Sleep Apnea Support Group
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. People with sleep apnea partially awaken as they struggle to breathe, but in the morning they may not be aware of sleep disturbances.
Hi All,
I ws diagnosed a year or so ago with sleep apnea, I had 42 incidents an hour which they call severe.
I am struggling with CPAP we have a love/hate relationship, when I use it it works I can be down below 4 incidents per hour however I struggle to get a 5 hour night. I will get one then it more likely goes to 2-3 hours if that. It seems to be an issue of comfort, I have trouble settleing under normal cirumstances. I dont want a mouth appliance, what I need is some coping skills or something to help me keep it on and not wake up and take it off. I have a new girlfriend who is trying to encorage usage but I have yet to use it with her. I just found out I have glacoma and I really need to become better with this. I go to the sleep lab and they say its fit well, I use a full mask I am a mouth breather and cant use the nasal ones. I think its the feeling of the hrness not sure what throws me, my machine is on a ramp so it starts at 4 and goes up as needed.
Any thought would be appreciated, I want to win this battle its important.
You are correct in that controlling your life is SA is very important. An AHI of 42 is high, mine was 47 during my test. I am lucky in that I am not a mouth breather, so I use use a pillow mask, which I am sure is is easier to adapt to than a full face mask.
My only suggestion, based on your post, is that you can turn off the ramp. It can cause more issues than it may help. I turned my ramp off soon after starting treatment (3 1/2 years ago).
I assume that you have tried different masks? There can be big differences between brands, and models within a specific brand.
This Board is slow, so I always recommend posters try cpaptalk or the Apnea Board. Cpaptalk is my favorite, but both are very good and I think you will get many more responses. When setting up your account on either Board make sure to fill out the equipment section. If you do not, that will be the first response, equipment type is really important in helping.
http://www.cpaptalk.com/CPAP-Sleep-Apnea-Forum.html
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/index.php
one other question, any thoughts on how to perhaps rig the tubing si its not an obstacle in bed or is that more trouble than its worth?
you are correct I have used various masks and the one I have seems to be the least annoying just need a coping skill to get past it, been a year plus still not used to it
Thanks again
I had a girlfriend that could wake up with her head at the other end of the bed. Not easy to sleep with.
Do everything you can to relax yourself before bed.
Take a real hot shower. No caffeine.... If you can put a lavender plant in your room, do it. Its been proven the smell helps you sleep. I also use a powdered drink with melatonin. Its a natural substance that helps us to sleep. You can get it at any grocery store.
Don't eat after 8pm either. Maybe take a walk a cpl. hours before bed.
Be sure your sinuses are clear. If you can sleep on either side. Try letting your head hand down a bit. So your jaw protrudes a bit so your airway is more open.
Not much. My hose is tied to the the headboard, and I sleep on my side almost full time due to back pain problems. Therefore, I stay fairly much in place all night. One thing that I did for several months was to hang my hose from an unused IV pole. Worked well actually and could recommend it, but most people do not have an unused IV pole at home. I wish that I didn't.....