Claustrophobic

[Ravensbeauty]

Greetings,

I'm new here and maybe it goes without saying, new to the sleep apnea world too. Didn't know I had it, still not 100% believing it other than I guess (unlike a lie detector) the machine tells the story. Thanks to a new friend who enlightened me to this place and has been encouraging, here I am front and center

I could use help in conquering a fear (LOL maybe more than one), I am Claustrophobic! I put the mask on and suddenly I am pretty darn positive that I might die just from having the mask on, I can't breath When I lie down to sleep (which I thought I was doing well on until the doc said I wasn't sleeping and had severe sleep apnea) my heart starts racing and I spend more time awake being nervous about not breathing.

Since most of you were probably "there" at one point please help me get over this hurdle, I want to conquer this and become "one" with the Machine, as the borg would say....resistance is futile (and I suppose in "our" case....deadly and I am not ready for my "swan song").

Raven

[mbridget]

I definatley went thru this --not too long ago. I had 3 anxiety attacks in the first week. I ahve nasal pillows and I still had problems. I would wear my mask for about an hour and pull it off when I couldn't take the heat racing and feeling as if I would die. I would also open my mouth and gasp like I was a fish pulled out of the water. I eventually found that if I would put in on after my 4 am bathroom break, I was too exausted to fight the mask. Eventually I could wear it alittle longer and a little longer until one night I felt like a turned a corner and was able to fall asleeo with it on. This took me about 2 weeks.

[packitin]

I know the feeling.
The key to using that mask is: Confidence!

Remember the old Frank Sinatra song?
(in part, some of the lines went like this....)

Just what makes that little old ant
Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant?
And the silly old ram think he'll punch a hole in a dam?
(Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam)

Because they had HIGH HOPES! (that is, confidence)
They had high (in the sky) hopes!

When you lie there at bed time, put that mask on and think:
This is making me healthier.
This is making me feel better.
This is making me happier.
This will work for me.
Mask, you are my friend.
Thank you mask.

(As you can see, I'm a little too dramatic)

[alexcue]

That's what scared me the most. That feeling of being smothered. It takes a lot of self control not rip that mask off my nostrils!!! Actually it's gotten much better. Now i don't even think about it since I'm more worried about mask leaks and how i position my head on the pillow. In otherwords I've changed the focus off the claustrophobia onto something else.

[carbonman]

I could use help in conquering a fear (LOL maybe more than one), I am Claustrophobic! I put the mask on and suddenly I am pretty darn positive that I might die just from having the mask on, I can't breath

as the borg would say....resistance is futile Raven

Raven, same problem here when I quit gluing my mouth shut and
started using a ffm.
Work w/the mask away from the bedroom.
Just take the mask, no headgear and be with it.
Hold it in your hand and put in on your face.
YOU be in control of the mask.
Remove it at will.
When you feel panic, remove it.
YOU be in control.
When you're comfortable,
add the headgear.
Put it on, take it off. Put it on. Take it off.
When you're comfortable, add the hose and pressure.
Sit in the living room or wherever and be with it.
Put it on, adjust, take it off.
Read a book, watch tv, YOU be in control.

Then take it to bed. Put it on, adjust, pressure,
roll around, adjust.
Again and again. Be with it.
YOU be in control.
YOU control the mask, it does not control you.

Resistance is NOT futile.

[Kiralynx]

Yes, been there -- still am! I was crying when I left the doctor's office with my prescription for the titration, because I didn't see how I could ever cope with a mask.

So I called the sleep center and asked to come in and try on masks. And I tried on masks until I found one which mostly worked for me, the Comfortlite 2. Since then I've tried the nasal mask, the nasal pillows, and the direct seal, so I suppose you could say I've tried three masks. The direct seal works best for me.

It would help if you filled out your profile (print, not icons) and let us know what mask and machine and what pressures you have. Also whether or not you use a chin strap.

Easier to be precise in suggestions that way.

[Ravensbeauty]

good suggestion, pathetic but I don't even know the name of my machine or mask...at least not positive on it and where do I post this information? Maybe I should sign "cluefree" LOL

[Kiralynx]

good suggestion, pathetic but I don't even know the name of my machine or mask...at least not positive on it and where do I post this information? Maybe I should sign "cluefree" LOL

Well, the name of your machine should be on your machine. Tell us everything that's printed on it. (Uh... do remove the humidifier if you have one before turning it upside down or sideways... you don't want to spill water in it.)

What kind of mask do you have? full face? nasal pillows? nasal mask? Go to CPAP.COM and browse the masks and see if you can find one like yours. LOL! Don't be embaressed... when I first came here, I was sure my mask was a Breeze, but it was a CL2! And I haven't been here THAT long!

(See, if I can come as far as I have in less than three months, there's hope for almost anyone!)

[Violet]

Ravensbeauty,

Sigh ~ ~ ~ ~, there's not much help I can give you right now, but do know you are not alone.

Here I am a two week newbie who woke up at 2:30 this a.m. tossing and turning for the rest of the night and am now at work. But that won't stop me. So, like me, keep trying, trying, don't give up, have faith. Yawn ~ ~ ~ It will work out .........