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I've been using my CPAP for about 2 weeks now and am adjusting to it a bit better. I still wake up about every 1-2 hrs. Sometimes I switch from my nose mask to my face mask during the night. Is that OK or is it going to slow me down in adjusting?

Hi @azpatsmr. Switching between masks is fine if you feel the need to do so. My thought is that you will probably eventually adjust to treatment and start sleeping longer. As your sleep time increases, you may find that you start wearing one of the masks for longer periods and eventually settle on the mask you find most comfortable. Best of luck and keep us posted on your progress!

Hi. My name is Polly D. and my doctor has been concerned about a possible Sleep Apnea problem for over a year now. I had my gallbladder removed two months ago and while in recovery the nurse had to give me oxygen and expressed concerns over a possible sleep apnea problem. This prompted me to return to my doctor and consent to an overnight sleep test which I took last night. I'm very concerned because I couldn't fall asleep all night and so the test was not very helpful. I'm worried because lately I wake up with a feeling like I'm choking on my tongue. I am completely exhausted, and often sleep the day and then night away. My age is 61. I'm hoping to learn more about sleep apnea and use this new info to help me treat it. The main reason I couldn't fall asleep for the test is because the wires really bothered me when I lay down and (typical me) I had to go to the bathroom every other minute but didn't want to keep asking the sleep technician. I'm still open to any test which will help find a diagnosis for me, so I can start on a treatment. I'm so worried about stroke/heart problems. Thanks for the support!

My name is Mark Hanson. I am trying to participate in this and other forums but seem to not be able to figure out how to start my thread in this one. I was sent to a Sleep Study by my PCP which found I had severe SA. I have been using CPAP for over five years now. Recently my machine got upgraded and the tech recommended I try other headgear. I had been using nasal buds but after trying several options I now use the small mask that only covers my nose. It leaks more but irritates less. Let's see if this works.

Hi Everyone, I just joined 30 minutes ago. This is my very first forum ever! I don't usually join any forums, but I liked what everyone had to say and tonight! I am just ending my first week with my RedMed Air 10 CPAP. I have to say I am totally loving it. What a difference in breathing my goodness. and it's so quiet. My daughter came home from school tonight, came into my room to say goodnight took one look at me and said! keep up the good work mom! (she is now 25) Even though you look like a chipmunk 🐯"now really Kathryn" Thanks now go to bed... 😃 Ok ' now I need to ask a serious question. Has anyone ever heard of TBM? The reason why is! I just had a cat scan and this is what it showed. It's so complicated and the reading on it is twice as bad. I know the CPAP is also good for this. We'll thanks for letting me share tonight. This felt good. Have a good weekend. Hope to talk soon🌸

I am a health professional but when it is your own life all too often you ignore things and think you know best. I finally had a sleep apnea study at home at my wife's urging. I have had a lot of issues with loud snoring most of my adult life (since my 20's). I have never felt tired or fallen asleep when I shouldn't have, and actually had a pretty good amount of energy. Finally at 58, I had a test, which was very positive. I was having greater than 60 episodes per hour and my oygen saturations were dropping into the 70's. I relatively quickly had to go in for an overnight calibration and of course further testing. I am now on BiPAP and sleep more deeply than I ever did before. I always thought I was just a light sleeper, but probably in reality I was sleep apneic and every little thing woke me up. I am grateful that I had the testing and got my BiPAP and I am sorry I did not do it sooner.

Hi @AffectionateIvoryWombat5031. I'm sorry you are having issues with the Forum. I will contact you at your Gmail address shortly and see if I am able to assist

Welcome, @RationalMaroonNightingale2172 and @WakingUptotheAffectsofSleepApnea! We are happy to have you on the forum. Congratulations to both of you on your successes to date with treatment of your conditions. I hope you will explore the site and complete the surveys.

@RationalMaroonNightingale2172, TBM (Tracheobronchomalacia) is more commonly seen in children but can also occur in adults, and CPAP may be a great treatment option. Hopefully, your sleep continues to improve with treatment! Glad to hear you are loving your CPAP, and please keep us updated on your progress. The NIH has some good information on the condition posted here: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/7791/tracheobronchomalacia/resources/1. The links on the left side of the page will help you navigate through symptoms, cause, tests & diagnosis, treatment and other information you may find helpful.

@WakingUptotheAffectsofSleepApnea, congratulations on taking steps to improve your health! It sounds like you had some severe symptoms with 60 episodes per hour. Good luck with your BiPAP, and please feel free to share your experiences and ask any questions that our member community might be able to help answer.

Hi All, My current diagnosis is Severe Complex Apnea. I've been working with a doctor and through the medical system for 6 months now, but I am yet to be treated. I'm getting frustrated. I've had 4 sleep studies, one at home and three overnight. The overnight has been CPAP, Bi-PAP and ASV. I don't mind the tests, but my current doctor and medical organization is not very responsive and I have to constantly call and followup to be sure the studies were scheduled and they are very slow to respond. I have now resorted to calling every day.

I know my case may be a bit unusual because it is severe complex and I'm not over weight or have any of the classic contributing factors. I believe I have had sleep apnea for years without being diagnosed. I am an engineer and business owner, always busy, but I am now at the point that the head fog and fatigue are taking its toll.

I live south of Boston so I am now looking at ways of becoming more involved in the amazing medical resources that Boston has to offer.

I expect to be on ASV soon, but I would like to find a provider who is more interested in my case as there may be underlying factors that should be explored in addition to the apnea treatment.

I hope the best for all in this community!

Hi, I'm Marty. In 2011, I woke up a few times in the middle of the night after dreams that I was not breathing, and I wasn't. Decided to engage an ENT. After a sleep study, Dr. Schroeder said I had a deviated septum that was s-shaped and offered to correct it for me. I took him up on that and things were a lot better. However, a couple of years later, my wife noted that I was sleeping with a buzzing noise although I was not experiencing the breathing stoppage any more. Back to the doctor and he ordered another sleep test. It indicated I stopped breathing approximately 50 times during the night. I was then issued a CPAP which has been working fine. Nice thing is that I am registered with th VA and found out they will supply updates equipment and supplies.

Hi Marty, I am a VA patient and they did the sleep test on me and have supplied me with all of my CPAP machine, masks, etc plus I have to go in on a regular basis for follow-up.

Hi @SleepyG, and welcome to MyApnea.Org! I compliment you on your persistence with your medical team and hope you receive treatment soon. The effects of untreated sleep apnea are something many of our members are all too familiar with, and the fog and fatigue you mention are not uncommon. Hopefully, treatment will improve your sleep and your daytime functioning. There are many excellent resources for sleep care in the Boston area. Please keep us posted on your progress, and feel free to ask questions here on the forum and complete the online surveys. We have a great member community and are glad you are here! -Dan

Hi.. Dave Bear here... Diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea last week. Last night was the first night with the CPAP machine. Tried the nasal pillow. Did not work for me as this morning reading the mfr. manual that I need a full face mask due to the fact that I sleep with my mouth open. On my way back to the provider this morning for the full mask. After all the reading, I'm determined to find the right solution. Wish me luck.

Welcome, Dave, and you are on the right track. CPAP therapy is a journey that works best with a positive attitude. Good luck and I wish you the best of luck...as I said...think positive and it will all come together.

My name is Jen. My whole family uses cpap. Due to some health issues, I have had to start sleeping on my back. Also, I have a lot of anxiety. Because of that and being such a light sleeper, my snoring is waking me up. Sleep study shows only a few apneas but constant waking throughout the night to the point where I was not getting much sleep. I snored the whole time. I am looking for ideas to combat the snoring in hopes of getting better sleep. I also had a lot of alpha waves which suggested my brain was too active. Not sure what to do about that. Having mixed results with sleep meds. Never had insomnia or need for sleep meds until recently.

@JenL2015 Familiar with those Alpha brain waves. No solution to share. One thing I am doing, or trying to do, is to meditate before bedtime. I use an app Insight Timer I have on my phone. You can find guided meditations anywhere from 5-30 minutes. Just try some till you find some you like. Make them your favorites.

I also have music and nature sounds that I find relax me.

Thank you barbz.

Just as a question--how many of the people on this forum were diagnosed by a doctor before you were aware of a problem? It seems that most of us either went to the doctor because we suspected a problem or the problem was found during treatment for something else. If this is the case, then we need to do some serious thinking about the diagnosis side of sleep apnea. While I realize there are no tests (other than a sleep study) and no medications, there has got to be a way to catch this earlier before damage is done.

I also see where people have different suggestions to help with sleep, like meditation. Maybe that's a good thread idea for the forum.