I was just diagonsed with OSA a little over a week ago and have been trying to use the CPAP.  I am using the REMSTAR plus CFLEX, with the comfort full mask.  I know it takes a while to get used to it but I am not sleeping for more then a few hours a night and even then the sleep is poor quality because I keep waking up because of the mask being on my face.  I have tried over the counter sleep meds to see if that would make me tired enough to just sleep throuh the night without grabbing at the mask.  No luck there I have told myself no matter what you are not taking this mask off and I made it through the night, but I spent most of the night counting the dog's hair, litallary on the dog.  I dont know what else to try.  I am comitted to making this work I just need to get used to the mask any tricks of the trade to try?  Any ideas?  This is my second mask and the inusurance company said not more masks until the middle of next year.  And in reality the mask does seem to be doing the job, some minor leaks but nothing too bad.  Do you think I should ask my Dr. for some stronger sleep pills to help get me thru the night?  I am willing to try almost anything so all ideas are welcome!  Thanks
 

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Last edited by another_guest on Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:40 pm; edited 1 time in total

DebbieB wrote:

I was just diagonsed with OSA a little over a week ago and have been trying to use the CPAP.  I am using the REMSTAR plus CFLEX, with the comfort full mask.  I know it takes a while to get used to it but I am not sleeping for more then a few hours a night and even then the sleep is poor quality because I keep waking up because of the mask being on my face.  I have tried over the counter sleep meds to see if that would make me tired enough to just sleep throuh the night without grabbing at the mask.  No luck there I have told myself no matter what you are not taking this mask off and I made it through the night, but I spent most of the night counting the dog's hair, litallary on the dog.  I dont know what else to try.  I am comitted to making this work I just need to get used to the mask any tricks of the trade to try?  Any ideas?  This is my second mask and the inusurance company said not more masks until the middle of next year.  And in reality the mask does seem to be doing the job, some minor leaks but nothing too bad.  Do you think I should ask my Dr. for some stronger sleep pills to help get me thru the night?  I am willing to try almost anything so all ideas are welcome!  Thanks
 

Hi Debbie,

Firstly, you must cut out the sleep meds as they can exacerbate your condition. Your doctor should have advised you on this.

Your sleep may actually be of better quality than before you started using cpap, even though you wake up. If you are on your second mask already I think your DME supplier is taking you to the cleaners. It is up to them to fit you properly for the mask, ensure that it is comfortable and explain to you the correct way to wear it to minimise leaks.........no buts, you are a consumer, demand your rights. Two masks in one week indicates a  'throw them a new mask, it's covered by insurance' attitude, rather than a 'how can we make this thing work' attitude.

Why have you moved to a full face mask so quickly ? Are you a natural mouth breather ? If not, a full face mask is really of little use. A nasal mask is best. In fact a nasal/nose breather can have problems with a full face mask. If indeed you are a natural mouth breather then you should have been started with a full face mask.............I know I sound a little OTT, but after 11 years of cpap I won't be fobbed off with DME suppliers giving me a bad service.

Talk to your doctor, and your DME supplier. If the DME supplier doesn't sort out your mask problem (not with another new one) report them to your insurers. They are being paid (very handsomely) to set you up properly.

The danger with sleep meds is that in most cases they include sedatives and the like. This can relax airway tissue which can exacerbate your OSA.

At this early stage of your therapy, you are unsure of your rights, what's available and how it should be fitted. The DMEs know this and will play on it. Masks are a very personal thing, not a one size fits all.

Don't be afraid to post back.

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Thank you for the fast response.  I am not thinking of quitting the CPAP I mearly want to find a way to make it easier to wear!  If I was going to quit I would would have done that on night 2.   I really want to make this work just looking for ways to make it work.  

I dont really have a DME.  I am insured by Kaiser and they are the ones who fitted me for the masks and gave me the macheine, althought I did have to pay my 20% co-pay to Apria Health.  But I will ask Kaiser again if there is a better mask for me.

The reason I have a full face mask is because I am a big time mouth breather it is obvious when you see me talk.  The reason I breath out of my mouth is I have a small tumor in my left nasal passage.  It is just one of those things that hangs out with you but does nothing good for you. Kind of like a husband I have been told... lol  Just kidding!!!!!!   So I am so freaking tired tonight I hope I will put on my mask and pass out!  I did not know that the meds could make it worse that is good to know so I will take nothing tonight! Thanks for the input.  

I had been naping during the day because I am so tired and I bet that does not help with my being able to sleep at night.  Bad Debbie! Today however I only took a 15 minute power nap so tonight might be a good night (fingers crossed)  

Thanks again for the response and for caring about my well being I think that is really neat!  (and nice)

Good luck, Debbie!
I'm sure you'll sleep-tight tonight.  
Relax and make the best of it.  That's what I have to do...just tell myself it's for the best.
Take care of yourself.
---Rich

Just a reminder " Nap with Pap!" little cat naps can do just as much damage. good luck

To help you go to sleep, try watching a movie that you have seen way to many times. I keep the same copy of "Lord of the rings" in the DVD player, for the sole purpose of putting me to sleep every night. I could watch TV for a couple hrs w/o falling asleep, but 5 min of "Lord of the rings" and I'm out (LOL).

Sleep meds will give you a morning headache, that will feel like your worst hang over (even with the mask all night).

Has Kasier been good to you?, My insurance just changed to Kasier this month and I am very uneasy about it.


_________________
Everything, but green

Hi,
7 weeks in here and although I started out with the same problems you are now experiencing, I'm finally starting to sleep better.  It's been a long slow frustrating process, but thanks to the help on this forum I have gotten quite assertive and insistent with all the medical folks.  They said I could only be covered for 2 masks, but they have now covered me for 4 masks and I bought one.  I used the Comfortfull for a good part of the time and the leaks were so loud that they woke me up / startled me awake again and again.  Everybody is different, but the F&P Flexifit didn't leak that much, but left serious dents in my face.  I'm now using the ResMed UltraMirage and it leaks, but quietly and leaves minor marks on my face sometimes.
I believe us full-facers with high pressures just have to contend with leaks, so we need to find the best we can and allow extra time in bed to compensate for the leak time.
I wish you luck and patience and persistance.

    DEBBIE- HANG IN THERE-DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!! VIEW THIS WEBSITE OFTEN. ASK LINNEA-WE ALL SUPPORT EACH OTHER WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE ALONE THERE IS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


_________________
EVERY SILVER LINING HAS A TOUCH OF GREY
-Grateful Dead


CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

Again thank you all so much for your response!  It really does mean a lot to me, I have be practicing with the mask today, I watched the football game with the mask on most of the time, I am tyring to get used to felling it on my face.

I dont mind Kaiser too much, they do the at home sleep study at least here in Denver.  They assigned a sleep therapist to me I call him daily to bug him and for the most part he calls me back quickly.  They cover 80% of my equipment but I think they cover 100% on some plans.  the worst thing was it took a long time to get appoitments with the Doctor and to do the sleep study both were about 1 month wait.  But when I had my appt with the Doctor I felt like she did take the time to answer my questions and was helpful, I would like to have been more informed before I went in but hind site 20/20 right.  
I hope Kaiser treats you well and you do good with them.

One thing that my respiratory therapist told me as I left her office with my CPAP in hand was notto expect to start sleeping 8 hrs/night right away with the machine.  She said 4 or 5 a night in the first week was ideal!  Even after I checked in with her after 2 weeks, she said that it can take some people 2 months before they can even be on their machine 7 hrs/night.  Having been told that was very comforting to me; I view my success now in gradual measures.  She also told me how your body/upper airway goes through so much adjustment to the CPAP therapy (tissues adjusting to all the air, nasal conjestion that comes and goes) to expect a night here and there where sleep just isn't as ideal--"two steps forward, one step back."  This same therapist also recommended "hose-ing up" in the daytime, in the beginning, to watch a little t.v. and just get used to the feeling.  Her advice, along with the advice of those on this forum, has been very helpful to me.  Keep up the good work!

My Primary Care has told me many times that any medication, especially long term meds take a  while to get into your system and working for you. Your body needs to adjust. I think the CPAP machine is kinda the same thing. It takes a while to get used to and to see any positive effects. Everyone's time will vary with this as well. Could be a week to over a month or maybe longer. Everyone is different.

I woud urge you to stick with it, as mentioned above all the positives will soon start to appear. And this forum is great!! I've learned so much from reading other problems and successes and just the general info available, plus the support!!


Stick with it!!

Thnak you so much for your words of encourgment thaose mean a lot to me!  I just read another post that made me fell like a jerk and this makes me fell so much better thanks for all of your kindness and support and ideas!  I am trying the one about wearing the mask during the day also I am trying to turn a fan on my face to help with the felling of suffercating.  (please excuse my spelling)  I am keeping the mask on all night other then a few mintues here and there I am going to make this work, I guess I am just being lazy and looking for a more comfortable transistion or way to learn to use it!  Again the positive and supportive comments are great they really do help!

Debbie,

When I first started using the bi-pap (2+ years ago) I hated it and couldn't sleep with it for more than a couple of hours. I don't remember how long it took, maybe a couple months or longer, but eventually my body adjusted and I didn't like the way I felt when I *didn't* sleep with it.

Now, I sleep with it on as much as I can stand and don't beat myself up over it when I can't tolerate it. I don't know why, but sometimes I put it on and it just isn't going to work. My body fights it and I can't get to sleep. It feels like it's trying to breathe for me or against me or something. I take it off that point and sleep without it. Next time I wake up I try it again.

Someone commented in the forum that sleeping without your machine undoes what you did when you had it on. I don't know about that, but I've never read anywhere that it's better not to use a cpap or bi-pap at all than to use it part of the time.

I think if you keep at it, gradually lengthing the time, you'll find that it gets much easier.