BIPAP causing pain and panic attacks... Misdiagnosed?

[chronicpainqueen]

Hello, I am currently doing a trial period of a Philips
Respironics dreamstation BIPAP. I use nasal pillows and a chin strap. I have mild sleep apnea.


I cannot fall asleep with the machine on but I can fall asleep with the mask on if the machine is off. The airflow seems to keep me awake and in a state of low-grade panic until I take it off and can finally sleep. I used the whole thing for 2.5 hours last night trying to get to sleep and was asleep in 5 minutes after taking it off.

If the pressure is set to 6/4 it feels like I am not getting enough air. If it is any higher than 6/4 I feel like I am getting too much air to be able to exhale properly and it causes a costochondritis flare up and intense aerophagia. I already have tried cpap and the issues are like this but worse.

I'm 10x more miserable than before I even got the sleep study. I've been sleepwalking more and sleep eating more which is why I got the sleep study in the first place.

Is it possible I got misdiagnosed with sleep apnea? I don't snore and while I am overweight I am not obese and my neck circumference is 10.5inches. I have lost 10lbs since getting prescribed PAP therapy and have stopped taking spironolactone (I was only taking it for acne).

[Julie]

I can't answer all your questions, but your machine has an exhalation pressure relief feature (A- or Cflex) that you can set to wherever feels comfortable to help with your exhalation problem.

[khauser]

OK, confused. What makes you say you have a BiPAP? i think/hope that is an error. You linked to a Dreamstation Go CPAP unit, a very different machine.

Now, regarding the panic you feel, that is a very common problem. People often describe their initial experience with CPAP as inducing panic and/or causing trouble exhaling. It's a thing that takes getting used to.

How was your experience during the sleep study? Did you have trouble with that mask/machine as well?

I find that my sinus can seem stuffed when I first go to sleep, especially on my side. This presents as you describe ... trouble exhaling. For me, what I do is power through it. My body eventually allows me to breathe easier. Also, sleeping on my back seems easier (but can cause more apnea issues).

None of your experience means you don't have sleep apnea. But get a hold of your study results, take pictures, black out identifying information and post them here.

You took a good first step in having this diagnosed and a treatment plan developed. It will take a little time to get used to it.

Did you BUY that machine or is it rented? It would be FAR better if you could exchange it...

[Miss Emerita]

Especially given the parasomnias, it'd be valuable to see the sleep study, as khauser suggests.

In addition to clarifying which machine you have, could you say what you mean by a pressure setting of 6/4? Is that a pressure range, or a fixed pressure with flex of 2? Or (if you do have a bilevel), an EPAP setting and a pressure support setting?

[zonker]

Especially given the parasomnias, it'd be valuable to see the sleep study, as khauser suggests.

In addition to clarifying which machine you have, could you say what you mean by a pressure setting of 6/4? Is that a pressure range, or a fixed pressure with flex of 2? Or (if you do have a bilevel), an EPAP setting and a pressure support setting?

in her other thread, she says-

"Minimum pressure setting is 5 and the maximum is 10. I haven't been able to use it long enough to know what the recorded pressure range is."

from-
viewtopic.php?t=180021

[Miss Emerita]

Thanks, Zonker! So, CPQ, have your machine and settings changed?

[raisedfist]

Were you given prescribed settings? If so, what are they? There are a few comfort options that can be adjusted as well, but it sounds like your settings are a bit wonky to begin with.

Also, do you have an Auto CPAP, or a PR BiPAP with two distinct pressures (IPAP and EPAP)?