Hi. New here and to CPAP, I HATE it

[Dani]

I have been trying to use a CPAP for two weeks and I am so tired I am in tears everyday because of lack of sleep.
My nose bleeds, I can't exhale, as soon as I fall asleep I wake up because the mask slips and leaks or the pressure is insanely too high. I feel like I fight the machine to breath.
I don't think the machine was even setup correctly, like it was just taken out of the box and handed to me. My husband found how to adjust some settings but nothing works. I use it for the 4hrs required by insurance then rip it off and go to sleep. Most of the time I won't even go to sleep until I take it off
I have a Resmed S9 and a wisp nasal mask that only covers my nose. I will try to read more but right now I can't function and dream of repeatedly running it over with my car.

[chunkyfrog]

I wonder if your machine is the same as mine--the model name is right next to the power button.
Please let us know what it says so we will know what settings/therapy feedback are available.
Welcome. It will positively get better.

[Pugsy]

Exactly what are your settings? Starting pressure (using the ramp)? if so for how long and are you using EPR (Exhale pressure relief) and if you are using EPR at what setting?

So...model name which is plainly shown on the S9 up by the LCD screen?
Pressure settings? Ramp? EPR?

Oh....are you using the ClimateLine hose or the regular hose? and at what humidity/temperature setting?

For the nose bleeds...the nasal mucosa are too dry...need more moisture.
For now go to the store and get something like Simply Saline and use it frequently to help rehydrate the nasal mucosa.

[Catlizg]

Please, don't lose hope. You are in the right place and the folks here will help you get your machine and/or mask properly adjusted. Make sure, as already asked, to list your equipment properly so The Learned Ones (said with greatest respect) can help you.

As far as the nosebleeds are concerned, that is easily remedied by making sure your humidification is on and adjusted to the level that works best for you. Personally, I get a sore throat, stuffy nose and headache with humidity set under 3. I use saline spray just before bedtime and make sure my setting is at 3, and sometimes even 4-5.

Once you get your settings adjusted and adapt to your equipment, you'll be very glad you stuck with it. Best if luck.

[BlackSpinner]

You will like the results of not wearing it even less - dementia, stroke, wearing adult diapers, being hand fed, the funeral.

[Matt40]

You will like the results of not wearing it even less - dementia, stroke, wearing adult diapers, being hand fed, the funeral.

This. The consequences of not wearing it are far greater. The above is me, my apnea was causing afib. That can lead to stroke and myself possibly becoming a vegetable or even die.

I too started out about 2 and ahalf weeks ago and It has been quite difficult for me. I am on my 3rd mask, changed some temps, humidity settings, and upped my ERC from 0 to 3. Fiddled with some settings other than my pressure's. I think the first couple weeks I had averaged only 3.5 hours used per night.

Start with some small goals and then work from those small goals. My first goal was that I was going to wear it every night no matter what, 100%. Then moving up from there to shoot for a certain total time frame used per night. My suggestions would be to just keep with it, talk with your Doctor, DME, folks on this forum, use the resources available to you, ask questions, everyone here is great and more than willing to help.

[Janknitz]

It's perfectly OK to hate CPAP, as long as you use it. It will get better, though that may be hard to believe right now.

The problems you list are things we can help you with, if you give us a chance. In order to do that, we need to know the MODEL of machine you have. With an S9 that's very easy--it's printed in big letters right above the on off switch. It will say one of the following:

Escape
Elite
Escape Auto
AutoSet

Which one does it say?? Photo here to guide you where to look: viewtopic/t98747/Escape-AutoLets-Clear- ... ml#p916898


If you could also tell us the name of your mask, that would help, too.

Armed with that information, we can tell you how to check the settings on your machine, and perhaps help you find the data about your treatment if you were given a machine that records data (hopefully!). From that we can help you figure out how to fit the mask properly, avoid leaks, adjust the pressure for easier breathing, and get used to using the CPAP all night long and every time you sleep. You can do it with our help.

[The Latinist]

I'd just like to add my voice saying we can help you with this. Give us the information that everyone else asked for, and we will do our best to make this therapy work for you. And don't give up. I can tell you, the consequences of untreated apnea are far worse.

[Sclark08]

We all hate it but we also realize that without it our health will severely suffer.
Your two week effort is not much to brag about. You will probably be on a Cpap the rest of your life. You have to learn to accept it respect it and be grateful for it.
Sleep apnea is a VERY serious life threatening condition.

[carbonman]

I have been trying to use a CPAP for two weeks and I am so tired I am in tears everyday because of lack of sleep.
My nose bleeds,
I can't exhale,
I wake up because the mask slips and leaks
the pressure is insanely too high.
I feel like I fight the machine to breath.
I don't think the machine was even setup correctly,
rip it off can't function
dream of repeatedly running it over with my car.

I don't want to live in a fog....
I don't want to wear a mask...
I don't want to choke in the night...
I don't want to have to rely on numbers and graphs.....
I don't want to wake up to rain in my bed.....
I don't want to glue and strap my mouth shut....
I don't want to wear panty hose on my head....
I don't want to forget what I just said....
I don't want to be plastyed or have splints in my head...
I don't want to rely on a machine to be able to think.....
I don't want to go on a journey every night to sleep....
I don't want to wake up dead....


I want to be a kitty and sleep in the sink.

[Dani]

I thought I had it all typed out this morning but was too brain dead to hit reply.
The machine says Autoset by the power off like this one: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... chine.html
Wisp Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear like this one: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/wisp-n ... ck-pr.html
I do have a climate line tube

They refuse to tell me what the settings that were prescribed, just said it should be on "automatic"
Being on automatic was like trying to breath in a wind tunnel, increased heart rate, having to open my mouth to exhale. Max pressure was 20.

Changed the settings to this:
Mode: Autoset
Max Pressure: 12.6
Min Pressure: 5
max Ramp: 40 min (it takes me a long time to go to sleep)
Start Pressure: 4
EPR: full time
EPR Level : Off

since they won't tell me what it is supposed to be I just am guessing. (they want me to bring then machine in, have an appt on Monday)
Hardest part is exhaling I feel like I am fighting the machine.

thank you so much for the encouragement. Wearing diapers sounds like an incentive.
I do want it to work and will keep trying but I am so sleep deprived and frustrated.

[ChicagoGranny]

Hardest part is exhaling I feel like I am fighting the machine.

This is usually psychological. My brother-in-law said the same thing - "it's very difficult to exhale because the pressure is so great" (at the time 16 cm straight CPAP for him).

My husband and I read his card and showed him the graphs. You could see when he would finally fall asleep he breathed slow and steady against the pressure. The problem was when he was awake he was mentally focusing on the pressure and trying to exhale hard against it.

After we showed him how easily he was breathing while asleep, he was able to relax and breathe normally when he first put the mask on (without ramp). He now falls asleep quickly and sleeps easily with the mask.

When you first start at night, try to relax and think of something (a pleasant beach maybe) that totally takes your mind off breathing. You don't have to think to breathe properly - your body will do it for you. Quit fighting the machine - you will not suffocate, none of us have.

[The Latinist]

You might want to turn on EPR if exhalation is your problem. That can really help.

[BlackSpinner]

The manuals are all on line. The old fashioned VCR was much harder to work then this thing. Figure out the settings and set the EPR - make sure your humidity is set at a comfortable level.

Start by picking some good movies/tv shows you enjoy and wear the mask with the machine on while watching them. Play some computer games too if you like them. Train your body and mind that this is totally doable and not at all dangerous.

[Nick Danger]

Dani, if you could grab the Sleepyhead software and post some graphs, we have some forum members who are very good at helping people figure things out.

I agree with Latinist that one of your first steps should be to turn on EPR - setting it to "3" will reduce the pressure by 3 when you start to exhale.

Definitely post those charts I mentioned, Pugsy will help you figure out a range of settings that may help.