Newbie here. Hi

Hi my name is Dori. I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. I have other health issues. I just turned 50 in November.
I have been in Afib since Sept 10. I have sacriatic joint issues and can't get the treatment I need for it because I am taking blood thinners.

The problem I am having is when I breath I don't breath normally because of the aFib. I breath short shallow breaths. The machine is set for 5. The pressure of the air going into my body makes my chest hurt like I am having a heart attack. I made it with the mask and machine on for 19 minutes. That was Christmas Eve. I didn't use it after that and called the sleep study place first thing Monday morning. They called me back that afternoon and said I had to wear the mask and use the machine on 5 for 4 hours a night to be compliant with the insurance company. but not one time did the lady say anything to me about the issue at hand. I have tried every day this week to get them to talk to me and nothing. I called the medical supply place I got the machine from and they said they couldn't help and that I have to wear the mask and machine for 4 hours a night to be complaint with the insurance. and that the machine was set at 5 and couldn't be changed. and that I have to keep using it to get used to it.

So another words. put mask on turn machine on and force air into an already weak body that is struggling to breath as is.

As I am sitting here typing this I thought call my cardiologist. So I called and left a message for the nurse to call me back. Not sure what they can do or if they know any thing about the machine but they might know someone that can help. At least these people care.

Sad to hear about your health issues, I'm also new to this site and know a little about cpap.
What model of machine do you have and the mask you are using could give readers a better understanding of your setting.
Resmed A10 will tell you the # on its display meaning cm/h20 when in use, that tells you the pressure.
Example 10 would mean 10cm/h20 pressure. To make it easier for breathing the epr or A- C-flex settings(depends on machine) can also be adjusted from 1-3, 3 being the easiest to exhale.( if they have set your pressure for you, they could have a low # for comfort?)
All the best.

You must talk to your sleep DOCTOR or your cardiologist. Not the sleep center and not the DME.

yep talk with the person that wrote the prescription, assuming it was a sleep Doctor. Good idea to also talk with the cardio, however in my case the cardio said he knew nothing about CPAP and said "bye-bye".

wow, I'm surprised. My cardio. has a big poster of "Sleep Apnea" warning signs in his exam room. I thought sleep apnea and heart issues went hand in hand. And I though all Cardiologists should be on top of this sleep apnea issue.

Hi Dori. Hope you get the help you deserve.

I think your first step is to see one of your doctors so you can find out whether trying the CPAP is harming you. I suspect it is NOT, and that CPAP is generally very helpful for A-fib. But you need reassurance from your doctor. Take the machine and mask with you to the appointment so that the doctor can observe what's happening to you when you are using the machine, perhaps with you hooked up to an oximeter. The chest pain and discomfort you are complaining of are not typical, and a doctor should observe what might be happening.

If the doctor doesn't find any reason for you not to use the machine, perhaps we can help by giving you some pointers on how to get used to it. Are your pains coming with breathing in or breathing out? Do they start right away with the first breath or develop over the course of the time you are using the machine?

Perhaps you might ask your doctor for a referral to a respiratory therapist who can work with you on this. It sounds like your shallow breathing has been depending on auxiliary muscles of the upper chest, and the diaphragm and abdominal muscles needed for deep breathing may need some strengthening. A respiratory therapist can set you up with a device called an "incentive inspirometer" like they give patients after surgery to help strengthen those muscles. My dad used to joke that when he succeeded in getting all three balls in the air he was going to win a cigar!

Assuming CPAP is not causing you harm because of your particular situation, it really can be a great help to your condition. So it's important to get to the bottom of your issues with CPAP, and then--as long as the doctor doesn't decide it's contraindicated--work hard at being able to use it.

Thank you every body for the warm welcome and the good information.

It was the sleep doctor that I was trying to get to answer my questions. It was my cardiologist that called the sleep doctor and put a flame under them and they called me within minutes of my phone call with the cardiologists nurse. Between me and the lady at the medical supply place actually figured it all out. My auto set machine was set by the sleep doctor's prescription. So I had to get that doctor to write a new script for a lower number. The medical supply lady then via modem changed the setting in my machine. It took all day yesterday after playing phone tag with everybody for days. I can start using it tonight. I had to let it sit for 24 hours so that it had time to do its thing.

I am using a low profile nose and mouth mask.

Hi & Welcome! Are you using the ramp function on your machine? Maybe if ramp function is not set up yet, the DME could set it up for you. Ramp starts out with low pressure and gently works it way up to the pressure your Dr has ordered, but over a period of about 20 minutes, and usually the pt has a chance to fall asleep before the high pressure starts. Then once you get used to the machine you might want to have ramp feature turned off. I used ramp for a couple weeks when I was a CPAP newbie, then once I got used to the machine, the ramp feature made the pressure feel like it started too low and it made me feel like I couldn't get enough of a breath and was suffocating, so I shut it off. The ramp might help you to get used to it and then you can decide if you want it turned off later, once your are able to use it without problems. If you don't use it long enough to show compliance for your insurance co the DME will possibly make you pay for it with no assistance from insurance, or the DME might take it away if you can't pay & insurance won't pay due to lack of compliance. To get used to it, you could also try to use it while awake, just before you are ready to go to sleep, put it in and watch TV or read if your mask will still allow you to see to read or watch TV. Good luck with getting acclimated to the machine, I know you can do it, and it will help your heart.

I have used my machine 2 nights in a row with the new settings. The first night was weird. I put it on about 10:30 by 11 I was up and out of bed with a feeling of I am hating this thing. I am very claustrophobic so I am having issues with something strapped to my face. I don't wear scarves because I hate having stuff wrapped around my neck or face. I am the person who hates bathrooms with the door closed. I hate elevators too. I did how ever go back to bed after a few minutes and put the mask on and turned on the machine and laid there for a while doing my jig saw puzzle on my tablet while watching tv. I fell asleep and the next thing I knew it was 4:30 am. I took it off and left it off. mostly because I knew at that point it was useless wearing it because I knew I wouldn't go back to sleep. I am hoping I got my 4 hours in.

Last night I put it on later. I took my sleeping pill about 10 pm. It usually takes about an hour for me to start feeling sleepy. I did figure out that if I wait until I get really sleepy before I put the mask on I don't have a panic attack. Which for me can be really bad. I don't remember much after I put the mask on. I do remember getting up once to go potty but not sure what time that was. and husbands alarm went off at 6 am... and awake I was. I am hoping i made it to the 4 hour mark.

The medical supply lady gave me a website to go to to look at my machine information when I use it but I can't find the paper with the info to the website. guess I will have to call them again tomorrow.

It sounds to me that you are just trying to get your compliance period completed so you can pack up the CPAP and put it in the closet. The way you are going and from what you are saying, you may need some "counseling.

What make and model of machine do you have? If you list it in your profile, and along with your mask, it will help others help you. Some machines are data capable and can give you info you need to help your therapy.
It gets easier. Keep on using your machine every time you go to sleep.

Sounds like a big improvement since your first post. Keep putting on your mask and doing your crossword or some other entertainment so you don't concentrate so much on how bad your claustrophobia is, and pretty soon it will become a comfort to you, not something to be tolerated.

LSAT wrote:It sounds to me that you are just trying to get your compliance period completed so you can pack up the CPAP and put it in the closet. The way you are going and from what you are saying, you may need some "counseling.

I am trying to get to compliance. Didn't you when you first started using your cpap machine? Doesn't everybody want to be compliant and use their machines like they need to.

It is harder for some of us to get used to something strapped to our faces and blowing constant air into our face.

I have health issues that say I need this machine. I have doctors that are trying to make my health issues better. I have doctors appointments that are dependent on me getting used to and using my machine in the way it is intended to be used. I have only one month to get fully up to speed with this machine so my doctor can do the next procedure or at least figure out what the next procedure is for me.

I have no intention of putting my cpap machine in a closet. Yes I need counseling that is why I see my counselor weekly. Yes I am having difficulties in getting this machine and my issues with it under control. I surely don't want to sleep with a mask strapped to my face but if it means I get better and have a better sleep then I will do anything I need to to get myself used to it.

I came to this website to get help with the machine and to try to figure out the easiest and most comfortable way to get used to it. I also thought that fellow cpap users would be understanding and informative with information concerning the machines and their uses.

I did not come her for someone to tell me I need counseling and that I am just doing what needs to be done to be compliant and the shove it in a closet.

Tell me how was your first week or month using your machine for the first time? did you put it on and go to sleep like it was nothing? or like the rest of us did you have problems figuring it out and getting used to it?

Cardsfan, My cardiologist has big sleep apnea posters on their walls too. My doctor said she knows about sleep apnea but nothing about the settings and how to work the machines. That is why the nurse called the sleep doctor after we talked on the phone.

I would love to put all my info about the machine and the mask I use in my profile but I can't figure that out either.
My machine only keeps the time you used it last it doesn't store the information more than 1 day.

I have a dreamstation auto cpaphumHTdom with a amara full face mask.

Herefishy, It is a big improvement from the first time I put the mask on and had a panic attack. At least I worked through that. I know it will get easier. everything gets easier with time.

This might help with registering your equipment. wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile