I have been on a CPAP machine-(AirSense 10 CPAP, with the airfit n20 mask ) for exactly 1 week, slowly using it less and less each night. The first night was 8hrs and 44 minutes, 2nd night was 8 hrs and 41 minutes, 3rd night was 9 hrs and 1 minute, 4th night was 5 hrs and 35 minutes, 5th night was 6 hrs, 6th night was 5 hrs and 48 minutes, 7th night was 4hrs and 16 minutes and last night was 1hr and 31 minutes.
I decided yesterday to call my respiratory therapist and ask if I can change mask...I am going to try to go to go with the Nasal Pillow, to see if I can stop the face from itching and going back to using the mask more in the night. I also have facial hair and even tried to shave just to get the itching to go away, which didn't help.
I noticed on my current mask I was also taking my mask off a lot according to the ResMed score.
I would like something that I can sleep on my stomach with, now I am sleeping on my back and my side a lot. I used to sleep on my stomach when not on the CPAP. I also snore even with a chin strap on, just don't snore as much with the CPAP.
I have some questions though, when I started using my mask I noticed that it was itchy...but I think I was so tired that I went to sleep with it anyways. I cleaned my mask as per the instructions with dish soap-(without bleach) and water. I then put my mask on after the 3rd night and noticed that my face started itching a lot, I think I put it on too tight, so I would adjust it all night long. This is also when I noticed my apneas were starting to go up. The 3rd night I had 11.6 according to my ResMed score, is this normal with other CPAP users? What is a normal amount of apnea's a night on a machine? I did at At Home Sleep Study and my apnea's where 9 the first night and 16 the second night. I am guessing that the Apenas go down when you use the machine more frequently, as in your body get trained not to have them?
First let me ask some questions about the itching. What kind of mask are you using? Is the itching on the parts of your face that come in contact with the mask or all over? You might try cleaning it with actual CPAP mask cleaners instead. You could be having a slight allergic reaction to the dish soap or you might even be sensitive to the material in the mask. There are cloth liners that you can use that might keep this from happening.
You said you wanted to try the nasal pillow but might use the mask more at night. Could you explain more about this? Are you wanting to use the nasal pillow for naps?
It takes time for you to become more used to the mask and not unusual to take it off sometime during the night. Just keep putting it back on until you manage to sleep all night with it on. I don't think there are masks/pillows made for stomach sleepers but try reaching out to your mask manufacturer. The company may have a solution for you. I used to sleep on my stomach but not anymore.
As for your apneas going up, that has to do with your CPAP use not because your body gets trained not to have them. The machine gives you continuous air pressure that helps with the frequency of apneas. If you aren't using it, then that is the culprit. Try looking on our website to educate yourself on what happens when you are diagnosed with sleep apnea and then start CPAP treatment. It will explain much better than I can.
Try to figure out what is causing the itching and keep putting the mask on when you realize you have taken it off.
Ruby makes some good points, I would wonder also if you are having some type of allergic reaction to the soaps or the mask material itself. I would also suggest trying a different cleanser or mask liner. I have found that nasal pillows usually seem to be the best for stomach sleepers, since the mask is softer and less hard plastic digging into your face.
Let me do my best to answer some questions:
First, let me ask some questions about the itching. What kind of mask are you using? ** I believe I am using the ResMed AirFit ™ N10 Nasal Large one now **
Is the itching on the parts of your face that come in contact with the mask or all over? You might try cleaning it with actual CPAP mask cleaners instead. You could be having a slight allergic reaction to the dish soap or you might even be sensitive to the material in the mask. There are cloth liners that you can use that might keep this from happening. ** The itching is just on the side of my nose. My respiratory therapist said don't use dish soap anymore and to try a different mask, I will try to answer that question below in bold. She also said my itching could also be from an allergic reaction to the mask. **
You said you wanted to try the nasal pillow but might use the mask more at night. Could you explain more about this? Are you wanting to use the nasal pillow for naps? ** Sorry for this confusion, I wanted to try to go to a nasal pillow, I am wearing the mask a lot, anytime I lay down in my bed I put the mask on. I wanted to go to a nasal pillow but I was given a larger nasal mask. I am 50/50 if I want to buy a nasal pillow online and try it myself. I am now able to sleep most of the night now with the occasional itching of where my beard meets the mask. I also noticed that my mask leaks some, it is blowing air up towards my eyes. The first night I slept with the larger mask my wife woke me up telling me my mask was making a whistling noise. **
I am able to sleep on my stomach now I learned I can take my humidifier tube and put it on top of my neck and face either way. I also brought up to my respiratory therapist that my wife says I snore even with the chin strap on as well as sometimes sleep with my mouth open. She said that next option was to go to a full face mask and said that I wouldn't have to use a chin strap anymore and also the facial hair itching might go away. She said that is the last option as well since my insurance only allows me to change a mask twice.
