I rather die a slow & painful death than wear a CPAP mask!

by Shelly
(USA)

I hate the sleep masks & refuse to wear them. I'd much rather die a slow & painful death than wear one. They are uncomfortable, all of them.

It always feels like too much air & I wake up with a painful headache. I already can't hold a job because I'm too tired & has always been that way.

What difference does it make to me at this point if I die a slow & complicated death because of a stupid mask?

I hate the sleep masks & refuse to wear them. I'd much rather die a slow & painful death than wear one. They are uncomfortable, all of them.

It always feels like too much air & I wake up with a painful headache. I already can't hold a job because I'm too tired & has always been that way.

What difference does it make to me at this point if I die a slow & complicated death because of a stupid mask?

Answer

Dear Shelly,

Did you know that untreated sleep apnea causes clinical depression? Furthermore, the depression may worsen when you start the CPAP, because you have a difficult time adjusting to CPAP therapy.

I'm telling you this to be clear that this is not unusual to have such difficult times instead of getting better. There are many patients with this kind of CPAP problems, but fortunately there are many solutions.

Shelly, you just need someone to help you, because you've lost the power and the will to continue finding the right way to adjust to CPAP or finding an alternative.

Do you know what is so unfair with this annoying CPAP treatment? Some people lose their will to continue finding a solution or asking for help, and they give up, waiting to die.

Others, loose their will but somehow the family, the doctor or a friend is so pushing and trying everything for them that in the end they will improve the CPAP treatment. And when these treated patients feel alive again, they couldn't believe they've chosen to die.

The clinical depression is doing this thing to you: it leaves you without your will to fight for your life. It leaves you without your motivation. So, what's the point to continue? What's the point to read all the tips from here, if you don't want to live anymore?

Well, I've already answered to this question: you have a side effect of untreated sleep apnea, called clinical depression. Many untreated patients with sleep apnea have this problem. I PROMISE you, that when you will sleep better, the depression starts to improve (slowly), and in the end you will feel born again.

Without the will to live, you won't find a solution. But the solution is there.

I've had the depression myself, and now I can't believe what I could think about in those bad days of untreated sleep apnea.


Shelly, it is possible to be treated. You just need help. Help from us, from other patients with same problems like you, from sleep doctors, from family, from friends... You just need to ask for help, and you already did...right here:)

I would give you many tips to help you if I would know more info about your problems. Can you help me and everyone else to understand your difficulties?

We can offer more help if you can give more information about your CPAP mask, your reasons for hating CPAP, your type and causes of sleep apnea, etc.

From your submission, I understand that the main problem is the CPAP mask. I've already wrote an article about the uncomfortable CPAP mask, so you could find some helpful information there.


Another helpful article is about CPAP mask and anxiety.

But you gave me another important clue for your problem: It always feels like too much air...

There are simple solutions to this problem...only if I knew what type of CPAP mask you have. However, there is something helpful if you feel too much air coming: your CPAP machine may have a ramp feature, which can be very helpful for you.

Actually, the ramp feature helps you get acclimated to mask and pressure. How? Your CPAP machine will start at a lower pre-set pressure (configurable by your doctor or you) and gradually increase (or ramp) the pressure over a pre-set time until it reaches the prescribed pressure.


The idea is to let you start the CPAP machine at a lower setting and gradually ramp up to the prescribed pressure while you fall asleep. Some people (like you) have a difficult time falling asleep at higher pressures.

So, does your CPAP machine has a ramp feature?

Another helpful thing if you are on a regular CPAP machine, is to ask your doctor and DME to switch you to a CPAP with C-flex, EPR or to a BiPAP, where they can make it so you're not getting the full pressure when you exhale. This way you should fill up with less air.


About your headache... Did you know that patints with untreated sleep apnea wake up in the morning with painful headache?

It's not the CPAP that causes you painful headaches, but the untreated sleep apnea. CPAP should be the saver.

Here are some questions about sleep apnea headaches and the answers:

• Are migraine headaches associated with sleep apnea?


• Headaches with Sleep Apnea


• Does sleep apnea cause headaches?


• Migraine headaches with CPAP

Other reason you still feel bad - beside depression - is because you have not been able to consistently use your CPAP, therefore, you have never recovered your sleep debt or the damage to your body that has accumulated.

Therefore, have you considered surgery? Surgery will only help with obstructive sleep apnea and usually requires a multiphasic approach for most cases, except for those that are very mild.

If you have time, you can check this article to learn more about surgery for sleep apnea.

The other alternative for obstructive apnea - which is 100% successful and a fairly simple surgical procedure - is a tracheotomy. But it doesn't help with central sleep apnea.

There are many alternative treatments for sleep apnea, but the treatment should treat the cause and not the symptom.

For exemple, many patients with sleep apnea have been treated or their sleep was improved with positional therapy. You can try this therapy even tonight, with your CPAP on, or without it, to see if you have good results.

There are also new solutions which will be available in the future, like the Targeted Hypoglossal Neurostimulation (THN).


Shelly, I don't want you to start right now doing surgery, or something in a rush with bad results. All I wanted to say in this page is that you have many options, and there is a solution for every patient.

You have the most common problem: the CPAP mask problem. We have to work with this and try everything, before choosing something else.

Please Shelly, don't give up. Sleep apnea is a very serious condition, and not an easy thing to live with. And each individual is different. What works for one person will not necessarily work for another. There is a lot of trial and error. There is a solution for you, but you have to keep digging until you find it. We're here to help, and the more information you can provide, the more we can do.

Try to take it one step at a time. Break it down into manageable pieces. What is the one thing bothers you the most? Let's work on that first. Is your mask uncomfortable? Are you having leaks? Is your machine data capable, and if so, how is your treatment working when you are using the machine?

Four hours with CPAP may be all that is necessary for compliance, but you will need to be able to use it every second you are sleeping for it to really do its job.

I know you said that you don't care anymore, because you refuse to wear the mask, you want to give up. But I promise you again: if you find the right mask for your face, you will feel alive again. And you will enjoy life.

No more tiredness, no more sadness, no more crying!

So hang in there! And let's resolve the problem!