Sleep Apnea?
Anyone that has sleep apnea and is using a c-pap machine. Have you had better sleep? Are there tips that you did to get use to your mask? I have been using my c-pap for almost a year and still feel very sleepy when I get up in the morning. I don’t know if this is normal or is there other issues. Is there people that have noticed this with their sleep as well?
Tagged with: c pap machine • mask • sleep • sleep apnea
Filed under: Sleep Apnea Machine Questions
I understand what you are going through. I’ve been using a c-pap machine now for about 8 months. It took me a little while to get used to my mask as well. The first few times I used it I had a panic attack because it felt like it was suffocating me. After a few weeks of sitting with it on for a little while before I went to bed and concentrating on taking long, slow, relaxing breaths through my nose (which was new for me as I have always been a mouth breather) I finally got used to it. You may also want to contact the service provider of your machine and try a different mask that might be more comfortable for you. If you are waking up tired in the morning you may want to talk to your doctor about having the pressure on your unit adjusted as it might not be high enough for you. The addition of a humidifier in the room and/or on your c-pap may assist your sleep as well. I have found that if I take a Benadryl at night (as I have noticed that I get rather stuffy in the PM before I go to bed) it may help you relax and allow you to breath more normally through your nose. Best of luck to you!
Talk to the company who supplied your machine. It might need adjusting. Or just talk to your doctor.
I had sleep apnea before, it’s a very frustrating disease. I also used to use a c-pap machine and I understand your frustration with it. It took me almost 4 months of waking up (half sleep and taking it off) in the middle of the night to get used to it. It did help as long as I left it on, but it was hit and miss. Sometimes I woke up still sleepy also. I eventually elected to have surgery because I am reletively young and was tired of always feeling sleepy. The surgery can be very easy if you have an experienced surgeon. Most will say that if you can avoid surgery then don’t have it, I had it and it made a huge difference. If I get my 7 – 8 hrs sleep, then I am golden. 6 is just pushing it and anything less anyone can be still sleepy……sleep apnea or not. Sometimes if you incorporate a allergy/sinus relief program with c-pap it will help as your sinus’s may be swollen limiting the machine’s affectiveness. If you can afford all the hypo-allerginic stuff even better (i couldn’t :.. ( ). Drinking enough fluids will help your sinus’s too. Not to get too much off the subject of your mask. Overall I recomend a nasal type of mask if you don’t have sinus/allergy problems as I find they are easier to get used to, otherwise, full face ones are very difficult. The only thing that I can recommend is making sure you are almost completely sleep before you put it on, and to make sure you keep it on. Also if you don’t have a humidifier, then get one , it may help.
Have you used it every night?I went a while not using mine because I couldnt stand that mask,but I started having problems and went back for another sleep study to find out my pressure went from a 6 to a 16 .they have a new mask now that is about 80.00 theat fits under your nose intsead of wearing the mask.But what ever you do.wear it.
With sleep apnea you need to have your c-pap machine calibrated every year to make sure you are getting the right amount of air, talk to your Dr. about having your machine calibrated.
Is your room dark, and quiet. No lights.
It took me a long time to adjust. Try differant masks. I thought I looked like an elephant. You are probably missing your Ream Sleep that is the most restful. Are you eating before bed. Try warm milk. No stimulants. How many times are you waking up? Hope this helps some.
Per Contour Living:
This (CPAP Machine) is an extremely effective form of treatment when used in compliance with doctors orders. However, non-compliance is a big issue. It has been estimated that over 65% of patients use the machine for a maximum of just 4 hours per night when it should be used for the duration of the patient’s sleep. Additionally, many patients report using the CPAP for just a few nights out of the week.
Discomfort is a major factor contributing to non-compliance. During side sleeping or stomach sleeping, the mask presses and rubs against the patient’s face, which leads to discomfort and can also distort the mask, causing leaks and exacerbating the problem of non-compliance.
They have a new CPAP sleep pillow with cutouts that support your head, while still leaving room for the major designs of CPAP masks.