I am using a RemStar Pro M Series with a mirage quattro; I have been using it for a week now. I am at 12 cmH2O and use a 20 minute ramp starting at 4. So, after a week I have pretty much adjusted to the airflow. I can probably stop using the ramp at this point. My problem is that I can't fall asleep, no matter how tired I am. My wife and I recently had a baby so I have been extra tired lately. Even still, I just lay there for 1-2 hours. It's like the air is somehow infused with caffeine.  

I typically fall asleep fast; usually within 10 minutes. But now that I am using the mask, I can't fall asleep at all no matter how tired and relaxed I am. My question is: will this pass? Is this common? I'm hoping it is because I do not want to take drugs to help get to sleep.

Very common, yep.

Some advice I have seen given by others has been to try wearing it during waking hours, like while you're watching t.v., etc to help accelerate the adaptation process.  Perhaps this would help you become accustomed to wearing it?

ApexAZ wrote:

Very common, yep.

Some advice I have seen given by others has been to try wearing it during waking hours, like while you're watching t.v., etc to help accelerate the adaptation process.  Perhaps this would help you become accustomed to wearing it?

I tried going to bed a little early so I can read, but the full-face mask makes it a little hard. I feel like it makes me go cross-eyed.  

Yeah tho bar thing that goes in between your eyes is kind of weird.

There are many other masks too.  Perhaps you'd have better luck with a new mask?  I couldn't tolerate the quattro.  My pressure is set to 19 and the quattro leaked too bad.  It also made my lower teeth hurt.  I prefer the Fisher & Paykal Forma because it has a chin cup and fits over my entire chin.  It's more comfortable and less prone to leaking.  I'm still trying different kinds when I can though because I would like to improve my leak rate even more if possible.

Also, are you sleeping in a different position than what you are accustomed to?  Sometimes the cpap therapy makes us try to sleep on our back and maybe you have difficulty sleeping on your back?

Regardless, just keep at it and you will adapt to it.

ApexAZ wrote:

Yeah tho bar thing that goes in between your eyes is kind of weird.

There are many other masks too.  Perhaps you'd have better luck with a new mask?  I couldn't tolerate the quattro.  My pressure is set to 19 and the quattro leaked too bad.  It also made my lower teeth hurt.  I prefer the Fisher & Paykal Forma because it has a chin cup and fits over my entire chin.  It's more comfortable and less prone to leaking.  I'm still trying different kinds when I can though because I would like to improve my leak rate even more if possible.

Also, are you sleeping in a different position than what you are accustomed to?  Sometimes the cpap therapy makes us try to sleep on our back and maybe you have difficulty sleeping on your back?

Regardless, just keep at it and you will adapt to it.

My pressure is set at 12 and I haven't experienced any leaks. I haven't been able to keep it on for more than 2 hours yet, so I can't complain of any other problems.

I typically sleep on my side or stomach but can fall asleep just as easy on my back. My problem is having this thing on my face, which I guess will pass as I get used to it (hopefully). It does seem that each night gets better, though. I actually think I fell asleep for a short while last night. I woke up and my mouth was so dry that my tongue was stuck to my pallete.  

I couldn't sleep with it for 3 months that I almost lost hope, then one night I thought about buying 9" fan and putting it few feet away from my face (directed at my face) and man, was that a magic for me or what?? I slept with it on the same night and eversince

MrGreen. Try doing your reading before you put your mask on. You only need to put your mask on just before falling asleep. If you can't sleep, take your mask off, sit up and read for a bit and try again in 15 mins.

A significant number of people use a sleep aid for the first little while of xPAP use -- just to get over the initial hump.

If you typically sleep on your side or stomach, try getting to sleep in one of those positions. Side sleeping is easier with cpap but stomach sleeping is possible too.

You mention that you haven't been able to keep the mask on for more than two hours yet -- can you tell us why that is?

That very very dry mouth is typically associated with mouth breathing. Do you have and integrated humidifier and is it working?

jessy 49 wrote:

MrGreen. Try doing your reading before you put your mask on. You only need to put your mask on just before falling asleep. If you can't sleep, take your mask off, sit up and read for a bit and try again in 15 mins.

A significant number of people use a sleep aid for the first little while of xPAP use -- just to get over the initial hump.

If you typically sleep on your side or stomach, try getting to sleep in one of those positions. Side sleeping is easier with cpap but stomach sleeping is possible too.

You mention that you haven't been able to keep the mask on for more than two hours yet -- can you tell us why that is?

That very very dry mouth is typically associated with mouth breathing. Do you have and integrated humidifier and is it working?

I have tried using Simply Sleep, but I still find myself waking up an hour or two after falling asleep. The reason I couldn't go longer than one or two hours was that I would just lay there wide awake, unable to fall asleep. No matter how tired I was, the mask was a distraction. Lately, I find I can fall asleep, but then wake about an hour later unable to get back to sleep.

All of this has really been taking a toll on me. I am getting LESS sleep now because of the mask related insomnia and the disturbances. I'm getting dark circles under my eyes and have been feeling like !@#! during the day. It's frustrating because I really thought the CPAP was going to give me my life back but instead it's making me feel worse.  

Oh, and yes my unit has a humidifier.

MisterGreen wrote:

jessy 49 wrote:

MrGreen. Try doing your reading before you put your mask on. You only need to put your mask on just before falling asleep. If you can't sleep, take your mask off, sit up and read for a bit and try again in 15 mins.

A significant number of people use a sleep aid for the first little while of xPAP use -- just to get over the initial hump.

If you typically sleep on your side or stomach, try getting to sleep in one of those positions. Side sleeping is easier with cpap but stomach sleeping is possible too.

You mention that you haven't been able to keep the mask on for more than two hours yet -- can you tell us why that is?

That very very dry mouth is typically associated with mouth breathing. Do you have and integrated humidifier and is it working?

I have tried using Simply Sleep, but I still find myself waking up an hour or two after falling asleep. The reason I couldn't go longer than one or two hours was that I would just lay there wide awake, unable to fall asleep. No matter how tired I was, the mask was a distraction. Lately, I find I can fall asleep, but then wake about an hour later unable to get back to sleep.

All of this has really been taking a toll on me. I am getting LESS sleep now because of the mask related insomnia and the disturbances. I'm getting dark circles under my eyes and have been feeling like !@#! during the day. It's frustrating because I really thought the CPAP was going to give me my life back but instead it's making me feel worse.  

Oh, and yes my unit has a humidifier.

Just keep focused on the fact that you are making progress.  A few weeks ago you couldn't sleep at all.  Now you're getting at least an hour and soon it will be 2, then 3, etc etc.  Keep it up! :)

ApexAZ wrote:

MisterGreen wrote:

jessy 49 wrote:

MrGreen. Try doing your reading before you put your mask on. You only need to put your mask on just before falling asleep. If you can't sleep, take your mask off, sit up and read for a bit and try again in 15 mins.

A significant number of people use a sleep aid for the first little while of xPAP use -- just to get over the initial hump.

If you typically sleep on your side or stomach, try getting to sleep in one of those positions. Side sleeping is easier with cpap but stomach sleeping is possible too.

You mention that you haven't been able to keep the mask on for more than two hours yet -- can you tell us why that is?

That very very dry mouth is typically associated with mouth breathing. Do you have and integrated humidifier and is it working?

I have tried using Simply Sleep, but I still find myself waking up an hour or two after falling asleep. The reason I couldn't go longer than one or two hours was that I would just lay there wide awake, unable to fall asleep. No matter how tired I was, the mask was a distraction. Lately, I find I can fall asleep, but then wake about an hour later unable to get back to sleep.

All of this has really been taking a toll on me. I am getting LESS sleep now because of the mask related insomnia and the disturbances. I'm getting dark circles under my eyes and have been feeling like !@#! during the day. It's frustrating because I really thought the CPAP was going to give me my life back but instead it's making me feel worse.  

Oh, and yes my unit has a humidifier.

Just keep focused on the fact that you are making progress.  A few weeks ago you couldn't sleep at all.  Now you're getting at least an hour and soon it will be 2, then 3, etc etc.  Keep it up! :)

I hope that's the case.  

Update: My doctor gave me a snuggle hose and it made a huge difference. Now the air doesn't cool off before reaching the mask. I still get dry mouth, but it's not as bad as before.

Also, I am able to fall asleep now. In the past week, I have been able to keep the mask on for the entire night. I still wake up a few hours in, but I go right back to sleep. I guess eventually I won't have those awakenings at all.  

My sleep Dr. prescribed me with a sleep aide that I have been taking for the first month.  He said that after one month I should be used to the mask and then he would ween me off the meds.

I've been on cpap for a few years now, and always had problems falling asleep. I bought my husband the Bose over the ears headphones which block out noise. Of course I "borrow" them everynight and listen to a CD (on my IPOD) I bought at Bed, Bath and Beyond specifically for falling asleep. It's called "Sleep Deeply", and I have found that it eases my brain into sleep. I never get to the end of the CD - wake sometime in the night to remove the headphones, and fall right back asleep. I've used it now for eight months and love it. Probably any relaxing music would work, but the headphones block out the noise of the cpap machine, and the music is supposedly scientifically designed to help you go to sleep. It works for me.

You may want to try 3 mg of melatonin for 30 days. If it works keep using it, if not got the next dosage. Don't double the dosage and take 2 tablets of 3mg

Well, it's been 2 months and I'm finally sleeping through the night. I fall asleep no problem and stay asleep all night long. I guess the next goal is feeling better. I still wake up in the morning feeling like I always have.