Cpap question

T swol · Feb 15, 2025

First night using a cpap. Started with a nose pillow mask. Machine set from 4-10 on pressure. Slept 6.5hrs and woke up groggy. Any suggestions? Should I bump the air up. Not sure I ever got into a deep sleep. Exhausted this morning.

I started using a bite guard to stop snoring which it worked but really offset my jaw and had to stop wearing it.
My friend owns a sleep store and offered to let me test out a machine for a month to see how I like.

Fleezy · Feb 15, 2025

I wear a chin strap now that I’m using a nose mask

Otherwise, my mouth would open, defeating the entire purpose

Are you sure your mouth is staying shut throughout the night?

Powerlifter · Feb 15, 2025

Look for the AHI score on your cpap machine and let us know what it is.

PST_Dyno · Feb 15, 2025

T swol said:
First night using a cpap. Started with a nose pillow mask. Machine set from 4-10 on pressure. Slept 6.5hrs and woke up groggy. Any suggestions? Should I bump the air up. Not sure I ever got into a deep sleep. Exhausted this morning.

I started using a bite guard to stop snoring which it worked but really offset my jaw and had to stop wearing it.
My friend owns a sleep store and offered to let me test out a machine for a month to see how I like.

It's your first night, some people take weeks or longer to even acclimate to sleeping at all with a mask. So I would say you're off to a good start. You don't necessarily need to adjust pressure, see how it goes for a week or so. It took me a month to get comfortable.

PST_Dyno · Feb 15, 2025

Fleezy said:
I wear a chin strap now that I’m using a nose mask

Otherwise, my mouth would open, defeating the entire purpose

Are you sure your mouth is staying shut throughout the night?

I am a mouth breather at night, but many people will naturally keep their mouth shut even with just nasal pillows on cpap even if they are mouth breathers. Found this out doing some research when I realized I would never adjust to a full face mask due to the anxiety and claustrophobia it caused me and was about to give up because the doc said I couldn't use nasal pillows as a mouth breather. Read anecdotal reports to the contrary, bought my own pillows and magically I keep my mouth shut and it works great. I can't do the chin strap either for the same reasons.

southernmucle214 · Feb 15, 2025

I use the nasal pillow as well. I have used mouth tape for about 2 years. If I don't my mouth will open throughout the night causing my quality of sleep to dip.

danieltx · Feb 15, 2025

I haven't found a good formula for body weight to CPAP pressure but based on my notes I can tell you that in the mid-to-high 230s 15 worked well; 270s 17 worked well; low 280s 17.5 to 18.5 worked well; and now that I'm around 315lbs. I've got it maxed out at 20. Might have to start looking for a BIPAP with stronger pressure soon. You could also try setting in to a single pressure for the night rather than automatically adjusting. When you have the pressure set correctly for you it shouldn't feel like the mask is even on.

If you're having a hard time getting used to sleeping with it then start using it during everyday activities - watching TV, on Pro Muscle, scrolling Instagram, etc. - just to get used to it.

PST_Dyno · Feb 15, 2025

danieltx said:
If you're having a hard time getting used to sleeping with it then start using it during everyday activities - watching TV, on Pro Muscle, scrolling Instagram, etc. - just to get used to it.

Great advice

Dens228 · Feb 15, 2025

I have mild apnea and use the nose pillows. My pressure is set at a whopping six. That being said it took me about a month to get used to it. I slept like crap. Now I sleep like a baby. Been on it for about 10 years.

Massive G · Feb 15, 2025

T swol said:
First night using a cpap. Started with a nose pillow mask. Machine set from 4-10 on pressure. Slept 6.5hrs and woke up groggy. Any suggestions? Should I bump the air up. Not sure I ever got into a deep sleep. Exhausted this morning.

I started using a bite guard to stop snoring which it worked but really offset my jaw and had to stop wearing it.
My friend owns a sleep store and offered to let me test out a machine for a month to see how I like.

Did you actually have a sleep study or just winging it? The newer resmeds have an auto setting on them that adjusts based on your level of apnea. I don't bulk as much if at all like I did in the younger days but when I hit a cycle of my max doses now a few times a year instead of sub-q hrt I usually pick up 12 to 15 lbs and get no disruption in sleep.
The only thing now is although i sleep very deeply I wake up 3 to 4 times a night on retatrutide.

cage99 · Feb 15, 2025

Sounds like your mouth must have opened during the night. My first night’s sleep with a full face mask had me feeling phenomenal the following day. Try a full face mask or get a chin strap.

Cage

T swol · Feb 15, 2025

southernmucle214 said:
I use the nasal pillow as well. I have used mouth tape for about 2 years. If I don't my mouth will open throughout the night causing my quality of sleep to dip.

I bought tape to try tonight

T swol · Feb 15, 2025

danieltx said:
I haven't found a good formula for body weight to CPAP pressure but based on my notes I can tell you that in the mid-to-high 230s 15 worked well; 270s 17 worked well; low 280s 17.5 to 18.5 worked well; and now that I'm around 315lbs. I've got it maxed out at 20. Might have to start looking for a BIPAP with stronger pressure soon. You could also try setting in to a single pressure for the night rather than automatically adjusting. When you have the pressure set correctly for you it shouldn't feel like the mask is even on.

If you're having a hard time getting used to sleeping with it then start using it during everyday activities - watching TV, on Pro Muscle, scrolling Instagram, etc. - just to get used to it.

It was comfortable set up on my face. Nose pillows had a nice seal. I must have opened my mouth during the night. I’m a mouth breather. Will try mouth tape tonight.

Thanks for the advice

T swol · Feb 15, 2025

Massive G said:
Did you actually have a sleep study or just winging it? The newer resmeds have an auto setting on them that adjusts based on your level of apnea. I don't bulk as much if at all like I did in the younger days but when I hit a cycle of my max doses now a few times a year instead of sub-q hrt I usually pick up 12 to 15 lbs and get no disruption in sleep.
The only thing now is although i sleep very deeply I wake up 3 to 4 times a night on retatrutide.

No sleep study just winging it for now. Pressure adjustment was set for 4-10.
I maxed out at 8

Brock456 · Feb 15, 2025

T swol said:
No sleep study just winging it for now. Pressure adjustment was set for 4-10.
I maxed out at 8

You’re prob a mouth breather and need a full face mask.

Massive G · Feb 15, 2025

T swol said:
No sleep study just winging it for now. Pressure adjustment was set for 4-10.
I maxed out at 8

What type of machine do you have? Echo those that recommend the full face. I couldn't use the nasal mask or pillows even with a chin strap. Definitely stick with it. For those with apnea it's night and day.

T swol · Feb 16, 2025

Massive G said:
What type of machine do you have? Echo those that recommend the full face. I couldn't use the nasal mask or pillows even with a chin strap. Definitely stick with it. For those with apnea it's night and day.

ResMed AirSense 10