I haven't posted in a while, since I got my machine I was trying to give it a couple of weeks before I came here to cry!

Diagnosed severe OSA and have been on machine roughly 3 weeks and I fall asleep within 30 minutes but I wake up many times a night although I do go back to sleep quickly.  I don't have to go to the bathroom or anything like that, I just wake up, switch to my other side and go back to sleep until the next awakening.  And when it is time to wake up, I am so groggy.  I do work shift work so that doesn't help.  (before the machine, I could sleep all  night without waking fully)  

I was first put on the ResMed 8 Compact pressure setting of 10.  Talked with doc and told him I thought maybe too much pressure to exhale against, and he switched to Remstar Plus w/cflex @ 10 pressure cflex @3.  I use the Breeze w/ nasal pillows it doesn't seem to bother me. (I sleep on my side/stomach).  
I am a occasional mouth breather, so I started using a chin strap because I was waking up hearing air coming out of my mouth, but I haven't had that problem since the strap. I tried tape for my mouth, but the strap seems to work just fine.   I also tried ear plugs in case noises are waking me.  But, I still wake up anyway.  
I even tried Lunesta that my doc suggested I use for a couple of weeks to get used to it.  No help either.  Do you think I should try an APAP?

I have always been a light sleeper, maybe it will take a while to get used to it?  I don't know.   I have tried to learn from this forum and use what I have learned but if I have missed something to try I would appreciate any help I can get.    

thanks
Leslie

I also wake up several times a night. I was just thinking about asking my physician about Lunestra. Now I'm not so sure it would benefit me, although I might ask to try some samples. I hope you get some answers, because I'd like to hear some of them, also. Good luck, lemerk!  


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diagnoses with osa in 1997.

Hi Leslie,
I too wake up a number of times a night.  For me it seems that every time I move or try to change positions that my mask starts leaking and popping air here and there.  I too would love a full night's sleep.
Linnea

I try to maintain a positive outlook. When I wake up I think "Yes, I'm still breathing!" Beats the alternative, eh?
(Plus my wife sleeps a lot better without my snoring and breath stoppages)

Thanks for the encouragement!  

I am hoping this is just an adjustment period that I have heard spoken of.  It may take me a little longer since like I said, I work shift work.  But I will get there.  We will get there!!!  
My hope at least is when I am asleep, that I am getting good sleep.  So that is better than before treatment.

thanks,
Leslie

I'm having similar problems, waking up more often as time goes on.  For me, the machine makes groaning noises with the humidifier, the nasal pillows will start to leak and blow air on my lip, or my mouth will blow open even witht he chin strap (if I put it tighter, my jaw hurts).

I noticed that when many of my issues occur, the pressure is higher than usual.  I'm supposed to need 7 cm-H2O; oftent he ResMed will ramp up to 11, which makes more noise, makes it hard to exhale, and pops air through my mouth.  I've sat up and watched the thing for 15 minutes,a dn the pressure won't go down, and sometimes ramps back up if I reset it.  The technician says I must need hte extra pressure, but I don't see why if I'm sitting up wide awake!

I too wake often now. When I first got on the CPAP about 3 weeks ago I would wake once or twice now I seem to be back were I was before CPAP, where I wake many times and it takes some time to get back to sleep. I think it's the noise from the Breeze nasal pillows leaking. If I adjust to correct the leak and it stays adjusted I can fall back to sleep pretty quickly. If I can't fix the leak (pressure is up) it's very hard to sleep with the whistling noise.

Lunesta helps but I'm trying not to depend on that, so I usually don't take it. I'm going to switch to my Swift nasal pillows tonight and see how they do as far as leakage, but I already know that even when the Swift doesn't leak they are louder than the Breeze, I think because of the larger air chamber.

I still feel better with CPAP but I can't help but think I would be doing much better if I didn't wake so much.

Lemerk,

I wake up a little if I move around and my mask needs readjusting.  I am not sure why you think an APAP would be helpful.  Just like anything else, APAPs are not perfect and have their downside also.  In my case it would erroneously spike higher pressures which would cause arousals which didn't wake me up but were very disruptive to my sleep.  If you are a light sleeper, you might end up like Russell when the APAP pressure goes up.  Just give it some more time.  You say you are doing better!

Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Just got my cpap 2 days ago and I to wake up several times a night and have a hard time going back to sleep. I have a nasel pillow that works well and have not had the problem with it leaking. I am not a mouth breather but i believe i am waking up because the pressure from the c pap machine is opening my mouth. I am going to try a chin strap hopfully that will help.


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Lora