Can’t sleep with CPAP

Hi Ron, I have similar problems. My mask isn’t comfortable and doesn’t seal right, even with the sleep specialist adjusting it. He changed it a number of times too. I toss and turn all night, trying to keep the mask on. I end up holding in place. Needless to say, I don’t sleep well when all this is going on. Usually I check the machine to see when I hit 4 hours, then I take it off to get some “real sleep”. The insurance needs to see at least 4 hours a night for 25 out of 30 days usage, or at least that was I was told. Some nights I will struggle with the fit so much that I get frustrated and pull it off.
I can’t even describe how much I hate this machine. I wish I could get the implanted one, my previous sleep doctor said my condition was too bad for it, my current one thinks I might be a candidate. Unfortunately, I saw her right before the Covid sheltering took effect, so who knows when I can see the surgeon.
My old sleep doctor, who left to work with the VA, knew how much I struggled with day time sleepiness, which using a Cpap was supposed to help with. He prescribed me a medication that is used for Narcolepsy, which allowed me to function. My new provider isn’t allowed to prescribe it, the hospital system she works for says only psychiatric or pain management doctors can prescribe it. I have both types of doctors, though not in the same system. They both refused to prescribe it. Since it was the beginning of the shelter at home, and it didn’t matter if I slept until 12-1:00; I didn’t pursue it.

I hope you can get your situation straightened out. One thing that helped me see where I was at is signing up with Res-Med to get reports of my daily usage. It tells you about mask leaks, how many times you took it off, how long it was on, etc. You can see daily use, past thirty days, and longer. I’ve printed up reports for my new doctor that showed my usage and all the other incidentals for the past year. It helps me to see where I’m at, and to let my doctor know too. Good luck.