How to breathe against constant pressure

[NewBreath]

Hello all,

I'm very new to CPAP therapy and I'm trying hard to get adjusted to it. Right now I am dealing with wearing it around the house just to get used to it and am just now getting to wearing it to bed. It's been a week.

How on Earth do you get used to breathing against that constant pressure? Is it something you just get used to over time? Is it like a workout where little by little it's more tolerable?

[palerider]

Hello all,

I'm very new to CPAP therapy and I'm trying hard to get adjusted to it. Right now I am dealing with wearing it around the house just to get used to it and am just now getting to wearing it to bed. It's been a week.

How on Earth do you get used to breathing against that constant pressure? Is it something you just get used to over time? Is it like a workout where little by little it's more tolerable?

How? you just do.

A common comment is "I had to check to make sure the machine was still on!" after a bit.

[LSAT]

What are your pressure settings? Are you using your exhale relief setting?

[Goofproof]

I've been doing it from the day I was born. it's a requirement for life. We learn it young, maybe the doctor slapping you in the tail has something to do with learning how to do it. Jim

[ChicagoGranny]

How on Earth do you get used to breathing against that constant pressure? Is it something you just get used to over time? Is it like a workout where little by little it's more tolerable?

Quit "trying" to breathe. Distract your mind from breathing by thinking of something pleasant. Once you fall asleep, your autonomous nervous system will take control of your breathing. You will breathe easily and gently all night long. The pressure will not be a problem. "Thinking" is the problem.

[Dog Slobber]

"Thinking" is the problem.

This is my burden.

[jnk...]

The brain is designed to notice changes, so it is only doin' its job when it tells you "Dude, I'm feeling pressure comin' back at us."

Once that is the norm when asleep, the brain won't even bother to tell you after the first few minutes of the night. Then, instead, when you take your mask off in the morning, your brain will tell you "Dude, where'd all that nice pressure go?"

Stupid brains.

The pressure actually expands the lower part of your lungs just a bit and makes it easier to breathe effectively on a few levels beyond the mere prevention of obstruction. So embrace the pressure; it is your friend. If you convince yourself that the pressure makes breathing harder, your brain will pick up on that and roll with it. Distract the brain. Free the lungs. Embrace the force.

[zonker]

"Thinking" is the problem.

This is my burden.

yeah, but you don't do it very well.

[ChicagoGranny]

“Stop thinking, and end your problems.”
― Lao Tzu

[palerider]

"Thinking" is the problem.

This is my burden.

yeah, but you don't do it very well.

Oh, *ouch*, and they say I'm harsh...

[zonker]

"Thinking" is the problem.

This is my burden.

yeah, but you don't do it very well.

Oh, *ouch*, and they say I'm harsh...

dammit! i left out the luls...

[NewBreath]

The brain is designed to notice changes, so it is only doin' its job when it tells you "Dude, I'm feeling pressure comin' back at us."

Once that is the norm when asleep, the brain won't even bother to tell you after the first few minutes of the night. Then, instead, when you take your mask off in the morning, your brain will tell you "Dude, where'd all that nice pressure go?"

Stupid brains.

The pressure actually expands the lower part of your lungs just a bit and makes it easier to breathe effectively on a few levels beyond the mere prevention of obstruction. So embrace the pressure; it is your friend. If you convince yourself that the pressure makes breathing harder, your brain will pick up on that and roll with it. Distract the brain. Free the lungs. Embrace the force.

This is actually the best explanation I need. I use an adjustable CPAP and I'm very new at this. The pressure starts at 6, and after I'm asleep, the increased pressure disrupts my sleep. So it seems eventually I will get used to it and I will sleep through it. Has that been the case with the rest of you?

[chunkyfrog]

Just channel your inner labrador, hanging its head out the truck window.
Think how dang happy that silly dog is--and enjoy!

[palerider]

the increased pressure disrupts my sleep.

That's a *very* common misconception.

The entire reason that you're on CPAP in the first place is because your breathing problems disrupt your sleep.

Now, you're still having those breathing problems, because your pressure is too low, and those problems cause the machine's pressure to increase... you're sleep is disturbed, you wake up because of the added stimulus of the cpap, since you haven't gotten used to it, and you blame waking up on the increased pressure.

However, if you hadn't had your sleep disturbed by the breathing problems... very likely, you would have slept right through whatever pressure the machine was at.

[zonker]

This is actually the best explanation I need. I use an adjustable CPAP and I'm very new at this. The pressure starts at 6, and after I'm asleep, the increased pressure disrupts my sleep. So it seems eventually I will get used to it and I will sleep through it. Has that been the case with the rest of you?

jnk IS rather good at that, isn't he?

i can guarantee you that one day, you will be laying in bed and you will think to yourself "did i remember to put my mask on?". you'll reach up to touch it just to make sure.

it WILL happen. i just don't know WHEN.

good luck!