One thing that I've found very helpful, and wish my doctor had mentioned: when putting on the CPAP (nasal pillows in my case), time turning it one with your breathing such that the machine first kicks in during an inhale.
That's it. It sounds trivial. But my biggest problem[1] with the CPAP is that it feels like it's smothering me. I can get more air in, faster, without the CPAP, and I still vividly remember the initial months when I would rip it off in frustration just to be able to breathe.
The thing is, I wasn't wrong. When I go to bed, I move around a little to adjust my pillow and lean over to grab the headpiece and turn it on, and all that movement means my oxygen requirements are temporarily higher. Putting on the CPAP immediately restricts airflow, so of course I hate it even though I can forcibly breathe through it.
But timing it so that it adds airflow (during an inhale) makes me feel like it's helping, not smothering. I can still breathe a little harder while settling down, but psychologically it feels way better to have it helping me breathe instead of fighting me. I wish someone had suggested this early on.
I don't have an answer for my upcoming 12-hour overnight flight, though. Other than a long series of 5-minute half-naps, watching a lot of movies, and sacrificing the first day to stumble around and catch up on rest. (Which, to be fair, I'd be doing anyway with the time change.)
[1] Well, the other problem is the noise. My partner is a light sleeper, and if she's suffering during the night from my noise, I'll be suffering during the day. We've largely resolved that with a white noise machine closer to her, and learning how to maintain a proper seal with various strap adjustments and position shifts. I only get a shove in the night once every few months at this point. It's almost like she feels entitled to sleep at night too...
I got a travel CPAP and it's been a huge unlock for me for international flights. Last flight I took to Europe I picked a 9 pm flight and had 6 hours of actual good sleep on the plane.
Similar experience. I liken it to merging onto a freeway: you want to get up to speed first, then change lanes. If you don't, it feels like you're always fighing the pressure. If you equalize the pressure correctly breathing is as easy (easier) than without the mask.
Having used multiple machines; some are "better" at this than others -- might be time for you to just get a new one? Probably technically you want an APAP.
My preferred method (Resmed Mirage FX) is to put the mask on, but without the hose connected. Then turn the machine on, wait until I can hear the air whooshing out of the hose and then clip the hose to the mask.
... but also as @elric has said, getting it set up properly is important. The first few weeks it felt restrictive, I complained and the hospital cranked up the initial pressure from 4 units to 6 units, and it's been great ever since.
That's it. It sounds trivial. But my biggest problem[1] with the CPAP is that it feels like it's smothering me. I can get more air in, faster, without the CPAP, and I still vividly remember the initial months when I would rip it off in frustration just to be able to breathe.
The thing is, I wasn't wrong. When I go to bed, I move around a little to adjust my pillow and lean over to grab the headpiece and turn it on, and all that movement means my oxygen requirements are temporarily higher. Putting on the CPAP immediately restricts airflow, so of course I hate it even though I can forcibly breathe through it.
But timing it so that it adds airflow (during an inhale) makes me feel like it's helping, not smothering. I can still breathe a little harder while settling down, but psychologically it feels way better to have it helping me breathe instead of fighting me. I wish someone had suggested this early on.
I don't have an answer for my upcoming 12-hour overnight flight, though. Other than a long series of 5-minute half-naps, watching a lot of movies, and sacrificing the first day to stumble around and catch up on rest. (Which, to be fair, I'd be doing anyway with the time change.)
[1] Well, the other problem is the noise. My partner is a light sleeper, and if she's suffering during the night from my noise, I'll be suffering during the day. We've largely resolved that with a white noise machine closer to her, and learning how to maintain a proper seal with various strap adjustments and position shifts. I only get a shove in the night once every few months at this point. It's almost like she feels entitled to sleep at night too...