re: Any CPAP users in here?

I got one back in April. I'm kind of a big baw. Even in my 20s, and not overweight, I snored and was told that I should get checked. As I've gotten older and bigger, its gotten much worse and that sluggish feeling was getting unbearable.

I was having 92 apneas an hour. Yeah, pretty bad. I am also a mouth breather so I have the Bane, fighter pilot face mask. The first night, I took it off in the middle of the night without realizing it. The second night, I left it on and noticed a difference immediately. I haven't missed a night since. Game changer.

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Are CPAP machines easy to sleep with? It seems like you would lose more sleep with a mask over your face versus a couple of times holding your breath at night.

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Full face mask user here.

Once accustomed to it, for me there is a noticeable decrease in the work of breathing on the CPAP.

I utilize EPR though expiratory pressure relief on my ResMed, which drops the pressure on exhalation.

I sleep like a baby with it on, and can definitely feel the difference the next day if I don’t use it.

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I was diagnosed with Central Sleep Apnea in February. Took 4 months to receive my ResMed. Tried 2 nasal pillows but couldn’t get used to them as I typically breathe through my mouth due to multiple sinus issues. Have tried the full mask for two nights now and can’t get used to it. I don’t think the fit is right as it leaked unless I have it so tight it feels like a strong midget is smothering me. Needless to say my sleep has been even worse since trying this and I’m starting to lose hope. Anyone use an ASV machine for Central Apnea? Research says it may be better than CPAP. I’d be interested to know how the transition was helpful or not if so.

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Perhaps you require a different mask size?

There is also a memory foam mask.

Check out the air sense F series with and without the memory foam.

I use a regular f20 but I am going to try the F20 with memory foam next round.

One other thing I'd recommend is seeing if you can get an auto BiPAP instead of a CPAP. With a CPAP you have one constant pressure. In my case, it lead to me swallowing air throughout the night and I'd end up with a bloated stomach and constant morning farts for like 30 min after I woke up. There's a name for it (Aerophagia).

With auto BiPAP, the machine has two pressure levels, high for inhalation and low for exhalation. The auto part means that it adjusts you pressure levels throughout your sleep. Cool thing is, once it's on, it almost breathes for you and breathing against it is no issue. It also eliminated the aerophagia.

This explains it better: Machines and Pressures

Has anyone encountered an issue where they were diagnosed with sleep apnea years before and never used their CPAP? Then, the daily sleepiness had gotten so bad to the point where you have no motivation to do anything and you feel very lazy and possibly depressed? That's where I'm at right now. I started using my CPAP again several days ago but not feeling any different yet. I know it can sometimes take a while to start feeling better but I'm wondering if what I am going through is sleep apnea related or depression.

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Tried 2 nasal pillows but couldn’t get used to them as I typically breathe through my mouth due to multiple sinus issues.

Have tried the full mask for two nights now and can’t get used to it. I don’t think the fit is right as it leaked unless I have it so tight it feels like a strong midget is smothering me.

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Have you tried taping or not?

I haven’t. I think that would give me too much anxiety to sleep.

I find it very hard to breathe through my nose with out consciously thinking about it.

For those dreading the test, my clinic set me up with a study at home. I had to connect a couple of things to my chest. More comfortable than sleeping in a lab.

TapPap

This is what I use. It looks insane, but really works. I did well with the full face mask, but did not like the marks on my face in the morning or that the strap around my head messed up my hair. It also leaked sometimes, which was disruptive and left me with dry eye. Now I can totally sleep on my side and move around freely. The pillows don't budge. It ensures my mouth stays closed. Kind of a game changer.