Newbie here—Just diagnosed and CPAP coming in 5 days

[BigMoose13]

Thanks Muse!

Update on the new masks- One has yet to arrive, but tried the new one last night. Phillips Dream Ware Under the Nose Mask. On the plus side, it doesn't jam up my nose. On the minus side, still is uncomfortable (kind of thick straps on sides so little uncomfortable for side sleeping).

Another common problem with both masks I've tried--I don't feel like I'm getting enough air when I first go to bed. Consequently, I'm awake for up to 90 minutes just trying to breathe. Is that something to do with my air pressure? I've shut off the "ramp time" on my machine which was set at 4 (felt like being buried alive), so now it starts at 8 and can go up to 12 as I sleep). Eventually I settle into it but it takes a LONG time and usually I have to knock myself out with a Unisom in order to fall asleep.

Any thoughts from my new friends on here?

I also suspect I am going to have to train myself to sleep on my back--not my preferred position. Any advice on that helpful, as well. Thanks!

[Pugsy]

Can you describe in more detail what you are experiencing when you start the machine at the 8 cm pressure (since you have disabled the ramp feature) that is making you uncomfortable to the point you can't get to sleep?

Are you using EPR exhale relief and if so..at what setting?

[BigMoose13]

Hi Pugsy-

On the ResMed Airsense 10 Auto Set it says it's a variable exhale pressure--not sure where it's set, I can't tell from machine. I suspect that something I can see once I download the SW, correct?

I'm not sure of the root cause of my "not being able to breathe" sensation. I feel like I get adequate air if I inhale through nose/exhale through mouth, but once I close my mouth I invariably return to struggling to feel like I'm getting enough air. That leads me to razor-focus on breathing which inhibits me from sleeping. I feel like I have to physically "pull in" air deeply and then do a hard "push out" to empty my lungs--so I can't determine if the culprit is lack of pressure or problematic exhale pressure. Does that even make sense? I can breathe, but it requires focus--meaning I'm alert when the mask is placed and being alert is opposite of being asleep lol!

I might add, I'm HYPER claustrophobic so that's not helpful in the least.

[Pugsy]

On the ResMed Airsense 10 Auto Set it says it's a variable exhale pressure--not sure where it's set, I can't tell from machine. I suspect that something I can see once I download the SW, correct?

Yeah I can tell by the software reports.
I don't know what "variable exhale pressure" means when looking at the machine. Never heard of that.

EPR is either on or off
and there's a choice for full time or ramp only
and setting choices of 1, 2 or 3 and each corresponds to the amount of reduction during exhale with 3 being 3 cm.

this

I might add, I'm HYPER claustrophobic so that's not helpful in the least.

sure doesn't help you not do this

leads me to razor-focus on breathing which inhibits me from sleeping.

You are thinking about the breathing too much.

Try just wearing the mask with machine on when reading or watching TV and under no pressure to go to sleep.

Play with the various EPR settings to see if it helps or not...and even turn it off and see if it helps or not.