Hello all, I'm Lori. I just got my CPAP and I'm struggling to get used to the hose monster. I had looked forward to getting a decent night's rest. So far, that has not happened. I've been using it a couple of weeks, some nights not, because I just have to get some sleep. This week, I slept all night twice - however, besides the whole dry throat thing (even though I have heated humidification) I wake up feeling like I've been out running hard. I've finally managed to learn to fall asleep with it on... the first week was torture. After 2 or more hours and no luck falling asleep, I shut it off/took it off and gave up so I could sleep and go to work the next morning. To really relax, I've been trained by meditation to slow my breathing. But now that I can fall asleep, I wake because my breathing is so fast and shallow. I'm wondering about the benefit, and I'm not feeling rested after running marathons every night.

I'm lucky that my oxygen levels are good without the CPAP so I'm not in any danger without it. However, I've been feeling chronically tired for years and this is the first inkling that there is something that can be done to help me sleep better. Everything else that could cause the fatigue has been tested and found negative. So, why isn't it helping? Just the whole idea of this thing makes me anxious and I'm gradually overcoming that, but I am really dissappointed overall. I don't see my Doc until late this month, and I'm dreading the visit.

Also, my asthma has been bothering me more this week than it was, and I'm using the mask more. I was wondering if there is some cause and effect thing with this. I have the Swift nasal pillows, and that seems good as far as fit.

Has anyone has a similar experience?

Many thanks,

Lori

Hi Lori,

Sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to not fight it, relax and let it do its job.  Remember Lori, your CPAP and hose buddy are your friends, simply there to help you, comfort you, lull you into restful, rejuvenating sleep.  There, asleep now?

Really, giving up all the "I don't want to have to use this and I hate this hose monster" that many people go through can make a really big difference in the benefit you see.  Try to accept it and forget about it.

I cuddle with my hose buddy, mainly to keep my cats from attacking it.

Come back and tell us how you are doing!

Hose Head Vicki

YES !!  I have the exact same response to the system...I am relaxed, etc...the systems air flow makes my lungs want to misbehave....I'm questioning the benefit of the system...