Felt like I was sucking air on 2nd night

Hi all - I am new here. Just got my first CPAP 2 nights ago. The first night went okay - though no sleep until 3:30 am and only about 3 hours of sleep. Pretty typical for me.

But last night (my 2nd night) I felt like I wasn't getting air pressure and felt like was having to "suck" air as if through a straw (though not that extreme, but it was a little effort). I kept checking my pressure - it was at 8 where it was supposed to be and if I took the mask off slightly, I could feel plenty of air pressure blowing into the mask. But if it was on all the way, I couldn't feel any air pressure up my nose. Everything seems to be seated right.

So, is this all in my head? Is this a normal part of getting used to the whole thing - that you just don't feel the pressure after a night or two? Or is there something wrong with my machine or mask? Can this happen from having the mask on too tight? I have a nasal mask and I don't think it is leaking (no noise). I'm frustrated because I have to wait until Monday at the earliest to call anyone about this.

The machine I have is a PR System One REMstar Pro CPAP Machine with C-Flex+ with AutoIQ.

I wear a total face mask and don't feel the air pressure at 8. It really does take more than two nights to get acclimated. Try not to keep checking your pressure all night. Take a PM pain reliver or some benadryl and get some sleep.
Good luck tonight and in the future.

If your mask has autoQ it more than likely is set on auto with a pressure range for the first 30 days.....The ramp may be set on 4 which may make it hard to breathe. Once you get used to the pressure you really can't feel it. I use 12 and when I put on my mask I do not feel anything (But I have been on CPAP for over 3 years).

Thanks for your replies! I know I just have a lot of anxiety about the whole thing and just need to relax more. I downloaded the SleepyHead software and checked my SD card data and it was good to reassure me that all was working just fine and my AHI was much better than it was in the sleep study. Hopefully tonight I will quit stressing over it all and get some sleep.

A lot of it is psychological. About 2 weeks in I suddenly started waking up thinking I couldn't get enough air. I would lift it and feel the breeze and tell myself that there was more then enough air. Be gentle on yourself, talk to yourself like you would a very scared toddler. Yelling at a toddler just freaks them out, you need to be lovingly kind.

I have a problem sucking in air with what I call my CRAP machine (lol) It is very painful and causes a lot of belching. Usually it happens around 3AM and it is necessary for me to get up and get some tea to help with the pain. It doesn't happen every night, perhaps every three weeks but it still disrupts my sleep. In some form, due to the discomfort, it will take all day before I feel better.