Newb ...adjusting

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
snostorm
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:33 pm

Newb ...adjusting

Post by snostorm » Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:51 pm

Greetings Cpap community.

Ill keep it short as possible. Diagnosed with severe OSA back in 2009. Titration study had me at some absurd Bi PAP setting of like 20 or so could never adjust to it. Tried mouth piece to no avail. Stored my machine until recently. I had been having episodes of hypnic jerks and waking up gasping for air so I felt the need to address this. I busted out the cpap machine and tried hard to adjust. My stomach was inflating badly as I have GERD. I lowered the settings of the machine to 14. I finally fell asleep wearing it for short periods. I was thrilled and decided to only sleep with this thing strapped to my head and went hardcore. I still only sleep with it I do get sleep its been about 2 weeks. I check the results and I get an AHI index of about 1.3 to 1.8 on a nightly bases so I think this is good. But im still very tired during the day. I would hope that I felt better. I still have a lot of trouble falling into a deep sleep with the cpap. is this normal...what can I expect moving forward?

I use a full mask I just got a new one its a resmed AIrfit F-10 and I have a resmed VPAP S machine. I have a 20 inch neck so im a fat ass. I also have been having anxiety issues lately but this is my history, it disrupts my sleep. I want to feel better. I keep hearing stories of people using this machine and feeling like a new person. I dont..at least not yet. how long is normal to start feeling better?

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Sheriff Buford
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Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2010 8:01 am
Location: Kingwood, Texas

Re: Newb ...adjusting

Post by Sheriff Buford » Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:57 pm

This question arises a lot. Some folks wake up one morning (ah-ha morning) feeling refreshed... like sleep is supposed to be. My ah-ha morning was around day 16 or day 18. Some folks get a gradual improvement that is barley noticeable. Some folks seem to never achieve an ah-ha morning, and I feel bad for them. Everyone is different. Keep it up... it seems that you are getting good treatment. Keep your leak rate down. Leaks can deter proper therapy.

Sheriff

snostorm
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:33 pm

Re: Newb ...adjusting

Post by snostorm » Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:03 pm

my leaks are .20l/s? Is that bad or good?

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Julie
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Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: Newb ...adjusting

Post by Julie » Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:12 pm

Hi - one thing - you may have GERD, but your problem of bloating, gas, etc. is called aerophagia (do a forum search for more on that) and probably occurred because of the high pressure you were at... not because of GERD, which is actually almost the opposite problem.

snostorm
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:33 pm

Re: Newb ...adjusting

Post by snostorm » Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:19 pm

yes I did research it..well not on this site but yeah it sucked I don't get it as much with my machine set at 14. The reason why I mentioned GERD was weakness of LES I thought that might be a complication. I lay awake at night it seems for hours before I fall asleep. I hate it. But am resisting medication to sleep. I think its exacerbating my anxiety problem. I guess I have to fight through.

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Pugsy
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Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Newb ...adjusting

Post by Pugsy » Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:00 pm

snostorm wrote:my leaks are .20l/s? Is that bad or good?
With your machine the leak number to avoid is 0.40 L/sec.
So you are good in that regard. The leak number off the LCD screen on that machine is a 95% number which means you were at OR below that number for 95% of the night. The 5 % you were above it we don't know how far above it but it doesn't really matter.

If you are having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep and maybe sleeping short hours at that...it's going to be tough to realistically expect those improvements you want so fast.

If you are having trouble falling asleep...is this new and just with the mask on or did you have problems before?
Are you waking often during the night?
snostorm wrote:I lay awake at night it seems for hours before I fall asleep.
So how much sleep...actual sleep are you getting?
Do you take any meds of any kind for any reason? Even OTC?
Hows your sleep hygiene? Be honest. Mine sucks but I have no one to blame but me.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

snostorm
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:33 pm

Re: Newb ...adjusting

Post by snostorm » Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:33 pm

Thank you for the response...I sometimes take a xanax to go to sleep...i dont do it often I fear dependency. I have one drink a night...i fall asleep with the TV on regularly. WHich I know is bad. I think I psych myself out about falling asleep with my anxiety issues. Kinda a head case with that. It seems the process of falling asleep is different when wearing the mask. I guess its still alien to me. I really wish I didnt have to use it. Im to the point that I feel im gonna die if I dont use it..more anxiety issues. But this is stemming from an episode I had just before I went back to it when I woke up gasping for air..it was scary I thought I was gonna die. I just kept thinking that I was not breathing for quite some time in order to have that episode.

I seem to lay there fussing with my mask im a side sleeper. And when I turn to the side I get little leaks that drive me insane. Its like a constant struggle. I toss and turn a lot. I know I need it though. With out it when I fall asleep I frequently wake myself up with with am apmea episode especially if Im on my back. Again anxiety plays into this. Im trying hard to lose weight. Im about 50 pounds over weight at 250 pounds.

oh and one more thing I have been on Paxil for 12 years 20 mg. I weaned down to 10 but because of anxiety I recently upped it to 20 mg again

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Pugsy
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Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Newb ...adjusting

Post by Pugsy » Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:58 pm

I understand. This mask thing is what I call "the alien on the face"...let's face it..it ain't natural but we don't have a lot of choices. Eventually the brain comes to recognize this "alien" as a good friend but he puts up quite a fight before he does.
Which mask are you using? Is there something that you might want to try that looks interesting?

I don't have to tell you that the anxiety is feeding itself and is certainly not doing your sleep any favors.

Maybe you should talk to your doctor about these issues. Perhaps a different med to help relax and get to sleep could be used that doesn't have as much potential for habit forming issues...though in a small dose only at night it would take a while to get "hooked" on Xanax especially since you are aware of its potential unless you already have a history for liking those type of meds a little too much.

You know we often tell newbies to just wear the mask while sitting up and watching TV..machine on and all that..just so they get used to the alien. Remove the "I gotta get to sleep" stress from the equation for a little while and see if it helps de stress you a little bit.

And maybe a different mask would be less annoying.
Is this the same mask that you tried a long time ago? With exposure to air the silicone can become brittle and not seal as well..might need a new cushion (depending on what kind it is). If it has some age on it then it may be tired.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.