New to it all of this.. any words of wisdom

[sleepgirl0808]

Hello to all,
I am a newly diagnosed with Sleep apnea; 1 week to be exact. I have probably have had it for the last 8 years and never went in to be checked. I was diagnosed 8 years ago with diabetes type 2. When I had my sleep study done they tried the cpap on me and I freaked out. I thought I was having a heart attack, but turned out to be panick attack. I am wondering if anyone else had this with the equipment. I go this week Wednesday to get my cpap machine and its kind of freaking me out.
Any words of wisdom or suggestion anyone could give, would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks!

[Liam1965]

There are some highly non-intrusive interfaces these days which SHOULD help keep panic (at least if it's claustrophobia based) down.

Ask them if you can try out the Swift, Breeze or Aura nasal pillows interfaces. They take up a lot less space on your face, and thus would seem less apt to cause you panic attacks.

Other than that, same advice everyone gets: Try to get an Auto Titrating machine (Remstar Auto, ResMed AutoSet or Puritan Bennett 420e). They have more capabilities than their straight CPAP brethren, but can be run in straight pressure mode if preferred. Since many people have trouble swapping out equipment (and some find their insurance won't cover the change in equipment), it's better to get one up front, even if you end up only using the straight pressure side of things. Keeps your options open.

Good luck!

Liam, who lives by the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: Don't Panic.

[rock and roll]

I agree with Liam but I would also try the Activa by Resmed nasal interface as well. This in the number one tolerated interface I know of. Good luck and don't freak. After the weirdness at first, you will get old hat with it. After a while you won't be able to sleep without the comfort of it. It is worth getting used to.

[photogal]

I'm not sure what freaked you out, was it the mask covering your face, or was it the pressure of the air blowing in or you trying to exhale against the pressure?
I had one little freaked-out moment, myself. And I've never been the type to freak out about anything, unless it's a spider on me.
They set the pressure so high with the first mask they tried on me, that I couldn't exhale against it. I felt like my eyes must've bugged out. I do know I frantically waved my hands at them, and they quickly yanked it off and got a different mask, and set the pressure lower.
I still had some feelings of discomfort, and it was all with the exhale. It may be connected to my COPD. I am getting a BiPap, hopefully, two days from now and will at last be a hosehead.
I will make this treatment work. I will make this treatment work. I WILL make this treatment work.
~Betty~

[jashmir3]

Hello there. I too am fairly new to the cpap world. I have three weeks under my belt. I felt that too when I had my study. Let me reassure you though, I don't have those panics anymore. My setting is 8 and when I check the fit of my mask it goes up to 10, and I actually like that better!!! Good luck to you!!!!!

[nyrat]

The day the respitory therapist came to my house to bring my new machine I thought I was going to be sick. I have always be very afraid of being closed in and the thought of the mask on me freaked me out.

I am just in my second week and at first I felt very claustrophobic, but I decided to make the mask my friend and pretend it was like baby blankie and only think of it positively. Guess what, it works. It lulls me to sleep and I haven't sleep without it one day. The benefits are so amazing that I would not give the mask up for anything.

I actually look at other people and think poor thing, they don't get as good a sleep as I do.

Good Luck, you can do it.

[Guest]

It kinda freaked me out at first but after a couple nights i was able to get used to it pretty quick! I guess when the lab told me my SA was pretty bad and i would feal so much better and have more energy real soon after using my bipap that i was making the best of it regardless!!!It was only a few days and i started to feel better heck i thought it was all in my head at first!!!!!

[notbigenuf1]

I was not logged in so above post showed me as a guest, darn it!

[sleepgirl0808]

I appreciate all of the words of encouragement you have offered. I am willing to give it a try and to learn to live with it. I will be going tomorrow to be fitted for a mask and to receive the rest of equipment. But unfortunately I can't use it until May 11, the clinic I am going asked if I would like to be part of a Sleep Study Research. And I said yes, so I signed up for a Sleepy Study Research program and I need to have a test done before I can start using. I will keep you all informed once I start to use it. The doctor has suggested to get used to the mask to wear it during the day around the house to get use to it being on my head.. So I think the 2 weeks will be good time to give it a dry run.
Thank you again,
Kris

[littlebaddow]

The doctor has suggested to get used to the mask to wear it during the day around the house to get use to it being on my head.. So I think the 2 weeks will be good time to give it a dry run.
Thank you again,
Kris

Kris, sounds daft, but I think that's really good advice from the doc.
When you get the machine, if your lifestyle permits, it might also be worth trying it our first during a brief daytime nap.

[sleepgirl]

Hi Littlebaddow,
thank you for the advise. I plan on taking it one day at time. Like I said I am a little nervous, but I am sure in time I will get over it. It really helps to have message boards like this to see what other people are saying or experiences they are having..


thanks again for your reply.
Kris

[SleepyGuy]

The pressure feels strange at first, but after a week or two your lungs will get stronger and you will more easily be able to breathe against the pressure. Sometimes I have to put my hand in front of the vent to make sure it is on.

At first I was given a ComfortFull face mask. I found it was sometimes hard to take off. That did not make me feel better. I now use an ultra-mirage full face mask that has clips that are easy to disconnect. I like that much better. It also has an anti-asphyxiation valve that opens when the pressure is off to allow to breathe room air. That helps too.