Started using my CPAP machine last night for sleep apnea, or as I fondly call it my "C-crAP" machine.
After about 3 and a half hours of tossing and turning I took it off.
In case you aren't familiar, there are ones that cover your nose and face, just your nose and now they offer these ones that just sort of plug into your nose called nose pillows. I'm reconsidering my choice.
I opted for the mask that covers just my nose.
I'm not even sure I used the machine correctly because I felt dry and it looked as if no water had even evaporated through my tube for humidity.
I sleep with CPAP and have for nearly 9 years! I know it is a pain right now but trust me, it will become your new best friend. I have a mask that goes over my nose and I also have the "nasal pillows", I can adjust to either. I feel like an entirely different person with CPAP. I used to feel bad all the time, falling asleep driving, in meetings etc...I blamed it on my Multiple Sclerosis...thinking it was just normal fatigue, then I found out I had severe OSA. CPAP is wonderful...I feel so much better and even lost some weight! Everyone thinks that being over weight causes OSA which can be true to some degree but what you don't hear about is the fact that people with untreated OSA gain weight!!! Sooo, hang in there and keep trying, you will adjust to it in time and will actually feel comforted by it! Sounds weird I know but I couldn't live without mine! Good luck.
Oh...make sure you have a ramp set up on your machine, that way it starts out blowing very gently at first and gives you time to fall asleep before it starts blowing fully.
I have heard from many with sleep apnea, that IF the can get used to the mask, and the noise, this makes such a tremendous difference for the better in their lives.
Good luck to you, girlfriend! Hope you can make it work!
Nicole it is a pain to get use to but once you do it is you get the rest you need and feel much better. To me the hardest was to get it adjusted properly and if you are a sleeper it is hard not to move the mask while sleeping, I got a sore nose from the over nose type mask and just got a nose pad type 3 days ago that I am getting adjusted and use to. Last night was the best so far a good 8 hrs instead of 3-4. You probably had the place you got the c-pap from adjust it for you but iff you want suggestions just ask.
I have heard from many with sleep apnea, that IF the can get used to the mask, and the noise, this makes such a tremendous difference for the better in their lives.
Good luck to you, girlfriend! Hope you can make it work!
With the suggestion of another friend, I got a script for a sleeping medication to help adjust the first 30 days. I tried it last night. Plus I figured out that I wasn't turning the humidifier on. So last night was a bit better. I took it off at 5:30am instead of 3am, so it's an improvement. I can see why your nose would get sore, mine is a little too. I may try the nose pillows next.
Daniel R. Reeves said:
Nicole it is a pain to get use to but once you do it is you get the rest you need and feel much better. To me the hardest was to get it adjusted properly and if you are a sleeper it is hard not to move the mask while sleeping, I got a sore nose from the over nose type mask and just got a nose pad type 3 days ago that I am getting adjusted and use to. Last night was the best so far a good 8 hrs instead of 3-4. You probably had the place you got the c-pap from adjust it for you but iff you want suggestions just ask.
I do have the ramp set. It's set to 20, but I'm going to see if they will change it to 45, since I like to read and watch tv before bed with it on, to adjust to it.
I also fall asleep driving and other places I'm not supposed to and did blame myositis, until the doc looked in my throat. I'm hoping that I can lose a few pounds too. I may have some extra energy if I do this right. I'm thinking I'll give the nose mask a few more tries then try the nose pillows. See how they feel. I didn't like the nose pillows in the hospital but I think it's because it's the first thing the tech put on me to try and when the air blew in it scared me. So she said we'd just opt out of the pillows. But the mask wasn't much better!
Thanks for the advice!!
suebee58 said:
I sleep with CPAP and have for nearly 9 years! I know it is a pain right now but trust me, it will become your new best friend. I have a mask that goes over my nose and I also have the "nasal pillows", I can adjust to either. I feel like an entirely different person with CPAP. I used to feel bad all the time, falling asleep driving, in meetings etc...I blamed it on my Multiple Sclerosis...thinking it was just normal fatigue, then I found out I had severe OSA. CPAP is wonderful...I feel so much better and even lost some weight! Everyone thinks that being over weight causes OSA which can be true to some degree but what you don't hear about is the fact that people with untreated OSA gain weight!!! Sooo, hang in there and keep trying, you will adjust to it in time and will actually feel comforted by it! Sounds weird I know but I couldn't live without mine! Good luck.
Oh...make sure you have a ramp set up on your machine, that way it starts out blowing very gently at first and gives you time to fall asleep before it starts blowing fully.
Nichole, that sucks! This reminds me of when I first got my giant occlusal guard for my TMD. LOL I would chuck it across the room in my sleep at first, but eventually got used to it. I am sorry that you have to go through this. There is nothing worse than not being able to sleep comfortably. My MIL has a C-Crap ;-) and she went through a tough adjustment period too. So did my FIL! But, eventually they both got used to it and it's helped her a lot. I remember her mentioning that the humidifier piece was important - if that helps. She needed to use that feature. Also - you will laugh at this (even though I know that it's totally not funny). I have labeled my own unique condition as "Vehicular Narcolepsy" - I cannot drive by myself for more than like, 35 minutes before I start to fall asleep. It's terrible! Not that I think this is a great thing, but I was actually a little relieved to read that you have had trouble with this as well. Your doctors felt that this was from not breathing properly? That is amazing! God speed friend!
I am feeling better after hearing that people have adjusted and after, it's really worth it! Turns out I didn't have the humidifier set the first night so it was super dry. The second night was better. Last night I didn't have the humidity set again. I'm having the hardest time figuring the machine out. I'll get it. But I'm a big toss and turner (and side sleeper).
"Vehicular Narcolepsy" is a condition that I think I also could say I suffer from! But I also fall asleep other places. Hopefully the mask helps. I can be in my car for a 10 minute trip and doze off.
What are they doing for you and your drive/sleeping?
Honestly, not much other than having trying to have a passenger with me for longer drives. I am lucky that most things that I do are within a 30 minute drive, so that helps a lot! I used to have the most trouble when sitting in traffic on my way home from work, when I worked out of the home.
Nichole Smith said:
I am feeling better after hearing that people have adjusted and after, it's really worth it! Turns out I didn't have the humidifier set the first night so it was super dry. The second night was better. Last night I didn't have the humidity set again. I'm having the hardest time figuring the machine out. I'll get it. But I'm a big toss and turner (and side sleeper).
"Vehicular Narcolepsy" is a condition that I think I also could say I suffer from! But I also fall asleep other places. Hopefully the mask helps. I can be in my car for a 10 minute trip and doze off.
What are they doing for you and your drive/sleeping?
Better. I've learned how to use it for the most part and have been keeping it on for most of the night. I still don't love it.
I'm concerned that once I stop taking the sleep aid, I'll stop wearing the mask. I just don't want to have wasted all of that money on something I won't use!
Thanks for asking!
SK said:
How are you and 'the machine' getting along, Nichole?
Whoa! This is great news! I need to show this to my husband, he could never stand the masks, he just tried the new machine and mask and it was in the basement corner in 3 days! So this is a wonderful alternative, thing is, he already has a defib implant that only works occasionally and always during the night! They are probably compatible though.