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[Taz79]

Hi, I have just been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea and have just started on the CPAP machine. I am finding the machine difficult as feel claustrophobic, does this pass?

Thanks

[Patsy164]

Yes it does but you have to persevere. I found listening to meditation helps I forget about the mask and fall asleep. There are times when the mask leaks and in anger take it off and sleep without it but I find now if I keep it on all night I have a better sleep and wake up feeling more refreshed. I have health issues and have found them better because I am getting a good nights sleep. It can be frustrating but don’t give up as it is worth it. Also I use cpap mask liners to stop the leaking and they work well. I hope you do well and find the benefits of the cpap machine. 😀

[Taz79 in reply to Patsy164]

Thank you. I have it started using it since Wednesday so I am early days but when you said about the mask leaking and being frustrated, I too take the mask of in frustration but I know I need to stick in

[Patsy164 in reply to Taz79]

I have read people who have been using it for 10 years all of a sudden have trouble. We all have our own ways of dealing with things and we all get fed up with it if we have a cold and can’t breathe with it on. It’s not set in stone we have to use it every night but of course it is advisable due to the nature of the illness. I’m sure you will find your way.

[Bassman65]

What type of mask do you have Taz79?

[Taz79 in reply to Bassman65]

I have the full mask which sits just under my nose and over my mouth. I asked for this one as I sleep with my mouth open

[Bassman65 in reply to Taz79]

I never had a full face mask so not sure what advice to give...I started on a nasal mask and struggled for the first couple of weeks, I tried three masks and eventually settled on one ...I found that sometimes overtight straps would force the mask to leak in places, looser straps can work better....I now use nasal pillows and find that for them slightly tighter straps work better...it’s just a case of find the adjustment for you...it does take time to settle in and get used to it but the benefits far outweigh the cons and I regularly get 7 hours good sleep with the mask on

[troublesleeping in reply to Taz79]

Upload a picture of the mask

[Want2BHappy3]

I was diagnosed also with sleep apnea, everyone's different. Try different mask? There's one that can be put in the nostrils. For me I tried several, it got to the point that just stopped using it, that was about 10 years ago. Been dealing with Insomnia, I have new insurance now in December I'll look into doing another sleep study. This Insomnia is killing Me, I'm Not sleeping till the next day around 8-9. Only about 2 hours a day, I dose off several times a day. I try to stay awake, I can't I'm exhausted. So try different mask it could make a difference?

[JayceeW]

Hi Taz79

Sleep apnea is something you need to inform the DVLA about and they need to know that you are compliant with using your machine before they will agree to you continuing driving. So it is well worth persevering.

I have a full mask, over the whole of my nose and mouth, and although it was strange at first you do get used to it.

I once described its use to a doctor friend as a love hate relationship - hate having to wear it, but love the fact that it makes sure I waken up in the morning!

Hope things improve for you soon.

[LDloveslattecoffe]

Taz79,

It can take a lot to get used to it. You might find if you change the ramp time it helps.

The ramp time is the time it takes to get to full strength. When I had it first it was about 20mins and I struggled to get used to it.

I went back and they changed ramp time to 45 mins

I still have some problems like the others mentioned.

Stick with it, it does help.

[Rubymurray25]

Hi , I am terribly claustrophobic and was so upset when I was told after having my sleep test I was having 68 episodes an hour and would have to use CPAP and wear a mask, however I was asked if I wanted to try the nose pillows first, which I did and that was a very strange experience and dreaded the thought of going onto a full mask. The first two weeks were hell but after that it certainly got better but my results had only reduced to the mid teens and my cardiologist got involved as he was convinced Sleep Apnea is a major cause of Atrial Fibrillation so I was told I must use a full face mask, my worst nightmare. I am a mouth breather so I purchased a really cheap chinstrap and to my great surprise with the nose pillows I was down to 6/8 episodes. I then had a few hiccups so purchased an Air 30 small mask which goes over the very bottom of the nose and mouth, felt alright but the results were still 6/8. I then purchased a really good chinstrap from USA and hand stitched the blue straps on the nose pillows to make them a little tighter and was down to 2 on average, I regularly use add an extra stitch and that does the trick for me ( after about 6 months I do replace ) . I know we are all so different but some 15 months on I feel great and do get a good nights sleep, so trail and error is the name of the game. Good Luck Max

[BonnieSue Dream Team]

Hi Taz,

I agree with Rubymurray25 that the nasal pillows are the best, least confining of the choices. I could never get a mask to seal properly for long. So...no mask at all. I do have to tighten up the cloth straps that go around my head after a number of weeks, just like Ruby. It's easy and quick to take a few stitches. Or I can let my supply company send me new straps and bill my insurance. If your mouth drops open, there's also a strap for that, to keep it closed. Very soft and wide, it goes from your chin to the top of your head and around. You adjust the tightness. I still don't like my CPAP after countless years, but I know it improves my quality of sleep, I don't wake suffocating, and I know I'll wake up from my sleep. I never sleep without it except by accidentally falling asleep. Bets wishes for your success!

Hugs, Love, and Blessings...

[Goldengirl01]

Hi, I originally had just the nose mask which makes

me yawn so I had it changed to the full face mask with a humidifier but I can’t use it every night because it makes me sweat and is claustrophobic. It depends how bad your sleep apnoea is. The nasal pillows are ok if you don’t move around much as they can move. I find it’s good for stress as it can calm your breathing down, strange but true.

[CDreamer]

Hi Taz - I attended 2 classes fun by our local CPAP clinic - about 3 weeks apart.

The first allowed us to try various masks and practise and we were advised to wear the mask we chose as much as possible during the day (without being attached to the machine of course) so we got used to it. The second sorted any problems we had. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get used to the full face mask and as I like sleeping on my side, full facial mask didn’t suit me at all. I changed to nasal mask, which suited me better but requires me to use a chin strap to prevent air leakage. It took me about 6 weeks to able to bear the mask for more than a few hours but gradually the time increased and suddenly I woke up one morning feeling rested and alert and the best night’s sleep ever! Never looked back.

Persevere and keep going back until you are happy with the mask and the machine.

I agree with Patsy - listening to meditation or sleep story distracts and helps me full asleep. I am now 5 years down the line and just changed my machine to auto-sense and have 100% sleep quality 95% of the time. It has improved my QOL hugesly.

Hope that helps.

[Taz79]

Thank you for all your comments, I appreciate them. Well I have persevered this week and pretty much have managed between 7 and 8 hours on the mask, had a blip of 2 hours one night. I think it is like most people who have commented is saying that I know it will benefit me in the long run.

I feel like I would like to share that my apnoeas were only 23 an hour. Also I'm not sure whether it is just psychological but if I've worn the mask for a good few hours then I do feel slightly more refreshed than I am used to.

Another good point of the CPAP machine is that my partner loves the machine as he says that he would rather have the noise of the CPAP machine than my snoring.