DanM

Hi creature. I had the same problem with removing my mask during the night when I started treatment. It went on for months, but I agree with Ruby. Persistence is key. Just put it back on when you awaken and find your mask off, and hopefully you will continue to build tolerance and will wear the mask longer. If you find this does not get better, consider talking to your physician or equipment provider about whether a different mask might help. Best wishes and please let us know how you are doing!

Hi SleepAndGrumpy83. WG is on target with the AHI (Apnea Hypopnea Index). In simple terms, apneas are usually when air is not moving through your airway, and hypopneas are when your airflow is decreased or becomes too shallow for you to maintain sleep or maintain appropriate blood oxygen levels. Zero to 5 events per hour is usually a level at which treatment is only warranted if there are other issues present. Up to 15 events per hour is considered mild, the 15 to 30 range is considered moderate, and >30 is considered severe sleep apnea. Keep in mind that even patients with mild apnea can feel exhausted and have low blood oxygen levels, so how your physician decides to treat your condition may depend on several factors. I think you are doing the right thing by getting a second opinion. Your night 1 results, based strictly on the numbers you have provided, are consistent with the diagnosis of OSA you were provided. A sleep physician should be able to interpret your results and get you started with an appropriate treatment. Best wishes, and please keep us posted on your progress!

Hi Chocahol13. Nosebleeds with treatment can occur but are not normal. They sometimes result from the air being too dry and causing inflammation in the nose. I encourage you to call your doctor and/or your equipment provider to discuss the nosebleeds, and please keep us posted on your progress!

Hi Yayoe10. Patients using CPAP experience progress very differently. I have had some patients report feeling better immediately, while others have said it took weeks or event months. There are other things that can contribute to feelings of sleepiness including medications and other health conditions. It is likely that you may still also be adjusting to treatment and that your sleep will continue to improve. As for the air leak you describe, it is normal to have air exiting from the exhalation holes or ports on the mask. This prevents you from rebreathing the carbon dioxide that is exhaled into the mask. If your machine is set to automatically adjust to your breathing and the pressure increases during the night, then the amount of air exiting the mask will also increase. Hope this helps, and please let us know how you are doing!

Hello. Most CPAP machines have a small data card somewhere that can be removed. Sleepyhead is software that is freely available online, and many users download their machine data into the software to monitor their therapy.

It is possible that there is a problem with what your machine is reporting, and I encourage you to contact your equipment provider. They should be able to check you machine, the settings, and take a look at the data. Mask leak or a leak somewhere in your tubing can cause respiratory events to return, so check your circuit carefully for even small leaks. I hope you figure out the problem, and please let us know how you are doing!

Hi Richard. For patients who really mouth breathe, a full face mask usually works better. It covers your nose and mouth so you can breathe through either. Some patients actually like the full face mask better and have told me they feel less like they are struggling to breathe. Have you attempted wearing one? It might be worth a try! Your chin strap might help, but for some patients, these simply are not tight enough to keep the mouth closed. For dry mouth, have you tried increasing your humidification? There are also things like mouthwash and melts that can help. Several of the Forum users have experienced success with some of these products. Good luck, and please let us know how you are doing!

Hi Fearless. It sounds like you have been quite persistent with wearing your therapy despite the mask issue. Congratulations on that, and I am glad you are not giving up. Mask fit is one of the most difficult pieces of managing CPAP therapy, and some people search for the right mask for a long time before finding something that works. I struggled for the first couple of years on treatment, and it was all related to the masks I tried not being comfortable. I eventually found one that works well and am able to wear my therapy all night. I do sometimes remove the mask during the night, but that is now rare. I encourage you to talk to your physician and see if you can get a prescription for a new mask fit. Perhaps insurance will pay with a new prescription? Also, have you tried things like mask liners to see if they help? You can do a quick internet search for CPAP mask liners, and you should find a couple of companies that make them. Many patients report that the liners make a tremendous difference comfort and/or leak levels. Best wishes, and please keep us posted!

Hello. Some machines have a mask alert feature that can be turned on. I agree with Baba that it would be good to contact your medical supply company and discuss the problem you are having. There may be a problem with mask fit they can assist with. For many people, it takes time to adjust to CPAP. How long have you been using your therapy? On most machines, usage hours includes only the time the machine actually detects breathing. The time the machine is actually running, whether breathing is detected or not, is usually recorded separately (blower hours, machine run time, etc.). Hope this helps!

Hi Sidesleeper. Have you tried wearing your mask before going to bed? I just mentioned in another thread that practice might be helpful. I had a similar experience to yours, and a very good Respiratory Therapist told me to take my machine out of the bedroom in the evenings and wear it while reading or watching TV. It helped me to adjust to the feeling of incoming air pressure and eventually made falling asleep much easier. Exhaling against pressure when you are not used to doing so can be very difficult. While practicing, if you find your machine ramping up the pressure, just reset the ramp to keep the pressure low until you are used to the feeling. This process might help you adjust, and you will hopefully find that it gets easier to exhale. Please keep us posted on your progress!