HappySleepingUser

I have been using a cpap for over 2 years now. I switched early from a full mask (which was a REAL PAIN in the &^*!! to a nasal pillow with a chin strap based on my supplier's tech's advice (he uses one).,

Anyhow. now I have been using one since then and it's been great. Traveling with all this stuff is a not convenient, but not sleeping is a lot worse. I got to where I was so fatigued, after walking steps a few times, my legs would collapse beneath me and I would fall down.

Since the beginning, I have had trouble with my power plug (my socket has no ground....fixed that. Then, I was using a different mask but having what I didn't 'know was a lot of time with leaks (that was making me tired in the AM's. Then, the supplier gave me my new replacemement...it was different but I thought they had switched the mask. That too, was causing a lot of leaks and horrible fatigue.

Switched suppliers: learned I had the WRONG pillow!!! Learned I could pay $30 for the pillow part only every 3 months as recommended to replace the mask. My Insurance now has such an impossible deductible ($4K+), I now pay out of pocket for everything. Thank goodness had all testing and Dx before Obamacare and its new inflated costs.

I don't like having to wear my cpap because I miss the smell of my sheets when I dried them outside on the line....it's another am/pm task, and set up take down when traveling is more time too. BUT I sleep so much better, regained a lot of my lost short term memory, I have energy back AND stamina... you would have to KILL me to take it away. I do hate it...but it helps too much to not wear it.

I champion it to others who struggle...for me it was the darned ole mask....and honestly, that should be part of sleep test and fitting...trying nasal pillows etc... those full masks are NOT comfortable...I really sweated a lot and that made the darned thing slide... I still sweat but now it's easier to simply wipe the pillow and straps off during the night and go right back to sleep.

I do not have to go out to any office each day, so- in the beginning, one thing I had the luxury of doing too, was going to bed tired and sleeping until I felt somewhat rested and getting up then- not before. My sleep times went from 11+ hours down to 9-9.5 hours. If I hadn't had all that trouble with masks I bet I would be down to 8-8.5 hours by now.

Every night, I pray everyone could find their solution and use those not to handy dandy cpaps....they DO WORK!

The name above this cooment is not mine!

I have been successfully using CPAP and wearing my nasal mask for about 2 years now. Last summer- I forgot my mask at a cousins' house and the first night I switched to an old one I had gotten for my Mom to try years ago. I loved how it had a chin strap on it and began to use it regularly. Then- I began feeling more and more tired during the days. I told my sister who said she could 'Hear my machine" from her bedroom at night and she "had never heard it before." What I realized is this "New" mask we leaking at times and due to that unknown trouble I was having an accumulation of fewer hours of good sleep (unknowingly). I switched back to my old mask (with chip strap) and in about a week or so, I was feeling more like myself again. Also- earlier on- I had been having trouble with keeping the darned thing plugged in due to the socket and location. Same thing happened....I fixed that and voila! I was sleeping better and feeling much better afterwards. Whatever you do- find a solution stick to it. CPAP works.... oh yeah- it's a pain in the neck, tubes, traveling with the unit and distilled water - but hey- I like feeling like I slept, don't you?

I meant Mom's TMJ

Try acupuncture for your TMJ. It cleared up mym Mos's and she ahd it MANY years before getting relief- the bruxing (teeth grinding) at night is making it worse! Nobody knows whther griding results from apnea or visa versa, but it's often part of the trouble. Pray alot- it makes a huge difference for me!

I know. My Mom had this same trouble. very very sad. In 2010 or 11, I was actually told that there had been one mask that was made that didn't ahve the one thing that they suspected was the trouble. They discontinued making them as There wsan't a large enough market... nice huh?