Still no good sleep - Sleep Disorders Message Board

patience 50 · 05-21-2005, 06:10 AM

I have only posted here only a couple of times. I haven't wanted to post in after Analog2000 said it could take 4 to 6 months to adjust to the machine. To recap my story: In Feb, 2005 I was dxed with apnea. March 21st I got a CPAP mask and machine. I have not had a single night of sleep since. I am waking up almost every hour to hour and a half feeling as if I am suffocating or can't exhale. Some nights I wake up and my nose and face feel as if they have been frozen inspite of the humidifier being set on high. My throat is sore each morning also.

Sleep Dr. doesn't seem to feel it's neccessary to return my calls and the gal who set me up with the machine can't do anything without a Dr.s say so. I have reached the point where I either have to stop using the machine or put a gun to my head to get some sleep. I am very tired, sore, angry, and frustrated. Any suggestions or should I just load the gun. I have to sleep, truly I must get some sleep.

Patience 50

patience 50 · 05-21-2005, 06:12 AM

P.S. I don't know if it matters but I also have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Scarring Discoid Lupus with MCTD.

Patience50

hry33 · 05-21-2005, 02:42 PM

are you sure the machine is working properly, filter not blocked? air intake not blocked by curtain, etc? have you blocked the whisper swivel air outlet?

if its a nose mask are u breathing thru your mouth when asleep, maybe tape the lips

maybe ask for another sleep study using your CPAP so they can see whats wrong

patience 50 · 05-21-2005, 03:33 PM

Nope, sorry, all your suggestions have been checked. I have used 2 different kinds of masks and the nostril thing. I sleep maybe 90 minutes, then I wake up startled, realize what the problem is and try to settle down. Maybe an hour later I go back to sleep only to wake again in 60 to 90 min and do it all over. This happens perhaps 4 times a night and by then it's time to get up. I just can not stand to have this over my face blowing air into me. When I am using the full mask I wake up feeling as if I'm sufficating and when I use the nostril thing I wake up not being able to exhale. After 2 months one would think I would at least be adjusting to having something on my face when I wake up but no such luck.

I am at my whits end here. I am short and snappy with everyone all the time. I love children and have always had them around me. They have always enjoyed being here too and now they don't want to come. My husband and I had a huge fight today over nothing. This is destroying me and my life.

Perhaps I should just take up sleeping on the couch where the back of the couch will keep me on my side. According to the study the apnea was only bad when enough to make me stop breathing when I was on my back. I just don't know what else to do. I can't keep going like this. Everyone hates me. Death is better than driving everyone away.

Sorry to sound so meladramic but this is truly where I'm at.

Patience 50

analog2000 · 05-23-2005, 08:23 AM

I am so sorry to hear that you are having such problems! I don't think you sound melodramatic at all, going without sleep is a horrible way to live, you must be so frustrated.

I don't really have any good advice. Yes, it can take many months to get used to CPAP, but you would think you would at least be noticing some small improvement by now. If your sleep doc won't return your calls, it is time to get assertive with him, and if that doesn't work, switch doctors! You don't have to put up with that.

If you want to try just sleeping on your side, you can safety pin tennis balls to the back of your pj's. I really hope you are able to find a solution to this soon. I just feel so bad for you, I know what it is like to not be able to sleep. Good luck.