r/SleepApnea

I've had a terrible time adjusting to CPAP. My nose always plugs up on one side when I lie down. This has been going on for years and nasal sprays, neti pot etc. haven't helped at all. It's not always the same nostril. It alternates. But one of them always gets completely blocked when I lie down. (I imagine this is actually contributing to my sleep apnea quite a bit)

I can wear the CPAP fine while I'm on the couch or sitting up in bed. But when I lie down to go to sleep, I start to feel like I'm suffocating. I go from breathing fine to feeling like I'm not getting enough air. I believe this is because my nose plugs up.

Anyone been through this?

I have moderate sleep apnea. Gave CPAP a try and it was an absolute failure. Figured there had to be another solution and landed on MAD after finding a great dentist who took my insurance.

Went in for my first appointment, doctor did the molds/x rays and went in about a month later to get my custom fit MAD.

It’s been about 5 days and I’ve been waking up every morning like……. I’m awake? I don’t want to kill someone? The sound of my alarm clock isn’t making my blood boil? I didn’t wake up 3 minutes ago and immediately start yawning and go back to sleep? I feel……. Normal?

I go back in another month to make some potential adjustments to my device based on how its been fitting/feeling. We will probably move it up a few notches to make it even MORE effective.

I think this is going to change my life. Just want to give some hope to anyone who was not successful on CPAP that there is another option. I know I haven’t been on it long but I am truly feeling a difference.

I've been using my machine for a few months now, according to the app my AHI are 2-5 most nights (were 60+ before) which obviously is great but I dont feel any more rested, I dont feel more clear headed, I dont see any benefits to it!

I never used to, and still dont wake struggling for breath and even if I fall asleep without it on i still dont.

Obviously i'll use it as long as I need to but wanted to vent really. Suppose I hoped i'd feel full of energy, or much less tired.

I don’t think tape or a chin strap would help as I’m always nasally blocked up. What do I do?

Started the machine on June 30th. I have a Resmed airfit F30i mask. Every night I have not been able to get past using it for 3.5 hours before I wake up pulling it off.

I know the place I got it from said to try a week before contacting about any issues. But I do not foresee the next two days really being any different.

It's not that it's uncomfortable or anything I'm not entirely sure what my issue is.

When I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, my doctor advised me to avoid high-intensity sports because my symptoms indicated that my body and mind were constantly in overdrive.

I got a CPAP machine 2 months ago and after the first week I immediately got sick. Now that I've had the machine for 2 months, I went to do 3 high-intensity sports a week for the first time and I immediately got sick again. Either my body was overloaded or there was some other reason for the illness, because I didn't get sick this often before the treatment.

I would therefore like to ask you how you notice that your body and mind are finally starting to recover? What were the concrete things you noticed. Even the most special ones? (because I didn't doze off or feel overwhelmingly tired)

Does anyone else find it strange that pretty much all MADs are built such that there is a big gap between the top and bottom teeth? (I'm talking about the vertical gap ie the difference between having your mouth closed vs open.)

When you sleep normally, your mouth is closed and teeth close to touching. I find it really uncomfortable to kind of have to have my mouth 1cm open to use the MAD.

I don't see anyone else ever talk about this though?
And has anyone found close to a 'zero gap' MAD available in the UK?

I get that they build this gap into some, as some people mouth breathe - but we don't all mouth breathe!!

I'm into about a year of CPAP usage. I have a good night here and there, followed by less than 4 hours and sometimes stretches where I give up.

I'm curious what insurance and my sleep doctor does when compliance slips below the minimum 4 hours 70%?

Is the DME continuing to monitor my usage? Will insurance stop paying for supplies and later a new machine? How strict are they?

I don't see my doctor again until early 2027. And I'm no way near using the mask the entire night as she instructed (I'm about 40% for more than 6 hours for the year). I find myself continuously stripping off the mask.

Thanks for feedback.

I am a young person (24) with moderate OSA, my diagnosis was kinda of iffy because I was busy in college so I'm not too sure of my AHI (long story). I have my CPAP machine and it literally took me a year to get used to wearing it ~most~ nights and I do feel lots better but I still get stressed out about some things.

Firstly, sometimes I stop breathing with CPAP and wake myself up with my heart pounding. It's almost like I forget to breathe in. I've been reading posts on here and I'm collecting things to bring up to my doctor about setting the pressure.

Secondly, I get so anxious (I already have an anxiety disorder and mild OCD) about health related things, (especially dying in my sleep lol) and one time a coworker told me a buddy of his died from one night of not using the machine while camping... I have to admit I use CPAP about 4/7 or 5/7 nights a week because then I visit my boyfriend who doesn't have a nightstand to put a CPAP machine; or sometimes me and the CPAP are simply not vibing that night due to my chronic stuffy nose 😑. Can you die from not using CPAP just straight up like that?!

Thirdly, My friends and boyfriend are very supportive of me bringing it on vacations and stuff but I still get sad that this is my life :( I look so ugly using it, my nose and cheeks are all squished :( Are people able to keep up a healthy ~love~ life with their partners? Are there more young people out there like me getting used to CPAP life? How often do you wear it? What does your medical support look like as well? I'm considering seeing a pulmonologist since I'm a bit of a hypochondriac. I feel like I'm a terrible mix of pure anxiety and denial! 😖😖😖

I've used nasal rigs the entire time I've had a CPAP. Pillows, nasal mask, and currently a DreamWear.

Had turbinate reduction last week, and since there's a period of congestion during recovery, I got a full face mask from my sleep clinic.

It's a battle to breathe with it, even after adjusting the settings (Resmed Airsense 11 lets me select nasal or face mask). Not a mask comfort issue; I'm used to headgear. I'm fighting the pressure; it's almost like being on a ventilator, it's brute forcing me to mouth breathe, and exhaling especially is work.

I've noticed that I'll get into a good breathing rhythm, and *just* as I fall asleep, when I stop thinking about my breathing, I suffocate from sensation of a hand over my face, blocking breathing, and snap awake.

I didn't experience this with nasal rigs. Is this normal with full face masks? Is there anything else I can adjust?

Thx to everyone in this group for the advice on that. I started front-loading my water, took my evening vitamins earlier, and only sipped when necessary after dinner. Incredible! I haven’t slept through the night in years!

Yes, it was dumb of my wife and I to put our CPAPs in our checked bag but I'm in a wheelchair and it's really hard to carry all the things.

My wife and I were flying from Hartford to Denver and when we got to Denver the bag tracking app says it's on the carousel but it's not. The people at the airport do a bunch of things and send us on our way with a "it'll probably pop up in an hour."

We're on day 3. We're sleeping terribly. But we're also really concerned about the cost. We both got new Airsense 11s in March. My wife thinks they need to use theirs for 10 months for it to be paid off, I'm actually not sure because my memory is awful.

I'm trying to figure out at what time we order new CPAPs, if we're going to have to pay for both the missing ones and the new ones, but mostly this post is a manifestation of my massive amount of anxiety surrounding this situation.

Hi all, I got a diagnosis of mild sleep apnea from an at home test. I’ve been tracking my sleep myself with a newly purchased Apple Watch since the diagnosis and they do not match up at all. The test said I snored and I have been using a snore tracker since, not one snore. The night I took the test it was storming out and the wind made my window make some funny noises, so it could have been that. I’ve also got sleep apnea notifications turned on and haven’t gotten one either, I’ve had no elevated breathing disturbances.

I’m on cpap but it’s been less than helpful; consistently feel like I’m fighting the machine to breathe. I’ve done both a nasal and full face. The full face is better because I’m not having panic attacks anymore, but I’m sleeping even worse with it on and have to take it off halfway through the night in order to get some meaningful rest. My doctor won’t order a lab test until I also try an oral device too. My appointment for that is next week. I guess I have to prove every treatment out there won’t help for the lab test will be approved. Health insurance in the US sucks!

I’ve still definitely got sleep issues, I can easily sleep 18 hours or more a day and I’m jumping between sleep stages like crazy. I’ve recorded me going from core sleep to REM and deep within 10 minutes or less. Also had a full on cataplexy collapse in public. Definitely suspect that I have the disorder that starts with “N”, but as l’ve said I’m having to fight the get the test.

Is it even possible to get a false positive from an at home test? I feel like I’m going crazy and my doctor isn’t listening to me.

Last night I tried my CPAP for the first time and I just couldn’t fall asleep. I managed to keep it on for 3 1/2 hours and I think I must have slept for a short time…my AHI was 1.5 this morning. But pretty sure I was awake the majority of the time it was on. At 5 am when I heard birds chirping outside and saw the sun shining through my curtains, I tore it off so I could get a few decent hours of sleep. Today I feel like trash. Please tell me this gets easier. I am also neurodivergent and I’m not sure I’ll get past having something on my face all night. Any tips for making this easier?

I’m just curious, how are doctors able to see if machines have failed to cure sleep apnea in a patient? Does the patient themselves tell the doctor the machine isn’t working or do the machines provide data that tell the doctor the issue is still on going? And do doctors then choose surgery once they see the machines arnt working?

I have major sensory issues and get headaches easily. My partner also uses a CPAP and can't think of anything to help me.

So, when I try to use my CPAP, it fails horribly. The pressure from the headgear on the top/back of my head gives me such a headache that I start dry heaving or even vomiting. I have tried different tightness and even different styles of headgear but nothing has worked. I have also tried sleeping in different positions (on my side, sat up, on my other side).

My doctor suggested using a Bella mask, but I can't because I have a deviated septum and chronic congestion so breathing through my nose is not possible most of the time.

My score is very low so I'm not in danger if I don't use it, but my sleep is worse. I have been trying different things for over two years.

Wondering if anyone has any other suggestions.

My 3 month anniversary was last week and I had my follow up appointment. The dr said everything looked great. I have a chin strap to help but My wife still occasionally wakes me up and tells me I’m snoring. I wake up and don’t feel very good. Some days I’m as tired or more tired than before I got the machine. The mask I have now is pretty comfortable, I can usually fall asleep pretty quickly. Everything looks good on the apps but I feel blah. Any suggestions?