first night with my cpap machine

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:22 pm

hey guys, just found this forum, like what i see, and thought i would address a concern to you, and see if i can get some advice. i got my cpap machine, finally, yesterday at 1pm. its a respironics REMstar pro, with cflex, ramp, etc., it also has a humidifier. my mask is the flexifit series HC 431 full face mask from fisher and paykel healthcare. so around bedtime, which was around 2am this morning, i am a night owl, i am terrified to sleep with this thing, thinking about dying from carbon dioxide rebreathing suffocation, or the humidifier drowning me becuase i overfilled it, etc. i know that sounds stupid. i finally put the mask on, the machine turns on automatically, and i fall asleep. well, at i believe 5:50am, i remember waking up, and taking the mask off, i think becuase my mouth felt dry, and i was tired of the airflow. my humidifier is set to two right now, i read that is the reccomended. anyway, so i go back to sleep at that point, and i wake up arond 1:45pm, and i don't feel any different. i feel how i normally feel when i wake up, no more rested, and that scares me. now i am nervous and having doubts. i was so excited about getting this machine so i could finally start sleeping, and maybe all of my depression would start to go away, and i would feel rested and have enough energy to start exercising and lose some the weight i so desperately need to lose, and maybe i won't constantly feel tired, depressed, and so overwhelmed with life. now i am worried and like i said feeling doubts about this even working, and i felt like this sleep thing was such a huge piece in the puzzle of my problems after talking to the sleep doctor and him telling me how sleep issues could be causing me so many issues. btw, my machine is set to 14 pressure, that was done by my sleep doctor, and my cflex is set to 3, and if i turn it on, it drops the pressure down to 4 and slowly starts to build up. any advice from anyone would be much appreciated. thank yo so much. also i am only 21 years old, thats another thing that bothers me, having to sleep with a machine, and i am so young! also, while wearing the mask, i also felt myself getting little zaps of split second light headedness, and then feeling normal again, has anyone ever had that happen?

bp4Christ · Post by **bp4Christ** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:25 pm

i don't know why it has me as guest, but i am the topic creator. sorry, one other thing, i forgot to mention that my machine is the m series. it is the respironics, remStar PRO m series. thanks so much.

frete50 · Post by **frete50** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:32 pm

bp4Christ,

Why don't you set up your profile to let the forum know what equip, mask, software you are using.

As for CO2 the masks have ports that let it escape.

Becky

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:33 pm

Welcome to the forum. It's always nice to know you aren't alone, and this forum is full of information and support.

You can't expect to feel different after only a few hours of therapy. You slept alot longer without the mask last night than you did with it. If you don't wear the mask, you won't feel better.

Feeling better takes time, sometimes months.

Other than dry mouth, did you have any other reason for taking off the mask? Sounds like you slept with it for 3+ hours -- that's a great start.

Keep saying "I can do this". Keep trying and ultimately you will start feeling better.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:39 pm

Well, you've got a good machine. If you get the software and card reader, it'll tell you how your therapy is going.
Don't get paranoid about the machine and try to keep your expectations "reasonable". You didn't acquire this affliction overnight and it takes some time to reverse the effects.
All the masks have valves in them so if the machine should shut off, you won't die from carbon dioxide.....trust me.....you'll wake up. And, with a pressure of 14 cm., you'll have plenty of air to breathe.

Don't fill your humidifier above the line marked on the tank.
You might want to raise the minimum Ramp pressure as 4 is the lowest it'll go and may leave you feeling starved for air. Many of us don't even use the Ramp feature and just start out with our normal pressure.

If your mouth is falling open (even in a full face mask), your mouth will get dry. Try keeping your mouth shut and breathe through your nose.

Best wishes and hang in there.

Den

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:56 pm

You might want to set the ramp a little higher than 4. If you feel you can breath fine at 4 then leave it alone, but many of use need 6 to feel comfortable.

bp4Christ · Post by **bp4Christ** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 3:12 pm

i appreciate all of the answers already, i called my guy at the medical place and asked him also some of these questions. i setup my profile to. when i woke up, i think i was in sort of a panic and wanted to get the mask off of myself, which i addressed to my dealer, and he said that that can happen, because i am not used to it. as far as the ramp thing goes, 4 is great, because is makes it alot easier for me to breathe when i am trying to go to sleep, then having that 14 just going at me full blast. i also know that i didn't use the machine the whole night like i should have, so i am going to try and go for a full night tonight, because i really want to sleep well. its just so weird feeling, and its kind of uncomfortable and makes me a little nervous right now, i am definitely not used to it. i hope this helps a little bit with my initial questions, and i appreciate dearly all of your guys' comments, advice, and support. God bless you all!

stitcher72062 · Post by **stitcher72062** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 3:58 pm

i have been on this cpap for 5 months now and it took a few days maybe a week to feel like i wasn't tired and to notice a big difference. just keep trying and the longer you use it the longer you will wear it and the better sleep you will get.

babydoss · Post by **babydoss** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 5:03 pm

Dear bp4Christ,

My hubby has been using his machine for 2 weeks now. He felt the same way you do! He only used it a few hours the first nights and gradually built up to all night. It's scary, I know. Don't beat yourself up over this. Just keep taking baby steps.

There IS an adjustment period. Just remember that and you'll be fine. My hubby told me that he tells himself to breathe slowly and calm down when he lays down to go to sleep. Since this has started he's had good nites and not so good nites, but it's getting better! Please hang in there.

FYI - I have 2 sons around your age (22 & 25) so I feel for you. My youngest son is a worship leader at his church and also a youth pastor. He loves the Lord! (and his new wife of 3 months!)

Oh, and the people here on this board are just WONDERFUL. They are the kindest and most intelligent about this condition we are having to live with.
I have learned SO much about SA (sleep apnea). Read and learn. Knowledge is power. You must learn to be an advocate for your own therapy and using this forum as a spring board is a GREAT place to start.

Please keep us informed.

Keep the faith son,
Mrs. Lee Doss

sleepyWI · Post by **sleepyWI** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 5:41 am

Patience grasshopper.....lol It can take time. It took me three months before I could even wear the thing all night and after 6 months its only now that I can really say I feel better. Take advantage of all the help nd support on here. I would not be compliant today if it were not for this group.

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:24 am

It is scary at first, dealing with a condition you probably never heard of before. One thing I'd suggest trying is to use your machine and mask sitting in a chair, reading or watching TV, practicing relaxing and breathing. I did this for a week, sleeping and dozing and getting use to everything before I felt comfortable taking everything to the bedroom.

I would agree with others that have said 4 is too low, most people struggle in trying to breathe with that setting. Raising it to 5 or 6 would be much better.

You probably have a lot of other anxieties about this life long treatment and belive me we have all felt like you in the beginning. I promise, it will get better. Stick with it, you may be "only 21" but you have a chance for a very long and healthy life if you choose to make this therapy work.

hayeswildrick · Post by **hayeswildrick** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 10:47 am

I've been on CPAP for going on 3 weeks now, and I've just ordered my third mask. I'm using Swift at the moment, and it's ok, but I'm just the kind of person who's not willing to settle for ok!

I agree with those above who said to raise the starting pressure of your ramp. I was at 4, going to 9 in 20 minutes. I've changed it to start at 5 and go to 9 in 15 minutes. With the Ultra Mirage Full Face I didn't need to ramp at all. With the Swift it seems that ramping helps me get all the seals in place while at low pressure.

The DME set my C-flex at 3, and I found that was uncomfortable for me. I could feel the pressure changing and it gave me a panicky feeling. When I reduced it to 2 it felt much more natural.

Unlike many here, I've slept mostly through the night right from the start, with an occasional wake up to fix a leak (or take one ). My best advice is change only one thing at a time, and feel free to ask for advice when you need it.

Press on!
Jeff

Inpjs · Post by **Inpjs** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:27 pm

It takes a lot of adjusting to therapy. From dry mouth to not feeling like your breathing right to a sore nose and maybe even a still back. There is alot of advice out here for any particular problem you may incur starting therapy.

I have had the sore nose, dry mouth and face, and even a stiff back. I was still feeling tired after 4 weeks of therapy to top it off. You will get used it but it does take time. A good fitting mask, the right temp on your humidifier and the right pressure will come in time. I thought that as soon as I started using the machine, i was going to feel better immediately. It took 4 weeks and I still need a few adjustments.

Be patient and try to use it as much as you can. I was only wearing it 2 to 4 hours a night because of something bothering me, and believe it or not, 5 weeks later and this past week I have not used it less than 7 hours.

Mask

Mask