December 24, 2008 at 3:48pm

I have this problem, the pressure is too great, and I am scared to fall asleep with it on. This causes alot of anxiety. I actually loose sleep trying to use the cpap. How can I get past this problem?

The SleepGuide Crew said:

It's perfectly normal for CPAP to take some time to get used to. To get used to it, some people recommend sitting down during the day with it running while you're doing something you enjoy, like reading or watching tv. That will take away some of the strangeness factor for your brain when you wear it at night.

Tell us a little bit about why you can't use it a full night --- is the mask uncomfortable, is the pressure feeling too extreme, or a combination?

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Permalink Reply by The SleepGuide Crew on December 24, 2008 at 3:54pm

I myself got past that problem. And I've gotten some other very anxious people past that problem. So I'm 100% confident you can get past the problem. Some initial thoughts: start with the Ramp feature on, so that the pressure gradually builds up and doesn't come at you hard all at once. Also, if you don't have an auto-adjusting machine with expiratory relief, ask your doctor about getting one. I gave up on my straight CPAP after a couple of days and thought i was a goner for CPAP therapy. Then I got the type of machine I'm telling you to look into, and it was like night and day --- I loved it. still do.

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Permalink Reply by Marilyn Nelson on December 27, 2008 at 8:30pm

My nasa passages were crrked and was not able to use thenasal pillows. Try one that covers the nose only, without pillows. The pillows hurt every night.

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Permalink Reply by Jess on December 28, 2008 at 1:28am

I know the experience of adjusting to using a CPAP can be extremely frustrating. For me a big issue with using CPAP was sleeping position. Through years of sleeping with untreated sleep apnea I had learned to sleep on my sides/stomach rather than on my back. This was a mechanism to somewhat limit my snoring and slightly improve my quality of sleep. When sleeping with a CPAP the mask and tube were very intrusive as I rolled from side to side during the night and I rarely lasted the night with my mask in place. Usually the mask came off and the machine was shut off around 3am.
After some time I realized that I no longer needed to avoid sleeping on my back and that actually sleeping on my back made the mask much more comfortable. I then set to training myself to sleep on my back. It was uncomfortable at first but I was able to learn within a couple of weeks to sleep on my back and I now rarely roll on my side in the night. After learning to sleep on my back I almost immediately started sleeping through the night with my CPAP mask in place. Eventually I even quite using a pillow at night altogether, a development which thrilled the sleep technician at a follow-up sleep study.
I would also recommend the usual "sleep better at night" techniques such as; avoid caffeine, don't use your bed for non-sleep activities such as reading/tv, be as consistent as possible with your time of going to bed and rising, and try to use light cues such as avoiding bright lights before going to bed and allowing natural light into your bedroom in the morning.

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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on December 28, 2008 at 11:16am

You may try some aromatherapy to help you relax.

If you have a health food store nearby check out out essential oils. If you don't have any experience with essential oils ask for help. Find a scent that is soothing to you and read the label or ask if the oils are safe to breath. I use the orange, lime, lemon, peppermint, and a few others. I mix the scents on a cotton ball and place near the intake of the machine -- DO NOT ADD TO THE HUMIDIFIER!! When placed near the intake (and it only takes a few drops on a cotton ball) you should be able to detect the scent when the mask is on.

There are some commercially available scents specifically for cpap use. I love those scents (I am in no way connected to the company) and use them as well. The company is pur sleep. Here is the link: http://www.pur-sleep.com/

Also do as suggested and use the mask when you are reading, watching television, etc. This well help you become acclimated to the mask as well. Another trick is to tell yourself you will not sleep without the mask on. If you wake up and take it off -- get up for a little while and then try to put the mask back on and go back to sleep. Try to keep the mask on a little longer each night.

Good luck

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Permalink Reply by J King on January 28, 2009 at 5:53pm

Having not experienced a full night's sleep with the mask after two months of trying, I finally had a breakthrough New Year's Eve and slept through the night with the mask on. The next day I felt unbelievably great. I don't recall feeling that good since then, but my energy level is slowly climbing back up and is at about the 80% level as compared to a year ago.

I think my OSA took a turn for the worse while I was deployed in early 2008...mainly because I gained 14 pounds. I hope to use the CPAP to help lose some weight, and then go back for another sleep study afterward.

Anyone have comments about weight and OSA?

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Permalink Reply by Mike on January 28, 2009 at 6:01pm

that's so great about your breakthrough. congrats. on the weight loss, i've heard from many that cpap use seemed to shed away the pounds itself, and also give energy for more activity, like exercise. will let others speak from firsthand experience though...

J King said:

Having not experienced a full night's sleep with the mask after two months of trying, I finally had a breakthrough New Year's Eve and slept through the night with the mask on. The next day I felt unbelievably great. I don't recall feeling that good since then, but my energy level is slowly climbing back up and is at about the 80% level as compared to a year ago.

I think my OSA took a turn for the worse while I was deployed in early 2008...mainly because I gained 14 pounds. I hope to use the CPAP to help lose some weight, and then go back for another sleep study afterward.

Anyone have comments about weight and OSA?

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Permalink Reply by Karen on January 29, 2009 at 3:59pm

I have only been using my CPAP machine for 3 days now and have trouble with keeping the nose pillows in place, whenever I try to sleep on my side. Normally I start out on my back but at some point I tend to roll over. Also, after a few hours the humidifier is empty and I awaken, usually at 3 a.m. with my nasal passages and throat dry. I also use a chin strap. Any suggestions? Thank you.

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Permalink Reply by Rock Conner RRT on January 31, 2009 at 1:44pm

Hi Karen, & welcome!

You are early in the acclimation process, so these problems are normal in what I call you & your CPAP making friends.

Make a loop of your 6 foot hose near your head, under the top of your pillow between the pillow & the mattress. leave enough play between the top of your head & the loop for you to toss & turn from your back & to either side.

Your humidifier may be turned up too high, or your mouth may be dropping open. Keep a glass of water at bedside to loosen your tongue from the roof of your mouth in extreme cases ou mouth dryness. These episodes will become fewer & farther between.

Look for indications that your symptoms are improving. Is your daytime sleepiness improving?

and keep asking questions!

Rock

Karen said:

I have only been using my CPAP machine for 3 days now and have trouble with keeping the nose pillows in place, whenever I try to sleep on my side. Normally I start out on my back but at some point I tend to roll over. Also, after a few hours the humidifier is empty and I awaken, usually at 3 a.m. with my nasal passages and throat dry. I also use a chin strap. Any suggestions? Thank you.

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