Hi Debbie. I use a Bipap machine. I have to hae a full mask. It took me almost a year to become accustomed to it. But, I now sleep through the night for the first time in years. I have dreams and remember them...which means I am getting deep REM sleep. And, I do not get up all night going to the bathroom.

Here is a post I made sometime ago in the Sleep Apnea community. I mainly hang around here in our COPD community, but I jump over there and read stuff once in awhile. YOu might consider doing that also. Or, just read the posts there. YOu'll learn alot probably. Anyway, this is what I posted there...

Hi there aussiejef. I had the same problem you do. I have COPD and Sleep Apnea. I also have CorPulmonale, which is right sided congestive heart failure caused by pulmonary hypertension in my heart...and this was caused by Sleep Apnea and COPD. Because of the COPD I have a problem exhaling anyway. The doc put me on the cpap on, believe it or not 17, with a full mask. Because I tend to breathe through my mouth when I sleep. I absolutely could not tolerate it. The doc even gave me anti anxiety and sleeping pills to overcome it. It was at this point I was hospitalized for a week and told I had the heart condition. Scared me to death. I came home, doc switched me to a Bipap machine, (Bipap imitates breathing. When you exhale, it lets up. When you breathe in, it blows full force.) and I got a new mask. (I had tried about 7. Hated them all.) I had not slept through the night in years. It was not uncommon for me to be up 5 times in an 8 hour night. NOw, I sleep like a log! I even slept 12 hours one night. I am 51 years old and that is quite an accomplishment. I know I am finaly getting REM sleep, because I am dreaming. It is almost like going to the movies. Ya gotta perservere my friend. The dangers they tell you about are real. I still hate sleeping withthe stupid thing. I feel like a martian from mars or something... But I also am feeling better an better. YOu can do it! I have confidence in you! PS Sorry this is so long. I'll get off my soap box now.LOL Thanks for listening.

oh thank you hon,that was truly helpful.i too ususlly don,t sleep but a couple hours at a time.I never really get any good sleep.when I did the test it felt wonderful,I felt as If for the first timein a long time my lungs were getting air.I sleep with oxygen on but it was so different.I,ve been a shallow breather all my life.My mother use to stick her finger under my nose all the time to see if i was breathing(this is at 18)When I was that age I would really scare her.cause I won,t even move the whole time i slept.I,m going to use this cause I can tell its gonna make a differents.getting use to alittle harder.thanks for the information.your always great at this.lol deb