British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

my head swells :lol: :lol:
It will help greatly, but do not be fooled in thinking all your problems will go away, with the humidifier others will develop, but easier and simpler to manage, if you are able to go through the many threads we have written in past, most problems will have been covered, but be aware of the many who try and make money from our own anxieties, it's all about working with cpap, and making friends with it. Kimberlina has named her's, see some of her posts, also read mac's journal of fighting. Each person is different, but the final issue is your effort and maintaing your needs of and to life.

Several of us are adamant it helps and has given our life another meaning, good luck keep writing.

Mac and Leng.....
Thank you both very much :)

michelle, our nasal tissues are made up from mucous membraine, as we also know oxygen is also transported in water vapour, so more humidication, more oxygen we are able to absorb. Unfortunatly many hospitals wil, still be gioving appliances by cost rather than persons need, our need for humidity can be down to the micro climate in our own houses, linked to how dry our houses are, or where our weather comes from, so a person in one valley may not need a humidifier, yet you like I do.

The need for humid air has been well researched, and all skilled registered nurses working with non inevasisve oxygen therapies will be are of of the symptoms, unfortunately with the rush to have sleep clinics set up, most trusts went down the avenue of employing non registered nurses to staff the clinics, as a cost saving mechanism. In between times use a boild kettle and lost of water in the room it may offer some passive humidiying role.

Sadly I had the similar discussions with mac and many others on the site.

Sleeping Beauty...

Yes, i have to fall asleep on my side, else there's no hope. The nasal pillows with forehead attachment looks better, but knowing my luck they're not available here on nhs. I think it's a virus as two of my kids have it, plus i've been aching all over, even before starting the cpap.
I nearly had the luck of falling asleep last night with mask on, through sheer exhaustion i think, i was just starting to drift when my eldest son had a loud coughing session close to my room, 3 times, and startled me awake. Was the only chance i got, couldn't nod off after that. :(

Mac...

I do not have a humidifier, and from what others say on here, they sound pretty essential.

Michelle.

Hi Michelle,
Sleeping on my side was one of my "biggies" as I just can't settle on my back. A lot of the masks have straps and suchlike round the side and big mask pieces that push into the pillow when you sleep on your side.

There are various answers - you can use a conventional nasal mask and cut bits out of a foam pillow (or buy a special shaped one) so the mask drops into the cutout, or look for a mask without intrusive side-pieces. Mine does have side straps but they don't seem too much bother. Other masks have no straps at the side but attach to your forehead. If you do a Google image seach you'll see the various kinds but not all are available in the UK and the NHS of course don't do many of them.

Are your flu-like symptoms and cough really a virus, or maybe the results of the cpap air? I felt really really awful for a few days when I first tried, with - as you say - something like flu. I got over it with a combination of medicines, and a thorough and complete clean and disinfection of everything CPAP-related. Anything I could disinfect I did. That seemed to do the trick. The dry air can be responsible for dry throat and nose and a cough. But, also, yes you may just have a virus. (Make sure there is a CLEAN filter on your machine that stops the dust and debris getting in!)

Hi Sleeping Beauty! Thank you so much for your reply. I always sleep on my side, can't fall asleep any other way, and the mask is stopping me from doing that. I'm going to have to ask the clinic about the nasal pillows, as they sound like something i could cope with. Are they very intrusive? Thanks again, you was very helpful. :D
Michelle.

Hello shell and welcome. I'm glad you posted here as everyone is helpful. I'm a newbie myself, and I can agree with everyone that it takes time, patience and practise before you begin to accept it all.

At first, I had a nasal mask and an old noisy ResMed machine (S8) and it was horrible. I couldn't cope with it, and the mask covering my face felt claustrophobic, plus I couldn't sleep on my side.

Since then I've changed what needs changing - I got a humidifier that helped me breathe, I had the pressure setting resduced, I changed the mask to a "nasal pillow" type that didn't cover so much of my face and let me sleep on my side (with the help of a self-made memory-foam pillow with pieces cut out to accomodate the mask)...

All this helped me feel more comfortable, and I also covered the plastic bits of the mask with things such as tubular bandage and finger bobs from Boots. This and using vaseline inside my nostrils, etc etc - all these little improvements made me feel more comfortable, until today I almost look forward to the mask as I KNOW I will get a restful night's sleep and not be waking up not breathing!!

I think there is a mental adjustment we have to make to accept the feeling of the mask, too. It's like getting used to a ticking clock, or the feeling of a new pair of glasses. Your brain eventually accepts the feeling and starts to ignore it. But only if you stick at it :)

I really hope you will keep trying, and badger your clinic into helping you get exactly the right gear for your needs.

Thanks leng and ellie. I tried again last night, with no success, had to remove it again after 2 hrs of still being wide awake. I'm absolutely shattered today. The straps were not tight at all, managed to find a happy medium with no leakage. However, the plastic casing around the gel cushion was making my face throb like hell, my skin was also burning, was very red and rashy when i removed it. I do have sensitive skin which doesn't help of course. I can't stand another night of not dropping off for so long, as soon won't be able to get up in the mornings! Doesn't help that i've had a flu like virus for the last four days, so have a nasty cough that keeps rearing its ugly head whilst trying to get comfy. Does anyone know if there's an alternative to the mask? Would be grateful for any replies, thanks.
Michelle.

Shell

I had the same problems as you when I first got the mask and wondered how I would ever sleep with it on! I found it so uncomfortable, but it turned out I had the straps too tight. Now I go to bed half an hour earlier so I have time to adjust the straps and make sure it feels comfortable. It does get easier, I promise you. Last night I even forgot that I had it on!

Keep in touch, the people on here are really helpful and give good advice. Whatever you have been through someone else has been there and understands.

Ellie

shell mzc

yes welcome aboard, osa and obesity is well written about, but I think it is more of risks rather than courses of it, if researched further, you soon discover it is more to shape changes on the facio cranial and air passages, the weight/size to be more precise may be more towards diameter of neck, so large muscular necks, or those with neck problems are also included, not exactly obesity. Try not to dwell on the large issue, as most of the pressure to have obesity on the table, is more towards medical underwriting, ( who pays, ) with us in uk and the nhs, are not dependant on private health insurances that who do not cover it anway.

Getting used to cpap, as others have said give yourself time, practice wearing the mask during the day, and try and let yourself and the machine become friends (play with it). Try and keep a positive attitude, and take each day as another challenge, sleep position, pillows, tube positioning along with drag are all common issues with maintaining compliance.

Get into a simple routine each evening, of prepairing your mask, keeping it and face clean, rinsing any soap or oily residues off, along with a monthly wash of humidifier chamber, if you have one, also the tube, and allowing to air dry.

Keep a diary, of each small achievement, and remedies you used to manage that night. believe me we do get used to it, although it is not easy, after a couple of weeks you will soon see what the benefits are.

Hi Mac. I've tried wearing it in the day, which has helped me overcome the total fear of the mask that i did have at first. Mine starts at 4.0, not sure what it would reach if on all night. I couldn't start with it any higher, it would defo panic me. I'm going to try again tonight. I'm starting to dread bedtime though. :(
Thanks

Michelle. :)

Hi ray1955, thanks for reply. I hope it does become 2nd nature, i so want it to work! Fed up of waking up constantly all night! :?

Hi Ellie, Thanks for reply. It was the air blowing that i didnt like at first, but used to that now. The mask is creating pressure points even when its not too tight. Also the sound of my own breathing through the hose is keeping me awake. Tried it again last night, but after two hours was still wide awake, so took it off. Will try again tonight, i'm not going to give in! How are you getting on with yours? x

Hi,its unatural for you to go to sleep with a mask on,but like everything else you will get used to it,you`ll find most people had trouble adjusting,i`ve have been on it two and a half years and still have good nights and bad.wearing it will become second nature eventually.

Hi, welcome to the forum. I'm like you and have just started using the mask. What is it that is making it feel so uncomfortable? Is it very tight? Is it the air blowing? What type of mask do you have?

Hang in there

Ellie