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snuffie3456
+0 points
·
over 7 years
ago
Original Poster
Hi Everyone,
Just short of two weeks now, and still trying to get used to this. I find using the CPAP to be somewhat stressful. Unless I am REALLY sleepy when I put it on, I just lie there listening to my breathing and feeling the elephant's trunk on my face. I feel the uncomfortable pressure as I breath, and want nothing more than to take it off.
Sometimes I simply can't sleep. What to do? Everyone says medication is a bad option, but I am increasingly unable to deal with these sleepless nights, and the stupid insurance deadline hanging over my head. At what point do I call the sleep clinic and ask for help?
snuffie3456
+0 points
·
over 7 years
ago
Original Poster
I agree NiceSilverBison, I have a Costco sized benadryl bottle, and sometimes take one to help me sleep. Problem is that I seem to be taking them with increased frequency lately (4X-5X per week), adding to my late night worries! Last week I waited to use the CPAP when I woke up in the night to pee. This seemed to work well, except that I was often getting less than the required 4 hours. = (
Yeah, that's why I said don't make a habit of it. Benadryl works well for occasional use when your nasal passages are clogged, but can be addictive. You can try melatonin also as it is not habit forming. I find it helps sleep some, but my body eventually developed a resistance to it and it stopped working for me. Worth a try if you haven't already used it. Another thing I do if I can't get to sleep right away, is get up and read for about and hour, then go back to bed and can usually get to sleep quickly. Good luck.
DanM
+0 points
·
over 7 years
ago
Sleep
Enthusiast
Support Team
Hi Snuffie. I think calling your equipment provider or your sleep physician might be a good idea. Sometimes there are simple changes that can be made. I know you mentioned in another post that you turned off the ramp feature, but you mention that you "feel the uncomfortable pressure" when you put your mask on. It might be that turning the ramp feature back on but having your physician prescribe a higher ramp pressure might be helpful. When I first started using CPAP, I had a ramp pressure of 4 cm, and I felt like I was not getting quite enough air. But my higher treatment pressure was uncomfortable for falling asleep. An adjustment to my ramp pressure gave me enough air to keep me from feeling suffocated and allowed me to fall asleep more comfortably before my machine reached my prescribed pressure. You might have also read some other posts here on the Forum that talk about wearing CPAP outside of the bedroom for practice being helpful. The therapist who set up my machine told me about this trick, and it really did help me adjust. I wore my CPAP in the living room while watching television, and it helped me adjust to the feeling of the mask and the air pressure. Hope this helps!
snuffie3456
-1 point
·
over 7 years
ago
Original Poster
Thanks! I was wondering about changing the ramp pressure. That might be the answer. I adjusted my mask again last night, and things went a little better. Still, only 5 hours of sleep total last night, and that's on top of even fewer hours on previous nights. I plan to try melatonin, reading with mask on tonight, and will call my provider when time allows. (They tend to put me on hold for HOURS-I'm not kidding).
wiredgeorge
+0 points
·
over 7 years
ago
Sleep
Enthusiast
Finding a good DME is quite a trick. I looked for a new DME when I went on Medicare as my old one was not in the Medicare provider list. I did research on every DME starting locally (that accepts Medicare) and looked at patient reviews and ratings and check with the BBB. I finally found one that is located 200 miles away that seems like a keeper. It turns out they have a local affiliate who isn't directly listed by Medicare but since the billing goes through the office 200 miles away, they can service medicare accounts. MOST (no exaggeration) DMEs I looked at appeared to be either incompetent or crooks based on their internet reviews. Some had zillions of BBB complaints, etc.
I was unaware that ramp pressure could be changed. I turned off my ramp completely shortly after starting therapy as I find full pressure helps me breathe better. I can breathe fine even if I go to bed with a stuffy nose.
snuffie3456
+0 points
·
about 7 years
ago
Original Poster
Melatonin seems to be doing the trick! That, and going to bed earlier. I think I was avoiding the machine, and staying up too late. Now I go in early, and treat myself to reading in bed (it's my vice). I'm falling asleep VERY quickly now, even with the dumb blowing thing stuck on my face. Ugh. It's like being kissed by a sea lamprey.
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