I really had some psychological issues with getting into the habit of using it. Too much like a machine (!) or something.
I have swift nasal pillows and sleep on my stomach fwiw. I had problems with taking the mask off in my sleep for about ten weeks when I started. In my case, the air caused a lot of irritation and congestion. I would then wake up because I could not breathe through my nose, and the sensation when you breathe through your mouth with the mask on is kinda bizarre. So I'd take it off and fall back asleep. Using a steroid nose spray to reduce the swelling and irritation was a key to dealing with this for me. hope that helps >i hate it. i hate it i hate it i hate it. > >right now i have an activa mask >(http://www.cpap-direct.com/Detail.bok?no=503) which was actually an >'upgrade' from the standard mask i first received. its supposed to be >better for more active sleepers (I'm very restless and do tend to roll >around a lot...i'm also a stomach sleeper which makes any sort of >mask...difficult). > >since i've been diagnosed, i've not yet used the cpap machine >regularly. some of it was due to moving from AZ to FL shortly after >the diagnosis...then switching insurance companies at the new >place...but I still have yet to make it thru the night with the mask >on. Not for lack of trying. Some mornings i'll remember ripping it >off after a couple of hours because i just couldn't fall asleep...and >some mornings I don't even remember ripping it off. > >I've put in a request for a nasal pillow 'mask' (I think Dana >suggested that as a possible alternative)...and waiting to see if they >can get me one. But I'm really short on patience at this point and if >the nasal pillow (if/when I get it) doesn't work out fairly quickly, I >think I'm going to insist on surgery. They normally are hesitant to >do a surgical procedure because the success rate is pretty low (40%?) >and it's a painful procedure. So they do try and persuade you to give >the CPAP a fair shot before deciding on surgery. At this point I >think I've given it a chance, and it's just not working out well. But >that's just me. I've talked to a number of people who did get used to >wearing a mask pretty quickly...and a few even say they can't imagine >going to sleep without it. > >As far as the machine itself...a lot depends on the machine. The >first machine I got in AZ was pretty loud...but even so my wife said >she preferred it over my snoring. It was also not small. My current >machine is much smaller and much more quiet. It does not require a >lot of maintenance (that I'm aware of...). Basically just cleaning >the mask every couple of days with some water. You're supposed to >change the water in the humidifier daily...but I normally change it >weekly. > >As far as getting up and hitting the head...the activa mask detaches >from the hose pretty easily. it's also easy enough to just pull the >whole mask off of your head. I wouldn't be too concerned about that >as an issue. > >On 2/15/06, Earl, George <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:197161 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
