First night and coughing fits

Last night was my first attempt with my machine [ResMed AirSense10) with full face mask. The pressure is already programmed and I was a bit shocked at how forceful it was. Well, after just a few minutes breathing nicely... as I started to actually doze off.. the masked seemed to fill with air and I couldn't catch my breathe and started coughing like crazy and my mouth was extremely dry when it wasn't even open! I had to completely, and briskly, get the mask off to cough and start breathing normally again. Long story short... this repeated itself over and over until I just couldn't stand it and took the mask off altogether and turned the machine off. Not a fun way to start this journey! I'm a side sleeper, however, I know that my apnea is worse when on my back [didn't know I even ever slept on my back] so should I start off sleeping on my back?? The feeling of not being able to breathe even though the mask was pumping air for me was scary. Oh, and my BP med has a side effect of causing a stuffy nose, so that doesn't help, I'm sure. I won't give up, but not clear how to proceed. I was a bit disappointed my technician didn't explain the process of how to go to sleep for the first time, too. Suggestions please!!! Thank you!

Please go to your user control panel, profile tab, equipment list and fill that out. That will save everyone a lot of time so we can see at a glance what kind of setup you have.

Do you have sleepyhead or some other software? If not that would be a great next step. Sleepyhead is free and can work on PC and MAC. If you have a full data machine (if you have the CPAP version you don't, all other versions you do) you and we can see what is going on in detail and will be much more likely to be able to help. Right now, anything I suggested based on your post would be a wild guess.

Welcome! Stick around, you will get some help, but you will need to do the software thing to get best results.

Hi - why would you consider back sleeping if you know it's a problem and not generally recommended in any case? Do you know what your prescribed pressures are supposed to be (you really should know those)? And what your machine is actually set at (could be all wrong)? And are you aware there's a feature on your machine to allow easier exhalation - it's called EPR and you can set it from 1-3 or 1-5 (1 being the least amt of relief).

It's going to be scary at first. Maybe you would do better with a different kind of mask. Might need to use the ramp setting. Maybe change humidifier setting. I know someone who know a lot will guide you but just saying what you describe is pretty normal.

Find out what the pressure settings and humidity settings are. You may need to increase the humidity.

This evening (or this afternoon) take the machine to where you tv is and put it on and wear it while watch your favourite movie - something exciting that will take your mind off the whole machine thing.

worthylady46 wrote:Last night was my first attempt with my machine [ResMed AirSense10) with full face mask. The pressure is already programmed and I was a bit shocked at how forceful it was. Well, after just a few minutes breathing nicely... as I started to actually doze off.. the masked seemed to fill with air and I couldn't catch my breathe and started coughing like crazy and my mouth was extremely dry when it wasn't even open! I had to completely, and briskly, get the mask off to cough and start breathing normally again. Long story short... this repeated itself over and over until I just couldn't stand it and took the mask off altogether and turned the machine off. Not a fun way to start this journey! I'm a side sleeper, however, I know that my apnea is worse when on my back [didn't know I even ever slept on my back] so should I start off sleeping on my back?? The feeling of not being able to breathe even though the mask was pumping air for me was scary. Oh, and my BP med has a side effect of causing a stuffy nose, so that doesn't help, I'm sure. I won't give up, but not clear how to proceed. I was a bit disappointed my technician didn't explain the process of how to go to sleep for the first time, too. Suggestions please!!! Thank you!

If you're taking Lisinopril (for blood pressure or kidney protection), it's a known and common dry cough contributor.
If so, there are other medications that don't do that and are as good or better medications.


Den

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worthylady46 wrote:Last night was my first attempt with my machine [ResMed AirSense10) with full face mask. The pressure is already programmed and I was a bit shocked at how forceful it was. Well, after just a few minutes breathing nicely... as I started to actually doze off.. the masked seemed to fill with air and I couldn't catch my breathe and started coughing like crazy and my mouth was extremely dry when it wasn't even open! I had to completely, and briskly, get the mask off to cough and start breathing normally again. Long story short... this repeated itself over and over until I just couldn't stand it and took the mask off altogether and turned the machine off. Not a fun way to start this journey! I'm a side sleeper, however, I know that my apnea is worse when on my back [didn't know I even ever slept on my back] so should I start off sleeping on my back?? The feeling of not being able to breathe even though the mask was pumping air for me was scary. Oh, and my BP med has a side effect of causing a stuffy nose, so that doesn't help, I'm sure. I won't give up, but not clear how to proceed. I was a bit disappointed my technician didn't explain the process of how to go to sleep for the first time, too. Suggestions please!!! Thank you!

Hi

Before a lot of help can be given we need to know more about some stuff.

It appears you've got a Resmed S10 Autoset. Are you using the ramp feature? This starts the machine at a lower pressure and gradually increases the pressure over time. If it is set to a short period of time it will catch you as you're dozing off and startle you awake. After some time getting used to your machine, you might even find its better to start without the ramp feature. It's totally your choice (it's called a comfort feature). We can get you to the right setting very quickly!

Since you're new to this snake on a face stuff you might want to try and read a book or watch some tv whilst using your CPAP device. This can get you acclimated to the pressure while you're awake and it might not be so overwhelming when you're trying to sleep.

Since the S10 has a built in humidifier what heat settings are you using? If you're using a climateline hose the settings will be in degrees, but a regular (non-heated) hose will be between 1-6. Comfort for the humidification varies wildly among users. Too much or to little can cause stuffiness or dryness.

I know that if I'm standing directly in front of a fan I have a hard time trying to breathe. The flow of air just makes it impossible for me to take a breath. That might be all you're experiencing as well. Keep on plugging away, and keep the mask on!

-Bill

Welcome to the Dark Side .

I hope the suggestions here help - I may be totally off base with this, but often as we fall asleep, we have what is kindly referred to here as Sleep/Wake Junk (SWJ) - a transitional central apnea phenomenon. You're not breathing "nicely" (as you put it), you aren't using the airflow, so it blasts you one . I have an ASV machine, which tries to correct SWJ, so I get blasted extra hard in the face several times before I get to go to sleep.

It does take a while to get used to air coming at you and figuring out what to do with said air (somehow, actually breathing it seems to be last on the body's list of possibilities here...). Suggestions to wear your mask while doing something else are very effective.

If your mask is leaking on top of everything else, that's not helping either, and it may need readjusting or changing.

Coughing might well be meds as has been suggested, but I did it too at first, and for me it seemed to be the feeling of being "waterboarded" with air. I failed CPAP at my first titration study for that reason. If it keeps up, and you can't get used to it, perhaps a second look can be taken at your equipment - it might not be right for your needs.

Good luck!

Thank you for your posts and support!!! I'm sorry I didn't have all the right information posted right away.. learning curve here. I think I fixed that now on my profile.

My machine is on an auto setting by insurance company and my prescribed pressure level is 7-20 with an initial Ramp of 4. And my humidity is set at 2. I tried last night to change the Ramp, however, the machine won't let me. My mind just wouldn't let me fall asleep because it felt like a hairdryer [on a cool setting] was blowing up my nose!! I could only wear the mask about 45 minutes last night - though no coughing - because the pressure of the airflow was again just too powerful. I put a call into my medical equipment provider to see who I need to contact to lower the Ramp. I truly think that's the only thing that's preventing me from making this adjustment and being able to fall asleep.

Thank you for the suggestions on the wearing of my mask while doing something else!!! This is a great idea and one I hadn't thought of! I will try this while watching t.v. or reading tonight. Maybe I'll fall asleep on the couch and wake up refreshed the next morning!!

It's wonderful there is this forum and glad I found it. I can use all the support I can get!!! Thanks everyone and I'll keep updating!!

Jennifer

No your insurance company didn't set the machine, the DME (durable medical equipment) company did based on what the doctor ordered.

You can find the manuals on line that will let you change everything. Take charge of your therapy just like diabetics do - unlike insulin, air will not kill you.

You probably need to increase your humidity if your nose feels cold and dry.

The machine can't go lower than 4 cm...that's as low as they will go so the ramp starting pressure of 4 cm is already as low as it can go. I know that you won't believe me but more people feel like that isn't enough air moving than feel like it is too much.

We do get used to whatever pressures we have to use so hopefully if you use the machine while awake and not under the pressure of falling asleep you will come to find out that it isn't so annoying after all.

Ramp usually needs to be changed in the clinical setup menu area...this manual explains how to get to the setup area if you don't already know.
https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf