Announcement

**James @ Intus** · 16 June 2008, 11:37

Hi Lynne,

Thanks for joining.

Nippy machines are quite advanced so in that sense, consider yourself lucky. Your frustrations are understandable but try and look at it form the positive side:

Bad: Your husband may not find it much attractive
Good: By avoiding stroke/cardiovascular disease/diabetes/falling asleep at the wheel/etc. at least your husband still has a partner!

Bad: Don't like the mask
Good: You are sure to at least wake up in the morning, alive and well

The headaches are a concern though and so is not being able to fall asleep. Have you tried a few different types of mask? I also wonder whether a Bi-level device with ramp time and an element of auto adjustment (such as Respironics' BiPAP) might be better for you. You may want to raise those questions with the hospital staff.

Do you remember exactly how bad your sleep apnoea was? I wonder why exactly they went for the Nippy instead of an Auto PAP.

Anyway, hope we can help you on your way!

**puffin** · 16 June 2008, 11:59

Hi Lynne welcome to the forum.
It's still very much early days, it take the average person about two weeks to get into the swing of things. All those nasty feelings will become a thing of the past and you will wonder was all the fuss was about.

As you have been on the machine for less then a week, it may need some adjusting. The pressure is very rarely right from the start. The head aces may be the result of too low a setting, not enough O2.

The marks from the mask also may mean that you have it too tight, again it takes a little time to get this right. The best way to adjust the straps is to wait till you wake you in the morning. Don't get up, just square yourself up on the bed on your back. Now relax the straps equally on both sides. You should just be able to pull the mask away from your face by a few mm. Now try rolling around a bit, if you get a leak just tighten a little. I have a full face mask and was getting leaks around the nose. I started to tighten the top straps which made thing worse. So I slackened them off and tighten the lower straps which did seal the mask to my mush!

As I said, it's still early days yet and getting things right for you can take a little time, stick with it, you will feel the benefits in the long run.

Good Luck and keep in touch on how things are going, we are rooting for you, any questions just ask away. No matter how silly they are. We have had the same problems and have over come them to be healthier people

.

**anneliz** · 16 June 2008, 18:52

Girl Talk

Hi Lynne

Just to let you know you are not the only female who feels like you do about the whole issue.
All of your 'I Hates' are experienced by most users but we ladies do seem to have more problems than the guys coming to terms with the thought of 'this is for life' and thats just it......the bit you need to get your head around it is for your life, longevity, seeing the grandchildren grow up, thats what you need to think about and it all gains perspective and becomes more bearable.

If your partner was needing to do this would it make him less attractive? of course it wouldn't you would just be glad that he was getting the help he needed, you can bet your husband feels just like that. Mine treats it as a huge joke, but he is really just relieved that I'm avoiding heart attack, stroke and other nasties associated with OSA.

I have been on CPAP now for 8 months and it has just become part of life, it blows an absolute gale at me as the pressure is set at 19 top 'speed' is 20 but I have beconme so used to it that I sometimes rouse in the night thinking its not working and I have to feel for the escape valve.

I hope that you will find things easier in a few days do try to persevere as the benefits are just tremendous.
Best wishes

**lynnechapman** · 17 June 2008, 05:39

Thank you all for your support, I really appreciate it.
Lynne

**jonpspencer2** · 30 June 2008, 23:35

Who Loves you Babe!

Lynne, like you, Im a new user. These things do take time to adjust and accept, probably longer to accept! Your old man will still love you with a CPAP mask and if you dont wear it he should be telling you off!!!!
Love is unconditional, and Im sure your 'old man' wont bat an eyelid in a couple of weeks time. Would he not love you, or love you differently with your leg in plaster?
Go with it, there is plenty of support here and Im sure your hubby will be pleased your gonna be around a bit longer because of it.
Good luck and best wishes, Jon...

**jan ward** · 1 July 2008, 15:36

Hi Lynne

You are definitely not on your own, my first week was horrendous, now on my 3rd mask and into my 3rd week but am getting there, sleeping much better, not having to get up to the loo, feeling awake when I come home from work and best of all my husband is so relieved not to hear me stop breathing, and another bonus is the mask stops my hair sticking up!! This forum has helped me so much and the tears have now stopped.

Keep you chin up so to speak.

Jan

**djeiom** · 10 July 2008, 16:02

Sounds Familiar

Hi Lynne

I am a relativly new APAP user.Have been on the treatment since March this year.I have had great difficulty keeping the mask on for more than a couple of hours a night.The mask was uncomfortable, my mouth dried up so badly i couldnt swallow,i got panic attacks feeling i couldnt breath ending up with me just taking the mask of and trying to get to sleep without it.I was told by many of the members on this site that if i kept on in there it would all come right in the end.I have to say it didnt feel as though it would ever happen and i had all but resigned myself to never being able to get on with the treatment. Finally i think i have cracked it ! I had a really good chat to the Physiologist at my appointment about 6 weeks ago. He gave me a Humidifier unit to go on the APAP machine they provided me with. This made a difference in the first night, not finding that my tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth.I still could not leave the mask on for more than 2 hours because i just lay there wide awake.At my last appointment i was given a new mask, i had been using a full face mask that really didnt seem to fit whatever size i tried.
The hospital gave me a Resmed Mirage Liberty mask. It just fits over your mouth then has 2 nasal pillows which sit up to your nostrils, sounds uncomfortable but its not. I am now managing to keep the mask on all night with no problem at all.Hallelujah !
As everyone keeps saying to you keep on in there. There is no one size fits all solution and there are loads of things you may have to fiddle around with before it comes right. Good luck

**michelle** · 17 July 2008, 12:03

newcomer to cpap

Have just been reading all your messages on the forum and there is one that really stands out. From Jan Ward " the mask stops my hair sticking up". I thought that was appropriate! I have just had my first uncomfortable night on CPAP. I have a humidifier but didn't connect it as I didn't have any distilled water, only to find out this morning that I can use pre-boiled, cooled water. I woke up a few times in the night, the mask was uncomfy and stuck into my face, I couldn't read what the machine was doing as I wear glasses, but all in all, it hasn't put me off persevering. From all the comments I have read, it must get easier each night and I am looking forward to a "normal" nights sleep with what will be soon, "my beloved CPAP!" Michelle Locke

**jan ward** · 17 July 2008, 15:53

Hi Michelle

Glad my comment cheered you up a little. I'm now into my second month of CPAP. Still have a few problems with masks - the full one rubs my nose and if I loosen it further it leaks, but is more comfortable. The nasal pillow one leaks with the slightest touch!! Now have a shaped pillow which helps.

All in all I feel I am getting there but things still feel a bit alien.

Regards

Jan

**michelle** · 11 August 2008, 06:42

Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear. I am full of Woe!!!!! Still struggling, So very tired. I am now trialling a new full face mask and I must say it is so much more comfy. My partner has started kicking, poking and waking me as I am still not breathing through the night. I woke in a panic one night and was trying to rip my mask off, and as i got out of bed to go for a wee, I had the most horrendous pains in my abdomen. I felt like I was blown up and my skin was taut and really hard. I was frightened to go to sleep and have not used my CPAP since. I have rung my homecare provider, but as ths was fri. night, I am waiting for a reply today. What a struggle. Looking on the bright side, you may have straight hair Jan, but I can't go swimming as inflatables are not allowed in the pool!!!!! :

**jan ward** · 11 August 2008, 19:25

Oh Michelle

Sounds as though you have really been through it, I think you need a good chat with your sleep clinic.

I seem to go 6 steps forward and 4 back but am getting there. Have just experienced my first cold with CPAP. Have to say not as bad as I thought it would be.

Keep trying, its got to be worth it.

Jan

**michelle** · 12 August 2008, 10:56

Cheers Jan. Still in touch with Homecare Provider, she did say to book emergency appt. with Dr at hospital but that will take months and I am a bit scared they might say CPAP is not for me. Then what?

**James @ Intus** · 12 August 2008, 15:47

If it turns out someone is just unable to get on with CPAP (rare but happens) there is oral appliance therapy (mandibular advancement) or as a last resort, surgery. Surgical options highly depend on exactly what causes the OSA in the first place.

**mcginc91** · 17 August 2008, 15:42

Lynne. Thanks for writing what I was thinking. I have just endured a second night trying to get used to using a Cpap machine. But psychologically it definitely takes some getting used to. I feel like one of the creatures in Dr Who. My husband has been very supportive but the first night I woke up at 2.30 a.m. quite panicky with a compelling desire to rip the mask off my face. Last night my nose became incredibly itchy which was just torturous. Saying that I haven't woken up feeling like someone's kicked my head in or with a mouth as dry as cracked leather which is what I've become used to over the last few years but it is incredibly difficult to get used to the idea that this is the way forward for night-times to come. I'm really pleased to have discovered this forum though. Good luck. Clare in Somerset

Announcement

Help for new user

Help for new user

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment