[CPAP] first post_confusing first week on CPAP

[storywizard]

Hi there...

I am on a 8 week trial with the machine...

recently diagnosed with SA, had a trial machine for 10 days now, started with Resmed nose pillows, then tried the Wisp mask. I was not happy at first with the pillows, the tech suggested I try the Wisp. No luck with that, sore flesh on nose, leaks...back to pillows...

My pressure started at 6, now I am up to 10.

Really tired, feel like I am not resting at all.. Bathrooms breaks are down to 1 or none so that is good?

I am really surprised the sleep tech did not advise that there would/could be issues getting used to this. glad there is support here though...

Hopefully will see the tech this week....

Stephen

[Tez62]

Welcome StephenR, some people have no problems at all and some have a lot, they should discuss the possible problems that could arise, keep at it, it is well worth it in the end and please ask any questions.

[trish6hundred]

Hi StephenR,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Yeah, CPAP therapy can take some getting used to but just stick with it.
Hang in there for more responses to your post and best of luck to you as you continue with CPAP therapy, and feel free to ask as many questions to help you along the way.

[diamaunt]

I am really surprised the sleep tech did not advise that there would/could be issues getting used to this. glad there is support here though...

many techs just want to shove you out the door as fast as possible so they can get the next sucker in and bleed 'em for money.

"here's your stuff, NEXT!"

[APAAW]

Hi StephenR, The drop in bathroom breaks during the night tends to indicate that you sleep is less fragmented now. I'm going to agree with this advice from earlier today: http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...5#pid74885

Oh well, that's just me not changing my mind yet. Seriously, the change in bathroom breaks are often the first sign that CPAP is working - is it odd that the pulmonologists and the urologists don't advertise more together?

More good advice will soon follow from members of the forum. And one can learn a lot (as I did) from poking around in the archives here. Good luck!

[zonk]

Really tired, feel like I am not resting at all.. Bathrooms breaks are down to 1 or none so that is good?

That is normal, the rest will come in due course, there is lots to catch up and body to heal after years of sleep deprivation and suffocation

Here is a wiki, you might find useful readings and gives you some ideas: Tips for new CPAP users
There are many tips for new CPAP users that can make a difference when starting on CPAP therapy
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...CPAP_users

You can download SleepyHead and see if the leak and AHI within the normal range, if your AHI during the sleep study was 40, 50 or whatever events per hour, we like to see AHI about 5 and lower
Sleepyhead download link http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...e-software

Whats the model number of your machine, models numbers below 450/460 are not data capable

In Canada, model numbers, end with '1' instead of '0', e.g REF 461 instead of 460 - don,t forget to remove the water tank before checking

[storywizard]

Horrible night, nasal pillows start to leak if I roll on to my side. Is this an issues for others? Do I need to sleep on my back?

I am going to make a chin strap see if that helps too, I think I am mouth breathing a bit...

Ugg, this is hard, feel like I want to crawl under a rock today, lol....

onwards.....

Stephen

[APAAW]

Sorry - yes, sleeping on one's side "generally" reduces the AHI a varying amount, but also for a lot of people "generally" causes much worse mask leaks. I'm one of them. (I think the leaks tend to be worse with a FFM rather than nasal pillows - but "generally" isn't too helpful to you on this highly individualized subject.)

Some other recent threads discuss how to pull data from your machine and into Sleepyhead, so that folks on the board can provide you with advice more specifically useful for you.

Hang in there, and please let us know how the chin strap works for you.

[retired_guy]

Hi Stephen,

You should be able to sleep on your side fine if the pillows mask is fitting you tightly enough. By that I don't mean sucked into your brains, just snugly so that when you roll over they stay put.

Going to a chinstrap is probably a good idea for you. Put it on, then the mask.

Many people cannot sleep on their back well because it causes their ahi to increase. I feel very fortunate in that before cpap I could never sleep on my back, and now I can flop around like a fish all night. It's great.

Resmed makes a couple of different pillows masks. Which one do you have? I originally had some that vented so strongly that it blew the fur off of one of the miserable cats I used to put up with. Now I have the Airfit P10. Much better mask.

[APAAW]

Is it the Airfit P10 a better mask because it does worse things to the miserable cats, or because it's better for just you?

Either answer is understandable of course. Thanks!