For those with sleep apnea, how hard is it getting accustomed to sleeping with the mask?

Tried the mask for a while and couldn't do it. Went to the nose cup and it took a while for me to get used to wearing it in a certain way as to not rub my nose raw. Now I can't sleep without it...4 years later. I suggest you go back to your sleep doctor and get it "titrated" to make sure the fit its right, the pressures are good, and you are comfortable. May require another sleep study but without looking like pinhead...just you and the machine. I can definitely tell when I haven't slept with it and so can my wife.

I agree with TSgt David L. . It depends on the mask. I have one of the newer types. This one has a pillow that covers just the nose and goes over the top of my head where the hose connects. The device has a full 360 swivel. It took a couple of weeks to get used to.

Good luck.

SGM Mikel Dawson It sucks. Actually it blows. Seriously it depends on which mask you get. I prefer what they call "nose pillows" over the ambu bag looking mask. Don't try to get it all the first week or so. Get used to it slow or you'll hate it. Or maybe it was just me! LMAO :D

Interesting question! When I finally went in for a sleep study (after years of being kicked out of bed, waking up cause mty throat closed off from being dry, etc, I finally went in and was diagnosed with serious sleep apnea! (they said I woke up about 130 times an hour! ) I had absolutely no problems adjusting to the mask and machine. I literally fell sound asleep perfectly the first night. Now I cannot really sleep without it, I just sort of do this gray-out thing and wake up with a sore throat. Use your machine!

It takes most people quite a while -- especially the first step which is finding the right mask -- this step depends greatly on the quality and patience of the medical people involved. Typically you will be offered a few choices based on their impression of the size/shape of your face. Some people get lucky and find one that is a good fit right away. Others may have to try many different masks AND HARNESSES before they get one that works. Some providers are more patient than others.

You may use a mask that just fits at the bottom of your nose and blows air directly into your nostrils or you may use a face mask that covers your mouth and nose. There are many different styles of each. You should be show some of the options and given the opportunity to try a few that seem likely to work for you. If those don't fit and work well, there are more options available. Most of the options are only pictures in a catalog. It's hard to tell much from the pictures. Hopefully the technician you are working with is skilled and patient.

Each mask comes with a harness (the cloth straps that hold it in place). The harness typically uses velcro to adjust the length of each strap. At least some of the connections between the harness and mask will be meant to connect and disconnect easily - most of these use a magnet along with a bit of a hook. You will need to tinker with the adjustments to get a good fit that is tight enough to keep the mask in place and prevent leaks but not so tight that it is uncomfortable. (They will all seem uncomfortable at first - stick with it until you get a decent fit you can tolerate).

One thing they may not tell you is that the harness that comes with the mask might not be the only choice. I use a ResMed F20 mask with the regular harness as my usual setup, but after a couple of weeks that harness will start to irritate the back of my neck. When that happens I use the same ResMed F20 mask with a Dreamwear harness from a different company -- it connects to the same spots on the mask but the straps run across a different part of my head. I'll wear the mask with the dreamwear harness for a week or two (until it starts to bother the top of my ears) then switch back to the regular harness. Finding combinations that work depends a lot on the skill and patience of the technician you are working with.

The straps on all the harnesses are somewhat narrow (about 3/8 to 1/2 inch). In the last year or two companies have come out with fleece covers that fit over the harness straps to make them more comfortable. These help some people with some harnesses.

It will also take you a while to figure out how you want to sleep with the mask and hose. It took a while for me to find that it worked better for me if I had the hose go around over my head to the other side rather than just straight from the CPAP machine to my mask. Later I figured out that FOR ME it worked better if I used something to hold the hose up on the headboard rather than just running across above my pillow.

If you ever used the M42 protective mask you have know that how the hose goes makes a difference.

I never had a problem sleeping with it, I wear a full-face mask and wouldn't go anywhere with out it. The first time I used it, I felt so much better and rested. I couldn't use the nasal pillows because of my sinus problems. Sleep Apnea is no joke causing high blood pressure and a number of other problems. I started using a mask since 2010 and it has definitely made a difference.

Ive been using my VA supplied Sleep Apnea for over 5 years. Not only did it probably save my life but I have no problem and sleep like a baby

SGM Mikel Dawson They have a new mask everyone is talking about. It is a Philips respironics dream nasal mask. I am not due one but will buy one from Amazon because of price. Good luck!

I got my first CPAP about 10-12 years ago from a civilian doctor. I tried for a long time to get used to it, but never could. It was like trying to breathe with a leaf blower right in my face. Then a couple years ago I got a new one from the VA with a full face mask and I love it. I never feel like I'm getting too much air and the mask is very comfortable.