I just started my BIPAP the other night.  I realize I am brand new and am not expecting immediate results but I have a real positive attitude that this will eventually help me stop being so tired during the day.  My question is, I keep waking up during the night which I used to not do.  I used to go to sleep around 11:45 and get up a few minutes after 6.  Sometimes I would wake up around 5 or 5:30 and then go back to sleep.  Since I started the BiPAP, I am waking up several times during the night.  I don't notice being wacked by the hose or anything.  I just wake up and it takes me a bit of time to fall back to sleep.  The first night, I lasted an hour and took off the mask.  Then I slept straight through the rest of the night. The next night, I fell right to sleep but woke up after an hour again.  That time I was able to fall back to sleep with the mask on.  But 2 hours later, I woke up and took it off and then slept until morning.  Last night I again fell right to sleep (this is definitely a good thing!!) and woke up several times.  Most of the times I fell back to sleep, but at about 5:00, I had to take the mask off again and then fell asleep until 6.

The progress is noticeable with keeping the mask on longer each night.  What I don't like is the frequent waking up.  Is this normal as I adjust?  If so, that's fine because I know I will eventually get where I need to be - asleep at night and awake during the day!

I'm doing about the same thing with waking up frequently.  I talked to the sleep specialist yesterday, and what we are experiencing is normal.  They don't expect you to sleep with the mask on all night when starting out.  If you can sleep with it on for 2-3 hours when starting out the first couple of weeks, you are doing good.  They want you to gradually build the time up until you can keep it on all night.  I was told to try my best to get to at least 4 hours of nightly use after the first month, that is where I will start to really feel the effectiveness the next day.  After night 5 here, this is the first morning where I have felt a difference, at least a change, which I guess is good.  I think some movement of the mask will tend to awaken you, at least that is what happens to me.      Just by reading on the forums here the way experienced users feel after getting adjusted, it really encourages me to keep plugging away with it every night, and every night gets a little better.  

-Mark-


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Respironics RemStar M basic with heated humidifier
ResMed Ultra Mirage full face mask
CPAP setting 5

keep pluging away i have doing this since april and last night finnally was the firts best night sleep I have had in ages ... I feel great today ....hang in there

Last night was my first night on my machine.  I lasted maybe an hour and a half.  I can tell by reading here and with the experience last night that this is going to take some time getting used to.  

Last night was my second night on cpap w/ an Opus style nasal pillow mask.  I too have been waking up every two hours to giggle the mask, as it just feels funny.  I just got off the phone w/ my DME provider and am going to pick up another style mask at lunch today.  I told them I want to keep my current mask and the new one so I could try them both until I found what I liked. I was all ready for an arguement but they said 'fine'.

Glad to know this adjustment period will improve.

Simone

Well, Im glad that I am not the only one trying desperately to adjust to my new BiPap machine.  Im not sure what type of mask I have, it only say ResMed on it.  It covers my nose and mouth and it has an adjustment gauge that sits on my forhead. My question is..."Does anyone "freak out" having the mask on their faces?"  Ive read how you all fall asleep and wake up with it off, but I dont even get an hour with it on.  I strap the mask to my face, turn on the machine and completely panic when I feel that first burst of air hit my face.  My doctor is trying to find something "smaller" that wont cover my face, without any luck.  I feel like I got better and longer sleep without it, than I do with it.  I need the machine because I have Central Sleep Apnea, but is "...time..." the only answer for my question?