First time user over the Panic attack but cant sleep

[Dunemedic]

Hello Again,
Thank you to all for the advice. I started with my RESmed Autoset 10 and a full face mask with the min setting of 4 and a max of 20 and a ramp of default 45 mins. That combination sent me into a full blown panic attack and I haven't had one in years. I used the advice here and adjusted my setting s and it is now very comfortable to wear and NO panic attacks or even anxiety when thinking about going to bed. I also changed the mask to the P10 nasal pillows and game changer, so comfortable from a claustrophobia point of view but a little irritating to my nose but I can deal with that.
After 2 weeks with the new P10 nasal pillows the best night I have had so far was 5 hours. Mostly I am averaging 1 to 3 hours of wearing the mask with very little sleep. I end up taking off the mask just to sleep as I need to sleep as I have to work in the morning. I am not a drinker or drug taker and I would rather just get used to it without the crutch of meds.

Is this normal for some? I keep telling myself it will just take time to adjust. I make sure I start out with the mask and do my best to leave it on. Even though I am tired I cant seem to stay asleep and it takes a while for me to fall asleep. The anxiety about going to bed is starting to creep back as I wonder how long will I sleep for tonight with the mask on. I know its important to get used to it and I know I need the CPAP as it is affecting my health at this point.

Thanks to Pugsy and others this is an invaluable resource for me. I am so grateful as after that first night I felt so much despair and loneliness like I was the only one this wouldn't help. but this forum has given me hope. Thanks to all.

[peelunkins]

Hello Again,
Thank you to all for the advice. I started with my RESmed Autoset 10 and a full face mask with the min setting of 4 and a max of 20 and a ramp of default 45 mins. That combination sent me into a full blown panic attack and I haven't had one in years. I used the advice here and adjusted my setting s and it is now very comfortable to wear and NO panic attacks or even anxiety when thinking about going to bed. I also changed the mask to the P10 nasal pillows and game changer, so comfortable from a claustrophobia point of view but a little irritating to my nose but I can deal with that.
After 2 weeks with the new P10 nasal pillows the best night I have had so far was 5 hours. Mostly I am averaging 1 to 3 hours of wearing the mask with very little sleep. I end up taking off the mask just to sleep as I need to sleep as I have to work in the morning. I am not a drinker or drug taker and I would rather just get used to it without the crutch of meds.

Is this normal for some? I keep telling myself it will just take time to adjust. I make sure I start out with the mask and do my best to leave it on. Even though I am tired I cant seem to stay asleep and it takes a while for me to fall asleep. The anxiety about going to bed is starting to creep back as I wonder how long will I sleep for tonight with the mask on. I know its important to get used to it and I know I need the CPAP as it is affecting my health at this point.

Thanks to Pugsy and others this is an invaluable resource for me. I am so grateful as after that first night I felt so much despair and loneliness like I was the only one this wouldn't help. but this forum has given me hope. Thanks to all.

In your exact boat and we are drowning with this contraption labled 'medical treatment'
Absolutely cannot sleep with this thing

[Sheriff Buford]

Put your mask on and hour (or longer) before you go to bed. Read, listen to tunes or watch tv. Get used to the mask. It'll come for both of you. I guarantee it. What you are going thru is fairly normal, and I suspect your body is putting up its last fight against wearing this conclaption. Your body is trying to get used to wearing the mask. If you take the mask off every night, then your body (emotions) are waiting all night for you to do it.... and it is guised under the header of "I gotta get some sleep". Don't take the mask off. Once your body realizes you are in charge and you ain't gonna take the mask off, the anxiety should go away.

Sheriff

[kteague]

Sounds like you've made tremendous progress. Just kinda hard to appreciate that in view of the present struggles. Trying to remember my early times of struggle. Along with adjusting to CPAP I was dealing with periodic limb movements. I hope you can find some nights when you don't have to work the next morning when you can afford to be more persistent. I remember telling myself my goal was to rest, and in that I could find success. Feeling the pressure to sleep with every waking minute adding to the pressure seemed counter productive. At first sleep surprised me coming in snatches, then chunks, and at some point in long deep periods. I kept providing myself an environment conducive to sleep and eventually nature kicked in. Home you soon find what brings you sleep.

[LSAT]

Hello Again,
Thank you to all for the advice. I started with my RESmed Autoset 10 and a full face mask with the min setting of 4 and a max of 20 and a ramp of default 45 mins. That combination sent me into a full blown panic attack and I haven't had one in years. I used the advice here and adjusted my setting s and it is now very comfortable to wear and NO panic attacks or even anxiety when thinking about going to bed. I also changed the mask to the P10 nasal pillows and game changer, so comfortable from a claustrophobia point of view but a little irritating to my nose but I can deal with that.
After 2 weeks with the new P10 nasal pillows the best night I have had so far was 5 hours. Mostly I am averaging 1 to 3 hours of wearing the mask with very little sleep. I end up taking off the mask just to sleep as I need to sleep as I have to work in the morning. I am not a drinker or drug taker and I would rather just get used to it without the crutch of meds.

Is this normal for some? I keep telling myself it will just take time to adjust. I make sure I start out with the mask and do my best to leave it on. Even though I am tired I cant seem to stay asleep and it takes a while for me to fall asleep. The anxiety about going to bed is starting to creep back as I wonder how long will I sleep for tonight with the mask on. I know its important to get used to it and I know I need the CPAP as it is affecting my health at this point.

Thanks to Pugsy and others this is an invaluable resource for me. I am so grateful as after that first night I felt so much despair and loneliness like I was the only one this wouldn't help. but this forum has given me hope. Thanks to all.

In your exact boat and we are drowning with this contraption labled 'medical treatment'
Absolutely cannot sleep with this thing

Peelunkins....You have made "complaint" comments on everyone else post...Why don't you stay with your original post and explain all your problems, Maybe you will get some help.
viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

[rick blaine]

Hi Dunemedic,

A suggestion: find a quiet time and a quiet place – and at least and hour or two outside of bedtime.

Put the mask on – and then do the Havening protocol – details below.

Havening is a new form of anxiety reduction which is based on some of the most recent work in neuro-science, and was developed by Dr Ronald Ruden, an American doctor and neuro-scientist.

If you follow the instructions carefully, the arm rubbing and the humming both affect the amygdala – that part of your brain which regulates emotions - and lead to it becoming less activated.

There's a video about it here – produced by someone who is approved by Dr Ruden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C1liEFCZm4

Ideally, you would find a trained Havening practitioner near you to run you thru the process.

But if that's not possible, I suggest you watch the video enough times that you are clear on what's involved in the process. Then you can apply the method to yourself.

One of the benefits of this method is that: you can do it as often as you need.

[palerider]

we are drowning

"drowning" with a machine that can't even blow up a balloon.

Hyperbole doesn't help ANYBODY get used to CPAP.

[Barbee]

Hello Again,
Thank you to all for the advice. I started with my RESmed Autoset 10 and a full face mask with the min setting of 4 and a max of 20 and a ramp of default 45 mins. That combination sent me into a full blown panic attack and I haven't had one in years. I used the advice here and adjusted my setting s and it is now very comfortable to wear and NO panic attacks or even anxiety when thinking about going to bed. I also changed the mask to the P10 nasal pillows and game changer, so comfortable from a claustrophobia point of view but a little irritating to my nose but I can deal with that.
After 2 weeks with the new P10 nasal pillows the best night I have had so far was 5 hours. Mostly I am averaging 1 to 3 hours of wearing the mask with very little sleep. I end up taking off the mask just to sleep as I need to sleep as I have to work in the morning. I am not a drinker or drug taker and I would rather just get used to it without the crutch of meds.

Is this normal for some? I keep telling myself it will just take time to adjust. I make sure I start out with the mask and do my best to leave it on. Even though I am tired I cant seem to stay asleep and it takes a while for me to fall asleep. The anxiety about going to bed is starting to creep back as I wonder how long will I sleep for tonight with the mask on. I know its important to get used to it and I know I need the CPAP as it is affecting my health at this point.

Thanks to Pugsy and others this is an invaluable resource for me. I am so grateful as after that first night I felt so much despair and loneliness like I was the only one this wouldn't help. but this forum has given me hope. Thanks to all.

You could post some sleepyhead charts so the experts here could take a look and see if anything stands out to improve on.
Hang in there. These folks are the best!