I would suggest for people that just found that they have sleep apnea try using CPAP nasal pillows – they provide titrations for the mask itself and for your ears, neck, head and shoulders. This way, you are assured of fewer pressure points and greater comfort while you sleep.

Wished I had access to a MIG welder so I could fabricate an aluminum frame that could snap in. Could utilize a central heating filter that has the allergen barrier; cut out section of the filter to use over time. A single filter could last all year, just cut out small sections as needed.

Then too, if an enterprising company could fabricate a plastic snap-in pre-filter, and sold pre-cut filters, would be moderately profitable.

Am able to sleep much better now with the CPAP, and my cat got used to the machine. Helped by altering a vanilla folder over the intake, so it is open on the wall side where the window is cracked open slightly. Cat has a cat perch/bed above this too, and he’s gotten used to it.

The Norco rep said to cut a 6 foot by 4 inch strip of fleece, and sew this into a long tube. Then put the CPAP hose through there, and this will keep the heated air from condensing inside the tube and prevent a lot of that face splash, and it works! – Norco also sell the tube for about $20 too, if one wants to go that route.

Sleeping is much better, and not had any sudden urges to fall asleep ‘cept for last night – but I had two days of interrupted sleep and less than five hours – so the CPAP can’t fix relatives from being uncooperative with the normal (graveyard) sleeping period.

The filter intake though, I wished was an adapter to install a micro-filter like that is used for furnaces. Since other family members & relatives come over and smoke (I don’t) and we have central heating/cooling, I’d prefer a filter to cut down on allergens/dust/etc.

The Veterans Administration got me a ResMed S8 AutoSet II CPAP machine.

If anyone knows of where to get a snap-in filter adapter to filter the air intake better, please post – I’ll check back weekly.

Used the machine last night, with the mask. Took about 4 hours of getting used to it before I fell asleep – and my cat is very mad at the machine too. The agent at Norco told me cats hate these machines.

Anyhow, I felt like I has to force myself to suck in more air, wasn’t like the machine I had in the sleep study – that one was more comfortable, yet it leaked a lot.

Got some rest, started waking up, decided to sleep in more because I felt at ease. Actually got on my back, then later on my right side (both are unusual for me, as I have 99% slept on my left side for the past 6 months.)

However, I feel weird. Seems like my head is feeling like I’ve ran a few laps around the track and caught my breath afterward. That weird feeling, not light headed, but the effects “feeling” after.

Was driving tonight, and almost felt like I was in a dream state, very unusual for me. Not scary, yet not comfortable. Did some shopping, I was more cheerful (ot grouchy like i have been since this sleep issue came about), yet just feel oddly.
Drove home and forgot where the fan for the defrost was in my car.

I feel better, but not quite like myself either. Yawned a few times today, yet not felt the sudden urge to flop some place and zonk out for hours.

Will the after-exhaustion head effects wear off soon? If why I was doing a web search and found your site. I feel good, just uneasy with this dazed like state.
Just hope it’s not going to be a continual thing and maybe be an adjustment phase?