SleepyMommy703

I have not had the best of luck with machines. My very first machine a Resmed R9 (something along those lines) was a dud. I was struggling really hard with it to find that it was giving pressures far above and beyond what I needed. They took it back and gave me another. I used that one for about 9-10 months (not often in the last month) and gave up because of chronic sinus infections. About 18 months later I decided to start using it again and after 2 weeks it stopped working. Would give sudden extreme bursts of high pressure to the point I couldn't breath when it happened. Took it back to the office I got it from and they said it wasn't worth sending out to fix because it would take weeks and no guarantees so they replaced it. Insurance covered the new one and I didn't do anything with the old one.

I had a lot of difficulty with swallowing air and painful gas and bloating at the start. For the most part it got better as I got used to using it. But I did see a big change when they lowered my pressures and it's much better when I'm able to keep my mouth closed. I have a chin strap I use that works pretty well now.

I will say it's still pretty bad if I have a cold and find myself swallowing a lot (like from post-nasal drip). I haven't figured out a way to prevent it when that happens.

I find that my neck position changes when I'm using my CPAP and I get neck pain/headaches from that. Chiropractic adjustments have helped me tremendously. I am trying to find the right pillow but in the meantime if I make sure I have more neck support as I'm falling asleep it's helpful.

I also had the pressure set too high at one point and that caused some headaches/facial pain.

I use a Resmed Airsense 10, I believe it's called, and have been using the Eson 2 for about a year now. I got a new mask a couple weeks ago and didn't really notice any particular issues. I always get a little bit of leaks that I notice during the night, but I'm a super light sleeper and wake a lot with or without the CPAP. I just logged in to see what my scores have been lately and they are HORRIBLE! While a 20 is the top score there were days it was 9, 1 and even 0! I don't get how it could have been that bad without me noticing during the night. I mean I felt some slight leaks here and there, but that always happens. Usually my skin gets oily during the night and I wipe my face and then it seals better. But to have a 0??

I was doing so great for a while with getting a perfect 100 most nights. And those nights I usually feel some leakage. What gives? And is there a way that my medical equipment supplier should be able to give me a more detailed account of what went on those nights? Like if it was a consistent issue all night or did I have some crazy bad leaks periodically.

I've been skipping using it more and more lately because I swear I feel worse when I use it (even to some extent before these leaks) but this could explain why the past few weeks have been extremely bad.

I'm a mouth breather and have to use a chin strap. I tried a full face mask at one point but had even worse leaks and couldn't sleep comfortably on my side. With newer smaller full face masks on the market since then I'm debating trying one and seeing how it goes. Is there one that is more recommended for having fewer leakage issues?

There was a point when they reduced my pressure to 7 (after a sleep study showed that was all I needed) but on the rare occasion I slept on my back or if I got a little bit stuffy it didn't feel like enough. I had zero leaks and my occasional bloating and dry mouth stopped completely. Then they put it on a range I think from 6-12 and it felt better but I have the occasional issue of bloating, dry mouth and more leaks. But I fixed my mask tighter and it helped the leaks at least. I actually really feel like my machine ramps up to more than I need. I'm hitting 11-12 most nights even on my side yet my last study they never needed to go above 7. I'm just not confident in how well it really senses the pressure I need. It doesn't help I had two machines that were duds or started early on with pressure issues as well.

I'm making a followup appt with my sleep doctor just curious if anyone else experienced these crazy leaks without knowing it was happening at the time.

It sounds like it's worth trying the CPAP out, but some of what you are describing sounds very similar to things I deal with. Especially the jumpiness, hearing noises, waking a lot. While my CPAP is treating my apneas I haven't felt any better in regards to fatigue. And I still wake frequently. I recently was diagnosed with ADHD of all things and I do believe that is the culprit for my overall fatigue and sleep issues. Yes, I still have apnea and I'm still treating it, but being a light sleeper and the intense wakings/jumping to sounds/movement, etc. seem to go along with the sleep issues people with adult ADHD seem to have. I'm sure it's not the only cause, but it sounds familiar enough I figured I'd share.

Good luck!

My apneas are considered "mild" during non-REM sleep but jump to moderate levels during REM. So while it may not "trigger" apneas it is normal for them to worsen during REM I believe.

I'm not sure how your wife would know that your sleep apnea is actually better. I haven't snored since I had my tonsils out as a teenager, but I still have sleep apnea. My parents wrongly assumed that the fact I wasn't snoring meant it was no longer an issue. I only figured that out years later through a sleep study.

Thanks for the reply!

I don't seem to be having an issue with leaks. I've had periods of time when I do, but I'm getting perfect 100 scores on my readings most nights. I think my pressure is set to a range up to 12 right now. It was set higher, but I was finding it was going too high. I had another sleep study done and they said I only needed a pressure of 7, but I was also only sleeping on my side. They adjusted me to a set pressure of 7 and there were times I was waking feeling like I was not getting enough air. So they put it back to a range with a lower top number. But I have always felt like it doesn't do a great jump of giving me just what I need and goes too high too fast. That said I don't wake feeling it's excessive or anything. I'm pretty used to it by now.

I just got back from a short vacation and I think a new pillow will definitely help my neck issues. They had thick down or down-like pillows at the hotel I was at and I found I did not wake with the same neck stiffness. The pillows were sort of mold-able so I was able to support my neck better. I guess I'll go on a hunt to find something similar.

Oversleeping may be a bit of an issue as well. At least at times. I don't nap anymore, or at least rarely, but I sleep in on days when I can. Maybe I'll have to try a more set waking time every day and see if that helps.

I've been back on my CPAP therapy since February after a couple years off. It never did help my daytime fatigue, but I do notice enough benefits over the long haul to keep at it.

Two months ago I started taking Ritalin after doing some reading on Adult ADHD and sleep issues. My psychiatrist agreed I had ADHD and meds were worth a try and I think we finally hit the nail on the head after years of struggling with various issues. My energy is up significantly, I'm doing much better in the self care department, I'm finding all sorts of things have improved that I hadn't even realized were issues/symptoms of ADHD and thought were anxiety or OCD related.

The crazy part is even though my sleep hasn't changed much (I still wake a lot at night with or without the meds and the CPAP) I feel better in the mornings too. It's just not as much of a struggle to wake as it used to be. However, I have recently not been using the CPAP as much (just because I had an awful cough and congestion that made using a nasal mask impossible) and the days I do use it I struggle a little more to get up in the morning. I also notice I have a pressure/mild pain when I use it, in my upper neck/lower back of my head area. I'm seeing a chiropractor and adjustments have been helping but I definitely sleep weird or something when I use it and I'm not sure how to correct that. Maybe a special pillow or something? I was a stomach sleeper but now sleep on my sides. I just can't get used to sleeping on my back.

I do have to use a chin strap and my mask is the Eson 2 nasal mask. I don't feel uncomfortable in it, but I think because I'm a light sleeper in general, I am subconsciously tensing up when I wear it. Anyone else have neck pain/tension build from sleeping with a CPAP or have thoughts on how to alleviate it?

Beyond that any thoughts on why I struggle more with waking on nights I'm using it? My AHI is typically below 1. I know I tend to be deep in REM in the mornings after waking a lot earlier in the night. Maybe that's just amplified when I'm using it?

TIA

Does anyone have any experience or first hand knowledge of this system? My boss is considering it as a first treatment for mild sleep apnea. My impression has always been that CPAP is the most effective and that all these surgeries and other systems might help but aren't known to be as effective. His ENT is really pushing this one it seems. Any knowledge about it you can share would be appreciated.