If it makes you feel any better, it took me a little while to get used to mine. Initially, I felt like I couldn’t get enough air, and would end up gasping and pulling the mask off. I’m sure it was mostly psychological, because eventually I managed to sleep through the night - and really sleep through the night - with no problems. I did have to try several different masks until I found one that seemed to work, so that may be part of the problem. The larger masks did not allow me to sleep on my side without creating huge, hissing gaps.
I, too, had to turn off the ramp setting and have it come on full blast from the start. Who in the hell needs the ramp setting??
I had that same problem too. No matter how much I tinkered with the settings, the air came at such a full blast that I was hyperventilating. I could feel the tingling in my fingers and toes. I had to discontinue use of the CPAP and just sleep normally.
I certainly wouldn’t discount this as a possibility, but when I did my sleep study I actually found the flow of air delivered directly to my schnoz quite pleasant, and it actually made breathing easier. Now it feels like there isn’t enough of it. So I am suspecting either the machine settings, the mask, or both.
Of course on the other hand it’s quite unnatural to have something wrapped around your head/face/nose - I found that wearing a mask at the beginning of the pandemic activated that part of my lizard brain designed to alert me that I was being smothered. That went away after awhile so I hope if that’s part of the problem it will solve itself after a bit.
Here’s a mask I found, after trying many kinds, that finally works. Even though they call it a ‘full face mask’ it actually is a hybrid covering just the bottom of your nose with the nasal cushion (which is different than the nasal pillows that actually fit into your nostrils) and then your mouth, which allows you to get more air sense and I found tolerable, even if my nose was congested.
Plus the hose attaching at the top is great, you can easily side sleep or turn side to side as well as read or watch tv in bed without a hose blocking your view.
That looks a really nice full face mask, @BippityBoppityBoo. I like the fact that the hose connects on top.
With my first mask, the hose came out of the front. I’m a side sleeper, and I repeatedly switch sides in the night. But I apparently roll the same way, so I woke up with the hose wrapped around my neck.
So I switched to a mask in which the hose connects at the top with a swivel connection. Mine is nasal pillows only. But because I also have issue with air leaking out of my mouth, I might like to try one like yours.
Got my machine two days ago. While I did the sleep test with a full mask, they have me the nasal pillows. I have a little bit of soreness around my nose on the morning, which I’ll have to monitor and see if it gets better or if I need to switch to another mask (I have thirty days).
I hate the thing while I’m still awake, but apparently I’m sleeping really well. Smart watch sleep tracking is probably not the most accurate things in the world, but I went from scores regularly in the 50s to 91 and 86 the last two nights, the highest score I’ve gotten. And my wife reports that I have not woken her up with snoring.
No time to read the whole thread but here’s my report: When I was 45 I was diagnosed with “severe obstructive sleep apnea.” Got a CPAP and from the very first night my life was improved dramatically and I haven’t gone a night without it since. Took me about 5 minutes to get used to it and 30 years later CPAP’s have never caused me any problems worth mentioning. On the rare occasions I’ve had to nap or doze without it my seismic snoring is back with a vengeance.
Fun Fact: 30 years ago I was obese, 5’7” weighing 235 lbs. 10 years ago, after being diagnosed as pre-diabetic, I spent a year losing 60 pounds (as of today I’ve regained only 10 of them), and expected one of the benefits to be no more CPAP. So newly slimmed down I tried a night without it - nope. Within an hour my snoring and apneas were as bad as before. Doc says the shape of my throat was and remains the primary cause of my apnea. No big deal.
I’ve used nasal pillows for 30 years. Two suggestions: Try a little vaseline on the pillows just before retiring. Also your mask might be a little too tight.
I haven’t been able to fall asleep with the mask on. The mask starts bothering me after about 15 minutes and readjusting it just keeps me awake longer.
I don’t fall asleep easily anyway, so not sure what to do at this point. Trying to sleep on my side is really uncomfortable, too - either the frame of the mask digs into my cheekbone or I can’t breathe out of the side of my nose that’s on the side I’m lying on. Ugh. I hate this.
I’m allowed to exchange it once under the insurance rules. I have no idea what would work better though.
And at this rate I’m not going to be in compliance with insurance rules anyway, as they require you to use it 4 hours a day for 5 days out of every 7, and I’m nowhere even close to that now.
It’s not uncommon; a lot of people struggle to get used to using a CPAP. For people that have trouble falling asleep (or staying asleep), adding a mask in the mix is a challenge.
A couple of ideas if you haven’t tried these yet:
Wear the mask in bed while reading or watching TV. Something where you are awake, but distracted. It really helped me get used to the airflow.
Put a hook on the wall above your pillow. Drape the hose over the hook. This helps keep the hose in the right place and without it tugging. They sell kits for this too.
If you are not having success falling asleep with it, try starting to wear it in the middle of the night when you get up to use the bathroom.
You can wear it pretty loose and get some benefit. If that helps you get used to it, you can tighten it later.
You can also try wearing the mask disconnected from the hose to get used to one thing at a time.
You should be allowed to sleep in whatever position you want; not just on your side.
Yeah, this is my problem. I’ve not been able to use the CPAP enough to meet the insurance requirement. It keeps blowing air into my eyes. They won’t send a different mask, so now I’m shopping online. Good news is that I have swimming goggles at home to help shield the eyes; ridiculous, yes, but it’ll get the job done while waiting for the mail.
I had that happen last night. I loosened the mask to see if that would make it more comfortable. My nose felt better, but my left in in particular was not very happy.
Absolutely. Issues with my back prevent me from sleeping on my sides, so I’ve successfully slept (with nasal pillows) on my stomach and back for 30 years, despite my first sleep doctor having arrogantly insisted it wasn’t possible.
