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PatientVioletBear0961

PatientVioletBear0961
Joined Oct 2015
PatientVioletBear0961
Joined Oct 2015

Well, one sleep doctor told me that adjusting to CPAP is kind of like peeling the layers of an onion; first you have to solve your biggest CPAP problem, then your next biggest problem, then the next biggest, and so on, until you reach the point when you can successfully sleep with it. CPAP can create many different situations that can be difficult to sleep through, such as uncomfortable masks, air leaks, noises, getting too hot, drying you out, pushing into the stomach, tubing management issues, etc. Some people are able to sleep with CPAP the first time they ever try it, but this is unusual and is more likely for someone who tends to be a very sound sleeper and who can sleep through significant disturbances, not for a light sleeper like me. I have found solutions that work for me for many of the challenges of CPAP, but not all of them yet. I have tried several different types of masks, made some helpful modifications to my current mask, and I have developed understanding of how to use the machine's settings. It feels I have become a bit of a CPAP engineer! At first I could not even fall asleep with the CPAP on, but with more time and effort I developed that ability, but would wake up immediately. Then I figured out what was causing me to wake up and solved that problem, followed by several others. Just a few days ago, I achieved another breakthrough which has enabled me to stay asleep for 4-5 hours with the CPAP on, but I still wake up after that and cannot go back to sleep. I think I may have experienced a hint of therapeutic benefit from the CPAP the past few nights, but it's still too early to say for sure without having ever experienced a full night of sleep with it.