One week and ready to give up.

[kyteacher]

I have been diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea. I scored 17 which I'm told is on the low end of moderate. I had a sleep study 3 weeks ago and have yet to hear from the sleeplab. I received a call from Medsource to come and be fitted for a cpap machine. I don't have an appointment with the lab until the end of the month. So I know very little about my diagnosis except that I have obstructive sleep apnea. I had a sleep study done because I would wake myself up exhaling air. I guess I would hold my breath until I couldn't any longer and exhale. Also, I have all the other symptoms that go along with being sleep deprived. I am currently using the Resmed AutoSet II machine. I tried the Swift LT for Her with nasal pillow first, but couldn't keep my mouth closed and when I opened my mouth all my air was sucked out of my lungs. When I did actually fall asleep, I woke myself up a couple of time holding my breath then exhaling, just like I would do before the cpap. I would also wake myself up by opening my mouth and all the air would be sucked from my lungs. Is this normal? I thought I was going to die. I then tried to use a chin strap, it helped a little. I could actually feel the air filling my lungs and my ears would pop. Has this ever happened to any one? I have sinus troubles at night and have a hard time breathing threw my nose. I contacted Medsource and they fitted me with a Resmed Mirage Quattro full mask. This is better, but I still am having troubles. I can definitely sleep longer with this mask, but I hate the marks it leaves on my face and I'm having trouble with having so much on my head. Also, I can't tell that it is helping with my breathing at all. It seems like it's not putting out enough pressure. I did change the mask setting on the machine to the Mirage. I leave the setting on my machine on autoset, because my setting is on 4, and that is so low that I feel like I can't breath. I don't know what my settings are set for, only that the highest I could stand was on 9 with the nasal pillow.

Sorry to be so long, and hope this makes sense to someone. I'm just ready to give up. I have slept with the full mask for 3 nights now, for four or five hours, but wake up exhausted. I wasn't this tired before the cpap. Any advise would be appreciated. I'm thinking that maybe I need the bipap. Not sure I said that correctly, but I think I need help exhaling. Someone told me that that machine is easier to get use to.

[cflame1]

IMO... Bipap won't help. I think that at least part of your problem is the 4... I have read of nobody who does well on 4... needs to be at least 6 to clear the CO2.

[BlackSpinner]

. I contacted Medsource and they fitted me with a Resmed Mirage Quattro full mask. This is better, but I still am having troubles. I can definitely sleep longer with this mask, but I hate the marks it leaves on my face

It shouldn't be too tight. as the pressure increases the parts that touch your face inflates.
It would be better if your lowest pressure was 6 or 7.
I made a "gasket" out of a piece of thin cotton knit to protect my skin - no more marks.
Wearing the face mask is no more uncomfortable then wearing a bra, especially a DDD cup. In fact it is much more comfortable - the straps don't leave grooves in my head compared to what my bra does to my shoulders - however I wouldn't be caught dead out side without my bra. And wouldn't be caught alive in my bed without my CPAP and mask.

Plus compared to the 4 inch heels my daughter wears cpap is a snap.

[Muse-Inc]

...compared to the 4 inch heels my daughter wears cpap is a snap.

[Muse-Inc]

Welcome aboard! You've come to right place for info and suggestions.

Don't give up, it gets better! Rough starts with lousy sleep are common. Please keep posting your progress and asking questions.

Padding the straps helps with strap marks; I used a folded Kleenex wrapped around the straps to see if this suggestion really worked (I was doubtful)...it does . If your mask is over-tighened, it increases leaking and makes the marks worse. Might need to try different masks, some trial 5-6 the first month. I wear the RespCare Hybrid full-face mask (FFM); it has an oral cushion and nose pillows (weird name for these thingees that sit at the outer edge of your nostrils), it does not cover the nose or touch the forehead...just a thought as it comes with 3 sizes of oral cushion and 3 sizes of nasal pillows that can be set to 2 diferent heights depending on your face's shape.

Pressure of 4 is impossible for most of us...in fact, I can't recall anyone posting they handle 4. My ramp pressure had to be set from 4 to 8 to be acceptable, now it's at 6...4 -- no way!

[Scarlet834]

I don't have the answer for you because I am a newbie, 1 week in also, and just switching to the nasal cushions you switched out of. But I thought we could support each other and keep our spirits up! In my case the bridge of my nose lost the battle between air leaking into my eyes and comfort. Last night I had so little sleep that I couldn't make it to work this morning (hence the new mask). I do feel the difference between getting too little sleep with CPAP and having disturbed sleep without CPAP (groggy and horrible) and I plan to stay with this. My breaking point might be the remote chance of dry eyes being associated with air reaching the tear ducts through the nasal passages. I might be willing to use drops day and night, but am NOT having surgery to close my tear ducts.

[ozij]

I have been diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea. I scored 17 which I'm told is on the low end of moderate. I had a sleep study 3 weeks ago and have yet to hear from the sleeplab. I received a call from Medsource to come and be fitted for a cpap machine. I don't have an appointment with the lab until the end of the month.

Looks like someone wanted you to start out with an automatic machine immediately. Did you have a mask /machine at all during the study (that's called titration)?. If you didn't, then they're using the Autoset now to find the best pressure for you.

Also, I have all the other symptoms that go along with being sleep deprived. I am currently using the Resmed AutoSet II machine. I tried the Swift LT for Her with nasal pillow first, but couldn't keep my mouth closed and when I opened my mouth all my air was sucked out of my lungs. When I did actually fall asleep, I woke myself up a couple of time holding my breath then exhaling, just like I would do before the cpap. I would also wake myself up by opening my mouth and all the air would be sucked from my lungs. Is this normal? I thought I was going to die. I then tried to use a chin strap, it helped a little. I could actually feel the air filling my lungs and my ears would pop. Has this ever happened to any one? I have sinus troubles at night and have a hard time breathing threw my nose. I contacted Medsource and they fitted me with a Resmed Mirage Quattro full mask. This is better, but I still am having troubles. I can definitely sleep longer with this mask, but I hate the marks it leaves on my face and I'm having trouble with having so much on my head. Also, I can't tell that it is helping with my breathing at all. It seems like it's not putting out enough pressure. I did change the mask setting on the machine to the Mirage. I leave the setting on my machine on autoset, because my setting is on 4, and that is so low that I feel like I can't breath.

Many of those are very normal responses to the strangeness of sleeping with pressure. Many of us feel the pressure in incredibly high, even when it isn't -- and then get used to it.

I don't know what my settings are set for, only that the highest I could stand was on 9 with the nasal pillow.

You can't really know how high the autoset is going when you're asleep - but that's rather academic at this point, don't worry.

Sorry to be so long, and hope this makes sense to someone. I'm just ready to give up. I have slept with the full mask for 3 nights now, for four or five hours, but wake up exhausted. I wasn't this tired before the cpap.

As I said, I think they may be running you Autoset in diagnostic mode -- hence the wide range starting at 4. It's not the best mode for therapy, and once things are figured out, a machine could be set to give you better therapy. Things get better.

I'm thinking that maybe I need the bipap. Not sure I said that correctly, but I think I need help exhaling. Someone told me that that machine is easier to get use to.

There are many ways - and machines - to help you exhale. The newer Autoset s8 II models have an exhale pressure relief option called EPR which can be used in automatic mode and set to 3 levels. In addition these newer models also have a bulit in "EasyBreathe" technique of supplying the pressure.

Don't hesitate to return to the supplier and complain of what is causing your difficulties. If you're sure you main problem is obstructions when breathing out they would have to find an exhale pressure high to solve them; -- do you have any known lung propblems that would make breathing out difficult for you? Have you had pulmonary tests? For the majority of people, inhaling gets obstructed, and then they wake up with a big inhale. There's not much voluntary holding of your breath when the apenas are obstructive.

Chances are, a month from now a properly set up CPAP (or APAP or BPAP) will have you sleeping and feeling much better than before CPAP.

What you feel now is not the way it will be in the future.
O.

[millich]

What you feel now is not the way it will be in the future.

Well said. Do NOT give up!

[fishhead]

i think everyone starts out with just about the same experience. it takes more than a few nights to get used to sleeping with the equipment and the sensation of the air pressure. but after a short while (in my case only a week or two) i actually no longer felt the mask on my face nor the air pressure. more than once i would have to check to make sure it was still there.

my AHI was 27, not nearly as bad as many here in the forum. no doubt those with higher AHI's will see more a more dramatic response to the therapy. the point is, don't expect too much too soon.

stay with it, you'll be glad you did.

[lazyace]

Ozij has it EXACTLY right. The only thing I might disagree with is that you should be feeling better in a month. I am a month in and still feel worse. I started with the same machine you have, for the same reason, because the sleep lab couldn't get an accurate titration during the study. Like others have said, 4 sounds awfully low. If you have a bonehead sleep doctor & DME like mine that admittedly don't know much about the machines, it is entirely possible the settings are not going to provide you with much benefit.

As an example, my doctor prescribed an initial pressure range of 8-15. However, my DME set my machine up with a range of 5-20 because that is what they typically do. In my case, the PSG showed I had central apneas at pressures between 5 & 6. Thus, the DME didn't take enough time to read either the prescription or the PSG report and I ended up with more than a week of frustration.

With regard to feeling your lungs filling, it is possible that you could be experiencing something called aerophagia. This is air that is redirected down the esophagus and into the stomach, instead of into the lungs. If can be uncomfortable, and leading to feeling bloated or gassy. If that is what you are finding, try sleeping in the Falcon position (on your stomach). Do a search here and you will find all kinds of info about it, including photos.

I am finding myself wondering about the efficacy of xPAP, but there are too many success stories here to question success. Unfortunately, I am one that wants immediate results, and when I don't get them, I get easily frustrated. I am taking the advice of many of the seasoned veterans that patrol this forum, and they universally say that it takes time and patience. Although, my sleep doctor apparently doesn't subscribe to that logic and suggested that if I wasn't feeling better after a few weeks, it probably means that I have some other problem. I have lots of other problems alright, and he's one of them.

[fishhead]

Although, my sleep doctor apparently doesn't subscribe to that logic and suggested that if I wasn't feeling better after a few weeks, it probably means that I have some other problem. I have lots of other problems alright, and he's one of them.

listen to you, LA... you're already starting to sound like the veterans here in the forum!

excellent comments about patience and endurance. to that i would only add that feeling better is of course the whole point, but there is also the long term benefits of xpap therapy that in a preventive way are well worth the effort.

[kyteacher]

Wow! Thanks for all the wonderful advise. I'm not familiar with this site and I haven't figured out how to respond to each post, so forgive me for responding with this one reply. You all have given me the hope that I can get through this with time, patience and trips to my supplier. I am going to try the Hybrid Full Face mask with nasal pillows next. I'm hoping that having a mask that will cover my mouth, but not go all the way to my eyes will help. The lady that set my cpap machine, advised me that the setting of 4 would probably be to low and if I felt like I was suffocating, to use the autoset and skip the ramp. Needless to say, I use the autoset. She is trying to contact my doctor and see if she can set it higher. I am concerned that I have trouble exhaling when inhaling is what most people have, I guess I won't have any answers until I see the doctor at the end of this month.

With regard to feeling your lungs filling, it is possible that you could be experiencing something called aerophagia.

I don't think this is my problem, because I can actually feel my lungs deflate if I open my mouth, also I've not suffered from stomach discomfort.

Looks like someone wanted you to start out with an automatic machine immediately. Did you have a mask /machine at all during the study (that's called titration)?. If you didn't, then they're using the Autoset now to find the best pressure for you.

I was not hooked up to a machine or mask during my sleep study. And the technicain at the sleep study wouldn't tell me anything. The next week I got a call from the medical supplier and was told I needed to come in and get a cpap machine. My doctor never called me. I called them however, and was told that I have an appointment at the end of the month. I only got to talk to the receptionist. Any information I have is from the supplier of my cpap machine. Thank goodness she seems to be on top of things. I hoping that you are correct and they are trying to see what my settings should be.

The newer Autoset s8 II models have an exhale pressure relief option called EPR which can be used in automatic mode and set to 3 levels. In addition these newer models also have a bulit in "EasyBreathe" technique of supplying the pressure.

I believe my machine has this setting, but it not set up for me to view it. I guess I'll just have to wait until I see the doctor and they can read my card and maybe set my machine to better help me.
Again, thanks so much for all the encouragement and advise. I just may make it after all.

[Georgio]

This link will help get you to the menu where you can make your setting of 4 higher if you want to:

viewtopic/t45167/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44 ... nu#p392437

[lazyace]

I was not hooked up to a machine or mask during my sleep study. And the technicain at the sleep study wouldn't tell me anything. The next week I got a call from the medical supplier and was told I needed to come in and get a cpap machine. My doctor never called me. I called them however, and was told that I have an appointment at the end of the month. I only got to talk to the receptionist. Any information I have is from the supplier of my cpap machine. Thank goodness she seems to be on top of things. I hoping that you are correct and they are trying to see what my settings should be.

Your experience sounds even worse than mine, but not unlike others I have seen here. This is another example of why this condition is challenging, and this forum is so important. If I understand you correctly, you were hooked up to all the wires and simply told to go to sleep? They never came in and suggested you should try a CPAP mask, or indicated you needed to come back for a second night? That makes no sense to me. If you are remotely close to another sleep center, I would encourage you to go and get another opinion.

Although, my sleep doctor apparently doesn't subscribe to that logic and suggested that if I wasn't feeling better after a few weeks, it probably means that I have some other problem. I have lots of other problems alright, and he's one of them.

listen to you, LA... you're already starting to sound like the veterans here in the forum!

excellent comments about patience and endurance. to that i would only add that feeling better is of course the whole point, but there is also the long term benefits of xpap therapy that in a preventive way are well worth the effort.

The problem is that I need to find a way to get me to heed my own advice

[kyteacher]

This link will help get you to the menu where you can make your setting of 4 higher if you want to:

viewtopic/t45167/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44108&p=392437&hilit=autoset+clinical+menu#p392437This link will help get you to the menu where you can make your setting of 4 higher if you want to:

viewtopic/t45167/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44 ... nu#p392437

Thanks for the info. I got into the setting of my machine, and turned my starting out pressure (whatever it's called) from 4 to 5. If that's not enough, I'll go higher. Now maybe I can use the settling feature. I also changed it from 15 to 20 minutes. I'll have to check my AHI and AI numbers tomorrow. I don't know why this information would be so hidden from the patient. We shouldn't have to wait weeks to see the doctor, and for them to tell us if the machine is not set up correctly. At least knowing these numbers I can call and let them know if my AHI is too high. Why suffer longer than necessary. Again thanks, this information may get me on the road to feeling human again faster.