first night failure help!!!

[fiberfan]

My first night wasn't a failure but it certainly wasn't a good nights sleep - it was better than my titration sleep study when I only slept 51% of the time. The mask was noisy - especially when I was on my side, the breathe out against pressure was weird, the tubing was noisy when I bumped it and other things I have forgotten. My 2nd night was a bit better until the noise of rainout woke up me. Talk about seriously noisy. I had no idea a bit of water in the tubing could create that much noise. I was able to buy a SnuggleHose hose cover in my favorite color that day, not only have I had no more problems with rainout but the cover makes the tubing quieter in general. I am becoming used to the noise of the air in the tubing and mask. Last night I used a new quattro, on my side it is quieter than the swift lt for her but has it own set of challenges. I will keep working with the machine and masks, the increased energy is really great.

[SleepyBobR]

Sleeplover, you didn't say what sort of mask was used in your sleep study, only that you didn't like all the stuff in your face. However, given that you slept so well in the study and are now struggling with the Swift mask, you may want to find out what sort of mask they used in the study and get one to try at home. I started with the Swift mask myself but found I had to use a tight and very uncomfortable chin strap to keep my mouth closed while asleep. Otherwise, I would lose so much air through my mouth that the therapy didn't work (this may be happening to you). I have since switched to the Quattro full face mask and like it much better despite its size and occasional fussiness with leaks in the middle of the night.

[ifrimmel]

Just shows how subjective this all is .. my experience was COMPLETELY the opposite. Quattro for me .. is BY FAR the worst mask. It's all good.. not fixin' for a fight. I really liked Swift.. but as I said.. doesn't work for me at the pressures I need to go to.

[kteague]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to this thread, but it looks like others have covered for me. When my ramp was at 4, when lying still I didn't feel like I was suffocating so much, but as soon as I began to doze off I must have had apneas and caused the panicked wakeup. While the purpose of ramp is to make the initial air upon masking up less forceful, there is a point of diminishing returns. The brain needs to feel "safe" to relax, and if that pressure is barely marginal, I have to wonder if the brain stays "on edge" just in case. Maybe 4 is fine for you. Feeling like it is hard to breathe against 4 seems to me to be just the newness of the sensations, which will pass. Just my opinion, but I think while you are going thru this adjustment phase, why not go ahead and get used to a higher ramp and eliminate one possible cause of not falling asleep.

With all of the nasal pillows masks (4) I've used, if the pillows were a proper fit and set properly, I don't even feel the air. Not even a little bit. Only if they come unseated. Makes me wonder if yours are properly fitted and seated before turning on the machine. To this day I still can't turn the machine on before I put on the mask.

Because of my prior bad experience, I'd like to suggest you consider purposely allowing the ramp to expire and the machine to reach your therapeutic pressure (and probably using the exhalation relief) and falling asleep to that. I mean, if you're going to be awake anyhow, why not? This is still so new you may not be ready to resort to that yet, but I have to wonder if sometimes we prolong the inevitable by avoidance and make our adjustment period longer. I know, easy for me to say all these years later.

Give it a few nights and see how it's going. Going higher may seem counter intuitive, but it's really going toward where we need to be anyhow. Let us know what the next few nights look like.

Kathy

[pdean44]

I was more worried about the machine and mask noise in the beginning then i was about getting the benefit. I asked my wife if it bothered her and she said compared to your snoring?
Actually she said the sound of my breathing through the mask sounded like the soft lull of the ocean waves riding up the beach. So she found it soothing. The noise it does make sounds a bit louder to you than anyone else since it is strapped to your head. The pressure was a little unnerving at times in the beginning. After i week of that i thought the machine was broken i kept checking the exhale point. It finally dawned on me that I had adjusted to the pressure as everyone here said I would. This is my second week on the mask. I am feeling more rested these days and know it will only improve from here.
Stick with these folks and you will be feeling happier and healthier and more rested than you have in ages. I get great advice here daily and they have made the transition for me to using my new equipment much easier. I knew what to expect for the most part and what to look out for when i started therapy. That has helped me adjust for the minor issues that have popped up so far. Like rain out and some mask leak issues. my partner loves me and wants me to be healthy. the machine and mask is not an issue for her. I can sleep knowing I wont be disturbing her sleep and i find that comforting as well as making me feel healthier. My wife said even the color in my face seems improved when i get up in the morning. Something i would have never considered was even an issue. Apparently getting the proper amount of oxygen your body needs is Actually good for you.
I hope it all goes well for you. when you have any problems these folks here will get you headed on the right path quickly.

[sleep lover]

hello wonderful cpaptalk responders!
2nd night results:
I tried to incorporate everything suggested. The most common response to my first night of trouble with the Swift FX nasal pillow was that I started off with too little pressure before it ramped up. Set at 4, in 20 minutes it went up to 12. I kept feeling like I was hyperventilating, just not getting enough air to relax and let loose into sleepland. I set it at 7 and went to sleep within 5 minutes of turning the light off after reading. I never had that sense of not getting enough air. I believe this was the biggest issue and it is resolved. The amplified sound of inhaling and exhaling is still there, but with less effort performing the simple tasks of breathing, the sound is diminished because I'm not struggling as much to get the job done. But it is still there, and you're all right, it is I who hear it the most. My husband also had one of his better night's sleep, as his wife didn't snore or jerk while gasping for air, no earplugs or pillow over the head for him! I intend to lower the machine, two people suggested that this would help.
Another thing I intend to do is to request that the DME bring back the smaller nasal pillows that he left with. He fitted me with the medium size, though the small also fit. He should've left them all, but did not. I was too overwhelmed with it all to ask him to leave it, though he should've done so without my asking. It could be that the noisiness is due to the pillows being a tad too large. This whole phase is difficult enough, they should make it as easy as possible to accomplish success - yet another example of the need to advocate for oneself. Next, I will request a nasal mask as a backup. The new FX is so light and less cumbersome than most, I am determined to grow accustomed to it.
I had a very good night's sleep last night. I woke up only once and went right back to sleep. Woke up feeling fresh and clearer than I have in a very long time. . I shed some tears yesterday because I am now so aware of what I've lost and the fogginess of it all. jerseygirl said "don't look at it so much as being tough, but as being different." She is so right. Thank you, everybody, for helping me through this, I think I am on my way. I hope this might be helpful to others who stumble upon it when in need. Lisa

[kteague]

What a difference a night makes! Well, a night and a bit of tweaking. Glad to hear this good report. Yes, it is a sad realization when we "wake up" and realize how compromised our lives have been. Seeing that contrast seems to me to create an awareness and appreciation of any regained clarity and vitality. Hope things keep getting better and better for you!
Kathy

[Jersey Girl]

Dear Sleep Lover, (Lisa),

I am soooo glad to hear that you had a better night last night. Let me know how it goes with your DME - you get all your nasal pillows back and a nasal mask to switch of to as needed and in time, you will be fine. This takes some getting used to. None of us are born with a mask attached to a hose, so pat yourself on the back for a job well done last night!

Please, keep me posted on how you are doing.

Hugs,

Jersey Girl (Deb)

[ka-ann]

Yay! Sleep Lover, that is fantastic news!! Keep asking questions and tweaking till you get it just right!! You are on the right track and there are so many wonderful folks here to help you.
Hoping for an even better night tonight!
Karen

[ka-ann]

Yay! Sleep Lover, that is fantastic news!! Keep asking questions and tweaking till you get it just right!! You are on the right track and there are so many wonderful folks here to help you.
Hoping for an even better night tonight!
Karen

[pdean44]

Sounds like your bridged your biggest hurdles. Now you will be just fine tuning.

Sleep well.