Hope2SleepGuide

Sleep Apnoea Forum Bringing Help + Support to the Patient

Welcome to our Forum - Feel Free to Introduce Yourself Here.

Welcome to the Hope2SleepGuide Forum, which is a service run by the Hope2Sleep Charity founded by Kath Hope with a marvellous team of trustees and volunteers. 

Kath herself has severe sleep apnoea and hypoventilation/hypercapnia, and has used CPAP for several years and is now on non-invasive ventilation.  Our trustees and volunteers are all either sufferers of sleep disordered breathing or clinicians/medics working in this field, and most importantly, we are all passionate in supporting (with empathy) others and raising awareness to help people live healthier and more energised lives.

 

Whilst we do not give medical advice, more often than not, with support, tips and knowledge, people can overcome any problems experienced with our therapy, and there is a whole page dedicated to this on the website http://www.hope2sleep.co.uk/tips-for-problems-sleeping-with-cpap-or...

 

Please come and join us, and don’t feel obligated to use your ‘real’ name if you prefer to remain anonymous as this is a public forum.  Don’t be shy in posting and sharing, as we’re all in this together and to help each other.

Best Wishes for good sleep!

Kath

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Hi Pete.  Welcome to our world and what you're going through at the beginning of your therapy is absolutely normal.  I remember throwing masks across the bedroom in temper when first on CPAP   Take a look at the help sheet on the main website for newbies and you can download it and print it off http://www.hope2sleep.co.uk/desensitisation-tips-for-new-cpap-and-v...

I agree with Iain that if you don't have a humidifier, things will improve when you get one.


You won't need all these tips yet, but bookmark this page on the website for any future problems, as there's usually an answer to most of them http://www.hope2sleep.co.uk/tips-for-problems-sleeping-with-cpap-or...  Also,  shout out for any other help you need, and maybe worth starting a new discussion if anything comes up.
Peter Turpin said:

Hi Kath and all other members, my name is Pete Turpin, I've just been diagnosed with Sleep Apnoea, I picked my Cpap up yesterday for a weeks trial, thought I will get straight on with it without a problem, yeah right I live and learn, the pressure was set at 11, I ended up reducing the pressure with the 20 minute reduction button down to 4, still had difficulty trying to sleep. I have never suffered from Claustrophobia, but had a couple of bouts of it during the night, then my nose blocked up and had to breathe through my mouth, I felt like throwing the mask across the bedroom, but didn't and persevered, the one saving grace was that my wife said I never snored all night, which is a good thing for her, I am hoping it's easier tonight with the mask......
I have now been using my Cpap since 18th May 2017, I had to have a change of mask as I was having problems trying to get the original one to seal, so was given another that's seems a lot better, but I still now and again have sealing problems. I am amazed in just a few weeks use what a difference I have found, I am sleeping without constantly getting up during the night and wondering around the house, I never snore, I am not restless, my wife says I am too quiet now, can't win. The only thing I am slightly disappointed by is I expected to sleep longer then 6 hours, but the saving grace is I don't wake up more tired then when I went to bed, I am quite refreshed when I do get out of bed, the technician at the Sleep Clinic tells me it may come with time that I sleep longer, we will see, I don't even mind sleeping in the mask, got used to it now. My Cpap was fitted with a filter as my mouth is very dry when first putting the mask on, just pushes into the back of the machine, but I had to take it back off as it seemed to restrict the air pressure, I am going to contact the Sleep Clinic about having a humidifier fitted, the good thing though for my wife during the recent hot weather, the vent were the air comes out of the mask cools her down, apparently I'm better then fan, least I have a use now.

That's great to hear you're finding such a difference Peter, as agree you should find the length of your sleep longer in time.  Perhaps the occasional mask leaks are causing you to wake early, so if you can sort those then that could help.  It may help to try the Silent Night Mask Liners and to also check you have the correct size of mask.

I would put back the filter on your machine as you need that protection, but ask the clinic for a humidifier. 

Glad your wife is finding benefits to you using your CPAP too

Peter Turpin said:

I have now been using my Cpap since 18th May 2017, I had to have a change of mask .........
Hiya Kath,
I've put the filter back on and am contacting the Sleep Clinic today, the filter fits in were the tube goes into the Cpap and then the tube fits onto it, it has a green filter inside the housing, you are right about me waking up I think it is because of sealing issues, thanks for the advice about the mask liners, will order some today.

Peter, how did you get on at the sleep clinic?

Peter Turpin said:

Hiya Kath,
I've put the filter back on and am contacting the Sleep Clinic today, the filter fits in were the tube goes into the Cpap and then the tube fits onto it, it has a green filter inside the housing, you are right about me waking up I think it is because of sealing issues, thanks for the advice about the mask liners, will order some today.
Thank you for the add :)

Hi Everyone 

Just looking for advice please, I have arthritis in my neck with bony spurs, I have been getting terrible headaches and awful neck pain which lasts nearly all day

I have a responics machine with full face mask, i think the lower strap  sits right where my neck is bad.

Does anyone have any ideas what I could use to not have a strap on my neck?

Thanks very much

Julia

This seems to be a common problem.

http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t92805/search.php?keywords=no+nec...

FWIW I wear a Quattro FX full face mask and have not had any problems with the straps.

http://tinyurl.com/y7n8fny2

Regards,

Iain Noble

Hi Julia.  I struggle with neck pain too and I use the alternative softcap headgear.  They work with all the Respironics' full face masks, except the Amara View.Due to the fact the straps stick anywhere on the cap it means I can angle the lower straps upwards instead of across the back of my neck, as I have to have my headgear pretty tight due to high VPAP pressures.  Here's a link to them on the website http://www.hope2sleep.co.uk/softcap-alternative-headgear.html

Another (cheaper) option would be to try the Neck/Cheek Strap Covers http://www.hope2sleep.co.uk/cpap-mask-neck-comfort-strap-cover.html



julia nash said:

Hi Everyone 

Just looking for advice please, I have arthritis in my neck with bony spurs, I have been getting terrible headaches and awful neck pain which lasts nearly all day

I have a responics machine with full face mask, i think the lower strap  sits right where my neck is bad.

Does anyone have any ideas what I could use to not have a strap on my neck?

Thanks very much

Julia

Hi my name is Angie and I suffer with sleep apnea.
Hi my name is Angie and I suffer with sleep apnea.


Welcome Angie and feel free to start up a new discussion if you need any support, and hope you find our forum a good place to be.

Kath
Angela Jean Botten said:

Hi my name is Angie and I suffer with sleep apnea.

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