Miserable newbie seeks assurance

Hey team!
I got my CPAP yesterday, and boy was I excited to finally feel rested.

Cut to the next day, wherein I got zero hours of sleep and one giant anxiety attack. Please tell me this is worth it and will get better. I feel a special kind of miserable and feel incredibly ripped off.

My stuff:
AHI: 15 (from the test)

CPAP: AirSense10

Mask: AirFit F20

Feelings: despondent

Oh, to add a little more info. One of my biggest problems last night is that the air was so cold. I ordered a heated tube today in hopes of fixing that, but I'm not sure it'll be enough.

barstool wrote:Hey team!
I got my CPAP yesterday, and boy was I excited to finally feel rested.

Cut to the next day, wherein I got zero hours of sleep and one giant anxiety attack. Please tell me this is worth it and will get better. I feel a special kind of miserable and feel incredibly ripped off.

My stuff:
AHI: 15 (from the test)

CPAP: AirSense10

Mask: AirFit F20

Feelings: despondent

Welcome to the forum.

Are you sure it's the one in your profile?

Machine: AirSense™ 10 Elite CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier

If so, it's fully data-capable. Not an Autoset, but still a good machine and fully data-capable.


Den

.

Lets use the first month to get use to the machine, The first goal is to keep the mask on all night, and if you didn't get any sleep. Mission accomplished
No afternoon naps, The second night will be easier because you will be exhausted. It won't be long before you are waking up, wondering if the machine is still on, because you can't feel it.

How were the leaks. The first couple of days can be devoted to mask fit. have you found the mask fit function that blower higher pressure? watching youtube videos on mask fit.

have you got the clinical manual and the program for reading your machine, called sleepyhead?
from the links at the top of the page http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/index.php

Wulfman... wrote: Welcome to the forum.

Are you sure it's the one in your profile?

Machine: AirSense™ 10 Elite CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier

If so, it's fully data-capable. Not an Autoset, but still a good machine and fully data-capable.


Den

.

Thanks! It says AirSense 10 Elite on the front, and that was the only "Elite" in the options.

ajack wrote:Lets use the first month to get use to the machine, The first goal is to keep the mask on all night, and if you didn't get any sleep. Mission accomplished
No afternoon naps, The second night will be easier because you will be exhausted. It won't be long before you are waking up, wondering if the machine is still on, because you can't feel it.

How were the leaks. The first couple of days can be devoted to mask fit. have you found the mask fit function that blower higher pressure? watching youtube videos on mask fit.

have you got the clinical manual and the program for reading your machine, called sleepyhead?
from the links at the top of the page http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/index.php

The leaks were pretty infrequent, which was surprising because I do have a decent beard. Mask fit function was green smiley face all the way. I'll grab sleepyhead now!

You will be able to set up the elite without issue. I take it you are in the US on insurance. the insurance don't care if you get an auto machine, they pay the DME the same money, go back to doctor and tell him how terrible it is with the pressure and you need an auto cpap that starts off on low pressure.... he can change the script they normally just follow what the sleep study say and they said fixed pressure.

My suggestion would be to get used to the therapy with the Elite on a fixed pressure......first. Yes, you can set the Autoset to be a fixed pressure machine, but you can opt for an Autoset when you get ready to buy a second "backup" or spare machine. And, yes, you will want to have one handy in case something happens to your primary machine. Depending on the doctor and DME, there can be problems switching machines.......even though all CPAP or APAP machines use the same insurance billing code.....E0601. Insurance providers don't care which one you have as long as the billing code is E0601. So, if you want to get it switched, that's up to you.
I started out with a straight-pressure machine before buying some APAPs, but then found out that the changing pressures of the APAPs disturbed my sleep.

What was your prescribed pressure setting?


Den

.

Wulfman... wrote:My suggestion would be to get used to the therapy with the Elite on a fixed pressure......first. Yes, you can set the Autoset to be a fixed pressure machine, but you can opt for an Autoset when you get ready to buy a second "backup" or spare machine. And, yes, you will want to have one handy in case something happens to your primary machine. Depending on the doctor and DME, there can be problems switching machines.......even though all CPAP or APAP machines use the same insurance billing code.....E0601. Insurance providers don't care which one you have as long as the billing code is E0601. So, if you want to get it switched, that's up to you.
I started out with a straight-pressure machine before buying some APAPs, but then found out that the changing pressures of the APAPs disturbed my sleep.

What was your prescribed pressure setting?


Den

.

I'm not 100% sure of what you're talking about, to be honest. My prescribed pressure is ten. I have it on auto ramp, but whenever it went up to ten my brain kind of freaked out.

barstool wrote:

Wulfman... wrote:My suggestion would be to get used to the therapy with the Elite on a fixed pressure......first. Yes, you can set the Autoset to be a fixed pressure machine, but you can opt for an Autoset when you get ready to buy a second "backup" or spare machine. And, yes, you will want to have one handy in case something happens to your primary machine. Depending on the doctor and DME, there can be problems switching machines.......even though all CPAP or APAP machines use the same insurance billing code.....E0601. Insurance providers don't care which one you have as long as the billing code is E0601. So, if you want to get it switched, that's up to you.
I started out with a straight-pressure machine before buying some APAPs, but then found out that the changing pressures of the APAPs disturbed my sleep.

What was your prescribed pressure setting?


Den

.

I'm not 100% sure of what you're talking about, to be honest. My prescribed pressure is ten. I have it on auto ramp, but whenever it went up to ten my brain kind of freaked out.

That's OK. It'll all come over time. It's like a new language.
Straight CPAP machines are set to a single pressure (not counting Ramp). APAP machines can be set to ranges of pressures (between 4 cm. and 20 cm.) that may adjust all night long according to the user's breathing characteristics. Snores and Flow Limitations are the main triggers for increasing pressures.......under the presumption that those may precede apneas. For some people they do and for some they don't. And, if the pressure range is set too wide open (minimum too low or maximum too high), it may not provide adequate therapy.


Den

.

Try wearing the mask while watching tv, reading, etc... That way, you'll get used to wearing the mask. If the increased pressure (after ramp) is "freaking" you out, turn the ramp off. It's suppose to "ease into" the air pressure as a comfort thang. If it is disruptive to you, then the ramp is not working as it should. If I was you, I'd go to bed early for several nights, lie there with full pressure... then try to ease off to sleep. Maybe consider a low dosage of Melatonin. It will help you relax and is natural.

Sheriff

ajack wrote:You will be able to set up the elite without issue. I take it you are in the US on insurance. the insurance don't care if you get an auto machine, they pay the DME the same money, go back to doctor and tell him how terrible it is with the pressure and you need an auto cpap that starts off on low pressure.... he can change the script they normally just follow what the sleep study say and they said fixed pressure.

Your Elite can start with a lower pressure if you use the ramp feature. It will start lower than the 10 and slowly build the pressure up to 10. You decide on the length of the ramp.