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How did you get used to CPAP?
I have mild sleep apnea and began using a CPAP a month ago. I'm having trouble adjusting (physically and mentally) to wearing it each night. I'm one of those persons who is sensitive to tight-fitting clothing, labels on the inside of shirts, etc. I have eczema as well.
I've adjusted my mask, which fits over my mouth and has a nose pillow, to get a Goldilocks fit--not too tight, not too loose. I move around a lot when sleeping so have the CPAP headgear with the hose at the top of my head to better accommodate movement. I increased the ramp time to 45 minutes so I don't get additional air pressure until I'm asleep. I'Ve worn the mask during afternoon naps. I've done mindfulness exercise while wearing mask. Can't seem to make the mask-wearing a normal part of sleep. It still seems like a foreign object preventing a relaxing, deep sleep.
Any suggestions from your experiences to help accustom myself to CPAP use? I really want this to work for me!
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Yes, for me at first I just had to get beyond the idea of wearing that dam thing at night. It was a mental game, it took some time and eventually it just became normal because I didn’t want to lose brain cells as I needed what I had. I wasn’t going to let the darn machine beat me.
Yep it’s not the most pleasant thing but there is much worse things you could be saddle with.
Maybe an anxiety drug before bedtime for maybe a month until it’s gets to be your friend.
I know longer even think about lying down with a book or just to rest without my CPAP.
I have even just purchased a backup CPAP battery cause I don’t think I can sleep at night without it any longer. But I have been using a CPAP for 25 yrs now.
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3 Reactions@johnbishop - I thought I happened on the answer with my husband's spare nose pillow mask that was less confining. I think I'm a bit claustrophobic. I actually started sleeping through the night. However, my dear husband reports that he's discovered I'm a mouth breather at night and that all the air is leaking out my mouth. So, this is not the mask for me. Sigh.
Will you share more about how you use the travel pillow?
@lisalucier If the mask feels right, and you like it, but you are a mouth breather, those are really two separate issues. Have you thought of using a chin strap or taping your mouth? I taped my mouth the second night on PAP therapy because the first night was a complete bust. I kept awakening due to air rushing out of my slack lips. I have taped ever since. There is a nice product produced by PAPMd:
https://papmd.com/ I am cheap, so I cut them in half lengthwise. I also get several nights of use out of each of the two resulting strips. Just scrupulously wash your mouth exterior before applying the tape so that it will stick well AND be usable on a second, fifth night.
Australian company makes this mouth-covering chin strap. My late dad used it successfully:
https://www.cpapaustralia.com.au/products/seatec-chin-and-mouth-strap
You might blanch at the thought of covering your mouth over, but I have had, honestly, two occasions in eight years where I had to claw off the tape in a hurry. In both cases, it was near the end of my night, maybe even within ten minutes of normal expected wake time, and my nostrils got completely stuffed. Twice in nearly 3000 nights. It hasn't happened in the last three years. Meanwhile, you get that coveted AHI under 2.0 if your machine's settings are correct for you.
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3 Reactions@lisalucier - The travel pillow allows me to position the pillow so that it's not touching the mask and just supporting my neck and head while the main pillow gives me the correct alignment for my neck when sleeping on my side. Not sure if it's the "correct" alignment but I don't wake up with any pain in my neck. I tried both the chin strap (several brands) and 3 or 4 types of mouth tape with no success but that may be on me. I also tried many under the nose full face masks and nasal masks with poor results. The ResMed F20 AirTouch having a little wider foam surface around the edges that seal against the face actually helps me keep my mouth closed as I found I have to place it higher on the bridge of my nose so I can breath easier. Worst mask I ever tried was a full face mask that cover the total face including the eyes - https://www.thecpapshop.com/philips-fitlife-total-face-cpap-mask.
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2 Reactions@johnbishop '...Worst mask I ever tried was a full face mask that cover the total face including the eyes - https://www.thecpapshop.com/philips-fitlife-total-face-cpap-mask.&;
Yikes!!
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4 ReactionsI can commiserate. I have been doing all that and more for 16 months. At first I would do what I call "twilight" sleep. (i.e. eyes closed and quiet) till I put in my four hours. Then I pulled the mask off and got some real sleep. I have never had trouble with sleep. I had another test and was put on a BIPAP machine and added Oxygen which seemed to help, but not guaranteed to let me sleep. It has been hit and miss. End of February I was hit with a horrible virus caused bronchitis. I am just recovering now --- six month later.
I think I have benefitted from the CPAP and BIPAP with oxygen. I just don't know if the sleep interference is worth it. I have read the rest of your replies and will try any new suggestions I have found. Maybe after this long illness, I will find something that works for me.
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