1st nite with machine

[lostmary]

well, yesterday was busy. I spent the morning calling to find out what went on with test and the results. Got passed from person to person with no answers. about noon I received a call that my machine and all were ready for me at the equipment place. They called me and I had an appt at 3 to pick it up and to learn about it. I was so excited. They said I got the cadallac of the machines. Of course, I wasn't sure about them after all that I've read. well, I got a Phillips resprinonics unit. It's a biflex bipap auto. I was so excited to start on my new journey. I think I may have been too excited. I ended up trying to use it and gettin sick to my stomach. spent time praying to the porcelin god in the bathroom. I ended up just crawling into bed and sleeping. I figured I'd try again tomorow. well, I woke up about 4.30am put on the mask, started the machine, and had no problems. I woke up at 7 as my dogs wanted to eat. I could have slept another 6 hrs. lol. I'm sure I'll take a nap here soon. I think yesterday I had so many different emotions about getting the unit. I was happy to know I would continue to live, excited to have such a neat unit and all, but I was so sad for the end of that part of my life that had me as a normal person. I kow I will live with this machine till the end. I think so many different emotions is what made me so sick. I was surprised as I have really been wanting the unit, knowing it would keep me going. I'm better this morning as I think the worse is over. still mourning the end of the regular life tho.

mary

[Pugsy]

Click on the link to the machine I have in my profile and look to see if your machine looks like mine.
If it does could you please go to your Profile (in the User Account Control top left ) and then to your equipment tab and edit your equipment to show what you are using. Please use text option as images are impossible to see model names. If it looks like mine....in the equipment drop down menu choices look for the grouping of equipment that starts with "PR System One".

Once we know for sure what machine you use I can send you the provider manual (if it is like mine).

Also...check my signature line for PR System One users software choices. I also have SleepyHead information in my signature line. It works great with the PR S 1 machines.

If you the new PR S1 Remstar BiPap Auto...you did get a Cadillac. It does take some time for us to get used to all this stuff. Mask on our face and machines blowing air up our noses.

Do you know what your pressure settings are?

[TalonNYC]

Congratulations on the first night!

Most of us here have dealt with this kind of anxiety when starting out therapy. You're among friends here, and so you'll find a lot of people who had the same reaction you did. Take things slowly, reach out for help, and don't give up. This gets easier, and life gets better!

Normal life isn't over, it's just beginning. What we all thought was normal life was actually living while being half asleep all day. After a few weeks, you'll start to find out just what real life is, and you'll begin to adapt to find a new normal.

Hang in there during the first few nights. For most of us here, this is the hardest part of therapy. Once you're past it, CPAP becomes a breeze.

[Sheriff Buford]

Even though he's from New York... Talon is right. As the mask becomes part of your life, it has saved it and may put another 10 years to your life. Plus, you'll feel much better along the journey. Hopefully you have gotten over the "new-ness" of the machine and your emotions will not affect your therapy and allow you to get used to the therapy.

How does the mask feel? You need to see what your leak rates are. Getting a comfortable mask that doesn't leak is the key to getting used to the therapy. Know that you can exchange your mask within 30 days if you aren't satisfied with the one you have. Most folks go thru several masks before they find the one thats right for them.

Keep us posted and educate yourself.

Sheriff

[oldgeezer]

Hang in there my friend. I'm just 5 days ahead of you and I can tell you that I'm really settling into this. My first couple nights sucked, and last night was the first time in many years I slept through the night. Please keep plugging away, it won't be much longer.

[lostmary]

Pugsy,
It is the same machine that you have. It's good to know it's the top of the line. I've used it again earlier today so I've got my 4 hrs in. I need to get some softer pillows tho. I don't know why I still fell sad. I'm not the kind of person to let things get me down.. I know it will pass and I'll get back to my goofy fun loving person.

Mary

[teknomom]

I was so sad for the end of that part of my life that had me as a normal person.

I went through a period of feeling "defective" as a person. I'd always been so healthy and then to have them tell me my brain couldn't even get BREATHING right!
It wasn't logical or sensible but it took a while to get over it. Now I feel that I'm as normal as anyone else or at least as normal as I ever was. I just get to wear this cool mask at night. Go ahead and grieve the change you've gone through, it will get better. Life is still full of great things!

[jilliansue]

And of course...."normal" is just a setting on your dryer!

[Anxious in Niskayuna]

So I got my machine last Friday. First night, I had a complete meltdown. My husband had to stay up with me all night. Finally around 4:00am crawled into bed and slept without the machine. While I was doing my errands, my husband read the manuals. When I got home he suggested that I got take a nap with the mask and machine, but to sit up first until I was comfy with the feel, etc. I did, and I slept for about 3 hours. That night did the same thing. Didn't sleep through the night, but was able to get back to sleep. Sunday afternoon nap and night, uneventful. Last night, I seemed to back to square one. Couldn't get comfortable, went from sleep to wide awake. Ended up sitting and crying on my couch until 3:00AM finally put mask back on and was able to sleep until alarm went off at 6:00. Would have slept more. It seems to me, it's not the sleeping part that is a problem for me, it's the anxiety when the mask is first on and feeling overwhelmed, and claustrophobic. Never had issues before. It's almost 7:00PM and I'm still feeling anxious from yesterday. It doesn't seem to be getting easier, seems to be getting harder...any suggestions????

[angela06]

As others have said, it can be hard to get used to having something strapped to your face and air blowing through your nose or mouth. I know it was hard for me to keep the mask on all night initially. But it will get easier. Do what you can do, don't beat yourself up about it.

[DoriC]

Welcome! You've all gotten some really good advice so I'll just add that it's important that you read the New Users and Wiki as well as all the posts at the top of the page. Once you gain some knowledge and learn how to make some adjustments things will get much easier. My husband made a very wise comment when he got his diagnosis and the treatment for it. He said it was better than being told nothing could be done for him. His life has improved in so many ways and we're grateful.

[kwcrnp]

Lostmary and anxious in niskayuna - tonight will be 1 week on CPAP for me. The first night was a little hard, I was so conscious of my breathing. I woke up a couple of times with worries of where my hose was etc. The next night was much better. I'm fortunate that my mask fits well, I have no issue having something on my face as I always slept with my blanket up to my face since I'm a mouth breather. I was feeling very overwhelmed the days prior to starting the CPAP but I actually look forward to restful sleep already and just today I realized it wasn't so overwhelming after all.

Hang in there, you are definitely not alone

[jenn1270]

I am also a newby and now 5 days into it. The first few days were bad because I had a mask that didn't fit. It got better when I got a smaller mask on Monday. Fortunately my husband has been using CPAP for a few years now and was very supportive and gave me tips on getting comfortable. It is still weird, but I know I am sleeping better.

Keep your chin up. We are so fortunate to have a great community for support.

Jenn

[Sheriff Buford]

kwcrnp: you may want to consider the Hose Buddy... I messed around all night with my hose and I found out that I started to wake up at night wondering if the hose was properly draped over my body. After I really started sleeping-good... I started sleeping on top of my hose. When I turned my head, the hose would rip (and leak). The Hose Buddy was probably the best cpap contraption I bought. It eliminates hose management at night. Others here have some homemade versions that I find quite fascinating. Do a search.

Sheriff

[chickwriter]

New user here, also. My 6th night tonight.

I was so sad for the end of that part of my life that had me as a normal person.

I feel your pain! In the past 4 months, I've gone from a fairly active, healthy person to being diagnosed with sarcoidosis (lungs), having ongoing muscle spasms in my back so strong that I need a cane to walk, and now, severe OSA.

I'm dealing with it slowly. Trying to see that this is a good thing that I have diagnoses, instead of wondering why I was so tired all the time, so exhausted.

Reading the posts here have helped tremendously!