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I am a firefighter i wear scba (self contained breathing apparatus) masks all the time.

This puts you way ahead of the adjustment game ! !  

The masks are only *bad* when they aren't correctly matched with the person having to wear them.


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well last night was my first time so being hooked up to the wires and using it was strange.  I am sure it will get better once I get it home and use it.  It just felt strange last night because it felt like a jet stream going down your throat.  I just had to nose mask on, but i couldn't open my mouth anyway because the pressure made it almost impossible.   I will say this though, I slept!!.  I woke up thinking it was 1/2 hour later and it was 5 hours later!!  I also didn't snore which is a first since I  have been a kid.   Others on here will be more able to tell you what it is like after wearing it for a while.  I am a newbie.  It is worth the try.

    

Kudos to you for seeing a result on first time CPAP use and while in a strange environment   This is a very good indication you will take to CPAP like the proverbial duck to water.  

If once you get it all going at home, you have some hangups either immediately or later on, don't fret just get busy finding out what the problem is, correct it and move on.  Almost everyone goes through periods where the mask constantly leaks, the headgear slips, it's too noisy to sleep, etc. etc. etc.  But folk like you that see immediate result often have few issues to deal with as time goes by, compared to the rest of us

Your ongoing good night's sleep is right around the corner for you!

Blessings,
--pseudonym

Thanks for the support.  I am single and I love the TV shows where women spend the night with a guy and its all peaceful and blissful, no snoring and I think gesssshhh I will never get a guy after he hears me snore.   Then I got the CPAP thing going on now and I think.. wow I definatly will never get a guy to stay over.  Its just not sexy, I am cursed!!!..  hahaha.  But ya know what, My health is so much more important and if it means looking like an alien at night. so be it.  haha.  anyway, this is great support for me knowing I am not the only alien at night out there.  

Great Idea, we should talk to the TV reps and tell them to make a real show with women wearing these at night while they sleep in them steamy overnight scenes. Thats Reality. haha.

My personal view is I don't see the CPAP as anything other than a medical treatment for a medical condition.  If someone doesn't want to be with me because of it, then we probably don't belong together anyhow.  

Please note I am not saying anything about passing judgment on that person.  Rather it is my intent to point out that *I* would likely not be happy spending my life with that person.  It's my happiness at stake here, they can take care of themselves

Blessings,
--pseudonym

tiredinOC wrote:

I definatly will never get a guy to stay over.  Its just not sexy, I am cursed!!!.

Tip:  The mask is only used when sleeping.  Don't put it on for dinner or "romantic entanglements".  

WOW.. last night was the first night I had all my stuff at home and used it for the first time  in my own bed.  IT was amazing.  I slept all night long.  I am usually up at least 3-4 times a night.  I didn't get up once.  I didn't toss and turn .  I even slept on my back which I haven't done in many years because It use to cut off my air.   CPAP is amazing.  I am not even tired this morning.   I have no complaints.  IT was quiet and comfortable.   I use a nose mask only.  I am a mouth breather, but with my pressure setting, I can't even open my mouth to breath if i wanted too, so no need for a full mask.   My setting is a 12.  If there is anyone out there who is skeptical, try it.   It is going to give me a new life.   thanks for all your help.

OHhh and to ad this little note.  My boyfriend said it will make me glow using it.  awwww.   he is excited that I can now breath at night no matter if I do look like Darth Vader.  He has been very suportive and is concerned about my health.  I put down my vane-ness and said yep, I am more concerened about my health.

good for you tiredinOC; most important health than beauty at night keep it up.

I did have just one complaint.. i woke up with black marks on my face from the straps.. they won't come oFF!! ahhaI took a shower and scrubbed and even tried alcohol.  how do you get rid of these and stop them from showing up again.  also my pillow is black now.

tiredinOC wrote:

WOW.. last night was the first night I had all my stuff at home and used it for the first time  in my own bed.  IT was amazing.  I slept all night long.

I am looking forward to that myself! I had my sleep study Wednesday night (split night, so I had CPAP for only half of it), and I felt great yesterday! Last night, of course, I didn't have CPAP, and I woke up tired. I can't wait to have the CPAP for the whole night.  

tiredinOC wrote:

I did have just one complaint.. i woke up with black marks on my face from the straps.. they won't come oFF!! ahhaI took a shower and scrubbed and even tried alcohol.  how do you get rid of these and stop them from showing up again.  also my pillow is black now.

I don't recall if you mentioned, what make/model mask are you using?  I don't think I've ever read or heard about straps leaving what sounds like 'dye' marks?  Maybe some fuzz if made of neoprene but that should definitely wash away.

You can make your own or buy 'Pad-A-Cheeks' - google for it -- these are tubes that slip over the straps, primarily intended for straps that tend to 'dig in' but could be used for any reason, such as keeping the straps off your face.

Oh and don't worry if using a CPAP gets a bit rocky from time to time, for whatever reason sometimes masks won't seal, the machine bugs us, etc., just examine what is wrong, fix it and move on.  Hopefully you will sleep great from here on out but if for some reason you reach a bump in the road, don't fret.   I think it happens to just about everyone at one point or another.  

KUDOS to you and especially to your boyfriend for being supportive of your need to use CPAP therapy!      

Blessings,
--pseudonym

well the strap was a new respironics black strap.. It was definatly a dye left on my skin and pillow from it.  It wouldn't come off.. I had to resort to washing it ( the strap) twice and then using a facial hair bleach to get the dye off my face and under my ears.   I think it is just because it was so new and maybe i was sweating some or the heat on my skin made it do that.  My kids were laughing at me all day because you see every mark from the strap on my skin.  haha.  all gone now.

I have not heard of or experienced loss of the dye, and I have a few Respironics' masks, they have been through sweat and the washing machine, they have been colorfast.  You are the first one I have heard of!  Bad, Respironics, Bad Bad!

Blessings,
--pseudonym