Guest guest Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 > > Hi everyone!For those bipap or cpap users---how long did it take you to get used to using it?Friday will be 2 weeks since I picked up my bipap. I opted for the nose cushion type and I am having an extremely hard time sleeping with it. I start off really well and its very comfortable and I fall asleep. But I am still tossing and turning and within a few hours I wake up with the hose and nose apparatus getting in my way and not allowing me to lie comfortably on my side (the respiratory therapist has advised I shouldn't sleep on my back). I end up pulling it off after 3 or 4 hours. I have slept through the night only once and slept more than 4 hours once.Also, I have a humidifier on my concentrator which the respirator therapist thought might be enough, but I have called my pulmo and asked if I needed another humidifier for the bipap due to having dry throat problems and sore throat this morning. Any input ? suggestions?Roxanne > > Roxanne, 59, South Carolina > > 2006 Asthma/ PF > > 2008 PF/ Sarcoidosis/Gerd > > Lady Slipper Orchid > Roxanne. My experience with CPap was like yours. I tried for 3 months; two different masks. Result was 3 months of very poor sleep. I know that many people swear by the mask..they sleep like babies. For me, it just didn't work. My pulmodude said 50% of his patients can not tolerate the mask. My advice: keep trying; try different types of masks; but don't beat yourself up if you're not sucessful. Ted, 79, IL; IPF March 09 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 I too have a CPAP. I absolutely love it. I have the quattro mask. I don't think I can use the gel mask because I have the auto adjust and have it set at a 13-16 range. Maybe it is just me. It also has a humidifier. The gentleman who fitted me for the mask says that in the summer he sets the humidifier at a lower (second dot) setting than winter. I have found his tip worthwhile. I also have a sleep doctor that recommends bleeding in 2 liters of oxygen from my concentrator. My pulmo dude says it isn't necessary. I take the middle road. If air quality in Salt Lake City is bad, I use it. If I have been feeling " under the weather " , I use it. Otherwise, I do not use the additional 2 liters. I sleep so much better and I swear, my breathing is so much easier overall. I wake up well rested and my sat level upon waking is usually 94-96. I can't imagine where it was prior to that. I was not diagnosed with severe sleep apnea until this year but my sleep doctor says I have probably had it for many years (6-10). It was one of the first questions I was asked in Denver. I had just been issued my CPAP at that point and had it with me while I was there. I had a couple of nights at first where nothing went right. It is so worth it to keep trying it. Stefani 61 year old Utahn ILD 2/2006, NSIP (cellular) 6/2009, UIP 9/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Severe Sleep Apnea 4/2009 > > > > Hi everyone!For those bipap or cpap users---how long did it take you to get used to using it?Friday will be 2 weeks since I picked up my bipap. I opted for the nose cushion type and I am having an extremely hard time sleeping with it. I start off really well and its very comfortable and I fall asleep. But I am still tossing and turning and within a few hours I wake up with the hose and nose apparatus getting in my way and not allowing me to lie comfortably on my side (the respiratory therapist has advised I shouldn't sleep on my back). I end up pulling it off after 3 or 4 hours. I have slept through the night only once and slept more than 4 hours once.Also, I have a humidifier on my concentrator which the respirator therapist thought might be enough, but I have called my pulmo and asked if I needed another humidifier for the bipap due to having dry throat problems and sore throat this morning. Any input ? suggestions?Roxanne > > > > Roxanne, 59, South Carolina > > > > 2006 Asthma/ PF > > > > 2008 PF/ Sarcoidosis/Gerd > > > > Lady Slipper Orchid > > > Roxanne. > My experience with CPap was like yours. I tried for 3 months; two different masks. Result was 3 months of very poor sleep. > I know that many people swear by the mask..they sleep like babies. For me, it just didn't work. My pulmodude said 50% of his patients can not tolerate the mask. My advice: keep trying; try different types of masks; but don't beat yourself up if you're not sucessful. > Ted, 79, IL; IPF March 09 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Hi Roxanne,I'm APAP user and have a full face mask that I've been using for about 3 months now. I have a humidifier included on my machine and it has a dial on it for the amount of humidity one needs and 2 seems to be just fine for me, no dry throat or nose. I also run my O2 through it.I don't have any trouble falling asleep and it feels comfortable. But like you, I wake up usually after about 5 hours and want it off my face. A few times I've slept longer, but 5 hours seems to be my routine and then I take it off and doze the remaining couple of hours without it on. I don't know if that will get better. C_53_Familial IPF_5/09WashingtonTo: Breathe-support Sent: Wed, September 30, 2009 5:22:36 PMSubject: BiPap question Hi everyone!For those bipap or cpap users---how long did it take you to get used to using it?Friday will be 2 weeks since I picked up my bipap. I opted for the nose cushion type and I am having an extremely hard time sleeping with it. I start off really well and its very comfortable and I fall asleep. But I am still tossing and turning and within a few hours I wake up with the hose and nose apparatus getting in my way and not allowing me to lie comfortably on my side (the respiratory therapist has advised I shouldn't sleep on my back). I end up pulling it off after 3 or 4 hours. I have slept through the night only once and slept more than 4 hours once.Also, I have a humidifier on my concentrator which the respirator therapist thought might be enough, but I have called my pulmo and asked if I needed another humidifier for the bipap due to having dry throat problems and sore throat this morning. Any input ? suggestions?RoxanneRoxanne, 59, South Carolina 2006 Asthma/ PF 2008 PF/ Sarcoidosis/ Gerd Lady Slipper Orchid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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