2 Weeks on CPAP cant stand it

[hugbear]

I have been on cpap for 2 weeks now, I have had 4 different masks.  I can fall asleep now no problem, but am waking up during the night and taking my mask off.  It is getting very frustrating as I thought that this was a magical cure for tiredness but am getting so put off over the whole thing I feel like just giving up, have others had the same type of feeling?

[neurotic]

do any of you have thyroid problem?  

[hugbear]

I cant stand it anymore, 4 weeks in and I am lucky if I sleep 2 hours, its going back on friday

[neurotic]

I am having the same problem.  I asked for the nose pillow when i got the results, thinking that i would like it better,  I am having a harding time getting use to it.  It has been two weeks so i asked for the small mask.  I was also told that i need to use CPAP with the water.  

[Rascal729]

I echo all these sentiments. A sleep aid is a great way to train yourself to CPAP. I found a big difference between the sleeping aids, finally settling in on Lunesta. After several weeks of regular CPAP use you will feel an improvement. Just give it time. As for masks, I use the nose pillow. Personal preference but I'm pretty fussy so if I like it maybe you will too.

[msmarlowe]

I agree with Robin. Don't give up. My husband took about three or more weeks to feel comfortable and to stop waking up taking his mask off. You might want to try the nose only and a chin strap. This seemed to help and feel a lot better for my husband. every now and then he takes his mask off during the night but really don't remember why. You might want to try a sleeping pill till you get use to the feeling.

[Robin_B]

Please don't give up!  I had a REALLY tough time too.  I didnt sleep at all for days, changed masks, changed machines, changed settings, all for nothing.  Then I started taking a sleep aid.  I took it every night for a  week, then every other night for two weeks, and now only as needed.  Now I can't sleep WITHOUT my cpap!  I feel so much better.

Sleep apnea can be fatal.  At the very least the quality of life is much less if you aren't sleeping well.

I finally settled on a nose only mask and I don't use any water (it gives me congestion).  You might also try sleeping with just the mask and no pressure for a couple of days to see if it is a pressure issue or a weirdness of having a mask on.  Once you are used to the feel of a mask, a lot can be done with pressures.  My machine will gradually increase to the right pressure over time if I want it to, but I don't bother with that anymore.

Please keep trying!

[Rascal729]

Yep. Sounds like me. I sometimes take Lunesta so that I don't wake up due to the mask. At least this way I get a full night on CPAP which I think outweighs the downside of Lunesta use.