NEED HELP!!!!!

Can anyone out there give me any pointers to help me get used to wearing the cpap? I use the nasal pillows and it makes me feel I am not getting enough air....and it just isnt comfortable! Netti

Not really sure that there is any way to help you get used to it other then just wearing it....now it could be the type of mask you have...when i had issues with the first mask they gave me one that fits securely under my chin and it works much better

Dear Annete, It's NEVER comfortable. I just find that it gets more bearable. I've been using one now for ? 2-3 mos. I'm puzzled by the part that you feel like you are not getting enough air. I would think the response would be just the opposite, especially as the machine ramps up. Do you mean that you feel the pillows are leaking & you're not receiving the air? Maybe you could just do without the ramp feature & receive full pressure immediately? Is your nose blocked - allergies or something? I can't wait until the day I get rid of the stupid machine. My husband also has one & refuses to use it. I've also changed masks & alternate frequently with the size of nasal pillows (did they give you other sizes?). Perhaps changing the pillows to better fit your nasal openings might help. Good luck! Islander

Annette - I've been using mine for about three weeks now...I find I wear it for about 5 hours a night, early in the morning apon waking I end up taking it off and falling back to sleep without it. When I went for my sleep study with CPAP hey let me try all three different types of masks...I couldn't use the nasal pillows d/t the direct flow of air, I felt like I needed to take it off right away, it just wasn't comfortable. I ended up going with the full face mask, it was the most comforable for me. My pressure is 9. How long does yours ramp? Mine is set at 15 minutes...maybe yu need a more gradual incline of pressure? You can shop around online for other masks if you need too. Hope this helps some. Jen

Try using it during times when you are awake. You need to get used to using the mask and feeling the air. Use it wile watching tv and things like that. Worked for me.

I have been using mine for about 8 months now. I had a really hard time with it at first and it probably took a good 3 or 4 months for me to stop ripping it off in the middle of the night. I remember that feeling of not getting enough breath...but you are. You may even try to up the setting a notch or 2 and take it off of ramping if it is on. But...now that I am used to it, I actually am a bit addicted to it. I have heard this same thing from other CPAPers and I think it just takes some time, figuring out the best positions to sleep in, messing with the straps, etc. and being diligent. You will wake up one day and suddenly be like wow...i guess this thing does work. Mine still squeals and farts at me in the middle of the night sometimes, but I just rearrange it and fall back asleep. I guess what I am getting at is that once you can tolerate it regularly you will start to notice the difference it makes.

You should contact the lab or center that did your titration and let them know the problems you're having. Your nose pillows may not be the correct size or possibly they are not delivering the prescribed pressure. I have been on CPAP for 6 years and life is good. So keep trying and don't take "I don't know for an anwer", if you have to go to the doctor himself.

I found that I wasn't getting enough air while my CPAP was ramping up. The people who delivered my machine showed me how I could turn off the ramping feature (or shorten the length of time to 5 minutes) and that seemed to help. Once I got up to the right air pressure - I was able to breathe again. As for comfort - I have never been comfortable with mine - but I am able to ignore the discomfort and fall asleep once I feel like I can breathe. If you still feel like you can't breathe after the machine has ramped up fully - please let your doctor know. It may just be an adjustment issue.