Getting used to CPAP Mask

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Kelli,
   I to use a a machine but I could not stand the constant pressure so I use a bi-pap machine. There is one pressure for inhaling and another for exhaling. This helped alot. There is also different types of the nasal pillows. One kind I could not use at all and needed to switch. Check into your options, hopefully the respiratory therapist wont be too bad. I will try to send you a picture of what I use to see if is different from yours. My husband loves the humidifier and I cant stand it. I keep mine between 0-1. It did take me a week or so to get use to everything. Try your best because it will really help you. I f you do not get enough sleep or oxygen levels are low your body can not function properly. I have even read your weight loss will slow down. I know its a Pain but try the different options if you cant get use to what you have. Hang in there. Probably after you lose weight you wont need the thing anymore.

Tressa

Yes, Shammy, keep on trying.  I've had my CPAP since February 2009, and it's taken me a long time to iron out all the problems.  They gave me the wrong kind of nasal mask to begin with, and it was so heavy on my nose, that I had to wear four round bandaids every night to protect it.  Now I have a much lighter mask, which is much easier on my nose.  I also had problems with having the humidity too high, and at one point, was waking up to a rattling noise, and had to empty out the tubing four times a night!

I tried the nasal pillows a while back, but they wouldn't stay properly in my nostrils, and I kept waking up with leaking problems.  I finally am getting a good sleep now, but I have to remember to turn my clock around (it's lit up at night), so it doesn't wake me up at night.  Sometimes I have to take a sleeping pill (Ambien) to get to sleep, but that is only if something is bothering me emotionally, and I can't get to sleep within an hour of going to bed.

I'm losing weight, so eventually, I'll probably not need it, too, in time.  My husband has been using one for 728 hours now, and has little problems with it, and has the full face mask.  Since he doesn't have claustrophobia, it doesn't bother him, since he opens his mouth at night to breathe.  I don't, and I do have claustrophobia, but I'm over those feelings with my mask now.

Denise Phares/highpow

time, that is all I can say.  I just keep on trying.  I too woke up feeling trapped.  Now, I am pretty use to it.

 I wish I could give you advice but like I've told my doctor, IF you duct taped and stapled that mask to my face, I would still wake up with it on my bedroom floor!  I take it off in the middle of the night and I have no knowledge of doing so!  I gave up.