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Newbie rant and cry for help.

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Posted by meggy413 on November 17, 2009 at 17:16:42:

I was recently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea (my AHI is 43). I am female, 26, single, average to below-average weight (I'm 5'6" and about 110 lbs), and I have a recessed chin, according to my ENT. I started the CPAP this last Friday, at 11 cm. I'm using nasal pillows, so far, and also a chin strap because I'm a mouth breather. So far I've been able to last 4 hours with the CPAP. But I'm miserable. Sunday night I slept 4 hours with it on, and a few hours with it off (I ripped it off in frustration, and I had it on too tight and was smarting from the pain). Last night I slept 5 hours total, no CPAP at all, and I felt about the same or better than I did after Sunday night. I'm having all kinds of problems with it: my ears feel clogged, it feels difficult to exhale (though this improved when I increased the ramp time to 20 min.), and I have the worst gas/bloating from it, I guess from swallowing so much air. Also, I'm a side sleeper, but when I sleep on my side, the mask leaks. So I stay on my back, but then my legs feel numb from being stretched out all that time and from not moving at all for hours on end.

I'm dreading going to bed as I write this because I can't stand that blasted mask and having air forced down my nose. My ENT is the doctor who referred me for a sleep study. He actually suggested getting an MMA if it turns out I have OSA, due to my jaw structure. The sleep doctor advised me to not pursue surgery, because his opinion is that I'm so severe, no surgery will help. Apparently he's a bit of a sour puss and was quite negative when I mentioned the MMA recommended by my ENT. My plan right now is to be a good girl and be deligent and persistent about the CPAP for two months, mainly so insurance will pay for it, and then I would like to pursue surgery, hopefully MMA.

What I would like are thoughts and suggestions on how to get accustomed to the CPAP and eliminate the gassy/congested side effects, and anyone's opinions on how to get the ball rolling on surgery options. I've been lurking on the forum for a while, and it's been encouraging to see how supportive everyone on here is. Thanks in advance!


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