Sleep apnea an the cpap machine?

I was diagnosed last week with sleep apnea.. now have a cpap machine... my pet name for the machine is c crap!! i hate it.. not the machine just the masks.. i started with a full face mask.. couldnt handle it.. changed to one that sits under the nose. Im now getting sores in my nose.. tommorow im off to change the mask for one that covers the nose. I am so sleep deprived and its worse with the mask on!!! My specialist is fast tracking my sleep test as he knows im not coping. He has also mentioned a mouth splint as another option. Does anyone know anything about the splint? I care for my daughter who has epilepsy and my elderly mother. I also work..Im soooooo tired. Has anyone got any idea to help.. Thanks

You've just got to hang in there. Things always get worse before they get better with CPAP. It takes some getting used to, as it is a very unnatural way to sleep. But most people who persist will eventually benefit.

I unerstand your frustration, but there is no better approach to your problem than the one you have taken. The alternative, apart from just living with sleep apnea, which is inconvenient and angerous, is surgery, which is sometimes necessary when a patient can't get CPAP to work for them. The trick is to find the right facial device for you and the right settings on the machine, which may take some time.

There are many masks and nose pieces you can choose from to find the one that fits best. There is also a device that you put in your mouth to hold the airway open at night. It looks like a sports mouth piece. Here is more information about it.

http://www.entcolumbia.org/omad.html

Another thing you can try. If you are a heavy person, losing weight can help relieve obstructive sleep apnea. Eating right, staying from caffeine and alcohol 4 hours before bed can help you sleep better.

Your home care company, the one that provided you with your machine, should have a RESPIRATORY THERAPIST to help you find the mask that will work best for you. That's what you and your insurance company is paying for.

Good luck.