British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

58 years old. Just been diagnosed and got CPAP machine with nose mask. Had at least 2 years of strange symptoms - morning headaches, sometimes going away during the morning, sometimes lasting all day, ending in afternoon nap with a couple of Nurofen. Feeling tired and rotten all day. Constantly waking at night 3-4 times, having to go to the toilet, getting back to bed and starting thinking about things and then having trouble getting back to sleep. I could not understand why I wanted to go to the toilet so much at night but not in the day! Where was it all coming from?? Waking in the morning feeling exhaused, head spinning, feeling like I'm drunk or been in a boxing ring and someone had been punching my head, tired at work and yawning and getting comments like "someone had a late night" etc. Family telling me I snore loudly. Falling asleep all the time especially when trying to read a book or watch TV, even wanting to sleep when having coffee with a friend, eyes just want to close. Having trouble remembering things, constantly making lists. Was it my pillow? my shoulder and neck problem? Was it my husband snoring waking me? Finally went to GP sure my headaches were due to my shoulder and neck pain due to using a computer mouse at work, but told GP that my husband had heard me stop breathing many times at night and then gasping and spluttering to catch my breath. I did not believe him at first. The GP said my headaches were due to a sleep problem. Here's hoping this is the start of a new life.......

I hope that the problem is resolved for you. I have been amazed at the difference since I got my CPAP machine in May, I am 53 years and had similar problems just putting it down to menopause! Good luck with your treatment and hopefully improved quality of life.

Best wishes Karen

Thanks for the reply. The first night, I slept non-stop for about 4 hours, but got up and felt like I'd taken sleeping pills and was yawning all morning, but still it felt like a normal tiredness and not the rotten feeling of before. Last night, I went to bed at 11 pm but could not get to sleep until almost 2.00 am, as the nose piece is uncomfortable and strange and the strap across my head was unpleasant and felt like it was pressing down. Also felt like I couldn't breathe out properly but that could have been due to anxiety. However, woke up at 7 am and realised I'd had 5 hours of continuous sleep - the first time since I can't remember when I got to work feeling alert, and as I'm in a new job I felt up to learning the next task. I've had to put vaseline round my nostrils as the nose piece is so uncomfortable. Also having trouble washing out the tank, I can't get the last bit of water out.

I remember that feeling of immense tiredness the first morning, I remember thinking this is supposed to be better, but as you say it was a very different kind of tiredness. I think that trouble breathing is due to anxiety, very similar again, but I found by trying to relax and imagine myself drifting and the gentle noise of the machine I imagined the wind in the trees and that helped a bit.

I only have nose mask so don't have one like yours so would not be able to comment on the water in the tank. The strap across my forehead sometimes hurts and I have found that there is an adjuster on mine and sometimes that changes so that it becomes tighter than normal.

I am so glad you are already finding the benefits from it. I found this site so supportive for me when I first started and feel that I want to give some support to others in a similar position.

Here's to our "Darth Vader" masks!!

Best wishes Karen

Thanks for the replies. I am finding this board very helpful as it has taken me nearly a year and 2 home sleep studies to finally get a diagnosis, and after a quick chat in the sleep clinic and 30 seconds explanation of how to use the machine, you have to just go home and just get on with it. Had a bad night (night 3). Got to sleep OK at 11 pm but woke at 12.30, got back to sleep but woke again at 2.30 and then could not get to sleep until at least 4 am, then up for work at 7 am. Needless to say made lots of mistakes at work, but hopefully it will get better. Just remembered I had a shower about 9 pm and put on my dressing gown and watched a programme on TV and fell asleep in the chair, was woken up by hubbie. Maybe that quick nap made the sleeping more troublesome. Nose not so bad now I'm putting some vasline around the nostrils, but now have soreness at the back of my head at the bottom righthand side of my skull (sounds very odd!), it is near where the straps cross but they don't seem to be too tight, but I can feel a pulse throbbing when I lie on my back and the skin is almost too sensitive to touch. Very odd.

Alice I remember that feeling at the back of the head, I had forgotten about it until you mentioned it, so it has gone away. I wonder if it is from not relaxing totally and not moving much in case you move the mask. That was what mine was about I am sure. There are some nights now when I dont wake at all.

I think the idea of this site is wonderful for the friendship you can get from fellow sufferers.

Karen

Thank you Karenboj, I'm glad someone else has experienced the back of the head problem. It's like there's a large painful blister under my skin. Hope it clears up. It's good to hear that you get used to it all in time. I find this site so useful.

Night 4 - went to bed at 10.30 pm so exhausted and brain-dead but got to sleep quickly and slept probably from 10.45 or so through to 5.45 am without waking at all. That is truly a record. Woke with a sore nose and rather blood-shot watery eyes and feeling very tired, but it's a different sort of tiredness. The previous day I had struggled to concentrate at work. I fell asleep sitting in a chair without realising it, about 5.30 pm just before started cooking the meal, husband said I had been snoring sitting up! Still, the nap does not seem to have affected the night-time sleep. It is so wonderful not to wake up with a headache! Have been sent an appointment with the sleep clinic for early October, so it seems they will be following me up. Feeling more positive about the machine. Got hubbie to massage my shoulders and neck before bedtime as I'm still feeling anxious about putting the mask on. Thoughts of suffocation etc. go through my mind, but it's just that - all in the mind!

Night 5 - 2/3 hours sleep. Night 6 - 6 1/2 hours sleep without waking. Fantastic! No headache, able to work without making loads of stupid mistakes.

Wow this is fantastic news. Hope it continues for you.
Karen

Had a terrible night last night. Couldn't fall asleep, everything felt uncomfortable. Fell asleep eventually at 11.00 and hubbie woke me up at 11.30 saying the machine sounded noisier than usual and he was worried. I said no, the machine had been set in the sleep clinic. Couldn't get back to sleep again until 2.00 am and slept until 6.45 but felt tired and "not all there" at work today. Dull headache at back of head. I also noticed that much more water had gone from the humidifier. I'm wondering if it's due to the bedroom being much colder last night (it was chilly here in Sussex). At least I've got an appointment with the clinic on 1st October. Though the one good night was too good to be true!

Sorry to hear that things did not go too well last night, it must have been frustrating after a good night the evening before. It seems to go like that, I feel there are occasions when I just feel like throwing the mask across the room. Let's hope you get some positive feedback from the clinic when you are next back.

I am due to go in a few weeks after not being for three months so that will be interesting.

All the best and let's hope you have a better night tonight
Karen

Thanks Karen. It is so helpful to realise others have gone through similar problems. I've got a list of queries for my sleep advisor.

Ten days on and I'm getting 4-6 hours continuous sleep a night which is a record and although there are problems such as drooling, sore neck, red mark from straps, feeling I can't breathe out, I'm feeling positive and the headaches have gone. I'm keeping a diary and a list of questions to ask the sleep advisor at the clinic.

This is sounding good - I am sure they will be pleased at your next visit, as must you. It's strange how some mornings you can wake up and have marks from where the straps/mask have been and sometimes not. You can always guarantee it's when you have an important meeting or something

Good luck with your appointment
Karen