5 Days Using and Still Waking Up Every 2 Hrs...

[Roxxy]

Thanks for the message of wisdom, I'm actually a side sleeper and I have positioned the mask so it's not to uncomfortable, I did sleep better the last 2 nights knowing I'm ok and that you don't sleep through the night right off the bat..and it's going to take some time to get used to...I find myself not waking up totally now as I did with out it, I'm awake to think oh your awake but then back off I go . I m really trying to accept this is what I need ....Thanks everyone.      Roxann

[SideSleeper]

I've been using my Pap machine since September 2015. It was about 6 weeks before I started sleeping better--had a hard time getting to sleep because of the sound of my own breathing. I started taking Melatonin on doctor's suggestion and I use an earplug in my topside ear--and went back to sleeping on my side. Things did improve, but I still wake up a coupe of times a night. It is usually a positional problem--two bad shoulders and a bad back. A slight shift and I'm back to sleep right away. I also have really dry mouth problems despite having very low leak levels according the SH, and if my throat get dry it will wake me up.

[BadGoodDeb]

I see that my earlier reply forgot to mention:  keep the hose away from your ear.  That's my own biggest cause of hearing my breathing. YMMV  (your mileage may vary) of course, but that's one thing to consider.    I'm glad to hear it's getting a little better!

[Sleep2Snore]

Hi I'm A 58 Year Old Woman with high blood pressure and  New To This all the way around, Forums and the CPAP Machine, I'm going on my 6 th night Tonight.... I'm listing all my info In hopes someone can give me some insight or encouraging words...lol...
Wed. 2-1 AHI 2.9 Usage 9:10 hrs Mask 100% Clear Apneas 8, Obstr 5 ,Hypopneas 14
Thur. 2-2 Ahi 5.0 usage 7:55hr, Mask 100% , Clear 11, Obstr 7, Hypo 14
Fri. 2-3 AHI 4.4 usage 7:03hr ,Mask 100%,Clear 7, Obstr 4, Hypopneas 20
Sat. 2-4 , AHI 2.9 usage 7:34hr, Mask 100% Clear 15, Obst3, Hypopneas 5
Sun 2-5 AHI 1.7 usage 7:34 , Mask 100% Clear 8 , Obstr 4, Hypopneas 1 
Machine Dream Station, bloothtooth data to DreamMapper with full face mask 
On number 13 his pressure with 4 to begin, and 3 for heat...after a week why am I still awake every 2 hrs? Anyone......Many Thanks..
Roxxy

Hi Roxxy,
              Deepbreathing gave you a good first response.
For it being your first week you are doing fine.  If you feel any dryness turn the humidifier up slightly.
Do not over tighten the mask, this can waken you and even cut the bridge of your nose, though the masks are not quite so bad these day for that.
Sometimes if the machine is an APAP and the pressure is set low and it goes quite high, this can waken you when it changes pressure to the higher setting when you have an event.  If after a month you are still waking, keep this in mind, it might be worth raising the lower pressure slightly.
On the whole you are doing fine.   We are not born like Darth Vader.

[Wrz77]

I've been using CPAP since April and I still seldom sleep more than 4 hours before waking up even during nights with <0.5 AHI. I no longer have urgency to use the bathroom where I use to though and can usually go right back to sleep whereas before I had to go to the bathroom first often 3-4 times a night.

Pretty much the only times I've slept a straight 8 hours without waking was when I was on opioids/narcotics for post-surgery pain or when I stay up for 20-22 hours playing videogames and then sleep.

Also a note about sleeping positions: when I first started CPAP therapy I assumed it was not viable or even possible to sleep on my stomach with a full face mask - and I use the large size. But it turns out it's doable as long as the top pillow (I sleep with four head pillows) is not too firm. I put one arm under the bottom most pillow and the other two levels up from the bottom pillow under the top most pillow. Just in case you prefer prone/stomach to side sleeping. The hose can be tricky when sleeping on stomach though with an FFM in my experience. Gotta route it behind the pillow so that it isn't behind your arm otherwise when you pull your arm away you might yank the hose.