Unable to get my BiPap treatment even started properly
Hey guys, and first thank you for reading my post. I recently started running all sorts of tests on myself, beginning with a full blood panel that I found for cheap. Also did a full body mri. Mri did not detect any respiratory issues or deviated septum by the way
My testosterone levels have always been borderline clinically low even in my late teens and early 20s. At times I’ve been overweight, but even when I was in my best shape, this was the case. Current 30 years old and somewhat overweight
When I mentioned this to my endocrinologist, and also that I feel like I must take a nap every day a few hours after waking and especially about an hour after eating, or I feel terrible all day, she mentioned maybe doing a sleep study. Shortly thereafter I got targeted by an at home sleep study advertisement, and I did a test.
Got diagnosed with mild sleep apnea AHI of 6.5. My dad also had it diagnosed with AHI of 11 so I’m sure it’s somewhat genetic. He’s more overweight than me. The follow up from the provider has not been the greatest.
Anyways, I decided to go for the big guns as I was concerned a retainer could be very uncomfortable and maybe change my teeth or jaw structure over the long term, and immediately went for an aircurve 10
I’ve had it for a couple of months now, and I am unable to get myself to wear the mask for more than two hours at a time during actual sleep. It’s so uncomfortable that I can’t fall asleep in the first place, or when I wake up briefly, I can’t go back to sleep. But that’s not the only issue.
I must have tried more than 20 times by now and the only setup that I’ve been able to get my AHI lower than 5 is one time when I wore a nasal pillows mask (airfit p10) with some mouth tape, and managed to fall asleep for about an hour, with an AHI of 2. I thought that I had figured it out and just needed to get used to the mask, but unfortunately when I continued to sleep for another hour, the average ahi climbed to the teens.
I tried again with the same setup the following night, and had an AHI of 17. It’s really frustrating to try really hard, but have counterproductive results. I can honestly say since I’ve gotten the machine, that my sleep has gotten worse and I keep disrupting it for no improvement
The full face mask is tough for me, because it’s a lot less comfortable, I was trying for weeks to wear a chinstrap with earplugs, eye mask, and a full face mask… And that that point I just feel like I’m a mummy, and it’s so uncomfortable that the likelihood of falling asleep is pretty low. Keep in mind that I’ve been sleeping with a facemask for more than 10 years, so I already feel accustomed to having something on my face while I sleep.
I realized that mouth tape for me works a lot better than a chinstrap. But I need to make sure the seal is good or I think that’s what might be causing the AHI to climb? When I try to breathe through my mouth even though it’s taped and it leaks. The chin strap makes my jaw really sore. Even the tape can make my facial muscles sore somehow but it’s not as bad.
So, not only do I have trouble getting the machine to actually get my AHI down past where it already was, but I can’t sleep through the night with it. I did read some people saying that you should try and wear it while you are awake, or start the machine before you actually want to sleep. I tried both of these things, but didn’t really seem to have a huge impact.
I tried ordering a tongue suction thing that holds your tongue up out of your mouth, but I never received it, and they would not send me a replacement… I gave up on the idea after I read that it can make your mouth really dry which is bad for your dental health and etc. The idea of a retainer seems counterproductive as it could change my facial/jaw structure and be uncomfortable
I’m not sure how to proceed, at this point I’ve spent a few thousand dollars and have really not improved my sleep at all. I’ve really tried consistently, not every night as it’s too frustrating and tiring, but probably every couple of days since I got the machine. Can anyone please point me in the right direction here, I will be super grateful
My testosterone levels have always been borderline clinically low even in my late teens and early 20s. At times I’ve been overweight, but even when I was in my best shape, this was the case. Current 30 years old and somewhat overweight
When I mentioned this to my endocrinologist, and also that I feel like I must take a nap every day a few hours after waking and especially about an hour after eating, or I feel terrible all day, she mentioned maybe doing a sleep study. Shortly thereafter I got targeted by an at home sleep study advertisement, and I did a test.
Got diagnosed with mild sleep apnea AHI of 6.5. My dad also had it diagnosed with AHI of 11 so I’m sure it’s somewhat genetic. He’s more overweight than me. The follow up from the provider has not been the greatest.
Anyways, I decided to go for the big guns as I was concerned a retainer could be very uncomfortable and maybe change my teeth or jaw structure over the long term, and immediately went for an aircurve 10
I’ve had it for a couple of months now, and I am unable to get myself to wear the mask for more than two hours at a time during actual sleep. It’s so uncomfortable that I can’t fall asleep in the first place, or when I wake up briefly, I can’t go back to sleep. But that’s not the only issue.
I must have tried more than 20 times by now and the only setup that I’ve been able to get my AHI lower than 5 is one time when I wore a nasal pillows mask (airfit p10) with some mouth tape, and managed to fall asleep for about an hour, with an AHI of 2. I thought that I had figured it out and just needed to get used to the mask, but unfortunately when I continued to sleep for another hour, the average ahi climbed to the teens.
I tried again with the same setup the following night, and had an AHI of 17. It’s really frustrating to try really hard, but have counterproductive results. I can honestly say since I’ve gotten the machine, that my sleep has gotten worse and I keep disrupting it for no improvement
The full face mask is tough for me, because it’s a lot less comfortable, I was trying for weeks to wear a chinstrap with earplugs, eye mask, and a full face mask… And that that point I just feel like I’m a mummy, and it’s so uncomfortable that the likelihood of falling asleep is pretty low. Keep in mind that I’ve been sleeping with a facemask for more than 10 years, so I already feel accustomed to having something on my face while I sleep.
I realized that mouth tape for me works a lot better than a chinstrap. But I need to make sure the seal is good or I think that’s what might be causing the AHI to climb? When I try to breathe through my mouth even though it’s taped and it leaks. The chin strap makes my jaw really sore. Even the tape can make my facial muscles sore somehow but it’s not as bad.
So, not only do I have trouble getting the machine to actually get my AHI down past where it already was, but I can’t sleep through the night with it. I did read some people saying that you should try and wear it while you are awake, or start the machine before you actually want to sleep. I tried both of these things, but didn’t really seem to have a huge impact.
I tried ordering a tongue suction thing that holds your tongue up out of your mouth, but I never received it, and they would not send me a replacement… I gave up on the idea after I read that it can make your mouth really dry which is bad for your dental health and etc. The idea of a retainer seems counterproductive as it could change my facial/jaw structure and be uncomfortable
I’m not sure how to proceed, at this point I’ve spent a few thousand dollars and have really not improved my sleep at all. I’ve really tried consistently, not every night as it’s too frustrating and tiring, but probably every couple of days since I got the machine. Can anyone please point me in the right direction here, I will be super grateful
