please help!

[shelley123]

I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnoea and have been using a cpap machine for almost a week now and I feel I am not getting used to it. I often wake during the night and rip it off because the air pressure seems too strong. Sometimes I just wake up because of the sensation of the mask. I always perservere and put it back on and I do feel that the cpap is working as I'm not exhausted like I was before treatment but when will I get used to it? I am beginning to dread going to bed at night and I am beginning to feel depressed and desperate. I am also really embarrased because I am a married, relatively young woman and wearing that 'thing' at bedtime is awful. I guess I'm just asking for some words of advice and support so I don't feel so alone.

[Tigers Fan]

Not alone!

Hey shelley123

Are you a fellow Blue Iris Queen Anne collector?

You describe a very common situation one week in - very many Hose-Heads experience what you are. You've already used the magic word - perseverance - and that puts you ahead of many.

As for the thing strapped to your face - ask your partner which he prefers. Sleeping with a Darth Vader as pretty as you or nursing you after a heart attack or a road accident or whatever else untreated OSA has in store for us. Incidently, I have it on good authority that wearing a mask with machine blowing full bore gives orgasm a certain .... oxygenation.

If you look through the various threads, you'll find endless posts by newbies about their initial 'problems' - there are even some by women, including mask shyness.

TF

[dravidio]

Hi Shelley

Well you are certainly not alone in finding cpap a challenge! You seem to be doing pretty well compared to my own experiences. Yes the mask is hardly a fashion accessory - and I can understand how you think it is "awful" but if your sleep apnoea is severe then your health and life will suffer, so it is a trade off really. We don't have to walk the streets wearing them.

[shelley123]

thank you both for your replies. I have since read various posts by other newbies and they have helped. Last night I only woke up once in the night and this morning felt so energised. I think I am getting used to it although the air pressure sometimes does feel really strong during the night but I think my apnoea is very severe which may be why I need such high pressure.

I was a snorer before treatment so at least that has stopped now much to the relief of my husband.

Thanks again xxx

[threewheelweave]

You're Doing Well - Pat on the Back!

Hi Shelley 123

You are making progress and doing very well - most data shows that women find the treatment more difficult to adjust too and generally the younger you are as an adult then this is also a factor - so you are "normal"! You fit the pattern but you are making great strides in adapting to the gear!

Just as you become familiar with the normal sounds in a room your brain accepts these are AOK and ignors them (ticking clock, cat on the bed etc)

Perhaps you've been on holiday and had a new set of sounds and can't get to sleep - a few days later and you have adjusted and go off to sleep easily - that is what will happen with the CPAP!

The other comments from the CPAP club are so right - you will continue to succeed and feel greater energy levels - well done so far!

Cheers and keep us all posted

TWW
UK

[shelley123]

Update -

I am now used to wearing the mask, although it does seem to pinch the bridge of my nose. However, I am still waking up during the night and feeling unable to breath because the pressure seems so strong. I am not sure what setting my machine is on (I have an Escape S8) but it feels like I am in a wind tunnel. Sometimes I can turn the machine off and on again to start the ramping process thus lowering the pressure for 20 mins but sometimes I wake up, panic and rip off the mask before I have had time to think. Last night I managed to sleep from 11 to 5 and only woke up twice to because of the pressure. I am back at sleep clinic tomorrow. Shall I ask for one of the machines that allows you to breath out? Does anyone think that may help. Also I aklways get a really itchy nose once the bloody mask is in a great position and I have to break the seal to bloody itch it lol.

Shelley xxxxxxxxxx

[Floatyboaty]

I'm afraid the itchy nose is sod's law! It sounds like you may need to ask to have the pressure adjusted though. My problem was that I was suffocating because the pressure was not high enough and pulling off the mask. Once upping the pressure was sorted everything has been fine (apart from the occasional itchy nose!) Talk to the clinic and they will help you with the solution. Glad to hear that you are getting used to it though.
Good luck

[shelley123]

update

Hi everyone,

quick update... I went back to the clinic on Thurs. Tech was really pleased with my compliance with my machine so was able to resume driving which I am exstatic about !!! However, Idid tell him about the feeling of being in a wind tunnel when I wake in the night. They have now given me an apap machine to make sure I am using the correct pressure (cpap was set at 12). I used the apap last night and it was much better than the cpap. I did however find that the air seemed much colder, even though I was using the humidifier but overall it was much easier to breath. I think the clinic want to apap machine back in 3 weeks but i am going to plead with them to keep it. Still keep getting the dreaded itch nose though lol. Thanks for reading and to all who have replied. Thank you also to everyone who posts, I have read many with interest and picked up lots of tips. xxx

[shelley123]

update again...

Hi all,

It has been a day since my last post - hope they're are in order as mods haven't put it on yet. I had a really good night with the APAP machine but every time I turned over in the night, I got leaks in my mask and had to sit up and re-position the mask and straps. It wasn't the sensation of the mask or the machine that drove me crazy, just the leaks. I had to get up and re-position the mask 3 times and at 5:30am, (the fourth time I got a leak) I ended up taking it off. I had had six hrs sleep with the mask but was gutted that I had to take it off.

Does anyone have any ideas????

Shelley xx

[James @ Intus]

Hi Shelley,

Posts are live now, as you can see. New arrivals are 'quarantined' until they have a few posts under their belt. Helps keep this board spam free.

Your mask issue sounds like an ideal case for the Hose Lift. You roll over and the tube pulls on the mask, dislodging it, causing leaks. With slack on the tube, there is less pull on the mask swivel and hence more freedom to move about.

[tonybrentwood]

Hi Shelley,
Sounds to me that you're getting used to CPAP and all it involves really quickly, if you're gutted you had to take the mask off that's a massive positive!
I would strongly agree with James about getting a hose lift, they are not expensive, and have made a huge difference to me. I hardly notice the hose now it's suspended above me and not attacking my neck and face, it almost feels 'not there', and it stops it from pulling my nasal pillows off my face when I turn over.
Sleep well!
Regards,
Tony.

[countyDownMum]

Getting used to CPAP

Hi Shelly, I got used to the CPAP quite quickly and I have been using a Fisher Paykel CPAP with a 307 Flexifit mask since June of last year. I have a special pillow to use with the CPAP machine and also a hose lift which I take on holiday with me. I also have comfort straps which come in all colours to protect my cheeks and I picked crimson so there are no nasty mask marks on my face. It is surprising who fast you get used to wearing the mask. Indeed I look like Gonzo out of the Muppets when I wear my mask which is a nasal mask. I just tried to be light hearted about wearing the mask and my family of two sons realize it is essential that I wear it. I like the feeling of the pressure which is set at 10 as it helps me to relax and breathe better.

I am trying to lose some weight and get fitter so I go to Weight watchers each Wednesday morning, I need the encouragement of the leader to help keep me going and I go to aqua fit and aerobics classes at my local leisure center. There are all ages of ladies there from early twentys to over eightys but we all have the same goal in mind.

There are some slim jims who need CPAP but most could do with losing weight and I certainly feel better and fitter since losing weight but I still have a way to go.

Keep your chin up, keep smiling and let me know how you are progressing.

It does get easier!